Evangelism Training

Below we describe our approach to evangelism from two perspectives.

A 5-5-5 Network describes our holistic vision for evangelism—multiplying disciples and multiplying church communities.
The Path to God describes the primary strategy we use for introducing people to God through Jesus Christ—with an emphasis on scheduling appointments with non-Christians to share the gospel.

1. A 5-5-5 Network

Overview of a 5-5-5 Network

A 5-5-5 network is a reproducible model for multiplying believers and church communities through evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development. It consists of three cycles of ministry in which Christians share the gospel and baptize five new believers each.

The 1st Five: Evangelizing Non-Christians: A Christian leader shares the gospel within their network and baptizes five new believers. At the end of the first cycle, the network consists of 6 believers (1 evangelist + 5 new believers = 6).
The 2nd Five: Evangelizing Non-Christians and Training Evangelists: The Christian leader continues reaching another five non-Christians while also coaching each of the first five believers to do the same. At the end of the second cycle, the network has expanded to 36 believers (6 evangelists + 30 new believers = 36).
The 3rd Five: Evangelizing Non-Christians, Training Evangelists, and Training Trainers: The Christian leader reaches another five non-Christians while coaching the other believers to each reach five more. By the end of the third cycle, the network has expanded to 216 believers (36 evangelists + 180 new believers = 216).
At each stage, new believers gather in house churches to study The Discipleship Series in community. These churches provide the relational depth and biblical foundation needed to establish new believers in their faith.
As disciples mature, they are invited into The Leadership Training Program to receive advanced training in evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development. This ensures the movement remains strong and self-sustaining.
As the movement grows, God raises up new network leaders who start and lead their own 5-5-5 networks. In this way, 5-5-5 networks overlap and multiply as God raises up new leaders. The exponential potential of this model is staggering. If just one believer commits to this process, they could influence hundreds of lives for Christ within three cycles of ministry.

Three Cycles of Ministry

The 1st Five: Evangelizing Non-Christians

The process begins with a committed Christian who seeks to create—or contribute to—a 5-5-5 network. For those who are married, it is ideal (perhaps essential) for both spouses to pursue this vision together. Whether leading the network or serving as a key participant, this person dedicates themselves to prayer, caring for others, and sharing the gospel until they see five new believers baptized. Each of these new believers is immediately invited into a house church for weekly fellowship and biblical teaching. In this stage, the leader serves as:

An Evangelist
A Shepherd of Disciples

The 2nd Five: Evangelizing Non-Christians and Training Evangelists

Once the first five are baptized and actively engaged in a house church, the leader continues reaching a new set of five non-Christians—while also training and coaching the first five to do the same. As each of these disciples reaches and baptizes five others, the network expands to 36 believers. At this stage, the focus shifts from addition to multiplication. The leader equips new believers to share their faith while ensuring they stay rooted in Christian community (see The Path to God below). Through studying Scripture together, they grow in spiritual maturity and learn to obey Christ in daily life. In this stage, the leader serves as:

An Evangelist
A Trainer of Evangelists
A Shepherd of Disciples

This role involves modeling evangelism while providing encouragement, accountability, and practical tools to help others share the gospel.

The 3rd Five: Evangelizing Non-Christians, Training Evangelists, and Training Trainers

By this stage, the network leader and first-generation believers continue reaching five non-Christians while coaching the second-generation believers to do the same. As a result, the network grows to over 200 believers meeting in 15–20 house churches. In this stage, the leader serves as:

An Evangelist
A Trainer of Evangelists
A Trainer of Trainers
A Shepherd of Disciples

This structure ensures the movement continues multiplying without losing its biblical foundation or relational depth.

The Role of the 5-5-5 Network Leader

In summary, as networks grow the leader of a 5-5-5 network serves as:

An Evangelist – Actively sharing the gospel and incorporating new believers into community.
A Trainer of Evangelists – Equipping new believers to share their faith.
A Trainer of Trainers – Equipping leaders who train others to evangelize.
A Shepherd of Disciples – Ensuring believers are not just spreading the gospel but are firmly rooted in biblical community.

Rather than controlling the process, the leader empowers others to take ownership of their faith and grow in community.

Conclusion

The 5-5-5 model not only expands the reach of the gospel but also ensures that every believer is established in the faith, equipped to evangelize and disciple within their networks, and engaged in mutually-edifying relationships. This creates a movement that spreads organically while remaining deeply grounded in Scripture.

Imagine the impact if every believer took full ownership of this mission. A single committed Christian could influence hundreds—if not thousands—of lives for Christ.

For more information about 5-5-5 networks, see Reach, Impacting Eternity, 89–103.

2. The Path to God

The Path to God is a short lesson for facilitating conversation with others on how to know God through Jesus Christ.

Here is one approach to sharing it with others in your networks: (1) pray for guidance from God, (2) invite others (such as your family members, friends, and neighbors) to study that document with you, (3) establish a time and place to meet (e.g., Saturday nights from 5 to 7 p.m. at your house), (4) pass out copies of that document before or at the first meeting, and (5) share a meal together each week before you read the lesson together. The Path to God is best studied over the course of two meetings.

Another approach: teach and discuss these lessons to people in your church, neighborhood, or other settings (like a jail or prison) to equip them to lead studies of their own. In time, proactively coach them through steps (1) through (5) above. These are helpful strategies, particularly if you want to start communities of Christians.

When you finish The Path to God, use the The Discipleship Series to establish your group members in the core teachings of the Christian faith.

Becoming a Christian is the first set of lessons from the Discipleship Series. These eight lessons focus on the basics of the Christian faith. They are a great starting point to train others how to talk about their faith—from God the Father to baptism.