Pre-Conversion Discipleship

Alpha
A program for introducing the basics of Christianity to those interested.

How to Reach Unchurched People in Your Community
Host this one day seminar developed by Church Growth, Inc., or download the PowerPoint and the workbook for self study.

Good News, Bad News
Four evangelism authors who practice what they preach tell what they’ve learned about bringing others into the Kingdom.

What Can I Learn From Being Evangelized by Other Religions?

Evangelism or Disciple Making? by Charles Arn
Nearly every pastor can testify that not all decisions result in disciples and responsible church members.

Overcoming the Obstacles to Evangelism by Myron Augsburger
Integrate evangelism into every hour of the week, so that Christ is carried into people’s lives, into our work, play, and socializing.

Sunday School: A Recipe for Discipleship by Wes Bartel
What should an effective discipleship ministry look like in the 21st century? There are at least four necessary ingredients needed to create an effective Sunday School or Christian education ministry.

Evangelism for the Ordinary Church by Steve R. Bierly
Just because your people don’t like to evangelize doesn’t mean they can’t share their faith.

The Pastor and Biblical Intimacy Interview with Henry Blackaby
Read what the author of Experiencing God has to say about how walking in an intimate relationship with God impacts the pastor’s life and ministry.

An Interpersonal Communication Model: The Engel Scale Explained by Bill Bright and Mark McCloskey

For Pete’s Sake by Becky Brodin
When you’re sharing your faith, could you be talking too much?

"Let Me Ask You Something." by Becky Brodin
Asking questions is often the best way to connect with a non-Christian.

"What Makes You So Different?" by Becky Brodin
Here are four ways to have an impact for Christ in the workplace before you say a word.

A Time To Sow, A Time To Reap by Robbie Castleman
Sometimes patience is the key to a fruitful harvest.

Moving Target: Reframing Discipleship for Postmoderns by Earl G. Creps
Three shifts to reunderstand the challenge of discipling those who are navigating the postmodern turn.

Developing a Missional Mindset by Don Detrick
To face new challenges and opportunities both in embracing our past and engaging our present, we must develop a missional mindset.

What’s The Use? by Tim Downs
If no one responds, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

The Power and Potential of Small Groups by Brett Eastman
Principles that have unlocked amazing growth and community outreach for church after church can happen in your church too.

Looking For The Lost by H. Dennis Fisher
How concerned are you for the salvation of the lost? What do your own actions reveal about that concern?

Waiting For The Harvest by H. Dennis Fisher
Sometimes patience is the key to successful evangelism.

Hope in America’s Crisis by L. Alton Garrison
Misconceptions hamper the future of missions in America. But there are ways church leaders can overcome them and stand together for national revival.

Matchmaker! Matchmaker! by Judy Gomoll
What would happen if you began to see evangelism as introducing someone to the Savior—rather than as salesmanship?

Beyond The Holy Huddle by Jonathan Graf
Being ‘salt’ and ‘light’ can be as simple as sweeping off your neighbor’s porch.

How Beautiful Are the Feet by Dan Greene
Jesus has sent us to scale the mountains of misunderstanding and bring the good news to the ends of the earth—and that includes the people down the street!

Turning Decisions into Additions and Additions into Disciplers by Jim Hall
New believer disciple making is indispensable if churches are to curb the alarming spiritual death rate among them. Consider these practical steps that will turn decisions into additions and additions into disciplers.

From Neighbors To Friends by Lynn Hallimore
How a small group of Christians built bridges on their block.

Prayer at Work by Lynn Hallimore
The most overlooked way to influence your coworkers for Christ.

Building a Church That Transforms Lives by Eddie Hammett
Explores creating disciples in a busy world through pre and post conversion methods, and describes the pulpit, program, person-to-person, and process approaches.

Evangelism is NOT a Dirty Word by Eddie Hammett

Biblical Principles and Practices for Effective Personal Witness by Randy Hurst
These principles provide a biblical framework for teaching personal evangelism that can become an integral part of any believer’s lifestyle.

Response Evangelism: A Spiritually Natural Approach to Witnessing by Randy Hurst
An indepth look at the importance of personal evangelism with practical suggestions for effective witnessing.

The Cycle of Evangelism and Discipleship: An Unending Process by Randy Hurst
The cycle of evangelism and discipleship is an unending process of reaching and retaining people who become citizens of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

Where Have all the Converts Gone? by John W. Kennedy
Discusses the role of relationships in the discipling process (both before and after conversion), and includes an interview with Alton Garrison, Assistant General Superintendent and Commissioner of Discipleship.

You Can Host An Evangelistic Bible Study by Bob Jacks
All you need to reach the people around you with the Good News is a living room, a few paperback Bibles, and faith.

Don’t Beam Us Up Scottie by Ian John
We’ve got to leave the safe, secure environment of the Enterprise.

Barry’s Witnessing Again? by Kima Jude
Some people seem to attract seekers like a magnet. What’s their secret?

A Winning Team by Linda Wakefield Kelley
How four couples work together to reach their neighbors

Connecting Points, Chapter 4: The Premise (PDF) by Steve Lambert and Randy Helms
Discusses the role of relationships in both the pre-conversion and post conversion stages of discipleship. Includes a summary of the Engel Scale of Conversion Stages.

