Testimony

Written by On Wednesday, 13 April 2016 15:32
Testimony

There is something gallant about giving a testimony. Something almost chivalrous about it. Possibly, it’s because when we share a testimony we lay open bits of us so that other people can walk into them, look and hopefully learn. Scripture records in Revelation 11: 12 that ‘they overcame by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony’, still, the vulnerability that comes with giving a testimony cannot be ignored.

Say, you meet an old friend on a random Sunday after the service. You haven’t seen her in a while and thus you take a few minutes to catch up. When you are done, she invites you to join them for their prayer cell meeting which she is going to. Seeing as you do not have immediate appointments, you oblige and follow her to their meeting place. The meeting place you realize, is a semi- permanent tent right behind the church. You have never ventured into this part of the church compound, thus you are pleasantly surprised.

The tent is almost empty but your friend reassures that the other members shall soon join in. True to her word, the tent is soon filled up by members who seem genuinely glad to see one another.

You don't miss the fact that the members look into each other’s eyes when they speak. Further, when they shake hands they hold them a little longer like they want to share a secret.

The kids in the group you notice are treated a bit differently; patted lovingly on their heads or hurled up in the air by the grown-ups. They laugh, giggle and smile; the kids love the attention.

It occurs to you the existing synchrony between the members is akin to that of a human body. Never in the history has it been known for hands to giggle at feet for being large or for knees to make fun of the stomach for being soft. The body usually is on the same side all the time; you think about the Body of Christ.

For a moment, it’s just nods and smiles of approval you feel like you are lost at sea, a happy sea. Your friend leaves to go re- hug and re-greet everyone Hehe; you are left to your own devices.  It’s baking hot and as you watch the heat rising from the ground you can’t help but notice how bright the day is.

Inevitably you call to mind the countless times you told yourself that your selfies would be a bit more ‘on fleek’ if only there was adequate natural lighting. As sweat seals itself onto you back, you consider this as the Lords' way of getting you ‘more light' ensuring you get ‘on fleek selfies’. God really does answer prayer you conclude.

From the corner of your eyes you see the leader of the cell rise up amongst the members and call everyone to attention. She raises her right hand waves a popular greeting, ‘Praise the Lord!’. To which they all agree unanimously to by shouting back ‘so be it’.

The fact that she's a lover of Kikuyu hymns does not go unnoticed; more than once she enjoins kikuyu hymns in her address. That you barely understand the hymns does not concern you, for the hymns sound endearing. You recall Psalms 100: 4; ‘Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name’.

The leader then welcomes everyone and invites them to tea and witnessing. Tea is served in the backdrop of deep conversation, close murmuring expressing genuine interest. Visitors are encouraged to join in the witnessing, which your friend intimates is sharing of testimony.

At the tip of your fingers is an incident; of the Lord redeeming your relative from second generation drinks. You stand up and begin to share it. You delve into the specifics of the doctors warning him of a shrunken brain if he continued imbibing on the frothy drinks. The other members nod in fast approval.

Encouraged, you paint a grim picture of how the drinking almost tore your family apart. Further you share of the pain of debt and heartbreaks occasioned to you as a family; the gory details. And then you come to an end.

Next to witness is a middle agedman, who has a slight slur in his speech.

 ‘Tukutendelesa?’ he quips  

 ‘Tukutendelesa!' The members respond in unison, while waving hands at him.

 He then lets the members know of how he found favour at his work place; his business finally recorded a profit and leaves it at that. An average 60 seconds you estimate. Is that all? You almost want to ask as you watch him settle on his seat.

Immediately you have this urge to take back your testimony. You second guess yourself. Was it too long? You worry. Were the details too much? You scrutinize the testimony further.

You wonder what the other members think of you, and your family. You want to ask the members to disregard your testimony.

But the truth is, the only one who would gain from a retracted submission is the enemy. He's the one to be overcome and we lose to him when we cower, when we're afraid of over sharing, when we fear the possible condemnation. Which we shouldn’t; for the good book reminds us, there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ.

Tukutendelesa? So what’s your testimony today?

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