Saying Is Believing By Amanda Hontz Drury - EXCERPT

892019 Saying Is Believing By Amanda Hontz Drury - EXCERPT

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullsaying-is-believing-by-amanda-hontz-drury-excerpt 125

ldquoAmanda Drury is one of the most creative and thoughtful people

thinking about youth ministry in North Americardquo mdashANDREW ROOT

Saying Is

Believing

The Necessity of

Testimony in Adolescent

Spiritual Development

AMANDA HONTZ DRURY





Saying Is

Believing

The Necessity of



AMANDA HONTZ DRURY

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions



InterVarsity Press

PO Box 983089983092983088983088 Downers Grove IL 983094983088983093983089983093-983089983092983090983094

ivpresscom

emailivpresscom

copy983090983088983089983093 by Amanda Hontz Drury

All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from

InterVarsity Press

InterVarsity Pressreg is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian FellowshipUSAreg a movement of

students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities colleges and schools of nursing in the United

States of America and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students For

information about local and regional activities visit intervarsityorg

All Scripture quotations unless otherwise indicated are taken from HE HOLY BIBLE NEW INERNAIONAL

VERSION reg NIV reg Copyright copy 983089983097983095983091 983089983097983095983096 983089983097983096983092 983090983088983089983089 by Biblica Inctrade Used by permission All rights reserved worldwide

While any stories in this book are true some names and identifying information may have been changed to protect

the privacy of individuals

Cover design Cindy Kiple

Interior design Beth McGill

Image desifotoGetty Images

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983094983093-983094 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983095983088983089-983096 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

As a member of the Green Press Initiative InterVarsity Press is committed to protecting the environment

and to the responsible use of natural resources o learn more visit greenpressinitiativeorg

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress

P 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093 983089983092 983089983091 983089983090 983089983089 983089983088 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 983089

Y 983091983093 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 983091983089 983091983088 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093




Contents

Acknowledgments 983097

1048625 estimony An Introduction 10486251048625

983090 Faithul Words Prompt Faithul ldquoRealityrdquo 9830911048625

983091 What We Say Is Who We Are

Articulating Identity hrough Narrative 983093983093

983092 A heology o estimony 983096983095

983093 estimony in Practice oward a Practical heology 1048625983090983093

Bibliography 1048625983094983097

Name and Subject Index 1048625983095983092

Scripture Index 1048625983095983093




983089

Testimony

An Introduction

As [Jesus] was getting into the boat the man who had been possessed

by demons begged him that he might be with him But Jesus refused

and said to him ldquoGo home to your friends and tell them how much

the Lord has done for you and what mercy he has shown yourdquo And

he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much

Jesus had done for him and everyone was amazed

M983137983154983147 983093983089983096-983090983088

A

s a child I always entered the sanctuary hoping to see microphones

in the aisles A microphone in the aisle meant that we would be

hearing rom more than the pastor during that service A microphone

in the aisle meant there would be space in the service or an individual

to stand up and share carte blanche what was on her heart While you

never knew what might happen there was a certain level o predictability

I Mrs Goodman was present there would be tears along with reerences

to a difficult childhood I Mr Copper was present we would hear a

quasi-prophetic rant with a call to a deeper lie o holiness I remember

ragged breathing into a corded portable microphone with a large ball-

like muffler as the speaker summoned the courage to tackle the monster

o public speaking Every once in a while a child my age would stand and

make a rapid-fire statement publicly praising a godly mother ofen




8520171048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143

prompting sentimental eelings rom the listeners While I heard stories

o reedom rom addictions in the past I donrsquot recall any dramatic con-

essions o present entanglements in sordid circumstances o courseone could always hope

estimonies were exhilarating to my childrsquos mind You never knew

what was going to happen Anyone could stand up and say anything I

we were lucky we would get a resh story about someone rom the church

that had a torrid past rom which he or she had ound reedom Drugs

alcohol some had even been in jail O course these testimonies were

not the norm Most testimonies consisted o small blessings people hadseen that week Others were more akin to prayer requests with a con-

ession o belie tagged on at the end So a woman might stand up and

speak o her wayward child and end with something along the lines o

ldquoBut I know that God will be aithul and Irsquom trusting he will intervenerdquo

Ten there were those testimonies that were simple pronouncements o

thankulness ldquoI just want to thank the Lordrdquo some would say ldquoor rdquo

and then they would fill in the blank with wherever they sensed thepresence o God the week beore

A microphone in the aisle was a symbol o excitement or my eight-

year-old mind A microphone in the aisle was a symbol o terror or my

ather who was pastor A microphone in the aisle meant one thing it was

time to testiy

My exhilaration was also due in part to ear Not knowing who was

going to speak nor what was going to be said I always had a small ear

that someone was going to stand up and publicly critique my ather the

head pastor Tis never happened to my recollection (though he might

say otherwise) but even at a young age I was very aware o the possibility

o someone hijacking a service

I recently asked my ather about the anxiety surrounding the un-

known testimonies He could not help but laugh and explain ldquoItrsquos kinda

like that old Forrest Gump line where hersquos sitting at the bus bench and

he says to the lady lsquoLie is like a box o chocolates you never know what

yoursquore going to getrsquordquo983089 He elucidates ldquoWhenever wersquove held open-mic

1Paul Hontz interview by Amanda Drury digital recording Central Wesleyan Church Holland

