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Sharing Your Personal Experience
My journey to finding faith in Christ started from a challenging childhood that is now referred to as "dysfunctional." However, during the chaotic times of the 1960s and 1970s, my family and I were simply living our lives without realizing the significance of our struggles. Little did we know, Jesus would eventually step into my life and make a profound impact.
My life went through a significant change when someone assisted me in establishing a deep connection with the unimaginable affection that Jesus has for us.
The photo credit for this image is given to Laura
In a single moment, my entire life was completely disrupted. It is this very love that has supported me for more than five decades, enduring both the highs and lows, successes and sorrows, as well as the positive experiences. My personal account is that the course of my life was permanently altered when I experienced God's love for the very first time at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my existence and the motivation behind my work is what keeps me going. Being a Christian songwriter allows me to assist others in creating songs that can convey the incredible truth of our faith. The fundamental principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all our platforms, including podcasts, videos, blogs, and coaching programs, is to spread the love of Jesus to every individual on Earth.
What is your personal experience or story of faith?
Perhaps when you were a child, you experienced God's love in church, or as an adult, you turned to Him for help with addiction. It could also be that you have gone through a significant loss that left you broken. Many Christian songwriters who have faced great pain, abuse, or divorce have approached us about our coaching programs. They are eager to learn how to express their suffering and how God has supported them through it all. James Finley claims that while God does not shield us from hardships, He miraculously provides us with the strength to endure them.
However, the challenge lies in finding a way to effectively express our personal experiences and stories through impactful and memorable songs.
Throughout our lives, we experience both the positive and negative aspects of life. However, when it comes to expressing these experiences through Christian songs, how can we effectively capture our testimonies? I have three suggestions that may assist you in contemplating the most effective ways to convey your personal stories in a manner that resonates with listeners, providing 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. To engage people with your story, it is important to provide them with a way to connect and relate to it. By incorporating aspects of our shared experiences into your narrative, we allow the audience to personalize it and develop an emotional connection.
If your story does not capture our attention and remind us of something we have personally experienced, we will lose interest. Becky Norquist, a former student of NCS and a close friend, has gone through the pain of five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Her music and ministry are centered around supporting families who are grieving, but she also includes broader themes in her songs that anyone who has experienced any form of loss – which includes all of us – can relate to and continue to engage with her music.
Next, focus on capturing the feeling or sentiment rather than getting caught up in
The statement I remember from Dave Clark (Lillenas Music), a well-known songwriter and publisher, is that it's important to have a common theme or emotion to base your song on. This advice may seem contradictory to the previous point, but it's not. The first point emphasizes finding a central theme, while this second point advises against including unnecessary details in your song that might confuse or disengage your listener. Going into excessive specifics about location, time, dates, names, or other unnecessary details can potentially alienate your audience.
When you are able to identify the shared theme and emotion in your story that resonates with me, it allows me to connect with your song. If the specific details you provide do not align with my own experiences, it can discourage me. Although it may seem challenging, it is possible to strike a balance between providing sufficient or excessive detail to focus on your emotions during the difficult situation, and then shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
…a testimonial song is a song that depicts the triumph of God in your personal experiences.
It is important to acknowledge the unique details in your own story that we may not be able to relate to. To help with this, you can look for examples of songs that reflect the type of emotion you want to convey and observe how the songwriters engage the listeners, 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 caused by a traumatic event in your life, it can be challenging to create an authentic and genuine testimonial song about it. Expressing your pain through your lyrics may sometimes be perceived as self-centered, unless you are specifically aiming to create a country song that evokes sadness and melancholy. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but it is important to recognize that it is not a true testimony, but rather a song that fits within the genre of sad country music.
When you prioritize your audience, it becomes clear that they likely have their own struggles to cope with. If you unload your own problems onto them, they may not be willing to listen for very long. This is why therapists and journals exist – they serve as outlets 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 successfully created an uplifting praise song called "My Testimony" that effectively conveys a broad message rooted in Scripture. Instead of writing a song that solely focuses on your childhood experiences, it might be beneficial to explore positive Scriptural themes that highlight God's healing power over any negative aspects. There are numerous approaches to expressing your testimony, so it would be wise to explore alternative methods before delving into a narrative that revolves around your personal pains.
In summary, a testimonial song is one that illustrates how God has overcome challenges in your life. It is crucial for your emotional well-being to experience catharsis. It could be beneficial for you to write such songs for yourself as well, but it is important to note that there is a distinction between the two types. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials commemorate God's triumph over the hardships you have faced and his ultimate victory in your soul, regardless of the path you take.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which lasts for eight weeks and takes place online, we delve into the art of writing testimony songs and much more. While many people are looking for free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly committed to advancing your songwriting skills and feel a deep calling to develop your ministry, you can click on the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call is not binding and is simply meant to determine if our program is suitable for you. You can schedule your free call by clicking here.
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