Personal Blog: Sharing My Testimony
My journey to finding Christ began in a challenging upbringing that is often described as "dysfunctional" by society. However, during the tumultuous era of the 1960s and 1970s, my family and I simply saw it as our way of life. Little did we know that our experiences would later be labeled with a specific term. Nevertheless, it was through Jesus' intervention that my life took a different path.
My life went through a profound change when someone assisted me in discovering the inexplicable love that Jesus has for me.
The photograph is credited to Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely transformed. Throughout the course of more than five decades, this love has been the source of my strength, guiding me through the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, and even the moments of joy. I can confidently say that the direction of my life was permanently altered when I experienced the overwhelming love of God at the age of eighteen.
The main factor that keeps me going and motivates my actions is the reason I am still present. It is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist you in creating songs that can effectively capture this incredible truth. The fundamental principle that Nashville Christian Songwriters and all our platforms, including podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, strive to convey is the love of Jesus for every individual on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith? It could be that you experienced God's love during your childhood church visits, or perhaps you found Him later in life as a way to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you have been through a devastating loss that left you broken. In my conversations with Christian songwriters, many have expressed interest in our coaching programs because they have experienced significant hardships such as abuse, divorce, or profound loss. They want to learn how to convey their pain through their music and how God has provided them with the strength to endure. According to James Finley, God doesn't shield us from hardships, but He miraculously sustains us through every challenge we face.
However, how can we effectively express our personal experiences and stories through impactful songs?
Throughout our lives, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories through Christian music, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? Allow me to share three tips that may assist you in reflecting on how to capture your testimonials in a manner that resonates with listeners, providing them with love, solace, and inspiration.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared theme or experience in your story that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are common experiences that everyone can relate to. To engage people with your story, it is important to provide them with a sense of identification. By weaving a common thread of shared experiences, listeners can connect with your song on a deeper level. It is essential for them to be able to fill in the gaps with their own personal stories, as this allows them to truly connect and resonate with your music.
If your story fails to capture our attention and evoke memories of experiences we have personally faced, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a former student of NCS and a close friend of ours, has endured the pain of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry primarily revolve around supporting grieving families, but she also incorporates enough universal themes in her songs that anyone who has suffered any type of loss – which includes all of us – can relate to and remain engaged with her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
I remember when I first heard the famous songwriter and publisher, Dave Clark (Lillenas Music), say this and it has stuck with me ever since. At first, it might seem contradictory, but it's not. The initial point is to discover a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to avoid including irrelevant details in your song that won't be helpful to your listeners. If you delve too much into specific locations, times, dates, names, or other unnecessary particulars, you may end up losing the interest of your audience.
By identifying the shared theme and emotion in your narrative that resonates with me, you encourage my engagement with your composition. If the specific elements of your story do not align with my own experiences, it may deter my interest. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to find the right balance of providing sufficient detail without overwhelming the narrative, focusing on the emotions you felt during the challenging period and then shifting the focus towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
… a testimonial song is a song that tells the story of how God achieved victory in your life.
… a testimonial song is a song that showcases the ways in which God succeeded in your life.
It is important to understand that there may be certain details in your story that are unique to you and cannot be easily related to by others. To overcome this, it can be helpful to look for examples of songs that resemble the type of song you want to write and observe how the songwriters effectively engage listeners with emotions rather than simply listing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still feeling the emotional pain and suffering from a traumatic experience in your life, it can be challenging to create a genuine testimonial song about it. Expressing your pain too intensely in your lyrics may come across as self-centered, unless you are specifically writing a country song that showcases vulnerability. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but be aware that it may not truly reflect a personal testimony, but rather a melancholic country song.
Taking your audience into consideration, it becomes apparent that they likely have their own struggles to contend with. If you simply unload your own problems onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why professionals like therapists and journals exist – they are meant to serve as a receptacle for your personal issues and pain. It's important to think about how your lyrics will impact your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you creating for them? How will they feel after listening to your song?
In my opinion, Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have succeeded in creating an uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a message based on Scripture. Instead of writing a song solely focused on your childhood experiences, it might be more beneficial to explore Scriptural themes that highlight the transformative and healing power of God. There are numerous approaches to conveying your personal testimony, so it would be wise to explore alternative methods rather than solely expressing your pain to others.
In summary, a testimonial song is one that depicts how God succeeded in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It might be helpful for you to write these songs for yourself as well, but keep in mind that there is a distinction between the two types. Catharsis is a way of releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the challenges you have faced and His ultimate victory in your inner being, regardless of the path taken.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which spans over eight weeks and takes place online, we delve into the art of writing songs that convey personal testimonies and much more. While many individuals seek out free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are eager to advance in your songwriting skills and have a deep desire to establish your ministry, you can use the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call is not binding and serves as an opportunity to determine if our program aligns with your needs. You can schedule your free call by clicking here.
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