Five tools for sharing your Catholic faith story

‘Nancy Ward presents Why Keep a Spiritual Journal?’ at DCCW.  (photo by Martha Richmond}

Editor’s Note: This new two-part series, Five tools for sharing your Catholic faith story takes you from Preparing Your Formal Testimony, all the way to Your Elevator Speech in part 2.These are excerpts from Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story: Tools, Tips, and Testimonies by Nancy HC Ward.

Part 1 of Five tools for sharing your Catholic faith story series

Preparing Your Formal Testimony

Let me give a word of encouragement to those of you who hesitate to share your relationship with the Lord; then we will take up creating your formal testimony.

After my God-moment at the youth retreat when I committed my life to the Lord, I kept the joy of Jesus inside me, where I knew it was safe and real and hidden. I thought that if I shared this tender relationship, it might dissipate. Besides, as the hymn “I Cannot Tell” implies, I couldn’t explain why Jesus came to earth, why he suffered and died for us, or how he will return in glory. I couldn’t explain the magnitude of what Jesus meant to me any more than I could explain the grandeur of the surrounding mountains.

When I returned from the retreat, Mother asked if I enjoyed it. I smiled and told her I really did. Then I went to my room to be alone.

I didn’t share the joy of that God-moment with her or anyone for decades. That moment with Jesus, and so many since has brought me such overpowering joy that I sought solitude to keep that secret joy within me. Our spirituality is intimate and personal; it’s supposed to be private, right?

As I grew up in the Lord and other people shared their God-moments of conversion with me, I realized I was wrong. Yes, spirituality is personal, but it’s not private. My “I Cannot Tell” chant is now “Always be ready.” In 1 Peter 3:15, St. Peter opens a whole new viewpoint for hesitators like me, and perhaps you, when he writes, “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you a reason for your hope” (NABRE).

This Scripture helped me wade into sharing my first moment of conversion with one or two people, then a small group. Now I collect conversion stories on my blog and tell my story to Catholic groups and conferences to help others share their faith stories.

We can wade safely into witnessing to those around us, perhaps like the youth minister and my mother, that sense of joy alive in our hearts. They don’t push us to confess our conversion, because they love and respect us. But they know. And they want to know more. They want to listen to our story and find that joy we try to hide. It’s okay to share with your family and friends.

Then look around and follow the lead of others who quietly or boldly take every opportunity to share the joy of Jesus that overflows from within their hearts. That joy is Jesus, the Word of Life that exists from the beginning and into eternity—and rushes forever through us into the hearts of others.

I cannot tell how or why Jesus lived and died the way he did. But this I know, he heals my broken heart, forgives my sins, calms my fears, and lifts me up because he is here with me now and always.

Before my birth, God inspired Fullerton to pen these words that still resonate in my heart today. He couldn’t know how the hymn would impact my life and that of thousands, perhaps millions of Christians around the world. Long before that God inspired St. Peter to write the “Always be ready” Scripture that encourages me to evangelize. The Holy Spirit knew and provided these gifts well before he opened my heart to accept them.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit prepares us to share our stories by reminding us of poignant moments he has indelibly marked in our souls that can touch the hearts of others. Simultaneously, he is preparing the hearts of those we will encounter today, tomorrow, and next year.

Prompted by the Holy Spirit, we can wade into our river to find a little of our story to share, confident that God uses our witness however he wills. Our unique story may be their “I Cannot Tell” song, an “Always be ready” Scripture, or an unforgettable story that surges from the springs of faith within them. Our joy comes in the telling and the confidence that we are stirring the waters of faith in them into mighty waves that will break on other shores.

Composing Your Formal Testimony

Now that you have a timeline and faith bio and know the three-part structure of faith stories, you are ready to compose your formal testimony.

Although it is the center part of your story, begin with your Galilee moment where you first came to know Jesus was real and loved you. Elaborate from your faith bio on the details of what happened in your encounter with Jesus. Was the experience dramatic or serene? Filled with conflict, then peace? Set the scene. Name the cast of characters. Enumerate the sequence of events. What happened to change you?

Then write the first paragraph, which will precede your Galilee moment. This shorter paragraph describes who you were before you enjoyed this life-changing experience with Jesus. Put your Galilee moment second. Conclude by describing the new you—who you are now and how your life has changed.

Next: Part 2: Your Elevator Speech