Are you looking to attract new members, strengthen community bonds, or simply spread the word about the wonderful work happening at your church? If you answered yes, testimonials, recommendations, reviews, and personal stories can be an authentic and powerful addition to your outreach efforts.
Let’s explore the power of personal testimonials and how they can help you promote your church.
Why use church testimonials?
1. Testimonials are social proof
Testimonials communicate what a specific community member or visitor said, thought, and felt about their interaction with you.
Many people look at church recommendations the same way they look at reviews on a restaurant website–they use these reviews to see what other people like themselves thought about worship, a specific event, or your community as a whole. For some, testimonials carry more weight in selecting a church home than any other content you have posted on your website.
2. Testimonials create human connection
Connection with others is a large part of ministry. Testimonials give potential visitors insight into your members and help them understand their experience at your church services. They also help people to see how much they have in common with those members.
3. Testimonials speak to multiple audiences
Church reviews can be used to engage with current members, attract visitors, or connect with your larger community. They can be geared toward specific ministries as well–such as youth or seniors.
4. Testimonials can be posted where your potential members are already visiting
Testimonials can be used alone or with other messaging and can be shared both in the real world and posted on social media platforms that your audience frequently uses. Testimonials can enhance pretty much every communication medium.
Social media posts
On social media, sharing church reviews is like adding a touch of authenticity to your church’s online presence. Try mixing testimonials with eye-catching pictures or interesting captions in your social media posts. This way, you not only grab viewers attention but also give them a peek into the awesome experiences happening in your church.
Review sites
People looking for a new church home often check directory/review sites including Google My Business, Google Maps, Yelp, and Trip Advisor. Ask your members to upload their testimonials directly to these sites to ensure that you create a positive impression.
Posters and flyers
Honest feedback about your event communicated in a short quote can help give potential attendees a feel for what to expect at your event. It works on movie posters!
Emails and newsletters
Feature testimonials in your email newsletters to catch readers’ attention. For example, a quote like “Being part of this church has brought me a sense of peace and purpose,” can resonate with readers and encourage them to explore further.
Plus, members do forward emails and newsletters to their friends, so even your internal communications have the potential to reach a larger audience.
You can use PosterMyWall church email templates to create newsletters that feature church testimonials. Easily integrate photos or audio/video clips to create impactful content that inspires and engages your church community.
Websites/blogs
Blogs provide an effective platform for presenting testimonials–especially longer personal stories– in a format that is easy to comprehend. You can feature individual testimonial posts that share one person’s story, or combine multiple quotes to reinforce the impact and value of a past or upcoming event. For example, if you are bringing awareness to your upcoming Women’s conference, use feedback from last year’s event in your promotions to give potential guests an idea of what to expect.
You might develop a series of themed testimonial posts to showcase diverse perspectives from various members of your church community. Conducting interview-style testimonials and transcribing them into blog posts also adds a conversational and authentic touch.
Testimonial formats to try out
From written words to visual imagery, and audio recordings to video clips, numerous formats are available to share testimonials –both within and beyond your church community.
Let’s have a look at the various formats for testimonial content and explore how you can use each to capture and share what makes your church unique.
1. Using text plus graphics
The simplest way to share testimonials is as text. Text can be shared as a post on any platform. The benefits are that they’re fast and easy to create and the focus is on the message.
If you want to take it one step further, enhance your testimonials by adding graphics. These might be shapes or stickers. You can also overlay the quote onto a photo, such as a nature shot or a scene from within your church.
With the user-friendly templates readily available at PosterMyWall, it’s effortless to design engaging text treatments and graphics to showcase your testimonials.
2. Adding member photos
Pairing church testimonials with member photos adds a personal touch and authenticity to the message. In church newsletters or promotional materials, testimonials humanize the story and increase its impact, prompting likes, comments, and shares. Here’s an example
3. Using audio and video clips
Audio and video clips bring testimonials to life, allowing viewers to hear directly from the person who is sharing their experience. These formats are particularly effective on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and on your website.
Recording short video testimonials during church events or after services captures the sincerity and emotion the person giving the testimonial is feeling. These clips can then be used and repurposed in various ways. You can:
- Compile multiple video testimonials into highlight reels showcasing the diverse experiences and perspectives within your church community.
- Incorporate video testimonials into promotional videos for upcoming church events, programs, or initiatives.
- Showcase video testimonials prominently on your church’s website, either on the homepage or on dedicated testimonial pages.
- Share individual video testimonials as standalone posts on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, or LinkedIn.
- Incorporate video testimonials into presentations during church events or gatherings.
- Include video testimonials in email campaigns to church members and subscribers.
- Convert audio testimonials into content for podcast episodes.
By taking one clip and using it in multiple ways, your message reaches a broader audience and reinforces the impact of the testimonial. This dedicated testimonials page on Dominion City Church’s website showcases testimonials, reviews, and feedback from individuals within the church community.
How to collect church testimonials
Collecting church testimonials can be relatively simple if you have a process in place. Encourage people to speak from the heart and share whatever feels meaningful to them. Let them know that their stories matter and that sharing them can help others–and help to grow your church community.
