Testimonies
Believers' testimonies are personal accounts shared by Christians to describe how they came to faith in God and how God has worked in their lives. Often focusing on their journey to faith (salvation). It may have specific instances of divine intervention, or emotion, and spiritual healing or those seeking truth. Believers' testimonies glorify God, encourage fellow believers, and serve as eyewitness accounts for those seeking spiritual answers. A Believer's testimony may be just a small, simple step of faith in Jesus Christ. Other Believers' testimonies are major changes that may or may not have miracles or just major non-miracle changes in one's life. Since billions of individuals from every nation on earth have come to personal faith in the Grace and Forgiveness offered by The Lord Jesus Christ, there are billions of personal Believers' testimonies. Here are just a few publicly known Believers' testimonies.
1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"
The first miracle Believers' testimony is that of Paul’s testimony, found in Acts 22 and 26, Paul dramatic transformation is from a zealous persecutor of Christians to an apostle for Jesus Christ. He details his strict Jewish upbringing and his role in arresting believers. Then, due to his blinding on the Damascus Road, where he had an encounter with the risen Jesus, and his calling to reach the Gentiles for Christ. Paul was key to the Roman Empire's conversion to Christianity. In 33 AD, there were only a handful of Roman Christians. By 300 AD (CE), the Roman Empire was 10% Christian. In 312 CE, due to the Christian slaves working in the Emperor's household, the Emperor Constantine's conversion changed the Roman Empire at the top.
Early Christians were frequently persecuted and killed by the Roman Empire (starting with Nero in 64 AD) for refusing to worship Roman gods or the Emperor, often being burned, crucified, or fed to lions. Key martyrs included Stephen (c. 35 AD), Ignatius of Antioch (110 AD), Polycarp (155 AD), and Perpetua (203 AD). The phrase "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church" was made by Tertullian in 197, because these deaths often strengthened the early Christian movement. Few would die for a Roman god or a Greek god. But Christian had a real faith that they would not give up, even in the face of death. That same faith is seen in those who would rather die than convert under duress to Islam today.
Personal Testimonies:
1) I grew up in a small muslim village in Africa. My dad had four wives, thus only visited my house one to two times a week. The jungle near my house has many wild plantain bananas, this was our main food supply. When I was about 27, I had a dream, Jesus came to me and told me that when I awoke, I was to go to the local town nearby and stand at an intersection He had told me. I was very puzzled in the morning. I knew of Islam's Prophet Muhammad and the holy book of Islam is the Quran, but I had never heard of the name of Jesus. I decided to follow the dream and go to town. I waited at the intersection for some 20 to 30 minutes, then two men came up to me and asked if I had ever heard of Jesus Christ. I told them of my dream, and they told me of the Love and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ. I went home and told of this love and forgiveness. My mom and friends told me never to talk about Jesus again. But this newfound faith gave me joy and peace I had never had before. My village soon knew of my change, two of my close friends told me I needed to hide, if I did not want to be killed, they hide me (I changed my name to James). They came up with a plan to get me not only out of my village, but out of the county. They raised enough funds to get me a one-way ticket to Los Angeles and got me student visa paperwork. After a few visits to the US embassy, I had my paperwork approved. I took business classes in Los Angeles. I dated and married an American girl and got a permanent visa. I had planned to use my business degree in Africa, as a door to share Jesus, but with a wife and two small children, this did not happen. Friend of this website.
2) I was I was engaged to be married to my girlfriend, of year and half. I had given up all my friends and built my life around her out of my love for her. I was a happy point in my life. Just after our engagement, I found out that she had been hiding much of her secret life from me. Now that we were engaged, she shared her secret beliefs with me. The secret belief that I could not live with was that she sometimes talked with her dead grandfather, and he would give her instructions. I asked her and my friends for help, and they told me this was a blessing from God. I at last realized that they were in a cult (Love makes one blind, this was me) (see Cult page) . We agreed to break up due to irreconcilable differences. I found myself alone, depressed, in a very dark place, from both the loss of all my friends and my ex-girlfriend's deception (lying to me for so long). Looking for hope, I read the New Testement, the four accounts of Jesus Life (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), then the history of the early Church (Acts). This all made sense reading the next Book, Romans. In this Book, I found the Love of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. I found that I could not earn this Love and forgiveness (Mercy and Grace); it is given freely to those humble enough to ask and receive it. I asked for forgiveness from both my pride (thinking I could work my way to heaven, New Creation) and my sins (things I have done against God's nature. After this prayer, my depression, darkness, and loneliness were gone. I gave my ex-girlfriend and her friends forgiveness, as God had forgiven me. Friend of this website.
