You are going to a foreign country for the main purpose of telling others about Jesus. Sharing your own personal story is a very effective way of doing this! It is very important that you be able to articulate clearly and concisely who Jesus is to you and the difference He has made in your life. It is therefore very important to pray through what the Lord would have you say and how He would have you say it. Remember, He is the one who prepares the hearts of those you will be speaking to and He will be drawing them to Himself, sometimes using your story or your words.

Take time to pray and prepare in writing what you will say. It should not be longer than about 3 minutes. Practice what you are going to say, practice saying it to others on your team and ask them for feedback. You want to make sure that it is clear and sincere.

Even though people could debate the truths of Scripture and argue the existence of God, no one is able to debate your personal story of how God works in your life.  When you share how God has blessed you, forgiven you, changed you, and relates to you, you take God from the realm of knowledge to the realm of relationship.  People might not believe in God, but they will listen and think about your story.
When you are asked to share your story, simply tell what your life was like before you trusted Christ, how you were converted, and what difference there has been since you have trusted Christ.   Please keep your testimony very short and simple.  A few sentences will be sufficient.  Tell more about who you are, what you do, where you live, hobbies, etc.

Before:
Were you searching for something?  What motivated you to find Christ?  What were your actions?  How did you try to satisfy your inner needs (loneliness, fear of dying, insecurity???)  Your way of "fixing" might have been through work, money, drugs, relationships, sports, etc.

Note: In Eastern Europe, the topic of divorce is a sensitive subject in the church. It is best to be sensitive about mentioning it in your testimony. If you have been through the painful experience of divorce, your eDOT Team Leader will be happy to help you write your testimony in a manner appropriate for the culture.

How?
Simply tell the circumstances that caused you to consider Christ as the solution to your searching.  Take time to identify any steps involved.  Use Scripture.  Do you have one special verse that you can share with them?

Since:
How has your new life made a difference?  How has God's forgiveness impacted you?  Is Christ meeting your needs now?  What does your relationship with Him mean?
As you share, don't use clichés or religious jargon that they probably will not understand or relate to.  Don't assume that the people listening understand the concept of "sin," or "accepting Christ," or other such terms.  Be careful of illustrations that will not communicate cross culturally.  Be realistic.  Don't make statements like, "after I accepted Christ...All of my problems disappeared."  How does God sustain you in times of challenge?

Using an Interpreter

 

1. Speak slowly.


2. Speak to the audience, NOT to the interpreter.


3. Speak loud enough for the interpreter to hear you clearly.


4. Depending on the interpreter, you should probably be able to relate your story in short simple sentences to convey your thoughts.  Don’t say too much at one time.  Remember, the interpreter has to be able to remember what you say.  Don’t make it too hard for them.  However, in most languages, you need to give a complete thought at one time, in order for the interpreter to translate correctly.  So, don’t make your phrases too short and don’t stop in the middle of a sentence.


5. Avoid using slang.


6. It would be helpful to meet with the interpreter before sharing, to go over any phrases that they might not understand.  If that doesn't happen, and you reach a phrase that they don't seem to understand, use a synonym or rephrase in some way so that they are not embarrassed.


7. Don't be afraid to ask the audience if they understood, if you are teaching in a devotional setting.  Getting their feedback will help make sure that they are with you.

You are sharing your story about your life, and they want to hear it.  This is not a time to "preach to convert," but to make them aware of your personal relationship with Jesus. 

Remember, they just want to learn about you!  Be relaxed.  Share naturally. :-)