Michigan December 1048625983097 98309098308810486251048625




estimony 8520171048627

testimonies or whoever wished to share it was ofentimes a hold-your-

breath experience because some people saw it as an opportunity to tell a

story that probably edified no one but themselvesrdquo1048626

I remember a childhood conversation with my ather about a par-

ticular congregant who had a tendency to testiy at every opportunity

ldquoWhy does she always cryrdquo I asked my dad I do not remember his exact

answer but I do remember picking up on some annoyance in his voice

Looking back I have little doubt this annoyance was probably properly

directed toward what was most likely an emotionally charged tangential

testimony with little edification taking placeAlso exciting were the believersrsquo baptismal testimonies given just prior

to immersion Tese testimonies produced less anxiety or me as a lis-

tener because I knew they were written out ahead o time and gone over

with a pastor on staff I still have my own baptismal testimony written

out in pencil on the ront and back o a three-by-five card rom when I

was ten years old Again I was drawn toward the dramatic sensational

stories where grown men with shaking hands and voice would describetheir lives beore surrendering to the Lord Many spoke o ormer addic-

tions or o lives steeped in anger Many also spoke o being raised by

godly parents but deciding to run away rom God in their teenage years

I remember hearing these prodigal son stories and thinking Irsquom still

going to love God when Irsquom a teenager no matter what At a very young

age I was given a road map o potential pitalls in the Christian lie avoid

drugs and alcohol and do not get pulled away by ldquothe wrong crowdrdquo O

course there were those peers o mine who heard these same testimonies

and assumed it meant they could live wild lives as teenagers and still have

the opportunity to ldquocome back to the Lordrdquo afer they became adults

Space or testimonies was also given ollowing a missions trip or a youth

camp Ofen the church had offered financial support or these endeavors

and testiying was a way in which the congregants could hear how their

giving helped und some ministry outside o our own our walls

It was sometime in the late 85201710486331048632983088s or early 85201710486331048633983088s that our church began

to move rom spontaneous testimonies to those that were more ordered

2Ibid




8520171048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143

and planned Te microphones in the aisles were saved primarily or

church business meetings in case a congregant had a question about the

budget Te church was experiencing significant growth which madeoverseeing spontaneous testimonies more and more difficult

Baptismal testimonies underwent their own transition We moved rom

live testimonies to videotaped and edited testimonies that were shown on

large screens Te church explored alternate creative ways to share testi-

moniesmdashparticularly when baptisms were moved to Lake Michigan or to

the churchrsquos large outdoor pond where sound amplification was an issue

Sunday mornings would occasionally have those being baptized walkacross the stage holding up large signs One side o the sign described lie

without Christ the other side described lie with Christ So a man might

walk across with a poster that read ldquoAddictedrdquo on one side and ldquoFreedrdquo on

the other Another woman might have ldquoBitterrdquo written on one side o her

poster and ldquoPeaceulrdquo on the other I remember this being a very moving

scene to witness Tese people were later celebrated with a picnic dinner

prior to being baptized outside Tose wanting to hear more o their testi-monies could pick up a small booklet to read their testimonies at length

Te church still practices testiying apart rom what takes place at bap-

tisms but even these testimonies are quite different than what I remember

rom my childhood Many o these testimonies are given on Sunday

morningsmdasheither via video or in what might be described as ldquotestimonial

interviewsrdquo where a member o the pastoral staff will pre-arrange or a

congregant to join him or her on stage to answer a ew questions about

where and how God has been at work in his or her lie

Tese early ormative experiences at

my church planted a seed which grew

into a hunch and eventually developed

into the heart o this book the role and

unction o testimony plays an integral

part in the spiritual ormation o ado-

lescents It was not until much later in

my lie that I realized the stories I heard

as an eight-year-old were more than

descriptive narratives o the speakerrsquos

It was not until much later in my

life that I realized the stories I

heard as an eight-year-old were

more than descriptive narratives

of the speakerrsquos past these

stories were actually forming our

present and future selves




estimony 8520171048629

past those stories were actually orming our present and uture selves

Tose who testified were doing more than describing they were constructing

In the past I understood testiying in the most rudimentary terms atestimony was a story someone told about her experience with God esti-

monies in my mind were largely descriptive narratives o something that

occurred in the past What I didnrsquot realize however was that the testi-

monies shared went beyond mere description and moved into the realm o

construction People were not just describing the past people were being

changed as they spoke And this kind o construction was not just present

or the speaker those o us receiving the testimony were also being ormedTe ollowing chapters draw rom various narrative theories o the

social sciences to support this claim When an individual is able to ar-

ticulate where and how he understands God to be present in his lie this

articulation can serve as a kind o legitimating apparatus and onersquos de-

scription o Godrsquos presence in the past may help bolster onersquos present

aith Again this kind o buttressing can be present not only or the

speaker but also or those on the receiving end o the testimonyTe emergence o adolescence is an ideal time or this kind o articu-

lation to be cultivated It is in these early adolescent years that most in-

dividuals begin to understand their lives in storied historic terms As

clinical psychologist Daniel McAdams states there is a ldquodevelopment o

ormal thought and the emergence o a historical perspective o the selrdquo983091

Tis pairing o the adolescent construction o the sel with articulacy

theories surrounding the practice o testiying is o particular interest to

me especially in light o the various reports concerning teenagers artic-

ulacy and aith retention as presented by Christian Smith and Melinda

Denton in the National Study on Youth and Religion as well as the findings

behind the ldquosticky aithrdquo research out o Fuller Seminary Tis articulacy

theory o testimony is a timely and important concept to highlight par-

ticularly as these national studies are revealing staggering reports o reli-

gious inarticulacy among adolescents growing up within the church

Painting in broad strokes one could say testiying tends to be more

prevalent in particular ecclesial circles I was not surprised to find strands

3Daniel P McAdams Te Stories We Live By Personal Myths and the Making of the Self (New York

