Field Teams · Mobilizers · Researchers

PHASES OF ENGAGEMENT

A shared, globally usable language for measuring gospel progress among people groups, from Waiting to Sustained Gospel Presence.

A collaborative framework developed by Frontiers, IMB, Joshua Project, Engage Network, Vision 5:9, and Accelerate, with input from practitioners and researchers around the world.

Framework Overview

Three-Dimensional People Group Progress

For years, our shared language relied primarily on two data points: Engaged or Unengaged status and Christian/Evangelical percentages. While helpful, these metrics are often too narrow for today's realities. Two people groups can look the same on those metrics yet exist in radically different places. A three-dimensional view provides the depth needed for strategic clarity. In addition to quantitative calculations of Christian and Evangelical percentages, we are introducing Phases of Engagement and Engagement Strength to capture the nuances of gospel progress. To support and catalyze movement within these categories, we have integrated Engagement Accelerators: twelve strategic domains designed to spark ideas and sharpen focus.

01

Phases of Engagement

An eight-step continuum that tracks where a people group stands in terms of gospel progress, from Waiting (Phase 0) to Sustained Gospel Presence (Phase 7).

02

Strength of Engagement

A five-level scale that captures how robust engagement is within a phase by looking at activity relative to population size, diversity of engagement streams, and contributing accelerators.

03

Engagement Accelerators

Twelve strategic domains used as a diagnostic and catalytic tool to identify gaps, spark ideas, and focus next steps toward movement to the next phase.

Download Phases of Engagement Toolkit

First Dimension

Phases of Engagement

An eight-step continuum describing each milestone in gospel progress. Use the Quick Start questions sequentially. The highest phase where all prior criteria are met is the current phase.

0

Phase 0

Waiting
There is no known reported engagement to establish self-sustaining churches, or "0-R": previous efforts have not resulted in ongoing activity or have not been updated in three years.
Sub-indicator "0-R" marks that a restart is needed.
1

Phase 1

Entry
Workers or near-culture believers gain access to the people group and begin laying relational foundations to share Christ and plant churches. The focus is on connecting, learning, and building bridges.
2

Phase 2

Evangelism
Regular, culturally relevant gospel engagement is taking place, with the intention of planting self-sustaining churches.
3

Phase 3

Discipleship
Individuals or small clusters respond in repentance and faith. Early discipleship stresses obedience to Scripture, laying foundations for self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.
4

Phase 4

Local Church
Believers from the people group gather regularly, functioning as a local church consistent with evangelical faith and practice. Leaders from the people group are emerging among these churches.
5

Phase 5

Reproducing Church
Churches from the people group are sending out evangelists or church planters to plant new churches among their own people. Second-generation groups and churches are forming.
6

Phase 6

Multiplying Church
Generational church streams spread across the people group, reaching 4th generation or beyond of both churches and leaders. Church network structures empower local oversight.
7

Phase 7

Sustained Gospel Presence
The people group has either: (1) 10% or more following Christ and worshipping in churches, or (2) several multiplying church planting networks led by believers from the people group, who are sending workers to other people groups while continuing to mature at home.
Tool Flexibility: While these phases are written with people groups in view, they can also be used for geographic strategies by replacing "people group" with the appropriate geographic area (district, state, or country).

Is there any known current effort with intention toward self-sustaining churches that is culturally appropriate and locally relevant?

No → Phase 0: Waiting. Prior work ceased or data >3 years old → tag 0-R.Yes → Continue

Entry: Are workers or near-culture believers gaining access and laying relational foundations to share Christ and plant churches?

Yes → at least Phase 1. Continue.

Evangelism: Is regular, culturally relevant gospel engagement taking place with the intention of planting self-sustaining churches?

Yes → at least Phase 2. Continue.

Discipleship: Have individuals or small clusters responded in repentance and faith, with early discipleship emphasizing obedience to Scripture and laying foundations for self-sustaining churches?

Yes → at least Phase 3. Continue.

