building Intentional Relationships with others

the PATHWAY TO CONVERSION

Scroll down to see the common thresholds people cross on the pathway to conversion. 


Today’s pathway to conversion is much different than it has been in the past. More and more people today have no Christian background and have already rejected Christianity based on what the culture says about Christianity. Doug Schaupp and Don Everts interviewed hundreds of new Christians before writing their book, I Once Was Lost. They were looking for common themes or experiences in the conversion stories of new followers of Jesus. They discovered that people today follow a different path to conversion from the past. 

    Moving from distrust to trust

    Trusting a Christian - Moving from distrust of Christians to trusting you as a Christian.


    Be Intentional: Build trust by prayer, bonding, affirming and welcoming. 

    MOVING FROM APATHY TO CURIOSITY

    Wondering about Jesus - Moving from apathy about Jesus to curiosity about Jesus and Christians. 


    Be Intentional: Build curiosity by focusing on Jesus and living curiously, i.e. hear their stories, tell your own story, and make connections between their story, your story and God’s story.

    MOVING FROM CLOSED TO OPEN

    Opening up to Change - Moving from being closed to being open to change. 


    Be Intentional: Be patient with your unbelieving friends and family. Expect their spiritual journey to be uneven. Challenge others to take small steps of faith and help them interpret results. Also help others to face their personal barriers to change, i.e. pain, fear, confusion, complacency. 

    MOVING FROM MEANDERING TO SEEKING

    Seeking after God - Move from meandering spiritually to seeking Jesus. 


    Be Intentional: Live out the Kingdom in front of them (community, scripture, prayer, model seeking, invite to seeking). Create safe places for them to seek, e.g., Alpha. Give them an opportunity to declare themselves as a seeker. Ask them what would be helpful on this phase of their spiritual journey.

    FROM LOST TO FOUND

    Entering the Kingdom - Moving from being lost to being found.


    Be Intentional: Be appropriately urgent, and clear, but don't oversimplify. Invite them to make a decision, pray with and for them. Give appropriate next steps.