What an alongsider is (and isn’t)
1: An alongsider isn’t just any Christian friendship or relationship
An alongsider is someone who intentionally walks closely with another to serve Jesus’ purposes in their life (a disciple-maker) – whether the other person is a Christian or not.
2: An alongsider isn’t only interested in evangelism
An alongsider is someone who gets alongside people in any stage of their spiritual journey from non-Christian through to mature Christian (see ‘Four perspectives of growth’ in the Resource Hub on the app).
3: An alongsider isn’t only someone in church leadership or who is specially trained (pastor, counsellor, mentor)
An alongsider is an everyday believer, someone who simply comes in the grace and love of Jesus to others and, aware of their own limits, points people to more specialist advice/help when needed.
4: An alongsider isn’t meant to only operate within a local church
An alongsider is someone who gets alongside people in the whole of life, which includes local church but is not limited to it.
5: An alongsider isn’t just interested in the (so called) ‘spiritual bits’ of someone’s life, creating a sacred/secular divide
An alongsider is interested in all of a person’s life – in whole-life discipleship.
6: An alongsider isn’t someone who just helps the hurting
An alongsider is someone who walks with another through different seasons of life (including suffering) with a vision to support their growth.
7: An alongsider isn’t (necessarily) a more experienced believer meeting with a less experienced one
An alongsider is a posture of coming alongside (not above) another to serve and encourage them in Christ (whilst recognising that everyone has different gifts/experience to bring to the relationship).
8: An alongsider isn’t motivated by pressure, guilt or a misplaced sense of responsibility for people
An alongsider is motivated by Christ’s love and seeks to humbly play their part within their God-given capacity.
