This personal testimony was written by Tianette van Staden

I grew up in a Dutch Reformed church, where faith was structured and traditional. There were
no cell groups—just the occasional visit from the minister, where serving tea and cake was part
of the routine. There’s nothing wrong with that, and I’m not here to criticize, but that was my
experience.

When I moved 1800 km away from home, I started attending an Assemblies of God
church with my aunt and uncle. It was a whole new world—people sang worship songs beyond
just Psalms, they prayed in tongues, and they gathered in small groups during the week.

At first, it was a shock. I had grown up one way and suddenly realized there were other ways to
worship.

But I loved it.

I loved being able to sing Christian songs outside of the Psalms, and I even appreciated the presence of a Christian band leading worship. In 2017, I made the decision to get baptized—something that wasn’t part of my Dutch Reformed upbringing, where you are baptized as a baby and later go through a formal declaration of faith.

Since then, I have continued to grow in my faith, attending a church that believes in the fivefold
ministry. My dad remains in the Dutch Reformed church, and when I visit, I attend with him. I am
not here to tell people which churches are right or wrong—I firmly believe that the right church
for you is where the Holy Spirit leads you, where biblical truth is preached, and where you feel a
deep sense of peace.

The Cell Group That Changed My Perspective

One of the biggest shifts happened, during this time joining the Assemblies of God church,
when I joined a Wednesday night cell group for the first time. I remember sitting in a circle with
other believers when one of the girls said that we should go around the circle and share our
testimonies. That’s when it hit me—I had no idea what the word testimony meant. People spoke
so passionately about how God had worked in their lives, sharing their faith and what they had
learned and I sat there, feeling completely out of place. After all, this was not something that I
grew up with.

In that moment, I felt like a terrible believer, like I didn’t know my Bible the way I was supposed
to. These girls, just a year or two older than me, spoke with such wisdom and understanding,
and I felt like I was behind in my faith.

Looking back, I now realize that was a pivotal moment in my spiritual growth. I may not have
known my testimony then, but God was already writing my story. Today, I see how much I’ve
grown. I still don’t have the entire Bible memorized, but now, when friends share struggles, I find
myself remembering scriptures and biblical examples without even thinking about it. That’s
growth. That’s testimony in action.

What Is a Personal Testimony?

At that time, I didn’t understand what the word testimony meant, but now I’d define it as a
personal story of how God has moved in your life. It doesn’t have to be dramatic or earth-
shattering—it’s simply the evidence of His faithfulness in your journey.

A Bible verse that comes to mind is Revelation 12:11 NKJV: “They overcame him by the blood
of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Another story that resonates with me is a story
in Luke 5 regarding the man who was healed because of his friends’ faith. Before they even
reached Jesus, they must have had conversations about His power. Maybe one of them had
already seen a miracle and shared his testimony, which led the others to believe. Testimonies
inspire faith.

Related Post: A Testimony of Faith

The Power of Personal Testimonies

There have been moments when someone else’s testimony impacted me deeply. One that
stands out is my brother’s story. At age 11, doctors told him he had only six months to live. But
he refused to accept that diagnosis, and by God’s grace, he lived for another 17 years. That
was a miracle.

Looking at my own life, I recognize many testimonies of God’s goodness. One recent moment
showed me just how much God protects us in our daily lives.

On August 22, 2024, I was on my usual hour and a half commute home. Stuck in CBD traffic,
waiting at a red light, I had worship music playing and wasn’t paying much attention to my
surroundings.

Suddenly, I heard a terrible screeching sound. Looking in my mirror, I saw a massive truck
speeding toward us, not slowing down. I had just enough time to cry out, “Lord, help me!”—and
in that instant, a supernatural calm came over me. Without thinking, I flicked my indicator on,
honked my horn, and edged into the right lane.

The truck swerved left, missing me by mere centimeters. It ran the red light, hit several cars
ahead, and crashed into a wall.

As I drove past the wreckage, I realized the miracles in that moment:

• There was just enough space for me to move.
• The car behind me didn’t accelerate, leaving me room.
• My indicator was on—I don’t even remember turning it on!
• The timing was perfect.

That experience built my faith in ways I can’t explain. God is present, even in what feels like our
routine, daily lives.

Encouraging Others to Share

Many people hesitate to share their testimony because they think it’s not “big enough.” But God
is in the details. Even the small things matter and can encourage someone else.

For example, I always wanted to attend a specific university. I had never seen it, didn’t know
anyone there, and had no real reason why—but I woke up one day knowing that was where I
wanted to go. Without realizing it, I accidentally missed completing my application to the other
university I applied to. By God’s providence, I got accepted into my first choice. Looking back, I
see God’s hand in that moment. It may seem small, but it’s a testimony of His guidance.

Related Post: When Sharing Your Testimony Leaves You Feeling Exposed

Reflecting on God’s Work in Your Life

If you feel like you don’t have a personal testimony, ask God to show you. I promise He will bring things
to mind that you hadn’t even recognized before.

A practical way to reflect is by keeping a journal of your testimonies. I personally write down
dreams where I believe God is speaking to me, but even if journaling isn’t your thing, taking note
of the times He has moved in your life can be a huge encouragement later on. When difficult
seasons come, you can look back and be reminded of His faithfulness.

A Call to Action

I want to encourage you to start small. Share a testimony with a friend. As you begin to recall
how God has worked in your life, your faith will grow, and you’ll encourage others in the
process.

Reflection Question

Can you think of a moment—big or small—where you saw God’s hand at work?

If you feel led, share it. Your personal testimony could be exactly what someone else needs to hear
today.

Meet the Author

Tianette is a child of God who felt inspired at the end of 2023 to create a blog for fellow Christians. Through sharing her personal experiences and lessons learned, she hopes to encourage others in their walk with God. Her desire is to bring people closer to Him, not through perfection, but through the real and honest journey of faith.

Testimonies of Fatih

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