This post, “How to share your testimony on mission trips,” is my guide to help you prepare for your trip.
I have shared testimonies of God’s goodness all over the world. If you have been a Christian for any period, I am sure you have a testimony of something God has done in your life.
Just last week, I witnessed a mini miracle happen in someone in my family’s life, and it was a testimony of God’s goodness. These stories of the Christian life happen as we grow in our faith in Christ. Every week can be a new story to tell of God’s goodness in our lives or the lives of those we love.
But how do you share your testimony on mission trips? I hope this can be a starting guide for you.
Start with prayer and reflection.
Pray and reflect on what God has done in your life.
Here are some things to reflect on as you pray.
- What was your life like before you accepted Jesus?
- What was your life like after?
- What positive impact did it have on your life?
If you are born into a Christian family, there still was a moment when you decide to accept Christ.
My next tip on how to share your testimony on mission trips
Be vulnerable
Being vulnerable might be the most challenging part, and I know it isn’t easy. However, I also know the times I was honest and vulnerable when sharing my testimony, God used it for good in the lives of the people I spoke to. And I believe God will do the same for you.
Brene Brown has written many books about vulnerability and gave an incredible TED talk about it. You can check it out here. It’s old but still relevant.
Remove the fear factor.
Don’t ever let Fear hold you back in life. Fear will control you every time you let it. Don’t let it! And Fear will try to stop you from sharing your story.
I know it’s hard, and people can be judgmental and critical. So be honest and vulnerable and share what Jesus has done in your life.
If you do those two things and keep it brief and concise, it will impact others. It won’t be preachy.
Sharing your testimony is just sharing something God has done in your life. It doesn’t need to be complicated.
How to share your testimony on a mission trip is the same as all good stories. It needs a
Make sure to have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
- Beginning: What my life was like before I accepted Jesus
- Middle: When and how I accepted Jesus.
- End: What impact it has had on my life?
It’s simple. I will add to make the changed part of your story the focal point. People sometimes focus more on the craziness of their lives and go into explicit detail about their sins and previous lifestyle. You only need to if you feel that part of the story is relevant.
When I was on missions in South Africa, a pastor we worked with shared his testimony. It was a total transformation; he was ran over a wall to escape the police and was shot twice. After that incident, he was saved after that happened.
My testimony is nothing like this, but I have seen God use the story of growing up in a Christian home and making a personal choice to accept Jesus change lives.
Beginning: I grew up in a Christian home, but I knew that I had to make a personal choice to receive Christ.
Middle: I made a choice: I wanted to accept Jesus and submit my life to live as a Christian. It wasn’t a smooth road. I struggled with truly believing Jesus could love me and that I was worthy of his love.
End: But then I started to believe I was loved. I believed the Bible when I read:
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:14
I started to believe I was loved, and Christ’s love transformed my life and thinking. Christ can do the same for you as well.
The next is to,
Avoid Christian jargon
I think this needs a fun example:
“I got saved because the blood of a lamb bought me’ And Halalulia, I transformed from glory to glory because I crushed satan under my feet. Now I am born again, the second time after I was given a new heart.”
This is a second language for people. Although I have been a Christian long enough to understand it, that isn’t a testimony you want to share on a mission trip or anywhere. It sounds crazy for anyone who wasn’t raised a Christian.
So keep it simple and share the story of what Christ has done in your life.
Share the journey
Another important part of sharing your testimony on a mission trip is to share the journey. Christianity doesn’t stop once you have made a decision to receive Christ. As Christians we should be consistantly moving closer to Christ.
So it’s okay to share any areas in which God is still helping you.
Listen to the Holy Spirit
Wherever you are in your relationship with the Holy Spirit, some denominations don’t believe in the Holy Spirit today or helping in everyday life. Well, you can skip this part.
As a missionary who worked all over the world, I will say the moments when I listened to the Holy Spirit were the most powerful and transforming for those who listened.
It’s okay to be vulnerable about personal struggles in your testimony, and if you listen to the Holy Spirit, you will have wisdom on when, where, and if you should share.
Craft it down to three minutes.
This is a good amount of time to share if there is a program or if you are talking one-on-one with people on the mission trip.
You can also practice getting it down to two minutes as well. Remember it needs to have a clear start, middle and end.
Practice sharing your testimony.
The more you practice, the easier it will be. Take some time and ask a friend or family member to listen as you share.
Share the gospel story.
The most important part of our testimonies is Jesus. It is where our faith, hope, and life truly begin. So, as you share your stories of how Jesus transformed your life, remember to point them to Jesus.
Focus on grace
So many people believe they can only know Christ if they are changed. But receiving Jesus is the change. Accepting grace is where the true change begins. So, when you share your testimony on mission trips, focus on the grace of Jesus and not the works of the person.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
I hope this helps you prepare for your mission trip. Let us know in the comments any tips you have about sharing your story.
If you want to know more about missions, check out these posts: “Am I Called to Missions?” and “Top things you need to know before your mission trip”
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