Sharing your testimony as a Catholic about how Jesus has impacted your life is one of the most powerful ways to connect with others and share your faith. For over 25 years, we have been helping Catholics share their testimonies and evangelize, and we have perfected the method.
But why share your testimony? For starters, by learning to share your testimony, you learn how to share your Catholic faith through your own story. People connect through stories, and that’s what a testimony is – your unique story.
Every story is worth sharing, whether it’s a dramatic transformation or a series of small, faithful steps God has worked in your life.
Ready to find out some tried and true methods and tips to sharing your testimony? Let’s get started!
- Why Share Your Testimony?
- Your Story in Four Acts
- Elements of a Good Testimony
- Take Action
- Additional Resources
Why Share Your Testimony?
“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” –Pope St. Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi
We can argue that the real question is, “why share the Gospel?” A prepared and practiced testimony is a powerful tool for sharing the Catholic faith, as people are more receptive to authentic, personal stories than abstract teachings.
Don’t worry if your story seems ordinary; every testimony of God’s work in your life is worth celebrating. Even small acts of faith can be as impactful as dramatic conversions.
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Your Story In Four Acts
In Scripture, St. Paul uses his testimony to share Christ with others.
Let’s look at the way Paul shares his testimony in Acts 26 to help us learn how to share our own testimony. There are four parts, or “acts,” in Paul’s testimony:
- Life before Jesus Christ
- Coming to know Jesus Christ
- Life in Jesus Christ
- Inviting others to know Jesus Christ
Act 1: My life before I knew Jesus Christ
Read Acts 26:1–11.
When preparing our testimony, we first need to answer the question, “What kind of a person was I socially, spiritually, and emotionally before I embraced Christ (even if you were born and raised Catholic)?”
In this section, it’s crucial to avoid delving too deeply into specific sins from your past life. Maintain modesty and discretion in sharing. For instance, saying something like, “I was engaging in behaviors on the weekends that conflicted with my beliefs,” or something similar, usually provides enough insight into your real struggles without vividly portraying past sins.
Act 2: How I came to know Jesus Christ
Read Acts 26:12–18.
What happened when you encountered Jesus? Even if the conversion was gradual, the testimony should still have concrete moments or a turning point for the audience to grasp.
If other people were involved in bringing about the conversion, strive to ensure that this section is Christ-centered and not focused on someone else. It is important to remember that Jesus is the main character in your testimony.
Avoid any over-dramatization. God’s work in our lives is not always easy to express. Consider how you can organize your story so that people will understand what you have been through and who God is.
Finding yourself called to evangelization full time? Spending the weekends searching the web for Catholic evangelization jobs? Look into working for FOCUS!
Act 3: My life in Jesus Christ
Read Acts 26:19–23.
What changes have occurred in my life because of my relationship with Jesus? How am I living differently? How has a relationship with Jesus allowed me to live a life that is freer, fuller, and more joyful? Emphasize this part of your testimony because the listener needs to know the significance of a relationship with Jesus. Be attentive to the language you choose here; not everyone listening to your testimony will be familiar with “churchy” language.
Avoid extremes. Try not to come across as a perfected saint. At the same time, don’t dwell on the details of your struggles and failures.
Act 4: Inviting the audience to know Christ
Read Acts 26:27–29
Ask the audience: How will you respond to Jesus Christ, who amazingly offers this salvation to everyone? In a casual setting, you could ask, “Would you like to learn more?”
You could even transition from your story to sharing the Gospel directly. Remember, the purpose of a testimony is to lead someone into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Therefore, allow your testimony to be an opportunity for someone to hear the message of the Gospel and the Catholic faith through your story.
Looking for more inspiration on how to be the best Catholic missionary you can be? Check out this article on “How Would St. Paul Lead a Bible Study?” from our formation website, FOCUS Equip.
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Take Action
Based on your discussion of the four “acts” of a testimony, think through and write down your own testimony. Then, take some time to practice by sharing it with someone whose leadership you trust. Ask them to give you feedback. Practicing frequently will help you develop your story.
Having already prepared and practiced sharing your faith story will help you be ready to share it whenever the opportunity arises. There may be times when you plan to share your testimony, like at your small group or with someone you are leading. Often, though, situations will naturally arise in which you can share about your faith. If someone asks you a question about the Faith, shows curiosity about Christ, asks you why you live the way you do, or simply seems like they need encouragement, hope, or inspiration, you want to be prepared to share what Jesus has done in your life.
Additional Resources
Download our comprehensive PDF guide to sharing your testimony, complete with examples, guided reflection questions, and an optional Lectio Divina.
If you’re looking for an example of a great testimony, check out first-year missionary, Connor Fry, share his testimony from his first year on campus at FOCUS Equip.
Enhance your evangelism efforts with insights from our popular post, “10 Ways to Evangelize (for Catholics).”
Watch Jim Caviezel’s SEEK address, titled “Paul, Apostle of Christ” to learn more about following in the steps of St. Paul.
To continue learning about evangelization in your daily life, listen to Fr. Jeff Lewis’ talk from SEEK, which looks to the Book of Timothy for inspiration.
For even more great Catholic resources, check out our podcast, which features talks from our SEEK conference, and our YouTube channel for videos and more!
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