Personal Testimony: Reflecting on my own experiences, I found my way to Christ amidst a challenging upbringing that is often referred to as "dysfunctional" by society. However, during the tumultuous era of the 1960's and '70's, my family and I were simply navigating through life without realizing that our circumstances would be categorized under this label. Regardless, Jesus played a significant role in intervening and transforming my life.
My life underwent a significant change when someone assisted me in establishing a deep connection with the incomprehensible love that Jesus possesses.
The photograph was taken by Laura E. Partain
In a single moment, my entire life took a drastic turn. This love that I experienced has been my source of strength and support for more than five decades, helping me navigate through both the highs and lows, successes and failures, and even the positive experiences. The story of my life is that everything changed permanently when I first felt the love of God at the age of eighteen.
The reason for my presence and purpose is because of this. It is the driving force behind my work as a Christian songwriter and my desire to assist you in crafting songs that can beautifully convey this incredible truth. The main principle that guides Nashville Christian Songwriters and all of our various 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 experience with faith? It could be that you felt a strong connection to God during your childhood church visits, or perhaps you turned to Him as an adult to overcome addiction. Maybe you went through a heartbreaking loss that shattered you, but ultimately found solace in God's presence. Many Christian songwriters who have endured significant hardships, such as abuse, divorce, or loss, have expressed interest in our coaching programs. They are eager to learn how to convey their pain through music and demonstrate how God has supported them throughout their struggles. James Finley once said, "God doesn't shield us from suffering, but miraculously gives us strength to endure it."
However, the question remains: How can we effectively express our personal experiences and stories through compelling musical compositions?
Throughout our journey in 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? Here are three tips that can assist you in considering the best approaches to capture your testimonials in a manner that resonates with listeners and offers them solace, restoration, and optimism.
To begin with, attempt to discover a shared element in your narrative that many individuals can relate to.
Loneliness and feeling lost are universal emotions that people can relate to. To engage others in your story, it is important to create a connection by allowing them to see a reflection of their own experiences within it. By leaving room for personal interpretation, listeners can fill in the gaps with their own narratives, which ultimately allows them to connect and resonate with your song on a deeper level.
If your story doesn't 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 of ours, went through the difficult experience of enduring five miscarriages and one stillbirth. Through her music and ministry, she primarily addresses the needs of grieving families, but she also incorporates enough universal themes in her songs so that anyone who has experienced any form of loss – which includes all of us – can find something relatable and continue to be engaged with her music.
Secondly, focus on capturing the feeling or mood rather than getting caught up
I remember hearing Dave Clark, a well-known songwriter and publisher from Lillenas Music, say this and it has stuck with me since then. At first, it may seem contradictory, but it's not. The initial point is to focus on a central theme or emotion when writing a song. The second point is to avoid including unnecessary details in your song that don't add value for the listener. If you delve too much into specific locations, timeframes, dates, names, or other particulars, you might end up losing the listener's interest.
When you 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 of your story don't align with mine, it may deter me. Although it may seem challenging, it is achievable. You can learn to find the right balance of providing sufficient but not excessive details to focus on your emotions during the difficult experience and then shift the narrative towards the redemptive aspect of God's intervention in your life.
… a song of testimony is one that displays the victory of God in your personal experiences.
… a testimonial song is a musical expression that highlights the triumph of God in your own life.
It is important to recognize the unique aspects of your own story that we may not be able to relate to. To aid in your songwriting, consider finding examples of songs that resonate with the emotions you want to convey and observe how the songwriters engage listeners rather than simply listing specific details.
Thirdly, it is important to understand the distinction between catharsis and testimonial.
If you are still emotionally wounded and experiencing pain as a result of a traumatic experience, it can be challenging to authentically express your feelings in a testimonial song. Often, pouring out your emotions in the lyrics may seem self-centered, unless you are creating a traditional country song that captures the sorrowful essence. If that is your intention, then go ahead and pursue it, but it is important to understand that it would not be considered a testimonial. Instead, it would be categorized as a melancholic country song.
When considering your audience, it's important to acknowledge that they likely have their own challenges and struggles to handle. If you simply unload your own pain onto them, they may not be willing to listen for long. This is why therapists and journals exist – they serve as outlets for you to express your dysfunction and hurts. It's crucial to think about the impact your lyrics will have on your listeners. What kind of emotional space are you creating for them? How will they feel once they've heard your song?
In my opinion, Brandon Lake and the Elevation Worship team have done an excellent job with their energetic praise song "My Testimony" by conveying a broad message rooted in Scripture. Instead of writing a song that focuses on your own childhood experiences, it might be more effective to explore positive themes from the Bible that highlight God's healing power in overcoming negativity. There are countless approaches to sharing your testimony, so it would be beneficial to explore alternative methods before expressing your pain to others.
To conclude, a testimonial song is a song that showcases how God has overcome challenges in one's life. It is essential for emotional well-being to have a cathartic release. It might be beneficial to write such songs for oneself, but it is important to distinguish between catharsis and testimonials. Catharsis involves releasing emotions, while testimonials celebrate God's triumph over the difficulties one has faced and his ultimate victory in one's soul, regardless of the path taken to reach it.
In our NCS Pro Song Mastery program, which takes place over eight weeks and is conducted online, we delve into the art of writing testimony songs and offer a range of other valuable resources. While many individuals may be seeking free Christian songwriting courses and webinars, if you are truly dedicated to advancing your songwriting skills and feel a deep desire to establish your ministry, we invite you to click on the provided link to arrange a free phone call. This call is entirely obligation-free and serves as an opportunity to determine if our program aligns with your needs. You can schedule your free call by clicking here.
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