3) I was a rice paddy girl in South Korea; my family has always lived on a small rice farm not far from a town. Our rice field was partially flooded with water to grow rice. I would transplant rice seedlings into the mud. I did this from a very young age. One night when I was about 17, in a dream, Jesus came to me and told me to ask my parents if I could go to town next weekend to shop. They said yes, I could. I was in town for only a few minutes when an earthquake struck. I was very afraid. Just as the earthquake was ending, the same Jesus in my dream appeared standing in front of me. He told me to go down the street and go inside the building with a cross on top. I was still very afraid and crying, but I went. In the church were two men, who said they were Christian missionaries from America. I told them why I was crying, and they told me about Jesus. Over the next two years, I visited the Church as often as I could, and one of the missionaries and we fell in love and married. We moved to America, and we have two boys (I changed my name to Easter). Friend of this website.
4) I was born into a Buddhist home in America; my parents were born in China and came to the USA on work visas. At age 5, my parents sent me to Christian's preschool near my home. The teacher told us that Jesus loves us, and we prayed before our snack. I asked where Jesus lives. I was told in our hearts. I prayed that Jesus would live in my heart. I found love, joy, and peace that I have never had. I told everyone about my Jesus, I asked everyone if they had Jesus in their heart, and asked them to pray to him with me. My parents were confused and asked this website about what I had found. My family has a meeting, and now has a better understanding of Jesus and how he lives in my heart. I am very happy that some have asked Jesus into their heart and prayed with me. Friend of this website.
5) At first, I did not think my testimony was one anyone would want to read about. But it is my testimony, and it is important to me, so maybe someone else would like to read it. I grew in a Christian house, so I had heard about Jesus Christ from a young age. At age 5, it became personal faith for me, though some time ago, I still remember the moment I became a beliver. I went to a VBS (Vacation Bible School), it was a fun time, happy songs, games, crafts, and snacks. On one of the days, the teacher held up a large black card. The teacher said, "This is what our hearts look like to God. God is holy and has never done anything wrong; we have all done wrong things to hurt others and God. " I could relate to that. Next, the teacher held up a red card, and he said, "The only thing that can wash away that dark heart of ours is the Blood of Jesus Christ, as He is the lamb of God that takes away the sins (wrong deeds) of the world. He loves you and can clean our heart is we accept Him". Next, the teacher held up a white card and said, "If we love God and take him up on His offer or free forgivened and love Him, He will see your heart as white, cleaned of the darkness". Next the teacher held up a green card and said. "Once our heart is washed clean, we want to return the Love God as given up by growing in love towards God and others". Next he teacher held up a yellow card and said: "The good news with a white heart, we have no need to fear death, as Jesus is preparing a new place where there will no pain, evil or death. " I thank Him for the good times in my life. I thank Him for the blessings He has given me. In troubled times, I have asked Him for help, and He has helped me through them.
From atheism:
C.S. Lewis (1898–1963) was a British author, Oxford/Cambridge scholar, and leading 20th-century Christian apologist known for his conversion from atheism. He wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, and The Screwtape Letters, blending faith with fantasy and literature to explore complex theological ideas. C.S. Lewis’s conversion was a 15-year journey from atheism to Christianity, culminating in September 1931 when he accepted Jesus Christ as the Son of God while riding in a motorcycle sidecar to a zoo. Influenced by friends like J.R.R. Tolkien, who argued that Christianity was the true, and his own intellectual struggle with objective morality, the formerly staunch atheist became a leading Christian apologist.
Dr. James Tour. He is a scientist at Rice University in the fields of Chemistry and Nanotechnology. He was born Jewish and was an atheist in his early years. Through personal study and prayer, he became convinced of the deity of Jesus. He is now a prolific Christian speaker on science and faith. See https://www.youtube.com/@DrJamesTour
Well-known conversions from atheism: Author Lee Strobel (1952-) and scientist Francis Collins (1950-), after reading C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity.
