RELATIONAL OUTREACH #3: Biblical Interaction & Real Life Example – Brown

RELATIONAL OUTREACH #3: Biblical Interaction & Real Life Example – Brown

In this conversation, several individuals share their personal stories of overcoming challenges and finding hope through their faith in God. They emphasize the importance of fellowship, prayer, and studying the Bible in their discipleship journeys, highlighting miraculous signs and amazing things that have happened through their faith. Speakers also discuss the role of ministry and community support in deepening their faith, and share their personal experiences of navigating trauma, insecurities, and personal growth. Through their stories, the speakers emphasize the importance of faithfulness, discipleship, and personal values in guiding their lives.

Action Items

• [ ] Continue regularly studying the Bible together and holding each other accountable.
• [ ] Pray for opportunities to build relationships with non-Christians and invite them to church events. (All speakers) [Throughout]
• [ ] Consider sending Xavier and his fiancée Zarya out on a future church plant to do campus ministry work, based on their skills and calling.
• [ ] Jake to lead a Q&A panel session for relationship building and ministry.

Outline

Faith, relationships, and discipleship.

• Speakers share personal stories and beliefs about God’s role in their relationships.
• Speaker shares personal story of overcoming abuse and poverty through Jesus.

Childhood trauma, addiction, and faith journey.

• Speaker’s parents got divorced, leading to questions of God’s love and existence.
• Speaker struggled with alcoholism and partying in college, causing harm to himself and others.
• Eric shares his spiritual journey, from feeling lost and broken to finding hope and healing through Jesus.
• Eric and Carrie study the Bible together, learning about discipleship, repentance, and baptism.

Faith, church planting, and personal growth.

• Speaker shared their personal journey of faith, including baptism and marriage, and how their church has provided a supportive community for them and their family.
• Speaker discussed the importance of church planting and how it has brought blessings to their life and the lives of others.
• Speaker 2 met Jake at a Super Bowl party and remembered praying for someone to meet there.
• Jake was dressed in Chiefs gear, and they bonded over swimming lessons for their kids.

Childhood trauma, addiction, and faith journey.

• Speaker 3 shares their story of instability and trauma, including divorce, abuse, and addiction.
• Speaker 3 felt empty and unfulfilled despite achievements in sports and education, and turned to substance abuse as a coping mechanism.
• Louis from Kansas City shares his spiritual journey, from feeling lost and suicidal to finding stability and healing through Christ.
• Louis meets Xavier at a retreat and shares his faith with high schoolers, leading to a deeper connection with God and others.

Personal growth, faith, and family.

• Xavier shares his story of friendship with Jake, highlighting their ups and downs.
• Speaker 4 shares personal story of growth and self-discovery, including struggles with toxic relationships and faith.
• Speaker 4 reflects on how their father’s death and lack of religious upbringing impacted their life and worldview.

Personal struggles, faith, and relationships.

• Speaker reflects on struggles with insecurity, bullying, and sickle cell disease in high school.
• Speaker experiences depression and turns to sexual morality for comfort during difficult times.
• John talks about his spiritual journey, including reading the Bible with his godfather and feeling called to serve God.
• John meets Jake in a math class and they become friends, bonding over their shared Christian faith.

Faith, community, and personal growth.

• Speaker 5 shares their personal experience of feeling lost and empty, and how they found community and support through their faith in Jesus.
• Speaker 5 met a fellow student in a public speaking class who shared similar experiences and helped them connect with a community of like-minded individuals.
• Speaker 5 describes their friendship with Xavier, including their shared love of basketball and how they grew closer over time.
• Speaker 5 recounts an unusual encounter with an old man at a basketball game, who recognized Xavier and tried to talk to Speaker 5 in the middle of the game.

Personal relationships in evangelism and discipleship.

• Speaker 2 shares their personal journey of becoming a Christian and how it led to them reaching out to others, including an old friend Jack who also gave his life to God.
• Speaker 2 feels discouraged when many of the people they reached after becoming a Christian fell away, leading them to question the point of sharing their faith.
• Speaker shares personal experiences of ministry and its impact on relationships.
• Relationships matter in sharing faith, and personal connections can lead to spiritual growth.

Faith, discipleship, and relationship-building on a college campus.

• Speaker 2 highlights Jake’s faithfulness and servant heart, mentioning he’s been a constant in their son’s life for 6 years.
• Speaker 2 also highlights Matt’s growth and servant heart, mentioning he’s always got someone at church with him and is serving in the midst of being a college athlete.
• Speaker 2 shares their story of struggling with faith and finding hope through Jesus.
• Speaker 3 thanks God for the opportunity to share their message and encourages others to do the same.

This content was featured at the 2024 Antioch Collective Annual Assembly at The Crossings Church St. Charles County in O’Fallon, MO. For more like this, visit https://antiochcollective.org/