Personal Blog
Sharing from my Own Experience
I found my way to Christianity after enduring a challenging childhood that many would describe as "dysfunctional." However, during the tumultuous era of the 1960s and '70s, we were simply living our lives and unaware that there would be a term to label our experiences. Nevertheless, Jesus somehow intervened in my life.
My life went through a profound change when someone assisted me in establishing a deep connection with the indescribable affection that Jesus holds for us.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely transformed. This enduring love has supported me throughout more than five decades, encompassing both the highs and lows, the victories and losses, as well as the positive experiences. I can attest that my life's direction underwent a permanent shift when I first experienced God's love at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and my purpose in life is what keeps me going. It is the driving force behind my career as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist others in creating songs that can convey this incredible truth. The fundamental principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our platforms – podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs – is to spread the message of Jesus' love to every individual on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith? It could be that you experienced God's love during your childhood church experiences, or perhaps you turned to Him as an adult while battling addiction. It's also possible that you were deeply hurt by a significant loss. In my conversations with numerous Christian songwriters interested in our coaching programs, I've encountered many who have endured tremendous pain, abuse, or divorce. They expressed a desire to learn how to convey their suffering through their music and to understand how God provided them with strength throughout their hardships. James Finley once said, "God doesn't shield us from hardships, but rather miraculously supports us through them."
However, the question remains: how can we effectively express our personal experiences and stories through powerful and impactful music?
As we navigate through life, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories through Christian songs, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? I have three tips that I believe will assist you in effectively capturing your testimonials in a way that resonates with listeners, providing them comfort, healing, and hope.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared theme or element in your story that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are emotions that everyone is familiar with. To connect with others through your story, it is important to give them a chance to relate to it. By incorporating elements of our own experiences, we can better connect with and appreciate the narrative.
If your story doesn't engage us and evoke memories of our own experiences, we will lose interest. One of our friends and a former student at NCS, Becky Norquist, went through the difficult journey of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her songs and ministry are dedicated to supporting grieving families, but she also incorporates universal themes in her music that resonate with anyone who has experienced any form of loss. This allows all of us to connect with her songs and remain connected to her work.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
The statement that stuck with me was from Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music. Despite sounding contradictory, his point is not. The first point is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point is to avoid including unnecessary details in your song that do not benefit the listener. If you delve too much into specifics like location, time, dates, names, or other details, you may lose the audience's interest.
When you identify the shared themes and emotions in your story that resonate with me, it allows me to connect with your song. If the specific details of your experience don't align with mine, it may deter me from fully engaging. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to strike a balance between providing sufficient details and overwhelming the listener, with the main focus being on conveying the emotions you felt during the trial and shifting towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a musical expression that depicts the victorious presence of God in one's life.
It is important to keep in mind the unique aspects of your story that are personal to you and may not resonate with others. To better understand how to captivate your audience, it can be helpful to study songs that align with the emotions you want to convey and observe how the songwriters engage listeners without solely focusing on specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still feeling the pain and emotional impact of a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to authentically express it through a testimonial song. Pouring your emotions into the lyrics may seem self-centered unless you are aiming to create a heartfelt country song that resonates with the audience. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it. However, it is important to acknowledge that it would be more of a sorrowful country song rather than a genuine testimony.
When considering your audience, it's important to recognize that they likely have their own share of problems to handle. If you unload your own issues onto them, they may not be willing to listen for long. This is why therapists and journals exist – to provide a outlet for your personal struggles and pain. 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 succeeded in creating an uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a message rooted in Scripture. Instead of focusing on a personal narrative about your childhood, it may be more beneficial to explore positive themes from the Bible that highlight God's healing power over any negative experiences. There are countless ways to express your testimony, so it would be wise to explore alternative approaches before sharing your pain with others.
In summary, a testimonial song is a song that showcases how God has overcome obstacles in your life. Expressing your emotions and finding release is crucial for your emotional well-being. It may be helpful for you to write these types of songs for yourself as well, but it's important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial songs. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's victory over the challenges you've faced and the ultimate triumph in your soul, regardless of the path you took to get there.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve deep into the art of testimony songs and explore various other aspects. 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 schedule a free phone call. This call is not binding and serves as an opportunity to determine if our program aligns with your needs. Take the first step by scheduling your free call here.
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