Personal Blog
Sharing My Experience of Finding Christ
My journey towards Christ began during my challenging upbringing, which is now commonly referred to as a "dysfunctional" childhood. However, during the tumultuous times of the 1960s and 1970s, my family and I were simply living our lives without realizing that our experiences would one day be labeled as such. Despite this, Jesus miraculously entered my life and changed everything.
I underwent a profound change when someone assisted me in establishing a connection with the indescribable affection of Jesus for the very first time.
The photo was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life was completely transformed. This enduring love has been my source of strength and support throughout the countless challenges and successes, as well as the joys and sorrows, that I have experienced over the course of fifty years. I firmly believe that my life took a new direction and purpose when I first experienced the overwhelming love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason I continue to exist and do what I do is because of this. This is the motivation behind my work as a songwriter who focuses on Christian music, as I aim to assist you in creating songs that can effectively convey this incredible truth. The central principle of Nashville Christian Songwriters is to spread the love of Jesus to every individual on Earth, and this is the driving force behind all of our podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs.
What is your personal story of faith?
Perhaps you experienced God's love when you attended church as a child, or maybe you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. It's also possible that you were deeply hurt by a significant loss. Many Christian songwriters who have gone through great suffering, abuse, or divorce have expressed interest in our coaching programs. They want to learn how to articulate their pain and share how God supported them through those difficult times. James Finley believes that while God doesn't shield us from hardships, He miraculously provides us with the strength to endure them.
However, what is the process of effectively expressing our personal stories and experiences through powerful songs? How can we successfully convey our testimonies through exceptional musical compositions?
Throughout our lives, we experience both the highs and lows. However, when it comes to expressing our personal stories and experiences through Christian songs, how can we effectively convey our testimonies? Here are three tips that I believe will assist you in effectively capturing your testimonials in a way that resonates with listeners and provides them with comfort, healing, and hope.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared element in your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are emotions that are familiar to everyone. By creating a story that people can relate to, you are more likely to engage them in your music. It is important to include elements of our own experiences in your narrative, allowing us to connect and resonate with your song. This connection enables us to fill in the gaps with our own stories, ultimately leading us to appreciate and connect with your music on a deeper level.
If there is nothing in your story that captures our attention and reminds us of an experience we have personally gone through, we will lose interest. Our acquaintance, Becky Norquist, who is a former student of NCS, went through the difficult experience of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her songs 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 kind of loss – which is all of us – can relate to and continue to engage with her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up in
I was introduced to Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher from Lillenas Music, who once mentioned something that stuck with me. Although it may seem contradictory, his point was actually quite valid. The first step is to identify a central theme or emotion to base your song on. On the other hand, the second point emphasizes the importance of avoiding unnecessary details that don't contribute to the listener's understanding. If you delve too much into specifics such as locations, dates, names, or other irrelevant information, you may end up losing the interest of your audience.
By identifying the shared theme and emotion in your story that resonates with me, you allow me to connect with your song. If the specific details in your story do not align with my own experiences, it may deter my interest. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to achieve. You can learn to find the right amount of detail that focuses on your emotions during the difficult times and then shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a song that tells the story of how God has brought victory and success into your life.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own experiences that may not resonate with others. In order to effectively engage listeners in your song, it can be helpful to study and learn from songwriters who excel at evoking emotions rather than simply listing specific details.
Next, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally wounded and experiencing pain from a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to compose an authentic song that reflects your personal testimony. Expressing your pain too intensely through your lyrics can sometimes be perceived as self-centered, unless you are specifically writing a country song that captures the sentiment of crying into your beer. If that is your intention, feel free to pursue it, but be aware that it would not be considered a genuine testimony, but rather a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to recognize that they likely have their own struggles to contend with. If you simply unload your own pain onto them, they may not listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist – they serve as outlets for your dysfunction and hurts. It's 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 done an impressive job with their uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" by conveying a universal message that is rooted in Scripture. Instead of writing a song about your personal childhood experiences, it might be beneficial to focus on highlighting positive themes from the Bible that illustrate how God's healing power can overcome any negative circumstances. There are countless ways to share your own testimony, so it would be helpful to explore alternative approaches before delving into your personal pain.
In conclusion, a testimonial song is one that reflects how God has overcome challenges in your life. It is important, and even crucial, to experience emotional release and healing. You may consider writing these songs for yourself as well, but it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis is a way of releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the difficulties you have faced and the ultimate victory He has achieved within your soul, regardless of the path you took to reach that point.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve into the art of writing testimony songs and offer much more. While many individuals may only be interested in accessing free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are eager to take your songwriting skills to the next level and feel a deep calling to establish your ministry, you can click on the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call is not binding and serves as an opportunity to determine if our program is suitable for your needs. You can schedule your free call by clicking here.
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