Cultural norms and relational sensitivities have led believers to shrink back from witness. Traditional images of evangelism often feel relationally inappropriate or risky at best. Yet the opportunities for spiritual conversations abound when approached with sensitivity. CoJourners equips believers to conversationally enter the spiritual journey of others, helping them come to Christ in ways that are relationally sensitive, yet biblically grounded. CoJourners is not an evangelism strategy. It is an equipping paradigm, which provides a way of thinking about and teaching conversational evangelism. This equipping paradigm consists of learning the four roles we play in relating evangelistically with non-Christians:

The Explorer: Initiating spiritual conversations, the believer discovers the spiritual journeys of others through active listening and asking questions. This role sharpens the believer’s ability to engage in spiritual conversations, assessing their openness to the gospel. The Guide: The believer guides those open to faith in Christ through their own life-story and the gospel. This role sharpens the believer’s ability to articulate the gospel in conversationally appropriate ways.The The Builder: There are many issues and obstacles that can hinder those yet to come to Christ that need to be addressed through prayer and gentle persuasion. This role sharpens the believer’s ability to deal with these obstacles. The Mentor: Those who come to Christ need encouragement to continue on their journey through relational connections to Christian community and through foundational concepts for Christian living. This role enables the believer to assist those who are new to Christ or those who have already come to Christ but are struggling.