Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:36-37)

Have you been hit with unsolicited sales pitches at least several times in the past 30 days–in a magazine or a newspaper, on a website or in an e-mail, on the radio or on TV?

No matter the medium, you may have noticed that the most compelling ad(s) almost always featured a key element:

THE TESTIMONIAL.

The most powerful testimonials are from those who have used the product or service that is being promoted and are satisfied enough to share their experience with you.

Companies that can afford celebrity endorsements will still go for it. But the annals of marketing are full of success stories of ads that featured ordinary people along with their names, photographs and/or video clips.

Testimonials seem to break down the resistance to buying by building trust quickly. They help the buyer overcome skepticism and are seen to be “unbiased”.

“If it worked for that person, it should work for me, too!” Cha-ching!

Isn’t it interesting that the angel Gabriel includes a testimonial in his “sales pitch” to Mary?

As Mary sits stunned by the stark facts of what she is being asked to “buy” into, Gabriel brings into the picture someone to whom Mary can relate.

Yes, plain, old cousin Elizabeth who “was barren” and “well advanced in years.” Add to this fact an equally aged husband named Zechariah. Can you say “impossible to conceive?”

Can’t you just see Mary’s eyes light up at the mere mention of Elizabeth’s name?

Can’t you just hear Mary’s heart leap as Gabriel tells her: “This is now the sixth month for her who was called barren?”

Now, she had proof that God can do the impossible.

What was impossible to conceive just a few moments back now becomes possible to receive.

What made the difference?

THE TESTIMONIAL!

Every time we gather for any reason at all at Morgan’s Point or Forks Road East United churches, we take time to “Celebrate God’s goodness.”

It is an open mike session when anyone who has a recent testimony of God’s (often supernatural) activity in their life is encouraged to share it with the rest of the congregation.

Needless to say, we rejoice with one another and celebrate our Father, often with applause, cheers, Praise God’s and Hallelujah’s!

But this sharing also serves another equally powerful purpose.

I hear the testimony of a person who has just experienced a great breakthrough. I file it away in my memory bank.

Days, weeks, months, even years down the road, I run into a situation where I am with someone who needs that exact same breakthrough in their life.

The Holy Spirit alerts me to share that testimony with this person.

They are encouraged. They receive hope. They can now wait with faith.

One person’s testimony has just become a testimonial. Just as Elizabeth’s testimony became a testimonial for Gabriel to use.

Sometimes I find Christians get discouraged because they do not have a powerful personal testimony to share. Take heart! Share a testimonial of what God did in someone else’s life instead and watch the resistance melt away.

I also find that some Christians are reluctant to share their testimonies, for whatever reason. Take heed! Your testimony could be exactly the timely testimonial someone else could use to bring hope to another. Do you need any more incentive to share?

This Christmas, as you mix and mingle with friends and family who are not actively following Jesus, why not harness the hidden power of a testimonial?