Personal Blog Post
Sharing My Journey to Finding Christ
Growing up in the tumultuous era of the 1960s and 70s, my childhood was far from ideal. It was later labeled as "dysfunctional," but back then, it was just the reality of our lives. Little did we know that Jesus would eventually enter my life and bring about a transformation.
My life completely changed when someone assisted me in experiencing the incomprehensible love that Jesus has for us.
The photo was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a split second, my entire life was completely transformed. This love that I experienced has been my source of strength and support for more than five decades, guiding me through the highs and lows, the successes and sorrows, and even the joyful moments. My personal account is that the course of my life took a permanent shift when I first felt the overwhelming love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason I continue to exist and pursue my passion is because of this. It's what motivates me to be a Christian songwriter and assist others in creating songs that can convey the incredible truth. The fundamental belief of Nashville Christian Songwriters is to spread the love of Jesus to every individual on Earth, which is why we offer various resources such as podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs.
What is your personal experience with faith? It could be that you experienced God's love during your childhood while attending church, or perhaps you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you went through a significant loss which left you broken. Many Christian songwriters, who have shown interest in our coaching programs, have endured hardships such as abuse, divorce, and great loss. They seek to learn how to express their pain through their music and share how God has provided them with support throughout their journey. James Finley once stated that while God doesn't shield us from difficulties, He miraculously helps us endure them.
However, the question remains – how can we effectively express our personal experiences and beliefs through powerful and impactful songs?
Throughout our lives, we experience both the joys and hardships that come our way. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories through Christian music, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? I have three helpful tips that might assist you in considering the best ways to capture your own testimonies in songs that will resonate with listeners, providing them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared theme in your narrative that resonates with a wide range of individuals.
Loneliness and feeling lost are emotions that are universally understood. By sharing a story that people can relate to, you can create a connection and engage them in your narrative. It is important to incorporate elements of our own experiences into your story, allowing us to connect the dots and become emotionally invested in your tale.
If there is nothing in your story that captures our attention and resonates with our own experiences, we will lose interest. A friend of ours and someone who has attended our school, Becky Norquist, went through the heartbreaking experience of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry are centered around supporting grieving families, but she also includes enough universal themes in her songs so that anyone who has experienced any form of loss – which includes all of us – can connect with her music and continue to be engaged with it.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than the specific elements or
The statement that stuck with me was made by Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music. It may seem contradictory, but it actually complements the first point. The first point suggests finding a central theme or emotion to base your song on. On the other hand, the second point advises against including unnecessary details in your song that may not be beneficial to the listener. If you delve too much into specifics like location, time, dates, names, or other unnecessary information, there's a chance of losing the listener's interest.
By identifying the shared theme and emotion in your narrative that I can personally connect with, you encourage me to become engaged in your story. If the specific details of your experience do not align with mine, it may discourage me. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to strike a balance between providing sufficient or excessive details in order to focus on your emotions during the difficult period and then shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
A testimonial song is a type of song that demonstrates the victorious presence of God in your life.
It is important to remember that there may be certain details in your story that are unique to you and may not resonate with others. To overcome this, it can be helpful to study songs that are similar to the one you want to write and observe how the songwriters engage listeners with emotions rather than simply listing specific details.
Thirdly, 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 write a genuine song that reflects your true testimonial. Expressing your pain too explicitly in your lyrics can sometimes be seen as self-centered, unless you are creating a classic country song that evokes a sense of melancholy. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but it's important to acknowledge that it may not be seen as a genuine testimony, but rather as a sorrowful country ballad.
When considering your audience, it's important to acknowledge that they likely have their own challenges and struggles to face. If you solely focus on burdening them with your own pain, they may not be willing to listen for an extended period. This is why therapists and journals exist – they are meant to serve as outlets for your dysfunction and emotional wounds. It's crucial to think about the impact your lyrics will have on your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you inviting them into? How will they feel after hearing your song?
In my opinion, Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have successfully created a lively and uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a message rooted in Scripture. Instead of focusing on personal childhood experiences, it would be beneficial to explore positive themes from the Bible that highlight God's ability to heal and overcome various challenges. There are numerous approaches to sharing one's testimony, so it would be wise to consider alternative methods before sharing deeply personal and painful experiences.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is one that portrays how God has overcome challenges in your life. The process of catharsis is crucial for your emotional well-being. It might be helpful for you to write such songs for yourself as well, but it's important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials rejoice in God's triumph over difficult experiences and His ultimate victory in your spirit, regardless of the path taken.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and is conducted online, we explore various aspects of testimony songs and much more. While many individuals seek free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills and have a strong desire to establish your ministry, you can click on the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call serves as an opportunity to determine if our program aligns with your needs and interests. To schedule your free call, please click here.
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