Testimonies - 7 Church Services That Make First-Time Guests Return
Have you ever wondered if you are making a difference in people’s lives? As pastors, we all face this question at some point. We sacrifice so much and spend countless hours taking care of others, but are we truly making a difference?
We've been sharing more details about how our church has been experimenting with our Sunday services. Today's topic, "testimonies," allows you as pastors and the entire church to hear how you are making a difference in your congregation's lives.
A few weeks ago, my church received one of its biggest compliments. We had just finished a 6-week series on the Holy Spirit the previous week, and during that week's service, we interviewed three people about what they had learned from it. One of those people was Laris. Laris is not a professional Christian; he doesn’t get paid to be on stage, but everyone knows and likes him. In my opinion, Laris is a baby Christian, just starting his journey with Christ, but people could relate to him. Laris said he learned from the series that God is not just a weekend God. He realized he could take God home with him because God is an everyday God. I think he helped people in the congregation that day, but that wasn't the compliment.
Laris shared that when he first started coming to Mosaic, he felt like people were pretending, that they were too nice and couldn't possibly be that happy. But over time, as he kept coming back and got to know people better, he realized they weren't faking it; they genuinely cared for him.
As Laris' pastor, I sat in the front row holding back tears. I always knew that I was making a difference, but to hear it from someone else and to allow the entire congregation to hear how our church had made a difference in Laris' relationship with God filled me with joy. Having testimony times inside of your service by people who are not professional Christians makes their testimony feel more authentic and relatable.
Number 3 – Testimonies
20-minute sermon followed by 20 minutes of testimonies
Or
40 minutes of testimonies with no sermon. (the following week after completing a series)
How we do it:
We choose one to three people to interview depending on the allocated time
We work with them throughout the week to refine their answers
We bring two couches on the stage to create a relaxing atmosphere
One of our pastors will interview them
Benefit / What it does for people:
It allows the pastors and congregation to see how their church is making a difference
It feels more authentic when a non-professional is sharing his experiences
It gives the speaking pastor a week off from preaching to recharge
What was challenging:
It's essential to spend time with the interviewee beforehand to guide the conversation; otherwise, it might become chaotic.