I went to an event once where testimonies were routinely shared at the start of a meeting. The cynic in me often tuned out, thinking, ‘We know the Lord is at work, these stories all sound fairly similar – can we get to the teaching and music please?’
Then one day the preacher began unpacking the importance of sharing our testimonies. He gently pointed out that when we hear stories of God at work, our faith rises, we become more expectant and more in tune with the Spirit. We are reminded that miracles do happen, that prayer does have power and that the hope and light promised in Jesus are all around us.
So here are some stories that have inspired us recently, seeing God point people to his Son through the power of music:
“Whilst practising ‘Creation Sings’ during our school assembly, the children were singing with great enthusiasm “Halle-lu-yah, Let all Creation stand and sing”. Although the children perhaps did not realise this, I felt a real presence of the Holy Spirit and suddenly one of our more “naughty” Year 6 children burst into tears and was sobbing. But they were not unhappy tears, for her face showed such happiness and she was laughing at the same time! I knew that God had touched her with his great love at that moment and the children around her knew something special had happened to her as she was usually very cynical and rarely sang.”
“My school choir had been chosen to sing one of the solo songs, “Amazing Grace” at the Royal Albert Hall for Prom Praise for Schools. I chose a Year 6 Muslim girl with a beautiful voice to sing the first verse solo. Watching her sing this solo, one could see that her face was shining and once more God was impacting her as she sang. At the end of term my Headteacher thanked me for choosing her, saying she was a bright but very difficult child and the whole experience had changed her to being so much happier and outgoing.”
“We had a spare ticket for Prom Praise one year. We came up early for rehearsal and my wife had ample time to eat and then went to Kensington garden for coffee. A lovely young lady – a Medical Student from Imperial college – came to the same seat and engaged in conversation. My wife had a spare ticket in the stalls and offered this to the young lady, her response was “I would love to go to the concert.” The girl went home to change and my wife prayed she would attend – and she came! She loved the concert and asked my wife if she would give her a hug and my wife and a person sitting next door prayed for the young girl.”
“I have enjoyed singing with Prom Praise choir and orchestra since 1990. I have found the experience inspiring and encouraging with new music and testimonies. In recent years we have gained a large number of Iranian refugees at our Church who have made a commitment to Christ and been baptised. For the 2022 Prom Praise I was able to get complimentary promenading tickets for our refugee friends. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were greatly inspired and encouraged. Many of the ladies told me afterwards that they were never allowed to sing in Iran. Singing gave them a great sense of freedom to worship. The men were also encouraged. A few of the ladies now sing with our music group.”
If you have a story to tell about how All Souls Music has pointed you or someone you know to Jesus, please let us know!
~ Lani