Local Church: Are believers from the people group gathering regularly as local churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice, with leaders from the people group emerging?

Yes → at least Phase 4. Continue.

Reproducing Churches: Are churches sending evangelists/planters, and do you see second-generation groups or churches forming?

Yes → at least Phase 5. Continue.

Multiplying Churches: Are churches and leaders multiplying to the fourth generation?

Yes → at least Phase 6. Continue.

Sustained Gospel Presence: Are there multiple streams of churches reaching fourth generation with evangelical doctrine and practice sustained locally?

Yes → Phase 7.

When is a Restart Needed? (Phase 0-R)

A restart may be needed when past efforts have not resulted in a lasting gospel presence and no viable witness remains. This could occur if a team withdraws, believers disperse without continued outreach, or external pressures disrupt ministry. Additionally, if no new incoming data is received for three years, the group will be designated Phase 0-R.

Second Dimension

Engagement Strength

Knowing a people group's engagement phase is only part of the picture. It is also important to understand the Strength of Engagement within that phase, including how much engagement activity is taking place relative to population size, how diverse the engagement streams are, and how Engagement Accelerators are contributing. Two methods assess this.

Engagement Strength Levels

Unknown

No activity data is available, or existing data is insufficient to assess engagement strength.

Initial

Minimal gospel-oriented activity is occurring relative to the population, with limited scope or consistency.

Growing

Gospel activity is increasing in frequency, diversity, or cultural proximity, but remains limited relative to the population.

Active

Consistent, culturally connected gospel activity is taking place across multiple dimensions, proportionate to the population.

Flourishing

Robust, culturally rooted gospel activity is widespread and sustained relative to the population, reflecting depth across multiple indicators.

Important: Engagement strength levels are general descriptions. Each phase has its own metrics that are calculated and weighted to determine strength. Strength is not a measurement of a team's quality or impact, but an indicator of gospel-oriented activity relative to the population.

Two Assessment Methods

Secure Activity Tracking Apps

Allows for real-time updates and long-term visibility of progress.

  • Requires internet access and willingness to record data digitally
  • Provides continuous, quantitative data stream

Field Survey Tool

Designed for teams in limited-access areas or those who choose not to record data online.

  • A quantitative and qualitative questionnaire
  • Captures a snapshot of engagement strength for the people group's current phase
  • Easy to use, even in remote settings

Why Both?

When both methods are coordinated, they allow both survey sources to inform and populate engagement strength together, providing a fuller, more reliable picture.

Diagnostic and Catalytic Tool

Engagement Accelerators

Engagement Accelerators highlight key factors that can move a people group toward a stronger, more sustainable gospel presence. They represent 12 strategic domains (e.g., prayer, Scripture access, training, collaboration) that apply across all phases but require different approaches at each phase.

Accelerators are not a scorecard, prescription, or rigid method. They are not sequential or listed in order of importance. Instead, Accelerators should be seen as catalytic and practical: they spark ideas, sharpen focus, and support strategic thinking. They are for your own strategic planning, not for research, reporting, or outside assessment.

Prayer

Sustained intercession focused on the people group's specific realities. Seeks God's guidance, protection, and breakthrough. Includes personal prayer, households, and networks of churches praying together.

Diagnostic questionWho specifically needs sustained prayer to break through into the next phase, and who could join you in praying for this breakthrough?

Scripture / Resource Access

Heart-language access to Scripture and gospel content in usable formats (print, audio, app, oral). Focuses on translation, product development, distribution pathways, local ownership, and feedback on translation quality.

Diagnostic questionWhat barriers keep people from engaging with Scripture in their heart language and preferred format? How could removing those barriers accelerate progress toward the next phase?

Vision Casting

A clear, compelling picture of gospel advance for the people group that aligns teams, churches, and partners. Uses stories and simple data to set direction and sustain momentum.

Diagnostic questionWhat compelling picture of gospel breakthrough could unite, mobilize, and inspire people toward the next phase?

