Public speaking tips: Share your testimony with confidence
If you’ve been asked to share your testimony at an event or during a church service, these public speaking tips will help.
Public speaking can be daunting, but with the right public speaking tips, you can share your story with confidence and captivate any audience.
Whether you're delivering a testimony, keynote, or presentation, these practical strategies will help you prepare, perform, and connect with your listeners.
Follow these proven tips to overcome nerves, handle mistakes, and leave a lasting impact.
Use these 7 public speaking tips
1. Speak from memory — don’t memorize.
Practice out loud so your muscle memory kicks in. Out loud. Not in your thoughts, but actually speak the words.
2. Ask to see the space before
If you’re feeling nervous, it can help to learn more about where you’ll be sharing your testimony. Will you have a microphone? Is there a stage? Ask to see the space before you get.
3. Just keep going
Don’t stop, pause, say “let me back up” or “I forgot,” just keep going and continue your story.
4. Be prepared with a joke
There is no such thing as a mistake in a live show, only an opportunity to make a joke. Come prepared! If you can laugh at yourself, your audience will laugh with you.
5. Adrenaline and instinct are not your friends
Sometimes speakers have an urge to hang on to their audience longer than the audience wants to be held. But the audience always wiggles frees and you lose their attention. Remember, your story is a gift, but it’s not given until you let it go.
6. Have fun — and celebrate
Public speaking is always a bigger deal for you, the speaker, than for the people listening. It takes tremendous courage to put yourself out there, so don’t wait for someone to acknowledge your accomplishment. Celebrate it!
7. After the event, people may want to talk with you about your story
You are welcome to give the gift of receiving their story by listening. You are also free to limit how long or who you talk to. Pray and let the Spirit lead, always treating everyone with compassion and respect.
Why these public speaking tips work
These strategies focus on authenticity, preparation, and audience engagement — key elements of effective public speaking.
By practicing out loud, embracing humor, and celebrating your efforts, you’ll deliver a testimony that resonates with your audience.
Importantly, you’ll deliver your authentic story. Remember, this is your story, not a movie script you’re memorizing!
Trust the Holy Spirit and that God works all things for good. You never know, a “mistake” could be the perfect way for someone in the audience to receive your story. You’ll never know this side of heaven!