W Morrow 10486259830979830971048627) p 1048625983090




8520171048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143

o this practice in my Wesleyan Methodist tradition nor in various Pen-

tecostal or certain Arican American churches You could say that

testiying runs in my ecclesial bloodmdashor at least it did Tere is anec-dotal evidence o the practice o testiying diminishing as local churches

ound themselves in more respectable proessional settings As clergy

became more proessionalized the practice o testiying seemed to

dwindle Why put a microphone in ront o a layperson when we have a

highly educated pastor to speak on our behal

My home church is somewhat o an anomaly in that they still testiy in

one orm or another Many churches that have historically practiced tes-tiying now shy away rom this practice throwing the proverbial baby out

with the bathwater as ministerial positions become more proessionalized

Given that it was curious or me to observe the decline o testiying in

more evangelical settings and the testimonyrsquos subsequent emergence in

more mainline settings Reverend Lillian Daniel o First Congregational

Church in Glen Ellyn Illinois is a prime example o the latter Her expe-

rience at Church o the Redeemer in New Haven Connecticut shared inher book ell It Like It Is paints a clear picture o what the practice o

testimony looks like in a more mainline setting as does Tomas Longrsquos

estimony alking Ourselves into Being Christian983092

Regardless o the ebb and flow o testiying what is clear is that this

practice is in no way limited to a particular branch o Christian aith nor

is it limited to a particular age In act in my own tradition while the

role o testiying has diminished in the overall lie o the church there

have been pockets o testimonial resurgence among some teenagers One

o these pockets is at City Lie Church in Grand Rapids Michigan a

church that provides space or young and old to testiy Jovhana is one

o those teenagers with a story to share

J983151983158983144983137983150983137rsquo983155 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161

It was the second Sunday o Advent Jovhana stood with the congregation

o City Lie Church as they sang carols She listened to announcements

4Lillian Daniel ell It Like It Is Reclaiming the Practice of estimony (Herndon VA Alban Institute

983090983088983088983094) and Tomas Long estimony alking Ourselves into Being Christian (San Francisco Jossey-

Bass 9830909830889830881048628)




estimony 8520171048631

concerning the Christmas cards or local prisoners She made mental notes

o the times o the upcoming Christmas services She listened to the chil-

drenrsquos choir sing their slightly off rendition o ldquoGentle Mary Humble MaryrdquoOffering was taken a sermon preached and then it was Jovhanarsquos turn

Her youth pastor introduced her as she walked on stage and picked

up the microphone ldquoEarly in my lie I was passed around rom my

mother to my atherrdquo she began983093 ldquoI really didnrsquot have a stable home and

suddenly I was in oster care because my mom was said to be an lsquounfit

parentrsquo I was only one year old I stayed in oster care or two years I

donrsquot remember much but eventually I was adoptedrdquo1048630

Te congregationwas silent captivated with her story

Jovhana went on to explain the emotional struggles that went along

with these rocky transitions ldquoI elt as though I had no one I was

hurting I guess I didnrsquot eel Godrsquos presence I was angry scared and

completely insecurerdquo

And then in ront o sixty people Jovhana described a youth group

experience where she first became cognizant o Godrsquos love Tis realizationshe claims was lie-changing ldquoI was filled with love And all my eelings

o hatred toward mysel were somehow orgotten in that momentrdquo983095

Jovhana was about to be baptized and she wanted her church amily

to hear the story that brought her to the water City Lie was a six-year-

old church plant in the middle o inner-city Grand Rapids Te 8520171048627983088 con-

gregants who attended both services could not be more diverse Mixed

within the suburban amilies were prostitutes and addicts Te church

was strategically planted near the largest mission o the area which

meant City Lie had a large population o congregants who could name

their home church but not a home address Tis was Jovhanarsquos church

And although her earthly amily was not there to witness her baptism

she had ound another amily within the churchrsquos our walls And so on

the second Sunday o Advent speaking to her church amily in her gray

-shirt and black sweatpants preparing to be immersed into the horse

5Jovhana interview by Amanda Drury written record City Lie Church morning worship service

Grand Rapids Michigan December 1048628 983090983088104862510486256Ibid7Ibid




8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143

trough that served the young congregation as a baptismal ont Jovhana

told her story

She announced she wanted to be baptized because she wanted ldquoGodto recognize me making that huge steprdquo She saw it as her way o saying

ldquoOkay here I am Lord Have your way with merdquo983096 Jovhana claims she was

extremely nervous as she walked to the stage Her nerves melted away

however the more she spoke Her voice strengthened as she came to her

conclusion

I know this is just the beginning Irsquom ready to go on this journey with Jesus I

know I am not perect but Irsquom willing to be anything God wants me to be I want to go on mission trips and help as many o Godrsquos people as I can Tatrsquos

the last thing he asked o us beore he lef this earth I plan on letting the Spirit

guide me and take me where I need to be Jesus means everything to me

Te thought that Jesus loved each and every one o us so much that he gave his

lie just or us that alone is astonishing it never ceases to amaze me that

this could be true Jesus is awesome1048633

Jovhana was the first convert o thechurchrsquos small youth group And to cheers

and applause o riends and strangers alike

Jovhana once a neglected child symboli-

cally buried her old lie and began her lie

anew Jovhana did more than undergo the

rite o baptism on that Advent Sunday Jo-

vhana testifiedTis act o testiying is unusual or several

reasons First public speaking is ofen iden-

tified as a earul experience Why would a

teenager choose to speak in public Second

teenagers are not known or being articulate

on spiritual matters And finally as men-

tioned earlier many churches are shying

away rom this practice o public testimony

8Ibid9Ibid

Figure Jovhanarsquos baptism Photo by ChristyLipscomb Used with permission




estimony 8520171048633

or numerous reasons Despite these barriers on this particular Sunday

evening Jovhana testified And she would tell you along with the sixty other

people sitting in the sanctuary that she is different because o it Jovhanawould be among the first to confirm the thesis that engaging in the practice

of testimony develops and deepens authentic Christian faith for adolescents

D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161

Ofen when people hear the word testimony their minds are drawn to

one o two images Te first is a courtroom complete with stand and jury

box where an individual is called on to offer either eyewitness or experttestimony Tere is good reason why this image comes to mind We have

centuries and centuries o examples o various court systems where tes-

timonies are given Wherever there has been a quest or truth testi-

monies have closely ollowed In our legal systems today we ofen speak

o ldquoeyewitnessesrdquo who testiy or those in proessional fields who give

ldquoexpert testimonyrdquo When we reer to testimony in the legal system we

ofen mean the report given by one who has seen heard or knows some-thing relevant to the case at hand

