News

The Top 10 Testimonies of 2016

Here are the Christian conversion stories that CT readers shared most.

Christianity Today December 28, 2016

CT devotes a premium slot in our print magazine—the back page—to a compelling story of Christian conversion. Dozens have shared their tales of how God brought them to himself.

In case you missed any, here are CT’s 2016 testimonies, ranked in order of which ones online readers read most.

10. Joanna Reed Shelton: My Missionary Great-Grandfather Led Me to Christ But only after I went to Japan in search of his life story.

Athena Lonsdale

9. Marcus Doe: Why I Forgave the Man I Once Plotted to Kill Revenge fantasies were darkening my heart before I trusted in Jesus.

Willie Petersen

8. Gavin Peacock: Professional Soccer Was My God My sense of well-being depended entirely on my on-field performance.

Anna Michalska

7. Virginia Prodan​: I Found the Gospel in Communist Romania And then I shared it with the man the government sent to kill me.

Shane Kislack

6. Francine Rivers: I Was Addicted to Romance Novels Then God asked me to start writing them, for his glory.

Elaina Burdo / Courtesy of Tyndale

​5. Andrew Klavan: How a Man of the Coasts and Cities Found Christ My story of ditching hypocritical religion and secular hedonism for the joys of true discipleship.

Zachary Bako

4. Jonathan R. Bailey: When Altar Calls Don't Work How many times did I need to get saved before truly loving God?

Justin Clemons

3. Mitali Perkins: When God Writes Your Life Story Even while I was raised far from Christian faith, God revealed himself through classic children's books.

Jeff Singer

2. Kathie Lee Gifford: How Billy Graham Led Me to Christ My Christian faith got me to and through Hollywood.

Courtesy of NBC

1. Nicole Cliffe: How God Messed Up My Happy Atheist Life I had no untapped, unanswered yearnings. All was well in the state of Denmark. And then it wasn’t.

Chad Kirkland

CT has also compiled the most-read CT articles, persecuted church stories, news blogs, politics stories, and cover stories of 2016, as well as the top 10 discoveries of biblical archaeology.

For comparison:

The top testimonies of 2015: Escape from North Korea; trapped inside my own body; how Greg Thornbury almost lost the Bible.

The top testimonies of 2014: The atheist’s dilemma; pro football was my god; Fox News’ highly reluctant Jesus follower.

Our Latest

Review

We Aren’t Just Disenchanted. We Are Desecrated.

Danielle Treweek

Carl Trueman’s latest work tackles Western society’s theological ailments—but could offer a stronger Christian remedy.

‘No Guardrails’ for Some Christian Wellness Influencers

Supplements and other wellness products do big business on social media, and even Scripture can be turned into marketing language.

The Bulletin

War Projections, 2028 Hopefuls, AI Novels, and Men’s College Attendance

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll

Trump predicts end of war, presidential candidates emerge, publisher detects AI-generated novel, and men think twice about college.

News

Died: Chuck Norris, Icon of American Machismo Who Returned to Faith

Cody Benjamin

The action star personified the ideal of a clear-cut fight between good guys and bad guys.

News

Elevation Church’s New College Reflects a Shift in Christian Higher Ed 

The influential megachurch’s new partnership with Southeastern University is an onsite training program for Christian college students.

Being Human

Dr. Craig Mattson on Digital Overwhelm: Is It Time to Unplug?

What are the hidden costs of technology on our work & relationships?

The Russell Moore Show

Remembering John Perkins

The civil rights leader treated love of God and love for others as inseparable.

The New Party Politics of Abortion 

Some Republicans remain consistently pro-life. But under Trump’s lead, the GOP has become an anti-Roe yet pro-choice coalition.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube