CoJourners: Learning to Share Your FaithSample

Priority Connections

Relationships matter. They provide the context for spiritual growth. Believers need an environment that is relationally rich. There are three primary connections:

1. A spiritual mentor to encourage and guide.


2. A group of believing friends to relate.


3. A community of believers to belong.

Believers need at least two out of the three connections to foster healthy growth. The ideal environment is, of course, all three. Little growth can be expected when a believer is functioning with only one of the connections and an isolated believer is in trouble.

We need to check our own environment first. Are we connecting with other believers? Then, as mentors for others, we can help them make the connections they need.

Thought: Like babies, believers are born into a family.

Take a Step: Reflect on the relational connections of the newer believers you know. Which of the three priority connections appear to be missing? What steps can you take to encourage these connections?