1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143

Te second image is much like the scene I described abovemdasha ormal

church service where an individual stands up and speaks extemporane-

ously Both are pictures o this practice but neither picture even whenconsidered together provides a ull picture o testiying

When I speak o testiying I am reerring to a practice that is beyond

extemporaneous speaking in a worship service I have ound it most

helpul to envision an axis with our quadrants Tese our quadrants

represent our different ways in which a testimony might be delivered

and received9830891048624

Quadrant 852017 represents the testiying scene I described at the start othis chapter Someone offers a spontaneous testimony in a ormal setting

It is the combination o these two that most ofen raises the anxiety o

pastors Not only is the door opened or anyone to say anything they

want they are given public and ormal space to do so

Quadrant 1048626 keeps the ormal worship setting however the testimony

shared is one that has been written out in advance Te stakes here are

somewhat lowered Although the anxiety o public speaking remainsthere are ew questions as to the content that is to be presented

Directly beneath quadrant 1048626 is the ourth quadrant Here the tes-

timony has still been written in advance but it is shared in a smaller

settingmdashperhaps a small group or simply in an inormal conversation

with a riend over coffee Tis ourth quadrant ofen eels the saest Te

risk o public embarrassment is minimized as is the anxiety o thinking

up something to say

Finally we come to quadrant 1048627 We are still in the inormal setting o a

small group or a conversation but the testimony shared has not been

planned in advance An answer to the question ldquoWhere have you sensed

the presence o the Lord this weekrdquo would prompt a quadrant 1048627 testimony

I will be reerring to this graph multiple times throughout this book

particularly when we get to the final chapter o vision casting what this

practice might look like in the church I find it particularly helpul to

keep this graph in mind i or no other reason than to expand limited

understandings o this practice

10For more on this please see table 10486291048627 ldquoDifferentiating Between Kinds o estimoniesrdquo ound in

chapter five




estimony 1048626852017

Paul Ricoeur offers a broad definition o testimony that spans various

contexts Ricoeur defines it as ldquorelating what one has seen or heard Te

witness is the author o this action it is he who having seen or under-stood makes a report o the eventrdquo983089983089 Tis report o the event Ricoeur

continues is quasi-empirical ldquobecause testimony is not perception itsel

but the report that is the story the narration o an event It consequently

transers things seen to the level o things saidrdquo9830891048626 Imbedded in this defi-

nition is the understanding that testimony always contains some kind o

interpretation

O course what we are dealing with here is the most stripped downunderstanding o testimony namely reporting something you have seen

or heard When we speak o religious testimony however as we are with

Jovhanarsquos case there are other elements to take into consideration Here

Ricoeur speaks o there being a ldquocertain narrative kernel preserved

in strict union with the conession o aith A tension is thus created

between conession o aith and narration o things seenrdquo983089983091

Homiletician Anna Carter Florence explains testimony as simply anarration o events paired with a conession o belie983089983092 I am sympathetic

to this definition with a brie caveat initially religious testimony may not

include a conession o belie983089983093 Many times as was the case with the

women at Jesusrsquo tomb we are able to articulate a narration o events but

or whatever reason we are unable to attach a conession o belie I know

what I saw but I do not know what it means and I am not able to ascribe

belie to this event It is in cases like these where we see the importance

o Christian community According to the apostle John Mary was the

first at the tomb on Easter morning and upon finding it empty she tes-

tifies to Peter and the other apostle ldquoTey have taken the Lord out o the

11Paul Ricoeur Essays on Biblical Interpretation ed Lewis Seymour Mudge (Philadelphia Fortress

10486259830979830961048624) p 104862598309098309112Ibid13Ibid14Anna Carter Florence Preaching as estimony (Louisville KY Westminster John Knox Press

98309010486241048624983095) p xiii15Tis is not necessarily a critique o Florence as she is primarily addressing preachers or whom

a ldquoconession o belierdquo is entirely appropriate and warranted While her combination o narra-

tion and conession may be fitting or homileticians I ear it places an unnecessary burden on

the layperson that testifies




10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143

tomb and we do not know where they have laid himrdquo (Jn 10486269830881048626) It took

various eyewitness reports together with angelic announcements to

subscribe the conession o belie attached to the narrations that Jesushad risen Mary was testiying to something beore she was able to ar-

ticulate the belies behind such events

Simply put a testimony is a narration o events seen or heard Reli-

gious testimony ofen results in a conession o belie being tied to these

narrated events Again to echo Ricoeur it is important to remember that

testimony is only quasi-empirical estimony is not the event itsel it is

the report o that event9830891048630

We cannot go back in time and witnessJovhanarsquos transorming moment at youth group And even i we could

we still would not be privy to the thoughts and emotions coursing

through her mind For all we know the lights were dim the temperature

was elevated and the entire experience was manuactured I we are to

believe that Jovhana experienced the love o God in a resh way we do

so with her interpretation o the events Her testimony is quasi-empirical

And it is testimonies like Jovhanarsquos that have the potential to develop anddeepen authentic Christian aith or adolescents

