How to Choose the Right Steps on Your Clear Path to Discipleship

August 5, 2025 // Clear Path to Discipleship

What makes a parish truly missional?

It’s not just having more programs—it’s having the right steps that move people from encounter to mission. In this four-part EquipCast series, we unpack the core elements of a Clear Path to Discipleship: Conversion Moments, Evangelization Formation, Faith Formation, and Relational Outreach. You’ll hear real stories, practical strategies, and honest insights from parishes doing this work on the ground. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen your existing path, this series will help you build a discipleship process that fits your people—and actually changes lives.

How to Choose a Conversion Moment

Need help choosing steps on the Clear Path of Discipleship that fit your community?

Today, we dive into the heart of missionary transformation: the conversion moment. I sit down with my team to unpack why these moments matter—and how they’re changing lives in real time. You’ll hear unforgettable stories (like a bartender who became a parish secretary) and see how ministries like Alpha, ChristLife, and parish retreats are helping people truly encounter Jesus.

But this isn’t just about programs. It’s about creating space for people to meet Jesus—and letting that encounter ripple out into the life of your parish. We talk about what’s working, what’s not, and how to choose a format that actually fits your community. We also get real about the challenges—and the surprising opportunities—of doing this in diverse or bilingual settings.

If you’re trying to figure out where to start, or wondering how to take your next step toward a more missionary parish, this episode is for you. Get ready to think big—and start small.

Options for Conversion Moments

How to Choose Evangelization Formation

What if the biggest thing holding your parish back isn’t a lack of programs—but a lack of missionary disciples?

I sit down with my team to explore a step in parish life that often gets skipped: evangelization formation. We’re talking about the part of discipleship where people go from passive participants to confident, Spirit-led missionaries—and why that shift changes everything.

We get honest about what it actually takes to form missionary disciples—not just run more programs. You’ll hear real behind-the-scenes stories from parishes on the ground, practical tips that work, and ways they faced the most common roadblocks we see, like fear, self-doubt, or the sense of being alone in mission.

We break down evangelization formation into clear, doable steps—like helping people pray out loud, share their story, and discover their charisms. Whether your parish is just starting out or ready to go deeper, this episode will shift how you think about forming people for mission—and give you the tools to start.

Options for Evangelization Formation

How to Choose Faith Formation

What if your parish’s faith formation is creating consumer Catholics instead of disciples?

Today, my team and I unpack what faith formation is really supposed to do—and why so many parishes get stuck. We talk about the difference between just teaching information and actually forming hearts and habits.

You’ll hear why small groups matter, how to spot a healthy ministry, and what it takes to move people from simply learning their faith to living it—and then going on mission. We talk about launching apostolates, forming others, and becoming the kind of disciples who don’t just consume content but live it out with joy and purpose.

Plus, we share some honest stories, practical tools (like the Discernment Rosary), and plenty of laughs. If you’ve ever wondered how to choose the right ministry for your clear path to discipleship—or how to fix the one you’ve got—this one’s for you.

Options for Faith Formation

How to Choose Relational Outreach

What if your parish’s most “welcoming” events are actually pushing people away?

In this episode, I sit down with the team to unpack the surprising truth about relational outreach—and why it’s often the last step parishes build, even though it’s the first step many people need. We talk about what makes outreach truly relational (hint: it’s not donuts after Mass), how to create spaces where people feel like they belong before they believe, and why introverts might just be your parish’s secret evangelization weapon. If you’ve ever wondered how to reach people who’ve drifted from the Church—or never really connected in the first place—this one’s for you.

Options for Relational Outreach