My family and I have been attending our church for about 5 years and we all feel very blessed and fortunate to be involved in a church that is SO filled with love and acceptance. I feel comfortable there and truly at home. My pastor has asked me on a couple different occasions to give my testimony, because he believes that my testimony is one worth hearing and could help a lot of people come to Christ. My problem is this...I am absolutely terrified to stand in front of our congregation and give my testimony. What makes my testimony so extraordinary is the many things I have overcome in my life. These things are things that I have always kept very private, sharing most of them with only 2 people in my life. My pastor and my husband. Digging up old feelings, trials and pain would be extremely hard for me and I don't know if I could get through it without completely breaking down. Anyone who knows me would be shocked to hear my story. I don't know if I want to open myself up in that way.
2007-12-07 02:50:06 · 19 answers · asked by See Dee 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
all i can think of to say is just pray about it, pray for courage and strength to do it. But if you don't feel comfortable don't make yourself do it. but just pray for God to give you the words to speak and to be with you. Believe me He will be there if you ask Him to be. :)
God Bless and your in my prayers!
2007-12-07 02:56:15 · answer #1 · answered by zeldagirl07 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It sounds as if you are not ready to give your testimony. Don't feel you have to do it.
You could write your testimony and give it to your pastor to read to the congregation (if you are comfortable with this) and have him read it but not give your name.
On the other side, if your testimony is moving and could bring others to Christ why not give it. If there are shocking things in there, let the people closest to you hear it from you first before you say it in church.
Public speaking is very hard. Don't worry about breaking down, especially in church where you are comfortable. The Lord knows your past and has forgiven you for everything. People in your church should not judge you.
God Bless you and your family.
Yours in Christ,
Quin
2007-12-07 03:07:13 · answer #2 · answered by quinlangal 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
CD
Pray and ask for God's guidance and wisdom to know what to say and what not to say. Shock value is not always what God would have us share. God has Blessed you apparently in great ways, allow Him to guide you in telling what He wants to use for others.
The Holy Spirit will touch everyone in some way by your testimony. The testimony should be about God and His Great Love. Make the testimony more about Christ than about the details. I Pray that this helps.
2007-12-07 03:56:43 · answer #3 · answered by deacon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The testimony is of Jesus Christ, His Word, His truth.
It is not hanging dirty laundry on the clothes line for all to see.
Besides, upon true repentance they are blotted out, never happened.
Teach your pastor that this is not the kind testimony to be shared in public, but God's testimony should be.
Plus I would really question if I would listen to this man (pastor) any more. A pastor leads the sheep to pasture (God's Word) and still waters (peace of mind)
2007-12-07 02:54:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps it is time to open up. I did and found healing.
edit:
I would like to add that the idea someone said to write it down first is a good one. I kept a journal for years but always avoided writing about what happened to me as a child. I know what you mean about not wanting to talk about things for whatever reasons. I am just so happy to have my own life back myself. Something happens when you tell your story to others. You become free of it, free from the pain of it and others share the burden of grief or shame or whatever. My story is a very long one but suffice to say, I have overcome the obstacles of childhood abuse, molestation, and neglect which led to so many problems including severe depression. It got so bad at one point that I tried to commit suicide by hanging myself. It is a good thing it didn't go as planned. I was only eight years old.
2007-12-07 03:18:32 · answer #5 · answered by TheNewCreationist 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Tell your pastor to back off, Your past life is forgiven, & your testimony will not bring anyone to Christ, Because every person first has to be dealt with by God, Not by someones testimony.
2007-12-07 03:01:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Please do, CD. We have testimony service in our church every Sunday. All are welcome to testify. Each member who feels to tell what the Lord has done for them in their lives or just during that week stands and thanks Him. Others get very blessed by this and they start to look for God's manifestations and blessings in their own lives because of it. I have overcome many things, too. Although I don't recount them over and over, because of the request for prayer through my church life and friends in the church, others are very aware of how God blessed me and my family and the miracles that only He could perform. Pray about your words and ask the Lord to stand with you when you testify. There will definitely be someone there who needs to hear it. God bless you!
2007-12-07 02:56:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My advice is don't. Testimony is a way of encouraging others and sharing each other as part of reinforcing our community - the body of Christ, but it isn't essential. Just politely decline.
2007-12-07 02:56:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Then don't...and your Pastor should respect your wanting to not open up to the whole church. You should NOT feel bad
about not wanting too.
Maybe God has other plans, but in a similiar way??
If you do not feel comfortable doing it..then it's not right.
2007-12-07 02:56:52 · answer #9 · answered by Tenac33 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just remember that although your story may be hard to tell it may have a huge impact on people. Wouldn't that make you feel wonderful to know that you helped people come to Christ through one of your personal experiences?
2007-12-07 04:36:21 · answer #10 · answered by Here and There 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not have to if you do not want to. If it bothers you, pray about it. God will help you to overcome your fears. As for sharing details, that is not always necessary in testimonies...unless you want to.
2007-12-07 03:06:41 · answer #11 · answered by loveChrist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