Tis conviction stems rom my own project ldquoestimony and For-

mationrdquo as well as studies in narrative psychology and sociology and

theological convictions embedded in the practice o testiying which

I will address later In the spring o 10486269830889830881048631 I began ldquoestimony and For-

mationrdquo a collection o interviews loosely guided by grounded theory

on the relationship between testiying and adolescent spiritual orma-

tion983089983095 Drawing rom my holiness background in the Wesleyan church

I ocused my attention on our Wesleyan churches in the Midwest that

have made room or this practice o testiying within their youth

16Rebecca Chopp reminds us o the limitations o testimony ldquoI want to underscore the importance

o respecting and protecting the gap between the named and the unnamable (a gap Christian

theologians should know something about) We must resist sublating the gap by reducing it to

the side o the event and thus assuming that language will really represent the event (the modern

dilemma) or that language is itsel the event (certain postmodern theorists)rdquo (ldquoTeology and the

Poetics o estimonyrdquo Criterion Winter 10486259830979830971048632 p 1048632)17Grounded theory is a method o research that works in reverse o traditional social scientific

methodology Rather than beginning with a hypothesis grounded theory is o a more emergent

design where onersquos argument emerges rom the compiled research Kathy Charmazrsquos book Con-

structing Grounded Teory A Practical Guide Trough Qualitative Anaylsis (London Sage Publica-

tions 98309010486241048624983094) has greatly guided my understanding o this method




estimony 10486261048627

groups estiying has long been part o the holiness tradition though

or various reasons this practice has waned within the past ew de-

cades983089983096 In keeping with a grounded theory approach there is somewhato an emergent design to my interviews in that rather than coming

into these interviews with a thesis to prove the participants helped

shape and influence the questions as well as the findings In other

words my research is deeply embedded in their revelations O these

our churches two had designated times o testiying on a regular basis

Tese churches graciously allowed me to observe these testimony ser-

vices and ollow up with questions or both the testifier and those lis-tening to the testimony

It was clear rom the start o this project that I would need to find a

vocabulary that these teenagers could identiy with Many teenagers

heard the word testimony and assumed I was asking about their con-

version story Some even had a memorized story o how they ldquobecame

a Christianrdquo Ofen in the project I dropped the testimony language

and instead asked these teenagers to tell me about a time when itseemed as i God was present in their lives While different teenagers

reerred to testimonies by different names it became clear in the course

o this project that talking about God had a ormative effect on their

spiritual identities Te findings o these interviews are sprinkled

throughout this book

Te practice o testiying is spiritually ormative Our deepest under-

standings o our religious identities are ormed spiritually when we testiy

Spiritual formation can be a kind o ecclesial buzzword especially o late

as language o Christian education is dwindling in some circles Tat

being the case let me clariy what I mean when I use the term spiritual

formation Drawing on various passages rom the epistles I understand

spiritual ormation to be the process in which one is transormed into

like-mindedness with Jesus Christ while simultaneously resisting the pull

to be ormed into the mold o the world (Rom 85201710486261048626) How does this trans-

ormation take place Te apostle Peter offers a helpul albeit lengthy

explanation o resisting the world and participating in the divine

18I will discuss some o these reasons later in this book




10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143

His divine power has given us everything we need or a godly lie through our

knowledge o him who called us by his own glory and goodness Trough

these he has given us his very great and precious promises so that throughthem you may participate in the divine nature having escaped the corruption

in the world caused by evil desires

For this very reason make every effort to add to your aith goodness and

to goodness knowledge and to knowledge sel-control and to sel-control

perseverance and to perseverance godliness and to godliness mutual a-

ection and to mutual affection love For i you possess these qualities in

increasing measure they will keep you rom being ineffective and unpro-

ductive in your knowledge o our Lord Jesus Christ (1048626 Pet 8520171048627-1048632 983150983145983158)

Troughout this book I will be arguing or testiying as a practice that

assists in the spiritual ormation process Articulating where we under-

stand God to be present along with how God interweaves his presence

with our own spiritual narratives affects and strengthens the knowledge

we have thereby aiding participation with the divine nature

I should add that our richest understandings o spiritual ormation

are not limited to the field o theology but take into account various

theories rom various fields Te heart o spiritual ormation is rich and

ull and draws upon every aspect o the human experiencemdashit is multi-

dimensional and multi-layered Tis project is an attempt to bring some

o these disciplines together in a stratified way that helps us make more

sense o this rich aspect o the Christian lie9830891048633

19O course any time you bring in multiple disciplines to explore a subject it is important tounderstand just how these various disciplines relate What happens when various disciplines

butt heads How might these disciplines interact in a responsible way Where do I locate mysel

on an interdisciplinary spectrum Troughout this work I am assuming a stratified model o

interdisciplinary work meaning that I actively attempt to affirm the importance o various

disciplines in describing different levels o reality So in the case o my project narrative psychol-

ogy ocuses on personal identity which is subsequently strengthened by the social sciences

Sociology on the other hand works at the level o the group I am ocusing on a sociological

theory that takes seriously the social construction o reality through human interaction and

communal institutions Teology ocuses on the reality o God and the world in relation to God

It is important to note that none o these levels can be reduced to the other Each has its own

integrity and appropriate subject matters and methods I accept sociological accounts o ldquorealityrdquo

but do not believe they account or everything For example sociology might speak o a social

construction o reality including human understandings o God but I want to place this in a

theological ramework where we acknowledge the active and ormative presence o the triune

God For more on a stratified model o interdisciplinary work please see Richard Osmerrsquos book

