🪨 Preparing My Personal Memorial Stone Story

Week 1 (10/12): 

“What God Has Done”

Remembering and rehearsing God’s faithfulness (Joshua 4:1–9)

Week 2 (10/19): 

“From Test to Testimony”

Turning your trials into a weapon of witness (Revelation 12:11)

Week 3 (10/26): 

“When the Story Spreads”

How your faith story influences others (Daniel 6:16–23)

Week 4 (11/2): 

“Write It So They’ll Know”

Preserving your testimony for future generations (Habakkuk 2:2–3; Psalm 78:4)

Week 5 (11/9): 

“Glory on Repeat”

Making testimony a lifestyle of praise (Psalm 34:1–3)

“In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them…” — Joshua 4:21–22

Step 1 – Choose Your Word

Select one word that represents your personal testimony — the theme of what God has done or is doing in you.

Examples:

 🪨 HEALED 🪨 RESTORED 🪨 ENDURE 🪨 TRUST 🪨 FREEDOM 🪨 COURAGE 🪨 FAITHFUL

Ask yourself:

• What word describes the season God brought me through?
  

• How does this word connect with one of the biblical stories from our 5-week series?

Example “Stone Words”

1

Joshua & the Twelve Stones (Joshua 4)

Remembering what God has done

REMEMBER • CROSSOVER • FAITHFUL

2

Boy Born Blind (John 9:24–25)

From test to testimony

HEALED • BOLDNESS • BELIEVE

3

Daniel in the Lions’ Den (Daniel 6)

Standing firm under pressure

ENDURE • TRUST • PROTECTED

4

Esther (Esther 4–9)

Writing legacy for others

PURPOSE • COURAGE • LEGACY

5

Paul & Silas (Acts 16:25–34)

Living a lifestyle of praise

PRAISE • FREEDOM • JOY

Step 2 – Recall the Journey

Reflect on your personal “Jordan River” or “lions’ den” moment — the time when you felt trapped, tested, or transformed.

Write down:

• What was I facing?
  

• How did God intervene?
  

• What changed in me afterward?
  
  “We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation…”  Psalm 78:4

Step 3 – Identify Your Bible Connection

Which biblical story mirrors your experience most closely?
Use it as your spiritual parallel and anchor verse.

Examples:

• Like Joshua, I’ve seen God part impossible waters.
  

• Like the boy who was born blind, I overlooked the rhetoric and celebrated my miracle
  

• Like Daniel, I was surrounded but not devoured.
  

• Like Esther, I had to be bold for someone else’s deliverance.
  

• Like Paul & Silas, I learned to praise my way through pain.

Step 4 – Name the Moment

Summarize your story in 3–5 sentences.
This becomes your personal testimony card or devotional entry.

Example:

“My word is DOORS. Throughout my personal and ministry journey, I have witnessed God opening closed doors, as well as closing some for my good and His glory.  Like Daniel, I learned that faith still works when the doors are closed and the lions are hungry. My stone reminds me that God is in charge of every door of my life, and He opens and closes at will to complete my story and to get Him more glory!  Pastor A. Thomas Hill

Step 5 – Write Your Declaration

Use this simple framework to speak your testimony aloud or write it on your devotional page:

My Memorial Stone : [insert your WORD here]
This stone reminds me of when God __________.
Through it, I learned __________.
My scripture of remembrance is __________.
When I see this stone, I will remember that __________.

Step 6 – Write, Reflect, and Submit

Throughout the five-week series, each person is encouraged to write as much about their personal story as they wish — adding thoughts, prayers, and reflections each week as they follow the suggested questions and daily devotionals and journal prompts. 

We encourage you to download and use the daily devotional and journal pages from www.thestreams.org/word.

At the end of the five weeks, each participant should:

1. Condense their testimony to one page (single-spaced, typewritten).  Don’t worry about grammatical errors or sentence structures.  Just type it as you would normally express it, and our editors will reconstruct your testimony into a polished format that will represent you well.
   
   

2. Include a photo of you and your memorial stone (with your word written on it).
   
   

3. Submit both for inclusion in a digital book that will celebrate each person’s memorial stone testimony.

🖋️ There is no cost to have your story included in the digital book.

🎵 Optional Add-On:
For those who wish to take their story further, Song Card Studios can create a custom song inspired by your memorial stone testimony.  A QR code will be included on your story page for others to scan and listen to your personal song of testimonial praise!
(Additional cost applies. Details available at www.songcardstudios.com.)

Step 7 – Display or Share Your Stone

• Place your stone somewhere visible — on a shelf, desk, or prayer altar..

• Look for the form to type Your Story in week 4. You will be able to type it online and submit.

• Share the link to our “digital memorial stone book” which contains your story along with others (to be finalized after the 5 week series).

• Share your story as often as you can with your family, friends and acquaintances.

• Encourage others to find their own “stone word” and story of faith.  God deserves the glory from your story!

“Every praise is a replay of what He’s already done.” — Psalm 34:1–3

✨ Final Thought

Your story doesn’t end with survival — it continues every time you tell it.
Each word carved on a stone becomes a witness that declares:

“The Lord brought me through — and He can do the same for you.”

Final Important Note:  All stories must be completed (one page, typed, single-spaced, with photo of yourself and your stone) and submitted to Pastor Hill by November 16, 2025, in order to be considered for our digital memorial book.  A link will be provided to upload your stories and photos in Week 4.  If you need assistance in typing your story or uploading your documents - no worry.  We can connect you with someone who can assist.