The Impact Crew: “The Exegesis of Life Testimonies"

From the ancient of days till now, the slogan goes like “ Everybody has something fascinating to say". However, those who get the platform, instead of telling the realities that surround their life moments, abuse the opportunity making their success stories nuisance to the ears because their stories are painted with embellishments.

Miriam-Webster dictionary defined testimony as a proof or evidence that something exist or is true. Sadly, most of our Ghanaian celebrities, trying to move the youth by their inspiring breakthrough life, go wayward to build castles in the air by adding unnecessary exaggerations to their stories making it a phantasm. I believe that most people have achieved a status in life they never even dreamt of per their own hustles.

I have been graced with the opportunity of been an eye witness to some interviews of our celebrities, with the platform meant to motivate the young and the weak but it later turns to be a platform of perpetuated lies and exaggeration. Among these numerous celebrities is Cecilia Marfo, (the gospel singer) who was once hosted by Anita Owusu (hostess of Morning Ride on Metro TV), to inspire Ghanaians with her breakthrough life moments when she released her hit-single track “ Afrumu ba”. I am not of the view that her testimony was fabricated but it loosed its purpose, thus to motivate.

However, during the interview session, a logical scrutiny of her testimony will reveal so much embellishment attached to the stories to make it more appealing to the ears of the listener to feel her hustles. Many will accept you even if you carry no pain. Touching on how she used to make a daily bread at the darkest part of her life, she retorted “ My life history is very frightened and unpleasant. Imagine if you have been asked to pick an appetizing food, which has been placed on the ground at a market place to eat. At this point of my life as a pregnant woman with two kids, I was in such a situation".

Notwithstanding, life touching stories( testimonies) are meant to motivate people but not to “SCARE" the listener. To motivate people in a positive way goes beyond telling a hilarious and fabricated stories which can be equated to parables that never happened. I believe that we have all had our darkest moment in our lives, however, the testimonies we hear on our Ghanaian television and radio stations are becoming like a competition as to which celebrity struggled the most before seeing the light. Life in itself is a struggle.

When the Ultimate reality (God) blesses you to see the blooming desires of life and you are sharing purposely to encourage, the masses needs the unadulterated version devoid of pseudo-fabrications. The fact that “you and I" were not there to attest to its authenticity does not mean you can throw dust into our eyes. Everybody needs to be motivated in a positive and realistic way because “Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant, there is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks" as posited by Johann Gottfried Von herder.

There are other ones from pastors which are even scaring than watching a horror movie. John Ericsson, Helen Keller, Demosthenes, only to mention a few, all have testimonies to share but was never scary as the ones we hear from our own people we see. Helen Keller, deaf and blind, never fabricated her autobiography. United State celebrates this woman even after her death. If the masses will accept you, they will devoid of your hustles. Events and testimonies in the Bible are examples for us today. The Bible says in the New Testament that the things written in the Old Testament are there to serve as examples and encouragement for us today (1 Corinthians 10:11). Your testimony can be the same thing for others who will read it in the future.

Therefore, I will advice that whenever our celebrities are given the opportunity to share their life changing testimony, there is the need for them to stay focused. They should try to give the important elements of their testimony clearly and succinctly. If you have time and space you can give more information that will help illustrate your points. But don’t waste precious time by telling stories that won’t help people know about how the Lord drew you to Himself. Also, be very honest to yourself and the listeners being it on television or radio station. Share your testimony in an honest way. There is no reason to sensationalize or lie about the events in your life. Just because other people may have been saved out of a horrible background and you haven’t, doesn’t mean you are any less saved. There will be people in the audience who can relate to your real story, even if it sounds boring compared to someone else’s “SCARY" pseudo-testimony. When you are honest God can use your words to reach and inspire others positively.

Adu Sarpeah
B.Ed (ARTS)
[email protected]
(0241210870/0506140870)
UCC