Practical Teology An Introduction (Grand Rapids Eerdmans 9830909830889830881048632) pp 104862510486251048632-9830901048625




estimony 10486261048629

Tis theological definition is brought into conversation with the social

sciences which I find immensely helpul in understanding the human

dynamics o identity ormation and the social construction o realityWhile a practical theology o an articulacy theory o testimony has a great

deal to gain rom these intellectual resources I believe that ultimately

spiritual ormation must appropriate them within a theological ramework

that speaks to the triune God and his sel-disclosure to humanity

So while I draw heavily rom sociologymdashparticularly understandings

o social constructions o reality which include human understandings

o GodmdashI want to place this understanding within a theologicalramework In my case the understanding o Godrsquos active presence in

spiritual ormation supports this ramework In other words I accept

sociological accounts but do not believe they account or everything My

understanding o revelation through Christ mediated by the Holy Spirit

directly influences the way I engage with other fields

In addition to this link between testiying and spiritual ormation is an

indelible link between narrative and identity As has been stated by manyothers narrative is more than just describing onersquos lie narrative also has

a ormative influence on onersquos lie Narrative does more than describe it

also constructs What is more this identity is urther developed when onersquos

narrative is articulated An unspoken narrative might be ormational or

onersquos identity but there is something about verbally articulating this nar-

rative that holds a shaping orce in onersquos spiritual identity While human

language does not make Godrsquos converting work a reality human language

may help an adolescent recognize where God is present and lay claim to it

in her lie thereby enriching her aith When she is able to recognize how

God may have worked within her narrative and

is able to articulate this occurrence she is en-

gaging in a theological practice that develops

and deepens authentic Christian aith

Tis kind o narrative articulation concerning onersquos understandings o

her religious experiences has a ormative effect not only on her own

perception o her spiritual identity but also on her community While

many o these narratives occur in community (we are not the only char-

acters in our stories) these narratives also tend to call orth a communal

Narrative does more than

describe it also constructs




10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143

response to confirm or challenge onersquos testimony estimonies given in

this kind o communal setting strengthen the bonds o the community

Ultimately this book brings together two main bodies o literaturethe history and theology o testimony as a Christian practice and social

scientific understandings o narrative identities and articulation

Within the area o practical theology testimony has been explored

rom various angles10486261048624 My project is particularly inormed by practical

theological reflections on testimony specifically in the recent works o

Kenda Creasy Dean Tomas Long Frank Roger Jr and Anna Carter

Florence I am borrowing key insights rom all o these scholars but Iam pushing their claims urther in the direction o adolescent spiritual

ormation It should be noted that with exception o a single chapter

by Kenda Dean homileticians have done most o the work on tes-

timony in practical theology

Kenda Deanrsquos chapter ldquoGoing Viral or Jesus Te Art o estimonyrdquo in

Almost Christian What the Faith of Our eenagers Is elling the American

Church deals exclusively with the relationship between testiying andmoralistic therapeutic deism (as put orth by Christian Smith and Me-

linda Denton)1048626983089 Dean explains how testimony solidifies the relationship

20We see various fields demonstrating differing perspectives on testimony In the area o philoso-

phy C A J Coady and Robert Audi discuss the epistemology o testiying See C A J Coady

estimony A Philosophical Study (Oxord Clarendon 1048625983097983097983090) and Robert Audi Epistemology A

Contemporary Introduction to the Teory of Knowledge (London Routledge 10486259830979830971048632) Walter

Brueggemannrsquos Teology of the Old estament is largely rooted on the concept o testimony See

Brueggemann Teology of the Old estament estimony Dispute Advocacy (Minneapolis For-tress 9830909830889830881048629) Feminist theologians Rebecca Chopp and Mary McClintock Fulkerson have respec-

tively published Te Power to Speak and Changing the Subject concerning testimony as empower-

ment or the marginalized See Rebecca Chopp Te Power to Speak Feminism Language God

(Eugene OR Wip and Stock 10486259830979830971048625) Mary McClintock Fulkerson Changing the Subject Wom-

enrsquos Discourses and Feminist Teology (Eugene OR Wip and Stock 9830909830889830881048625) Historians particu-

larly those ocusing on the holiness tradition have explored the impact o testimony on the rise

and development o the American holiness movement as well as the emergence o various reviv-

als See Donald Dayton Discovering an Evangelical Heritage (Peabody MA Hendrickson 104862598309710486321048632)

Melvin E Dieter Te Holiness Revival of the Nineteenth Century (Lanham MD Scarecrow Press

1048625983097983097983094) As mentioned earlier Paul Ricoeur has been a leading figure in the area o hermeneutics

and Anna Carter Florence has explored the subject rom the perspective o hermeneutical the-

ory and ormation o the homiletician21Kenda Creasy Dean Almost Christian What the Faith of Our eenagers Is elling the American

Church (New York Oxord University Press 9830909830881048625983088) pp 104862510486271048625-1048629983094 Christian Smith and Melinda

Lundquist Denton Soul Searching Te Religious and Spiritual Lives of American eenagers (Ox-

ord Oxord University Press 9830909830889830881048629) p 104862510486271048625




estimony 10486261048631

between the adolescent and the greater congregation in a way that shapes

and inorms the adolescentrsquos Christian identity I am very sympathetic

to Deanrsquos work and wish to take her research urther by going deeper intotheories o sociological understandings o articulacy in order to identiy

the necessity o speaking o aith and to put the practice o testimony in

dialogue with developed theologies o testiying10486261048626

Tomas Longrsquos book estimony alking Ourselves into Being Christian

also holds similarities with my project Long proposes that when we ver-

balize our aith it has a spiritually ormative effectmdashthe more we talk

about our aith the more aithul we become1048626983091

However it should benoted that this book is intended or a popular audience with no theological

or social theory explicit within his writings What is more this book does

not address the specific problem o aith articulacy or adolescents

Frank Roger Jr nods in the direction o my project with his recently

published book Finding God in the Graffiti Empowering eenagers

Trough Stories Rogerrsquos project overlaps with mine in that both o us see

the significance o the concept o narrative in the spiritual ormation oteenagers Our emphases differ however as Roger ocuses on the made-

up narratives constructed in the imaginations o his teenagers I on the

other hand am looking or autobiographical testimonial accounts o

onersquos narrative1048626983092

While these projects offer substantial contributions to the topic o

testimony and spiritual ormation I am hoping to push their research

urther in terms o bringing testimony into conversation with socio-

logical understandings o articulacy and adolescent aith development

in greater length and detail Tis task can be broken up into our addi-

tional chapters

Chapter wo Faithful Words Prompt Faithful ldquoRealityrdquo My interest

in the call to nurture the practice o testimony is preceded by the Na-

22Dean Almost Christian pp 104862510486271048625-104862998309423Long estimony24Frank Rogers Jr Finding God in the Graffiti Empowering eenagers Trough Stories (Cleveland

