Personal Blog Post
Sharing My Journey of Finding Faith
Growing up in the tumultuous era of the 1960s and 1970s, my childhood was far from conventional. It was only later that society labeled it as "dysfunctional." However, amidst the chaos, an unexpected presence entered my life – Jesus.
My life went through a profound change when someone assisted me in experiencing the unimaginable affection that Jesus has for us.
The photo was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a split second, my entire life was completely disrupted. This enduring love has been my source of strength and support for more than five decades, guiding me through the highs and lows, the successes and hardships, and even the joyful moments. I can confidently say that the course of my life was permanently altered when I experienced the love of God for the very first time at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and the motivation behind my work is because of this. It is what drives me to be a Christian songwriter and assist you in creating songs that can convey this incredible truth. The fundamental principle of Nashville Christian Songwriters and all our platforms such as podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs is to spread the love of Jesus to every individual on Earth.
What is your personal story of faith?
Perhaps when you were young, you experienced God's love while attending church, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It could also be that you were deeply hurt by a significant loss. I've had conversations with many Christian songwriters who have expressed interest in our coaching programs. They have experienced great pain, abuse, or divorce and they want to learn how to express their struggles and how God has supported them through it all. James Finley suggests that while God doesn't shield us from hardships, He miraculously helps us endure them.
However, is there a way for us to effectively express our personal experiences and stories through powerful and meaningful songs?
Throughout our journey in life, we experience both the positive and negative aspects of it. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories in Christian songs, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? In this regard, I have three suggestions that I believe will assist you in contemplating the most effective ways to capture your personal experiences in a manner that resonates with listeners, providing them with comfort, healing, and hope.
Begin by searching for a shared theme within your narrative that resonates with a wide audience.
Most people are familiar with the emotions of loneliness and feeling lost at times. To engage and connect with others through your story, it is important to make them feel a sense of identification. By incorporating elements of our shared experiences into your narrative, we give listeners the opportunity to relate and fill in the gaps with their own personal stories. This allows them to develop an emotional connection and potentially develop a fondness for your story.
If your story fails to captivate us and evoke emotions related to our own experiences, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a former student of NCS and our friend, has experienced the pain of going through five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Through her music and ministry, she primarily addresses grieving families, but she also incorporates universal themes that resonate with anyone who has suffered any form of loss – which includes all of us. This enables listeners to connect with her songs and remain engaged.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
The concept was initially introduced by Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher at Lillenas Music. I remember hearing this and it has stuck with me ever since. It may seem contradictory at first, but it's not. The first point is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. The second point advises against including unnecessary details in your lyrics that won't be beneficial to your listener. If you delve too much into specifics like locations, timings, dates, names, or other intricate details, you run the risk of losing the interest of your audience.
When you identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that I can personally connect with, you welcome me into your narrative. If your specific details differ from mine, it may deter my interest. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to achieve. You can acquire the skill of including just the right amount of detail, avoiding excessive information, to emphasize your emotions during the challenging experience and then shift the focus towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a type of song that expresses the ways in which God has achieved victory in your life.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own story that may not resonate with others. To assist in the process, it can be beneficial to look for examples of songs that align with the emotions you want to convey and observe how the songwriters engage the audience, focusing on evoking emotions rather than simply stating facts.
Thirdly, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally scarred and in pain from a traumatic experience in your life, it can be challenging to write a genuine song that reflects your personal testimony. Expressing your raw emotions in your lyrics can sometimes be perceived as self-centered, unless you are specifically aiming to create a country song that evokes a sense of sadness and vulnerability. If that's your intention, then by all means, go ahead and pursue it. However, it's important to acknowledge that such a song would be categorized as a melancholic country song rather than a genuine testimony.
When considering your audience, it is important to understand that they likely have their own challenges and struggles to cope with. If you only focus on sharing your own pain with them, they may not pay attention for very long. This is why professionals like therapists and journals exist – they are there to provide an outlet for your dysfunction and wounds. It is crucial to think about how your lyrics will impact 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 an energetic and uplifting praise song called "My Testimony," which effectively conveys a broad message rooted in scripture. Instead of writing a song that focuses solely on your childhood experiences, you could explore various positive biblical themes that highlight God's ability to bring healing and restoration in the face of negativity. There are numerous approaches you can take to express your personal testimony, so it might be beneficial to explore alternative methods before sharing your pain with others.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is a song that showcases how God has succeeded in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It might be beneficial for you to write such songs for yourself as well, but it is important to understand the distinction between the two types. Catharsis involves expressing and releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the challenges you have faced, highlighting His ultimate victory in your soul regardless of the path you took to reach it.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, we delve into the art of testimony songs and explore various other aspects of songwriting. While many individuals prefer free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are eager to enhance your songwriting skills and have a strong desire to develop your ministry, you can use the provided link to set up a complimentary phone call. This call will help determine if our program is suitable for you. You can schedule your free call by clicking here.
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