Keeping Away From The Joneses? by Sherri Langton
A self-confessed introvert tells how she reaches out to her neighbors.

Lifestyle Evangelism for the Pastor by Mark Lauterbach
Given a pastor’s lifestyle, is lifestyle evangelism even possible? One pastor’s refreshing discovery.

Introducing Jesus by Beth J. Lueders
4 evangelistic small groups that are fruitful and fun

Common Ground by Dennis McCallum
How to build bridges to people who believe that truth is different for everyone.

Our Commitment to “Growing Saints” by Major Denise McGarvey

Lessons at the Well by Cathy Miller
Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman shows us how to reach our unbelieving friends.

Bridge Events That Reach Secular People by Steve Mills

Preparing Your Church to Evangelize by Doug Murren and Mike Meeks
Getting a big crowd to a special event is one thing; getting them to church is another.

Are You Tentmaking Or Just Camping Out? by Grant Nauman
Ever think of yourself as a missionary to your own community? Here are three ways to have an impact for Christ wherever you live and work.

Let Love Live by Dary Northrop
The principle of Christ’s love transformed this church’s entire approach to ministry.

Take the Gospel into Your World by Jim Petersen
Christians have a lot to learn about taking the gospel to secularized people.

Discipleship Pathway by Steve Pike
While church planting in Utah, Steve Pike, the Director of Church Planting for the Assemblies of God U. S. Missions, used these stages for discipling the unchurched and pre-converts of his community. These stages are not necessarily experienced in the order they are laid out. However, each of the stages represents a necessary category of the discipleship process for each person. For example, “Go and Enjoy” is the process wherein a Christian intentionally leaves his/her “comfort zone” and ventures out to find “places of enjoyment” they can share with a pre-convert. This “Go and Enjoy” encounter becomes the seed bed for the formation of a redemptive relationship where the Spirit of Christ in the Christian influences the pre-convert toward faith in Christ. Also available is a portion of BootCamp training material, How Will We Do It?, which Steve provides to introduce the concept of the discipleship pathway. If you would like more information about this concept please contact Steve at spike@ag.org.

How do the Unchurched View Us? by Dr. Thomas S. Rainer
Their seven most common responses about the churched.

Ten Surprises About the Unchurched by Dr. Thomas S. Rainer
Understanding their hearts and minds.

How To Talk About Jesus Without Getting Weird by Randy D. Raysbrook
Evangelism can be as natural as conversation.

One-Verse Evangelism by Randy D. Raysbrook
Here’s an uncomplicated new way to present the Bridge illustration, using only one verse.

Fish Stories by Michael Ridgeway
What bait are you using to reach people with the Gospel? What does the Great Commission really call us to do? “Discipleship is an inseparable part of evangelism—it begins before and continues long after conversion.”

What Tomorrow’s Laborers Are Learning Today by Paula Rinehart
All those who will be finishers have in common a certain conviction, a certain quality, and a certain hope.

Navigating the Changing Waters of Leadership by Alan Roxburgh
What do cultural shifts mean for the work and witness of churches?

Risky Business by John D. Sloan
Are you willing to take a chance with people who don’t seem like a sure bet for success?

14 Ways to Love Your Neighbors by Stephen W. Sorenson
Here are some easy, practical ways to get to know the people who live around you.

Ready to Answer by J. Mack Stiles
It takes more than the right arguments to lead people to faith.

The Surprising Rewards Of Witnessing by J. Mack Stiles
What will you miss if you don’t share your faith?

The Gospel In The Workplace by Robert J. Tamasy
You spend nearly half your waking hours with the people at your job. How can you influence them for Christ?

Evangelism by The Ounce by Paul Thigpen
Small but effective ways to share your faith.

Taking Men Alive by Charles Gallaudet Trumbull
This article offers us timeless help in answering these questions: What should I be thinking about when I am trying to help a nonChristian become a believer? How can I develop tact in speaking about Christ? What do I say about sinful habits in a nonChristian’s lifestyle? How can I help him be interested in my message?

Premature Harvest by Rick Weinert
Personal evangelism means planting, watching carefully, and waiting.

The Role of the Pastor in Evangelism by Scott G. Wilkins
Personal and corporate involvement in evangelism.

Invisible Neighbors by Jamie Winship
How one policeman learned to love those he had once overlooked.

The Lost-Restoring a Sense of Urgency by George O. Wood
What do the three stories–the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son–from Luke 15 reveal about the heart of the gospel?

The Fine Art of Reaching People by Howard Young
As with any creative art, the genius of reaching people cannot be traced to one single factor. Instead, it is a composite of many things that are thoughtfully and expeditiously performed.

"It’s True For You, But Not For Me." by Jeff Yourison
How to help friends see the flaws in their belief systems.

"But they’re so Different…" by Ravi Zacharias
How to reach the world that’s moving into your neighborhood.

Abandoning an Incomplete Gospel by Dieter Zander
How one leader arrived at a more complete understanding of the Word of Life.

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