OH Pilgrim Press 983090104862410486251048625) Rogersrsquos book makes a significant contribution to the field o youth

ministry as he explores ways o sanctiying imaginations in a way that spiritually orms an indi-

vidual While his work appeals to a broad audience he is primarily interested in reaching teenag-

ers considered ldquoat riskrdquo




10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143

tional Study o Youth and Religion (NSYR) the results o which are

published in Soul Searching Te Religious and Spiritual Lives of American

eenagers by Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton Between10486269830889830881048626 and 10486269830889830881048627 the NSYR conducted 104862710486261048633983088 surveys and 85201710486301048631 in-depth

phone interviews Te study ound that with exception o Mormons and

some conservative evangelicals the vast majority o teenagers were

unable to talk about their aith belies and religious practices and why

any o this mattered to them1048626983093 What this study suggests is that (a) re-

ligion is unimportant to North American teenagers (b) the church has

been woeully inadequate in teaching Christian belies or (c) at the veryleast the church has been inadequate in passing on a language or ado-

lescents to speak o what they have been taught

Embedded in this study is the idea that while teenagers claim religionmdash

and more specifically Christian religionmdashto be important in their lives

ew are able to articulate a basic understanding o Christian aith While

there are exceptions to this assertion many adolescents are vastly inar-

ticulate on basic tenets o Christian aith

10486261048630

Drawing rom philosopher andsocial theorist Charles aylor Smith and Denton warn that an inability to

speak o onersquos aith makes the plausibility o maintaining this aith tenuous

Using the research ound in the NSYR I will show the problematic

implications o religious inarticulacy particularly when it comes to onersquos

understanding o reality Articulation aids in increased reality mainte-

nance For better or worse the more you talk about something the easier

time you will have believing it is true Drawing rom Berger and Luck-

mannrsquos Social Construction of Reality I will show the richness that comes

with the ability to articulate onersquos understanding o aith

Chapter Tree What We Say Is What We Are Articulating Identity

Trough Narrative Tis chapter ocuses on the indelible link between

narrative and identity I undertake the task o showing how narrative not

only describes onersquos lie but also plays a prescriptive role in actually

shaping onersquos lie and identity Here I draw rom various aspects o the

25Smith and Denton Soul Searching p 1048625983091104862526It should be noted that the testimonies I encountered and am encouraging are not simply state-

ments o aith rather these are personal narratives that ofen have basic tenets o aith embed-

ded within the narrative either explicitly or implicitly




estimony 10486261048633

social sciences namely narrative psychology and sociology to show the

necessity o a coherent narrative undergirding onersquos sense o identity as

is commonly understood today Without the ability to recall a coherentnarrative trauma ensues As I transition to the shaping role o narratives

on the wider religious community I continue to draw rom the aore-

mentioned social sciences in addition to findings rom a neuroscientific

perspective ocusing on the importance o community in order to

process and interpret various narratives

Neglecting to articulate onersquos narrative does not necessarily make that

narrative less ormative likewise articulating onersquos narrative does notguarantee certain spiritual ormation results Nevertheless within this

chapter I argue that articulating onersquos spiritual narrative actually does

something within an individual as well as the community to which this

individual belongs Te act o making a verbal statement carries with it

something concrete that alters onersquos understanding o sel and the com-

munity in which she or he belongs

Chapter Four A Teology of estimony As mentioned earlier mosto the writing on religious testimony ocuses on the practice o testimony

within ecclesial settings Ricoeur offers a somewhat more theoretical ap-

proach as he addresses the role and warrants o testimony in religious

contexts Very little however has been written on theological rationales

or testiying in the first place Te anomaly to this claim is Phoebe

Palmer a nineteenth-century holiness evangelist and writer who under-

stood testiying to be an indispensable aspect o Christian aith While

Palmer does not systematically lay out a theological rationale or this

practice she does provide a kind o ramework rom which we can un-

derstand how crucial this practice is in Christian aith Te theological

ramework ound within her writings will guide much o my own theo-

logical assessment Palmerrsquos writings and teachings on testimony are by

no means comprehensive and I will bring her work in conversation with

Karl Barthrsquos understanding o Zeugnis which we translate as ldquotestimonyrdquo

or ldquowitnessrdquo Te rationale behind this seemingly strange pairing o con-

versation partners will also be addressed in this chapter

Chapter Five estimony in Practice oward a Practical Teology I

conclude my project by suggesting a pragmatic approach to responsibly




1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143

practicing testimony with North American adolescents Drawing rom

earlier reported research and addressing common concerns I propose a

way o testiying that will allow adolescents to tap into and articulatetheir understanding o how God has been at work in their lives

It should be noted that in addition to sprinkling in findings rom my

earlier project ldquoestimony and Formationrdquo I will also address various objec-

tions and hindrances to this practice which certainly deserve our attention

estiying is a rich spiritually ormative practice estimonies might

look different depending on onersquos location In my own experience testi-

ying has taken on different orms throughout the past twenty-five yearsOnersquos testimony can be spontaneous or ordered it can be in a ormal or

inormal setting and this testimony can be live or edited given by a lone

speaker or with another individual in an interview ormat Regardless o

what orm the testimony takes articulating where we understand God

to be at work within our lie is a powerul orm o spiritual ormation





Saying Is

Believing

The Necessity of



AMANDA HONTZ DRURY




InterVarsity Press


ivpresscom

emailivpresscom



InterVarsity Press












ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983094983093-983094 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983095983088983089-983096 (digital)






