Comments on: Worship Reflections 11.23.08: Cardboard Testimonies

By: Jana Hildebrandt

Jana Hildebrandt — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:46:29 +0000

I helped with the Cardboard Testimonies Sunday at Kim’s church. I was the behind the scenes person who helped the participants with the timing of entering the stage. The amazing thing is that these participants were so excited to use their stories to point others to God and to give him the glory for the “backsides” of their testimonies. After we’d gotten the first service under our belts and felt we could relax a bit backstage, I found the folks introducing themselves to each other and asking “what’s your cardboard say?”. The truth is, we all have “cardboard testimonies” – places where God has had to reach down and save us in one way or another. But as we pass each other in the halls and foyers of our churches, that is not so apparent. We all look like we have life so together that we don’t need God’s saving. What if we did actually wear signs that said “drug addict” or “sexually abused” or “childless” or “broke” or “control freak”? What if we dared to be real? What bad would come from that? Nothing compared to the good of showing our dependence on God not only to others within the church but to those outside the church who are looking for more reasons to call us hypocrites or those who are searching for their own “saving”. I like the “be safe, be real, be changed” idea. I hope our church finds more ways to do that. Thanks Kim for being so gifted in helping put this service together. I’m still hearing comments 2 weeks later!

By: dorothy (vicar of vibe)

dorothy (vicar of vibe) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:49:35 +0000

Goodness, I have been so behind in reading (I was taking care of my brother and his family while he had heart surgery) and I just saw your post today.
We did cardboard testimonies not long ago and almost exactly like you all with the call to respond afterwards.
It was sooo amazing.
Our unofficial tagline is…
be safe, be real, be changed….
the amazing ability for people to feel safe enough to be real is what true community is all about.
We are still getting permission from all the people who shared, so that we are able to post it online.
Side note: Our worship leader literally had to turn her back as people were sharing. She got so emotional…

By: kim

kim — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:42:22 +0000

Adam… that IS a fun little path that led you here! I’m still kind of blown away by the effect that worship service had on people. Thanks for writing about it here.

By: Adam Penner

Adam Penner — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:37:39 +0000

Kim,

Wierdest thing… I just stumbled upon your blog by way of John Voelz’ blog by way of a good friend in CA’s link on facebook.

Anyway… I have to say that I too was deeply moved by our experience last week. My weak soul desperately needs to be fed by transformation and at a time when I was broken by doubt I saw God’s work in the lives of people around me and it just seems that He is irresistible.

Keep up the praise…
- Adam

By: kim

kim — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:46:09 +0000

Joe… indeed.

By: Joe Louthan

Joe Louthan — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:06:29 +0000

That is my God!

By: kim

kim — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:52:03 +0000

aaaand now I’m teary again. Thanks DayVee, for this comment and for being a part of this. I love how deeply and how immediately it affected all of us.

By: DayVee

DayVee — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:41:43 +0000

Isaiah 6:1-5

“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

For me it was one of those experiences that makes one feel undone.