Developing a Digital Discipleship Pathway
God is doing miracles through online outreach. One Edmonton church discovered over two days of doing water baptisms that for half the people their water baptism was the very first time in their church building. One young adult started engaging online. An online host connected with her. She asked for prayer one Sunday. She was invited to Alpha online, she took the course, made a commitment to follow Jesus and was baptized.
Here’s the reality: Church attendance is not decreasing; it’s decentralizing. Digital channels do not compete with physical attendance, they partner with it.
A discipleship pathway will serve you in making digital disciples.
What is a Discipleship Pathway? (Creating a Discipleship Pathway)
A pathway is a 30,000-foot view of a process designed to help people progress from non-believer to believer to mature disciple to multiplying leader. John Albiston, an effectiveness coach, describes the process as “turning Joe Pagan into the Apostle Paul”.
What is a Digital Discipleship Pathway?
A digital discipleship pathway is designed specifically for online engagement. The journey and the outcome are the same as an onsite pathway but the path is different. Simply duplicating online what is onsite will not achieve your goal.
A process does not replace people. A discipleship process relies on people.
Onsite or online, discipleship happens best in relationship and community. Engagement is a two-way conversation. It's a relationship, not pushing messaging one-way. Real discipleship happens in community and in conversations. So the sooner you get to a conversation, the better.
Nothing beats the one-on-one conversation that you can have with people, to pray with people, to find out what's going on with them, and where they feel like they need to grow.
Building Your Pathway
Don't over-engineer your system. Stay focused on the people aspect.
Keep it simply simple.
A pathway consists of three steps with one or more behaviours in each step.
The three steps are: First Step, Next Steps, Ongoing Steps
You can always add, subtract, or adjust a behaviour in each step.
Each step in the pathway corresponds with deeper engagement. Therefore, these steps should correspond with the natural “next best step” principle so that people can understand and follow Jesus.
Assign one primary ministry with each step. A primary ministry is something you expect everyone to attend. For example the worship gathering, a small group, a community service event, a prayer meeting, etc.
Take note of an informal pathway that already exists in your church. See the informal pathway in what Pastor Marlo Jenkins at Eaglemont Church shares, “There was a woman tracking with us online on Sunday mornings at Easter 2020. She messaged us that she was discovering God in her life for the first time and would not be on this spiritual journey if it were not for our online presence. She received one of the complimentary books we gave away to people who were seeking answers and exploring the Christian faith. At the end of the 12-week message series, we provided a 5-week “Christian Foundations” Zoom group. There were eight people in that group; this woman was one of them. A few weeks after we started in-person gatherings in the summer, she was there. She is attending with her two elementary kids. She stepped forward to volunteer recently.”
Online First Impressions Process
Recruit online connectors.
Track Chat and Comments in the live stream.
Engage in real-time follow up comments as people post.
Follow-up with people who post after the live stream.
Follow-up would occur by going to the person’s FB page, and messaging them, “Thank you for connecting with ___________ Church today. This is __________, the digital pastor. I hope you enjoyed the experience. Is there anything we could pray about for you?”
Respond to a follow-up message from the individual. If requested, inform the contact of ways to connect with what is happening at the church.
Before noon on the following Saturday go on Messenger and invite the person back to the Sunday service.
Newcomers Class
The Lead pastor should participate in this First Step to get to know people the church is reaching. It is essential for a Lead pastor to have first hand experience of the online process.
Next Steps in Zoom Rooms
Zoom breakout rooms make a safe, interactive environment for discussion. Each breakout room would have a facilitator and two disciples.
Zoom is an effective environment for Alpha, or any spiritual growth class.
Periodically Evaluate the effectiveness of your pathway
Find out what engages people.
Which step is working?
Which step is producing the best outcomes?
Which step needs better content or application?
Bob Jones is the founder of REVwords.com, an author, blogger, and coach with 39 years of pastoral experience. Bob is also an Advance Coach with the ABNWT Resource Centre. You can connect with Bob here.