About The Testimony Service
The era we’re living in has been challenging to many of us in a plethora of ways YET there are examples all around us of not only persistence and determination but abundance as well.
Everyday people - our loved ones and neighbors - continue to show us the power of community and what it means to heal and overcome.
“You made it. I made it. We made it together.”
This is the guiding belief behind The Testimony Service.
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The Testimony Service, created by Ebony Marie Chappel and multidisciplinary artist Sarah Jene, seeks to bring people together - regardless of faith affiliation - to fellowship, hold space for one another and celebrate the good news about what’s going on in their lives and communities.
Testimony services have their roots in the Black church tradition. It was a time where people could take to the pulpit/altar/pew and tell a story or sing a song that illustrates a triumphant moment in their lives. Our goal was to build upon this history by welcoming people of all walks of life to a safe space where they could share stories of divinity, love and hope from their own unique perspectives.
The very first Testimony Service happened over Labor Day weekend 2021 at GANGGANG’s inaugural BUTTER art festival. Testifiers included trans activist and writer Sylvia Thomas and poet Manon Voice along with dozens of participants from across the city of Indianapolis varying in age, race and background. Many testifiers were people who formerly attended church and some had not ever attended. We also employed the smooth sounds of DJ Iman Tucker who spun a blend of popular, gospel and inspirational music during the service. One compliment we heard over and over again from people throughout the event is that - The Testimony Service was the church of their dreams.
Since its inception, The Testimony Service has hosted events during each of the past BUTTER festivals, Spirit & Place Festival (where we were honored with an Award of Awesomeness recognition, twice), at the Mississippi Museum of Art and during Eden AT Basel in Miami’s historically Black Overtown neighborhood during the 2024 Art Basel experience.
The Testimony Service has partnered with local Indianapolis non-profits BU Wellness Network, Broadway United Methodist Church’s Center for Religion, Arts, and Culture.
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