Regardless of which method you use to collect testimonials, always make sure you have permission to use people’s responses in your outreach efforts. Make sure that members are aware of how their feedback will be used and allow them to opt-out if they prefer not to have their comments shared publicly.
1. Create a submission form on your website
One way to gather church website testimonials is by creating an online form and asking the congregation to share their experiences on the form. Help make the process easier for your members and improve the quality of your responses by including prompts or questions. Here’s an example of a testimonial submission form on the Dominion City Church website:
2. Approach attendees at the close of your events
A great time to ask for a testimonial is immediately after an event. Not the next day, but immediately as they leave the sanctuary or prepare to step out the door.
The benefit of engaging people immediately is that they are still experiencing the emotion of the event. That emotion will come through in what they share. Their words will convey the power of their experience and that they are feeling connected and uplifted.
This is even more true when you’re capturing testimonials on video.
3. Facilitate feedback sessions
You can also facilitate structured feedback and reflection sessions after events or gatherings, allowing attendees to express their thoughts, experiences, and takeaways. All you need is a facilitator, a quiet place where everyone can sit, permission to capture participants’ feedback, and a way to record what is said.
The result of this approach is open and transparent communication between members and church leadership. In addition to generating content to share, these discussions let members know that you care about their experience and promote a sense of connection and community.
4. Use follow-up communication
Follow-up communication is reaching out to church members via survey, text, SMS, or phone call to encourage them to share their thoughts and experiences. It is very similar in purpose to hosting feedback sessions but is a better fit for people who aren’t comfortable sharing their thoughts in a group.
Like feedback sessions, this approach facilitates open and transparent communication between church leadership and members, creating a supportive environment for individuals to express their thoughts and experiences.
5. Send out surveys
Another effective way to collect testimonials for church is by sending out surveys. At the same time, your survey can gather feedback and insights from members about their experiences which can be used to improve church programs.
When creating the survey, include questions about various aspects of church life, such as the quality of sermons, the sense of community, and the impact of church events. Leave room for write-in responses and encourage members to share personal anecdotes and testimonials.
Regardless of which method you use to collect testimonials, always make sure you have permission to use people’s responses in your outreach efforts. Make sure that members are aware of how their feedback will be used and allow them to opt-out if they prefer not to have their comments shared publicly.
Questions for church testimonials
Here’s a list of icebreaker questions you can use to elicit testimonials from individuals:
- What initially attracted you to our church community?
- Can you share a memorable experience or moment you’ve had at our church?
- How has being a part of our church impacted your life?
- What do you appreciate most about our church?
- Can you describe a time when you felt supported or uplifted by our community?
- Have you experienced personal growth or transformation since joining our church?
- How would you describe the sense of belonging you feel within our church?
- Can you share a specific example of how our church has made a positive difference in your life?
- What would you say to someone who is considering joining our church?
- How do you see our church contributing to the local community or making a difference in the world?
These questions will prompt individuals to reflect on their experiences and share their genuine thoughts and feelings. They are conversation starters that can lead to meaningful insights into the needs of the community. In addition to collecting content for testimonials, you’ll learn where your church is succeeding –and where there are opportunities for improvement.
Equipment needed to collect testimonials
The equipment needed for collecting testimonials varies depending on your format. Some basic tools include:
- Recording devices: Whether it’s a smartphone, digital camera, or camcorder, having a device capable of capturing audio and/or video is essential. Smartphones are often the most convenient and can produce high-quality recordings–especially if there is good light.
- Microphones: For improved audio quality, and especially if you are recording in noisy environments, you’ll need an external microphone. Lapel microphones or shotgun microphones can help capture clear audio and cut down on background noise interference. But “background noise” right after a church service also gives visitors a peek into the fellowship and camaraderie among members. So don’t feel as if you need to be in an overly quiet space to capture these afterglow moments.
- Tripods: To ensure steady and professional-looking footage, use a tripod to support your recording device. This prevents shaky footage and allows better framing of your subject.
- Lighting equipment: Good lighting is crucial for producing high-quality video recordings. If filming indoors or in low-light conditions, consider using additional lighting equipment such as softbox lights or LED panels to illuminate your subject properly.
- Backdrop or setting: For testimonials, choose a backdrop or setting that reflects your church’s atmosphere and values. This could be a simple and clean background, a specific location within the church, or outside with the church visible behind your subject.
Get started
Testimonials showcase real experiences and opinions from members of your church community. When people see or hear about others’ positive experiences, it reinforces the credibility and value of your church.
Share a heartfelt story on Facebook, an attractive image with a congregant’s quote in your newsletter, or a video of attendees talking about the young adult event they just attended. Testimonials will have a positive impact on your church, potential first-time guests, and the larger community.
Amplify your church outreach efforts, by using PosterMyWall’s user-friendly templates and design tools to enhance all of your graphics and videos.
Hira is a Content Writer at PosterMyWall. Hira enjoys writing, so she looks forward to exploring different niches. When she’s not writing, she’s either on a trip making new friends, jotting down her thoughts, or just spending quality time with her two cats, Rio and Dusty!
