Teenager Testimony Tips

Courtesy of UNE Photos/Creative Commons License

Last night we had one of our students give her testimony.  It was raw and honest.  It was powerful.  You could tell that she was nervous about sharing her story, trembling as she held the mic; however, after it was all done she was smiling.  You could tell that she knew what she had just done was huge.  Her peers affirmed her feelings and her testimony by embracing her with hugs and thank you’s.

Testimonies from teenagers are a powerful tool to shaping disciples.  After a while your voice can sound like the adults in the Peanuts cartoons, “Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah.”  It’s not that you can’t tell your story, it’s just when a teen hear’s the story of their peer they will engage at a different level.  Unfortunately for a teen to give a testimony isn’t always as easy as asking.  3 tips to help teenagers develop a testimony are:

• Help Them Reflect On The Story They’ve Lived: The reason most people cannot share their story is because they’ve never thought about it in the narrative.  They’ll share pieces of it here and there in tweets and photos; but, to go deeper into the story beneath the story is something new for them.  To help them discern their story have them reflect on the:

Highs And Lows
Ambitions And Roles
Presence Of God

In their story.  When they can see how their story is shaped it will help them see how powerful it truly is.

• Have Them Write It Out: Their story like yours is filled with emotions and confusion.  Putting your thoughts, ideas and feelings on paper help you sort out where it is God was taking you.  It allows you to see which goals were big and what wounds have yet to heal.  By writing it out it gives them an opportunity to not only think about their story but see it.  This will help them see the fullness of the life God has given them.

• Encourage Them To Embrace It Fully: Once you have them write out their story make sure they embrace it by practicing and memorizing.  Help them grow comfortable and confident in sharing their story.  When they review it over and over again they begin to own it. When they own their story they become more comfortable sharing it with others.

Your wisdom as a youth minister is priceless; however, it’s impact is limited by the generational differences between you and your teens.  Teaching a teen how to share their story not only benefits your ministry, it also instills confidence in the teens.  They’ll see how God has shaped and used them.  When a teen can share his or her own story they create an opportunity to open the hearts of themselves and their peers in a new way.

How do you coach teen’s to give their testimonies?