Guillaume Bignon, a french software engineer and former atheist. He set out to disprove Christianity to invalidate his Christian girlfriend's beliefs but converted after finding the New Testament intellectually compelling and Jesus’s character impressive. His intellectual, scientific, and theological investigation led him to embrace Christianity.
Alister McGrath is a distinguished molecular biophysicist, theologian, and Anglican priest known for his intellectual journey from atheism to Christianity and his extensive work on the harmony of science and faith. He holds multiple doctorates from Oxford University, he is a leading Christian apologist and critic of "new atheism" arguing that Christianity offers a more comprehensive, rational, and meaningful worldview than scientific materialism.
Leah Libresco a Yale-educated data journalist, famously became a beliver after moral arguments from friends challenged her worldview. She found that her secular, consequentialist framework could not adequately explain objective moral obligations, leading her to accept Christianity as a more coherent moral framework.
Malcolm Muggeridge was a prominent British journalist and social critic. He spent much of his life as an agnostic and critic of religion. His spiritual questions and encounter with Mother Teresa eventually led him to Christianity. His conversion was marked by a profound change in his life, manifesting in a renewed sense of purpose and perspective, which he shared candidly in his writings and broadcasts.
Andrew Klavan, an award-winning novelist and screenwriter, was raised Jewish but became an atheist. He came to believe that Jesus was real and the divine Son of God through reading the Gospels. After his conversion, he became a powerful Christian apologist and commentator. See the Book: The Great Good Thing: A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ.)
Peter Hitchens, author and journalist, is the brother of the late Christopher Hitchens, atheist and debater. Peter was a former Marxist and atheist. He converted to Christianity because of his exposure to Christian art and Scripture. See his book: The Rage Against God.
Dr. Sy Garte is a biochemist and professor. He was raised in a militant atheist family. He saw evidence of design while studying biology and the complexity of life. He converted to Christianity by studying science and reading the Bible. See his book: The Works of His Hands: A Scientist’s Journey from Atheism to Faith.
Kirk Cameron, star of the TV series Growing Pains, he was an atheist. He became a Christianity as a teenager and is now a famous apologist and author. He’s well known for his role as journalist Buck Williams in the Left Behind series and co-author of the book The Way of the Master with Ray Comfort. He also has his own show, The Kirk Cameron Show, on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@KirkCameronOfficial
James E. Rogan (former prosecutor and congressman) was challenged by his girlfriend at the time to use his prosecutorial evidence skills to check out if Jesus is the Son of God, and the God of the Bible is the Creator of the universe. He read the Bible, books by Hugh Ross and others. After looking at the evidence, he found the evidence was firm enough to place his faith in Jesus Christ. He wrote: "Rough Edges: My Unlikely Road from Welfare to Washington".
John Newton (1725–1807) was a slave ship captain, a pastor, and a prominent abolitionist. He wrote the song "Amazing Grace". John Newton on March 10, 1748, during a violent storm in the Atlantic Ocean, facing death, he cried out for divine mercy, leading to a slow, long-term transformation to faith.
Jew to Christian (Jew to Yeshua Messianic Jew):
Author Jonathan Cahn, musician Marty Goetz, and ministry leaders like Moishe Rosen (Jews for Jesus) and Rabbi Schneider. Notable Bob Dylan, historical scholar Isaac da Costa, Richard Wurmbrand (1909-2001) and many more. (1798-1860). See https://www.youtube.com/@jonathancahn.official https://www.youtube.com/@martygoetz https://www.youtube.com/@jewsforjesus https://www.youtube.com/@RabbiSchneider
Buddhism to Christianity:
Athet Pyan Shinthaw Paulu from Myanmar: A former monk who NE leading to his conversion and ministry. see https://navigatingbyfaith.com/journies-of-faith/spiritual-seekers/buddhist/
Sonam (Bhutan): A former Buddhist monk who converted after reading a Bible, later becoming a missionary.
Sam Em: A former Buddhist monk in Cambodia who converted to Christianity and became a pastor, now sharing the Gospel in his community.
Hinduism to Christianity
Former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt, and author/missionary Rabi Maharaj. Also educator Krishna Mohan Banerjee, poet Narayan Waman Tilak, and actor/model Christina Mohini.
