Step 1: engage unbelievers

ENGAGING UNBELIEVERS is the first step of disciple-making for the church. Jesus instructed his disciples to "Go make disciples of all nations" (Matt 28:19), meaning that his followers must move outward to engage the lost world. We must interact in close proximity to unbelievers if we are to have gospel conversations and show loving care. Jesus also taught his disciples their role as 'laborers' in the disciple-making harvest: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest" (Luke 10:2).

Engaging those who need the gospel can occur in any location. Believers initiate making disciples by going to those across the kitchen table, the dorm, the neighborhood, the office, the railroad tracks, the state, the nation, and the world.

VENUES: We engage those who are from the Lord in three primary venues:

1. Where we live:
   Family, friends, and neighbors.

2. Where we work/go to school:
   Coworkers, clients, customers, vendors, classmates, and teachers.

3. Where we play:
   Sports teams, kids activities, gyms, parks, and hobbies.

Tool: Relationship map

A RELATIONSHIP MAP (Oikos Map) will help you to identify, pray, and begin engaging unbelievers where you live, work, and play. Use this map as a daily prayer list.

Tool: neighborhood visits

NEIGHBORHOOD VISITS are a way Crestview engages unbelievers who live in the shadow of our church campus. There are thousands of residential homes within a one-mile radius of our campus. Surveys indicate that 70% of our community are unbelievers. We go out in teams to meet neighbors on their doorsteps, pray for them, and share the gospel.

Our teams greet each home with a similar friendly approach, then improvise as led by the Spirit and the situation: Neighborhood Visit Script