Saying Is Believing - by Amanda Hontz Drury (Paperback)

About the Book

What if our view of testimony is all wrong? Integrating sociological analysis and theological reflection, Amanda Drury presents testimony as not merely something that describes what happened in the past, but as an essential practice for Christian spiritual formation, especially for adolescents in the process of developing their identity.

Book Synopsis

"I have seen and I testify . . ." (John 1:34)The idea of giving one's testimony often evokes summer church camps, evangelistic revivals, mission trips and baptisms. Like an eyewitness called to testify in a courtroom, sharing a testimony of faith is for specific people at special moments.But what if our view of testimony is all wrong? According to Amanda Drury, testimony is not merely about describing something that happened in the past. It is a practice that forms our present and future identity. Testimony changes us, and without it we risk having a stunted and stale faith.Drawing on work in sociology, psychology and theology, Drury develops an understanding of testimony as an essential practice for Christian spiritual formation, especially for adolescents who are in the process of developing their identity. Recent studies reveal a staggering inability for adolescents to articulate their religious beliefs. Now more than ever, churches need to recover the practice of testimony as an integral part of communal worship.

Review Quotes

"Saying Is Believing establishes Amanda Drury as a new and compelling voice in practical theology, a pacesetter for a generation of scholars convinced that the way we form young people's faith profoundly affects our own. Drury quickly nuances and moves beyond the commonly cited research on teenagers' religious inarticulacy; a natural storyteller, she makes theologically rich analysis easy to digest, and serves it alongside generous portions of practical wisdom for helping young people learn to speak their convictions. Saying Is Believing is less about problems than solutions, which makes it a must-have resource for anyone who takes young people's faith seriously."

--Kenda Creasy Dean, Princeton Theological Seminary, author of Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church

"Amanda Drury has done youth ministry--and the church as a whole--a great service by recovering the lost practice of testimony. If we truly desire to see youth develop a winsome, robust and enduring faith identity, we cannot afford to neglect her call. Both thought-provoking and inspiring, Drury's Saying Is Believing represents practical theology at its best."

--David Setran, Wheaton College

"Amanda Drury is one of the most creative and thoughtful people thinking about youth ministry in North America. Mandy has the rare talent to seamlessly blend deep theological ideas with TV shows, parenting and her own experiences in youth ministry. She writes and speaks effortlessly, with numerous creative turns along the way. As Mandy presents in this book, testimony has become a lost element in the church, and its loss has been at the detriment of our youth, as they've been neglected the nourishment that is dependent on testimony for active Christian living. The stories of God's action in each of our lives are the meal that gives our young people the strength and vision to seek God. Saying Is Believing addresses the famine of testimony we face, and promises a feast for the reader and the ministry he or she is called to lead."

--Andrew Root, Luther Seminary, author of The Relational Pastor and Christopraxis: A Practical Theology of the Cross

"Drury draws on her experience in youth ministry and her holiness heritage (where a mic in the aisle meant we'd hear from more than just the pastor). As you would expect, she has anecdotes about the telling our particular faith story, but at its core this is a book that is well-researched, sophisticated and theologically thoughtful. Drury doesn't simply make claims of the necessity for testimony but engages serious research. Her chapter on a 'Theology of Testimony' synthesizes the perspectives on witness in Phoebe Palmer (the Nineteenth century, Holiness evangelist) and Karl Barth. This is a creative and thoughtful treatment on testimony."

--James Matichuk, Thoughts, Prayers Songs, April 22, 2015

"Drury's work draws on her doctoral research . . . resulting in a publication which is both robustly theological and innately practical; happily satisfying for the reviewer, who is both a theological student and a youth leader!"

--Kate Dugdale, Stimulus, Vol. 23, Issue 2

"Not only is this a thought-provoking book for youth ministers, it will also challenge the thinking of Christian parents, and perhaps most importantly encourage senior pastors who are striving to integrate teenagers in to the whole life of the church community."

--Mark W. Cannister, Christian Scholar's Review, XLV:4, Summer 2016

"Very few authors have the ability to balance ideas and practice with hearty substance in both areas, and this is why I recommend this for any individual working in ministry to the next generation. Mission teams, college students and senior pastors will find it challenging and enlightening. One of my favorite aspects about this work is that it is adaptable to almost any ministry setting: inner-city, parachurch, camp, pre-teens to young adults, mission field, and everything in between. Saying is Believing is pure brilliance and something from which youth ministry will benefit forever."

--Jeff Tillson, Youth Worker, November/December 2015

About the Author

Amanda Drury (PhD, MDiv; Princeton Theological Seminary) has been in youth ministry for fifteen years. She now serves as assistant professor of practical theology at Indiana Wesleyan University.