Testimony Always Starts with a Test
My one prayer for the 115 VBS kids who would walk through our doors might be the same prayer you have for your children: God, just let them know you’re real. That this isn’t a fairy tale. Give them an experience. A miracle. Anything to prove you’re alive and active today. And he delivered.
Day 2 of VBS I had five call-ins. FIVE. And five was also the number of minutes until I was set to go on stage. When our kids would come flooding in, they would be lost looking for the adults who cared for them yesterday. And they would be lost.
It had to be fixed. It had to be now. And it had to be me. And I had no idea how to fill 5 spots in 5 minutes.
As I marched down the hall to grab a stage prop, I felt the weight and the panic. I detoured to peek in the custodians’ office.
“I need something big.”
They looked as if to say, “What, Kindra? Another 35 artificial trees moved a foot to the left?”
“I just need you to pray for me.
“Their chests deflated, their eyes softened, and they gave a resolute “okay.”
God Meets Us Where We Are
Several minutes later, I had my prop and marched on back. As I passed the custodian’s office, I paused mid-stride. It was like I hit a wall, but nothing was there. Except peace.
Peace didn’t just wash over me–it stopped me in my tracks.
I looked up, gave a you-got-me-there smile and a thanks. And as I marched on, weight off my shoulders, my smile widened as I knew how to fix the five-fold problem.
I asked one of the custodians later, “Did you pray for me?”
With a sly smile and nod, he answered, “Several times.”
“I FELT IT.”
He later brought a little plastic Jesus into my office and sat it on my desk with smirk and a, “Everyone needs a little Jesus.
When I finally left my office, I caught a glimpse of that tiny Jesus. I turned back to put him in my pocket, head poking out. A fresh and empowered feeling came over me. It’s one thing to know God is with you. It’s another thing to feel it.
As I spoke from the stage that final day, I shared that testimony–of God answering even small prayers–right here and now. Which is a true working miracle.
And I sent them each home with a little plastic Jesus.
God cared enough to show Himself to 100+ kids through an answered prayer of a custodian and the testimony of myself.
What if I hadn’t prayed for that?
What if I didn’t ask for prayer from the custodians?
And what if none of them prayed?
Then I wouldn’t have a testimony to share. And don’t our kids need that?
Why Kids Need to Hear Your Testimony
Testimony time used to be a regular thing in church. It isn’t anymore. That’s even more reason your kids need to hear your testimony.
When you share your testimonies with your kids, they see that beliefs are lived, not just preached.
So, what is yours, fellow Pioneer? You may have many. Big or small, your testimonies matter.
My big testimony? God still speaks. I’ve shared a peek. Maybe someday I’ll tell that story in its entirety–if I can ever find words brilliant enough.
For now, my daughter has it. And she holds onto it tightly. It’s a building block in her faith–a firm foundation she can build strongly upon.
So, cultivate their seeds of faith, fellow Pioneer. Teach them to pray for big things and small things. Practice looking for God at work–no matter what territory you’re navigating. And keep one foot in front of the other as you pioneer the legacy.
Until next time, I’ll be crafting more award-winning Bible stories—for you and your kids–who deserve Bible stories as inspiring as your best-loved books.
