By analysing these faith journeys, we are developing the ability to discern patterns that distinguish key events relevant to specific contexts, such as country, people group, and faith group. This analysis also helps us to identify ‘blockers’—obstacles that hinder progress in the faith journey. Understanding these barriers allows us to tailor our evangelism and discipleship efforts more effectively.
Mapping seeker journeys: A guide for leaders
Overview
If you're a church leader or a missionary dedicated to spreading the gospel and guiding seekers on their faith journey, this article is for you. In the following exploration, we delve into how advanced analysis techniques can illuminate the pathways that lead to salvation, helping to craft more effective evangelism and discipleship strategies. By understanding these faith journeys in greater depth, we can overcome obstacles and better support those seeking faith, particularly in unreached communities.
Analysing testimonies
Analysing testimonies
Many mission organisations and ministries use the terms ‘seeker pathways’ or ‘faith journeys’ to describe the steps of engagement and interaction they offer for evangelism and discipleship. These pathways represent the spiritual journey individuals undertake, from their first encounter with the gospel to their growth as disciples. In a project initiated by CV Pioneering Manager Paul Rattray, we harnessed machine learning techniques to analyse over 1,000 testimonies and stories of impact. Our goal was to identify and classify common events within these faith journeys to map out pathway combinations and their sequencing. This detailed analysis provides us with valuable insights into how different events unfold in a seeker’s journey. The testimonies analysed were collected from pioneers working among unreached people groups. These stories reflect real-life experiences of salvation and the critical events that occur before and after this pivotal moment. By studying these testimonies, we gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities present in different cultural and religious contexts.
Identifying patterns and overcoming barriers
Crafting effective pathways
The insights gained from this project will enable our teams in CV—and those in other mission organisations involved in evangelism and discipleship among unreached people—to craft more effective pathways. By focusing on the events that have the most significant impact and addressing the blockers that hinder progress, we can guide seekers more successfully through their faith journeys.
Continuous improvement and collaboration
As this work evolves, we are keen to enhance and refine the classification model with a broader range of testimonies from diverse contexts. We will continue to publish updates on our findings and insights, sharing what we learn with the wider mission community.
Read the attached Whitepaper and explore the Power BI report to see what we have been learning. We would also love to hear from you if you believe this approach could benefit your ministry or if you have testimonies or success stories that could help us train our model further. Contact us to partner with us or share a story.