Last weekend I was at a writer’s day (thank you, Kingdom Story Writers), when a phrase dropped into my thoughts. “Ministry of memoir”. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but it has continued to niggle ever since. Eventually I got the message and started to ask God about it. Is this for me or someone else?
Right now, my writing ministry is focused mostly over on Substack, with the ‘Walking with Jesus’ project: taking subscribers through the Gospels over the course of a year, going slowly so we can all grow in listening to God and hearing His voice speaking to us personally through His Word. It is my great passion, to help people get to know Him better through relationship, not religion.
And there are other areas of writing that are developing too. This year (and last) God has graciously sent several people to pay me for writing services, through ghost-writing, editing, and book-coaching. I’m loving that! And He has reminded me to get my novel finished too, so I am still working on that with a view to hopefully seeing it published before Christmas! (watch this space for updates)
So ‘ministry of memoir’ might seem a random thought, if it weren’t for the fact that God knows this is an area I care deeply about, not only because my first published book was memoir, but because I am a firm believer in the power of testimony. We know from Rom 12:11 that believers overcome the enemy “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony”. There is power when we speak out our stories of experiencing God.
Also, I love people – I love listening to their life stories and find every single individual has a fascinating tale to tell. And the ones I find most fascinating of all are the ones told by Christians who have experienced life without God, and life with Him. Testimony – because of the very nature of its truth – never fails to inspire hope and courage.
I love kingdom fiction too – if Jesus was not averse to revealing kingdom truth through allegory, I certainly don’t have a problem with it. Some of my favourite ever books are allegorical/ works of fiction – links here if you’re interested (books by CS Lewis, Hannah Hurnard, Patricia St John, Francine Rivers, Joy Margetts, Natasha Woodcraft). And I am enjoying writing my own contemporary fiction – would love to write more if that’s in God’s plan.
BUT having written my own testimony (or some of it) in book form, I keep meeting more people who also have tales of God’s love, faithfulness, and power to transform lives. The problem is, not everyone with a testimony is also a writer. So I really, really want to help them get those stories out there. As the end grows nearer and the days grow darker, I feel compelled to help as many as are willing to get their testimonies out and help others to find the hope and life that Jesus offers.
And that’s as far as I’ve got. The memoirs I have helped with so far have been really fulfilling, and I’d love to do more – but is it a ministry? And if so, what does that mean? Is it just about encouraging me to take seriously the importance of my work? Or is there more to it? (there usually is).
So I’m asking God about the way forward. Those of you who pray, please do pray for me to hear God clearly on this very early concept. And if He says anything to you, do please test it, then pass it on for me to test also. And in the meantime, ask Him if He might be asking you to get your story down in writing too – whether you want my help with it or not doesn’t matter – let’s just get our testimonies out into the world, for the people who need to hear them!
Rachel Yarworth, Writer 