How Can Catholic Christians Share their Faith Story?

Catholics aren’t very good at speaking about our faith, but we need to be. Every time we tell our faith story we give honor and glory to God, we have the opportunity to introduce God to someone else, and God is pleased with that.

Your story — regardless of how “spectacular” or “ordinary” you think it is — is a story about God’s character. It is your eyewitness account of how God rescued you from sin and death through Christ, and changed your life as a result.
When we share our story of coming to faith with others then we help them get to know what God is like and what God can do in them and through them.  Here are some tips to help you to form your faith story.

Be Ready

Whether you are in line at the grocery store, waiting for an elevator, in s supermarket, sitting with a family member, or standing in front of a group of people, the scriptures invite us to “always be ready” to explain our hope in Christ (1 PT 3:15-16)… and to do so with gentleness and respect.  Pope Francis refers to this sharing as a spirituality of encounter. Sometimes we like to think that because it’s our story, we don’t have to do anything to be ready to tell it. After all, we were there when it happened, and we are living it now.

Yet, when the opportunity arises, we can get nervous, become sidetracked, or forget things when sharing our story, which can be confusing or distracting for those listening. This is why a little preparation and practice can be so valuable when learning how to witness.

Put it Together

Let’s take a look at how to put your faith story together.   There are several basic parts to shaping your story: praying before beginning, the opening, your life before Christ, how you came to Christ, your life after meeting Christ and your connection to Church, and the closing.

1.   Before putting pen to pad or finger to keyboard ask God to help you to form your story of grace so that what you create may be spirit-filled to be a help to someone you encounter.
2. The Opening. Identify a theme or scripture passage you can use to frame your story. What did your life revolve around (e.g. relationships, your reputation, your agenda, money) that God used to help bring you to Him? Briefly illustrate how that influenced your life.
3. Your Life Before Christ. Briefly paint a picture of what your life was like before you came to know Christ intimately. This is more than academic or book knowledge; this is heart knowledge. Don’t dwell too much on, or brag about, past sins or struggles. Share only the details that relate to your theme –– just enough to show your need for Christ and his Church.
4. How You Came to Christ. Give the details about why and how you became a follower. Communicate in such a way that the person you are talking with, and anyone who overhears you, can understand how they can become a follower of Christ, too. Even if your listeners are not ready for that, God could use your story and explanation of the gospel to draw them to God in the future.
5. Your Life After Coming to Know the Lord. Share some of the changes that Christ has made in your life as they relate to your theme. Emphasize the changes in your character, attitude or perspective, your connection to the Church and to other people, not just mere changes in behavior. Be realistic. We still struggle as disciples. Life is far from perfect, share what's different about your life now?
6. The Closing. End with a statement that summarizes your story and connects everything back to your theme. If you want, close with a scripture verse that relates to your experience.
7. Pray.  Whether the encounter was positive or a challenge, afterwards thank God in prayer for the opportunity to witness to your faith and pray for the one(s) who heard your story-- that the Holy Spirit will fall a-fresh on that person’s life to have them come to know Jesus intimately.

Additional Helpful Hints to Forming a Faith Story

• Pray before you write out and share your story. Pray in thanksgiving after an opportunity to share your story.
• Write the way you speak.
• Don’t be overly negative or positive. Be honest.
• Don’t criticize or name any church, denomination, organization, clergy member, etc.
• Think about your listener(s). Avoid overly-religious terms.
• Keep your faith story brief. Aim to tell your story in three to five minutes.
• Practice telling your story until it becomes natural. (You don’t read it.)
• Follow up! Is there an opportunity to speak to that individual again? Take it.