Witnessing through Cardboard Testimonies

We have seen homeless people standing on street corners with a piece of cardboard and a message such as "Will Work for Food" "Need Money" or "Please help me feed my family." That is where the idea for cardboard testimonies began. The silent message can speak volumes in just a few words. 

Christians have put their own slant on the idea by sharing a few words on one side of the cardboard about their life before Christ and on the back, writing a few words about their transformation after Christ made them a new creation. Not many of us get an opportunity to stand before an audience and speak about what the Lord has done in our lives. Even fewer Christians want to speak before an audience because of fear. A cardboard testimony is a way to share the change Christ has made in our lives without speaking a word. It is a powerful witness to the transforming power of God's Spirit in the lives of believers.

Although the origin of cardboard testimonies is unknown, the idea spread among churches. Hillside Christian Church in Amarillo, Texas was the first to post video online. The senior pastor of the church had "borrowed" the idea from a Las Vegas church. The idea went global in 2006, when the Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago held a leadership summit and posted their participants' testimonies online.

My life before Christ

My life after Christ

I have shared my testimony with you on this blog. At the Women's Conference hosted by New Harmony United Methodist Church in November 2010, the ladies who attended had an opportunity to share their testimonies.

Testimonies included: Worldly/Living for Him; Lukewarm Christian/On Fire for Jesus; Control Freak/Gave Control to Jesus; Sideline Christian/Going to the Mission Field; Drug User/Addicted to Christ and Saved at age 12/Still Serving the Lord.

If you could share your testimony in just a few words, what would they be? Each person who now believes that the blood of Jesus has saved them, has a testimony. 

As I was preparing this blog it occurred to me that those who were impacted by Christ while he walked on the earth would have some incredible testimonies. Here's my take on what some of them might write on a piece of cardboard.

One of the most prominent Christians in the Bible is Paul. His testimony would probably say: side one - murderer - Christian hater, side two - evangelist, prisoner for Christ. The disciple John would perhaps say: side one - selfish - angry, side two - beloved by Christ. Zacchaeus encountered Christ who invited him to take him home to dinner. His testimony? Side one - cheater, thief, side two - generous and forgiven. We know from reading the Book of Acts that Barnabas was side one - wealthy and wordly, after Christ came into his life he became side two - generous and a missionary. Onesimus might share his testimony as side one - a thief and deserter and side two - forgiven, accepted and free. One of the most powerful testimonies would come from Lazarus. Side one - literally dead for 4 days, side two - alive, healthy and following Christ!

I'd like to hear your testimony. Leave a comment on this page or send me an e-mail at Mundy301@roadrunner.com.