Tell Me Your Story?

One of the things that I believe is important for us in YWAM is to tell our stories. Scripture is full of references about the power of our testimony and the power of our witness, but I think that too many of us don’t tell our story, and don’t make use of the tools that are out there to “declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me” (Dan. 4:2).

In todays world of easy publishing and communication (for those of us in developed nations) it is easier than ever to tell others about what God is doing in and through us. This is something that we really need to be doing…

Why Tell Our Story?

First off we need to realise that it isn’t our story that we are to be telling, it’s God’s story. We tell our story not to bring glory to ourselves, but to bring glory to God and to point to Him. Our stories must bring glory to God, even when, like Job, we might be going through a hard time.

So why should we tell our stories as Christians and as Missionaries?

1. Point other people to God and His faithfulness and love
2. Encourage others in their faith and walk with God
3. Mobilise others to action by telling how God is using you

There is plenty written on the web about the first two items, but for our purposes I want to focus on #3, mobilising others…

Use Your Story to Mobilise Others

You are probably going to get sick of me talking about mobilising others, but for me this is the journey that God is taking me down at the moment…

I don’t know about you, but I am encouraged and challenged reading about how other people are living out their faith and the call that God has on their lives. Books like “Is That Really You God” by Loren Cunningham and “A Retrospect” by J. Hudson Taylor get me excited about the possibility that God has a plan and purpose for me, and that God can make a difference through my obedience to Him. God has used others, and their story encourages me:

• Have you ever stopped to think that the story of your life journey with God can encourage others to seek God and follow Him to the ends of the earth?
• If you aren’t telling your story how will people know that they can partner or join with you in ministry?
• If you aren’t telling your story then who is?

Tell Your Story and Stories From Your Ministry

I’m not just talking about your personal stories, but also about stories from your ministry. I need both. I want to connect to you personally, and also to your ministry and the ministry centre you work with.

If I visit your ministry web-site I want to see what God is doing and read the stories and testimonies. I will connect to the people in the stories a lot easier than I will connect with a “brand” or “ministry concept”.

The stories is how you will excite me to want to be a part of the work God has you doing. Without the stories you will appear faceless and hollow, a corporate entity, not a living, breathing part of the body of Christ. The stories bring life and energy to your ministry, and encourage me to think about becoming a part of it.

So please, tell me your story…

Is There a Biblical Basis for Sharing Your Story?

To finish, here are a few scriptures encouraging us to tell our stories…

"And they overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Revelation 12:11)

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

"I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me." (Daniel 4:2)

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!" (1 Chronicles 16:8)

"For we cannot but speak of the things we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20)

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  (1 Peter 3:15)