The Impact of Your Testimony

By P Lanette Pinkard, T'challa N. Pinkard, Jimmie Scott Robinson and 2 more

Most of us have memories of survival that have secured themselves in the back of our minds.
These memories have a release valve called testimonies that often don't see the light of day because of fear, low self-esteem or self-imposed lack of value. 

T'challa Pinkard talks to us about the impact of our testimonies and what telling it can accomplish. These four men share their stories in an effort to elevate our thinking and to obtain a clearer view of what testimonies are capable of. The Impact of Your Testimony reminds us that we too are called to positively encourage the lives of others with our victorious experiences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: My Hands Your Heart, LLC
• Release date: May 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781513631905

Book preview

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the memory of my mother Alberta Leroy Pinkard and my maternal grandmother Catherine Leroy. My mother was one of the greatest storytellers I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. My grandmother and the stories of her life will forever be a stabilizing foundation of my life. Catherine often took the time to speak to me about my future and suffice it to say, she was right. I will be eternally grateful for their lives and input. I am also dedicating this book to the memory of my brother and friend Jimmy Scott Robinson. One of the last things he did before he passed away was to share one of his testimonies with me. Scottie Robinson, you fought the good fight, you have run your race. Your eternal rest was well deserved.

INTRODUCTION

Marianne Williamson in 1992, wrote Our Greatest Fear. An excerpt of this was used in a movie that truly touched my heart.

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,

but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,

gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.

It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give

other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our fear,

our presence automatically liberates others."

- Marianne Williamson; 1992 Our Greatest Fear

This was in a movie titled Coach Carter. A young man stood up in the middle of a gym and recited this work to his basketball coach. His teammates looked at him in awe. They were surprised at the depth of the statement coming out of the mouth of a brother from the hood. What followed his stand up delivery of this powerful piece was something no less impactful. He looked at his coach and said, Thank you, you saved my life. It was that statement that made what preceded it so powerful.

I believe that most of us live our lives in the shadow of others. We underestimate the power that lies in the life we have lived and the testimonies that we can tell. There are moments when we thought we weren’t going to retain our sanity or not even live beyond one of life’s darkest moments. The poem illustrates that if we align our thoughts with a positive attitude and words, we can make a difference in the lives of others. We are not always able to physically join someone in their time of struggle. However, our words can travel across the world and give hope and light to someone that is in need. What we can use the testimonies of our lives to walk out the truth that we are our brother’s keeper and that we have been empowered to make a difference. This book has been written for just that purpose.

Chapter One

I STILL REMEMBER...

I still remember the day as if it happened 10 minutes ago. I told Kenyatta that the