P 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093 983089983092 983089983091 983089983090 983089983089 983089983088 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 983089

Y 983091983093 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 983091983089 983091983088 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093




Contents








Bibliography 1048625983094983097






983089

Testimony

An Introduction







M983137983154983147 983093983089983096-983090983088

A

















8520171048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143



















time to testiy

















estimony 8520171048627
































2Ibid




8520171048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143











































estimony 8520171048629
































W Morrow 10486259830979830971048627) p 1048625983090




8520171048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


























J983151983158983144983137983150983137rsquo983155 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161





Bass 9830909830889830881048628)




estimony 8520171048631



































8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















Saying Is

Believing

The Necessity of



AMANDA HONTZ DRURY




InterVarsity Press


ivpresscom

emailivpresscom



InterVarsity Press












ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983094983093-983094 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983095983088983089-983096 (digital)






P 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093 983089983092 983089983091 983089983090 983089983089 983089983088 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 983089

Y 983091983093 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 983091983089 983091983088 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093




Contents








Bibliography 1048625983094983097






983089

Testimony

An Introduction







M983137983154983147 983093983089983096-983090983088

A

















8520171048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143



















time to testiy

















estimony 8520171048627
































2Ibid




8520171048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143











































estimony 8520171048629
































W Morrow 10486259830979830971048627) p 1048625983090




8520171048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


























J983151983158983144983137983150983137rsquo983155 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161





Bass 9830909830889830881048628)




estimony 8520171048631



































8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















InterVarsity Press


ivpresscom

emailivpresscom



InterVarsity Press












ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983092983088983094983093-983094 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-983088-983096983091983088983096-983097983095983088983089-983096 (digital)






P 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093 983089983092 983089983091 983089983090 983089983089 983089983088 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 983089

Y 983091983093 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 983091983089 983091983088 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 983090983089 983090983088 983089983097 983089983096 983089983095 983089983094 983089983093




Contents








Bibliography 1048625983094983097






983089

Testimony

An Introduction







M983137983154983147 983093983089983096-983090983088

A

















8520171048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143



















time to testiy

















estimony 8520171048627
































2Ibid




8520171048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143











































estimony 8520171048629
































W Morrow 10486259830979830971048627) p 1048625983090




8520171048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


























J983151983158983144983137983150983137rsquo983155 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161





Bass 9830909830889830881048628)




estimony 8520171048631



































8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















Contents








Bibliography 1048625983094983097






983089

Testimony

An Introduction







M983137983154983147 983093983089983096-983090983088

A

















8520171048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143



















time to testiy

















estimony 8520171048627
































2Ibid




8520171048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143











































estimony 8520171048629
































W Morrow 10486259830979830971048627) p 1048625983090




8520171048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


























J983151983158983144983137983150983137rsquo983155 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161





Bass 9830909830889830881048628)




estimony 8520171048631



































8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















983089

Testimony

An Introduction







M983137983154983147 983093983089983096-983090983088

A

















8520171048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143



















time to testiy

















estimony 8520171048627
































2Ibid




8520171048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143











































estimony 8520171048629
































W Morrow 10486259830979830971048627) p 1048625983090




8520171048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


























J983151983158983144983137983150983137rsquo983155 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161





Bass 9830909830889830881048628)




estimony 8520171048631



































8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















8520171048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143



















time to testiy

















estimony 8520171048627
































2Ibid




8520171048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143











































estimony 8520171048629
































W Morrow 10486259830979830971048627) p 1048625983090




8520171048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


























J983151983158983144983137983150983137rsquo983155 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161





Bass 9830909830889830881048628)




estimony 8520171048631



































8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















estimony 8520171048627
































2Ibid




8520171048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143











































estimony 8520171048629
































W Morrow 10486259830979830971048627) p 1048625983090




8520171048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


























J983151983158983144983137983150983137rsquo983155 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161





Bass 9830909830889830881048628)




estimony 8520171048631



































8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















8520171048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143











































estimony 8520171048629
































W Morrow 10486259830979830971048627) p 1048625983090




8520171048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


























J983151983158983144983137983150983137rsquo983155 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161





Bass 9830909830889830881048628)




estimony 8520171048631



































8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















estimony 8520171048629
































W Morrow 10486259830979830971048627) p 1048625983090




8520171048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


























J983151983158983144983137983150983137rsquo983155 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161





Bass 9830909830889830881048628)




estimony 8520171048631



































8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















8520171048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


























J983151983158983144983137983150983137rsquo983155 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161





Bass 9830909830889830881048628)




estimony 8520171048631



































8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















estimony 8520171048631



































8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















8520171048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143


told her story





conclusion






















8Ibid9Ibid





estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















estimony 8520171048633





D983141983142983145983150983145983150983143 T983141983155983156983145983149983151983150983161










1 2

3 4

Formal

Informal

Spontaneous Ordered

Figure




1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















1048626983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143





















up something to say











chapter five




estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















estimony 1048626852017








interpretation


























10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048626 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143







































estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















estimony 10486261048627



































10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048628 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143










































estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















estimony 10486261048629






































10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143








































estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















estimony 10486261048631

























tional chapters











10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048632 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















10486261048630





















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















estimony 10486261048633




































1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143
















1048627983088 S983137983161983145983150983143 I983155 B983141983148983145983141983158983145983150983143














Documents

Saying Is Believing By Amanda Hontz Drury - EXCERPT