Islam to Christianity
Nabeel Qureshi, Mosab Hassan Yousef, Brother Rachid, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and Magdi Allam. Taysir Abu Saada, a former PLO member and Yasir Arafat's personal driver who converted to Christianity and founded the ministry "Hope For Ishmael". Historical figure: Ubayd Allah ibn Jahsh, cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, who converted to Christianity in the early days of Islam, and many more.
New Agers to Christianity
Doreen Virtue, new-age top-selling author. Steven Bancarz, a former New Ager saved by Jesus. Jenn Nizza: a former psychic now warns others against occult practices. George Janko, Assyrian to new ager to Jesus. See https://www.youtube.com/@Doreen_Virtue https://www.youtube.com/@StevenBancarz https://www.youtube.com/@Expsychicsaved https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgeJanko
Japan to Christianity
Yoichi Fujiyabu is known for his 30-year ministry at a "suicide cliff," providing pastoral care and counseling to prevent suicides.
Makito Miyashita is a key leader with Japan Christian Link serving as the Director of Samurai Projects in Tokyo, a ministry training initiative focused on equipping pastors and trainees. He plays a vital role in strengthening the church in Japan.
Reiji Oyama (1927–2023) was founder of the Biblical Church and the Tokyo Graduate School of Theology, known for translating the Bible and writing over 160 books.
Ex-Mormon to faith in Jesus' Grace
Lynn Wilder and her son Micah Wilder, are former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) who embraced faith in Jesus' grace, departing from a works-based theology. Micah, a former missionary, and Lynn, a former BYU professor, now share their stories of finding salvation through grace alone. see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQh-H3h4i9A
Haleigh Markar, BYU graduate https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCci0BhypdqVg1rfbDs6ZYoA
Ed Decker (1935-2025), ex-Mormon made the 1982 book and documentary film "The God Makers" co-authored with Dave Hunt.
Chuck Sackett, a former "Veil Worker" in the Los Angeles Temple, wrote "What's Going On In There?" (often subtitled The Verbatim Text of the Mormon Temple Rituals Annotated and Explained by a Former Temple Worker) about temple "Endowment" ceremony and other LDS rites.
Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses to faith in Jesus' grace
Paul Blizard: Ex Jehovah's WitnessTestimony: A 3rd Generation JW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq2mbVv4I5A
Tony Brown: Now an evangelist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX7TAtlIxvs
Michael J. Felker: Now evangelist https://www.youtube.com/@michaeljfelkerapologetics
Astronauts:
Buzz Aldrin Took Communion on the Moon. On July 20, 1969, shortly after landing the Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle on the Moon, astronaut Buzz Aldrin performed the first Christian communion on another world. A Presbyterian elder, Aldrin privately shared a consecrated wafer and wine, reading scripture (John 15:5), which he later noted made the first liquid poured and food eaten on the moon sacred elements. (Apollo 8 crew's reading from Genesis on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968, the first humans to orbit the Moon).
James Benson Irwin (Colonel, United States Air Force) - Apollo 15, July, 1971. Apollo 15 astronaut (1930–1991) became a devout born-again Christian and evangelist after experiencing a profound spiritual reawakening on the moon in 1971. Following his lunar mission, he left NASA to found the High Flight Foundation in 1972, dedicating his life to sharing his faith and declaring that "Jesus walking on the earth is more important than man walking on the moon" He was the founding president of the High Flight Foundation, a Christian inter-denominational evangelical ministry based in Colorado Springs. Died in 1991.
Charles Moss Duke, Jr. (Brigadier General, USAF, Ret.) - Lunar module pilot of Apollo 16, April 16-27, 1972. He is an active speaker, a Christian lay witness, and the President of Duke Ministry for Christ.
Space Shuttle Columbia Astronauts: Rick Husband and Michael Anderson were committed Christians, who attended the same church, Grace Community Church.
Scientist :
Ben Clausen, Ph.D., is a scientist at the Geoscience Research Institute
Science and Faith Associations: Access Research Network, American Scientific Affiliation, Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences, Canadian Science and Christian Affiliation, Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Christian Medical & Dental Associations, Christians in Science, Institute on Religion in an Age of Science, Metanexus Institute, Pascal Centre, Presbyterian Association on Science, Technology, and the Christian Faith, Reasons To Believe, Science and Religion Forum, Zygon Center for Religion and Science, Reason And Faith,