Multi-node Engagement

Gospel activity across multiple geographic, demographic, or digital spaces. A node is a strategic point of influence: a city, town, diaspora community, or digital platform. Engaging multiple nodes broadens impact and reduces vulnerability to disruption in any single stream.

Diagnostic questionWhich geographic, demographic, or digital spaces remain untouched or show the most receptivity? Could engaging them unlock movement toward the next phase?

Mobilization / Sending

Identifying, preparing, deploying, and caring for workers (local, near-culture, cross-culture). Includes simple pipelines, coaching, and member care.

Diagnostic questionWhat type of worker does your current phase require? Who needs to be identified, prepared, or sent to drive progress toward the next phase?

Collaborative Engagement

Shared prayer, learning, data, and mutual care among churches, agencies, and local believers. Clarifies roles through simple agreements and works together on crises and opportunities.

Diagnostic questionWhat would you gain by partnering more intentionally with other workers, local believers, or nearby churches to strengthen your capacity for moving to the next phase?

Meeting Needs / Compassion

Tangible expressions of love that dignify communities and open relational doors. Designed to "do no harm," be locally led, and connect naturally to long-term discipleship.

Diagnostic questionHow can tangible acts of love open relational doors and build trust for deeper gospel engagement into the next phase, without creating dependency or power imbalances?

Critical Contextualization

Community-led application of Scripture that is biblically faithful and culturally meaningful. Regularly reviews forms and practices with diverse voices to guard against drift and syncretism.

Diagnostic questionWhere might your current forms or practices feel disconnected from local culture or Scripture? Could addressing these unlock movement toward the next phase?

Research / Cultural Insights

An ongoing learning posture to understand insights from language, worldview, social networks, migration, and pressure points that impact fruitful strategy and practice.

Diagnostic questionWhat don't you yet know about people's spiritual hunger, barriers, social networks, or receptive subgroups? Would learning this remove key obstacles to the next phase?

Multiplying Efforts

Habits and systems that drive the reproduction of what the current phase requires. The emphasis is on reproducibility and wise release of authority.

Diagnostic questionWhat's currently reproducing on its own versus requiring your constant involvement? What would need to multiply to sustain movement into the next phase?

Training / Equipping

Reproducible formation for people in the skills and biblical knowledge needed to strengthen their current phase and catalyze movement to the next. Delivered by practitioners and designed to be passed on.

Diagnostic questionWho needs to be trained or equipped in specific skills or biblical knowledge to catalyze the breakthrough needed for the next phase? Who needs to lead that training?

Marketplace Involvement

Leveraging positions in business that provide access, witness, and tangible blessing. Operates ethically, favors local ownership, and integrates workplace discipleship where appropriate.

Diagnostic questionHow can the work lives and business connections of believers create natural spaces for witness and sustainable presence that advance progress toward the next phase?

Team Workflow

How to Use Accelerators

A six-step process for using Engagement Accelerators with your current people group. Keep it prayerful, contextual, and action-oriented. Use this for planning, not reporting.

Use this for planning, not reporting. Engagement Accelerators are designed to help you prayerfully reflect on priorities, gaps, and next steps. They are for your own strategic planning, not for research, reporting, or outside assessment.
1

Identify Your Phase

Confirm the current Phase of Engagement for the people group using the Quick Start Guide decision tree above.

2

Find the Accelerator Diagnostic Questions

Locate the questions that correspond to your phase. Use the general diagnostic questions or the phase-specific questions in the appendix.

3

Pray and Diagnose

Review the Diagnostic Questions with field reality in view. Answer honestly. Let prayer shape how you see the gaps and opportunities.

4

Discern and Choose

Think beyond the questions to the wider ministry domain. Ask God what 1–2 items from the 12 domains (or your own ideas) would most strengthen engagement and help move toward the next phase.

5

Plan and Act

Use the Accelerator Planning Worksheet (in the appendix) to assign the next step, identify partners, and set goals. Keep it small, specific, and culturally appropriate.

6

Learn and Update

Note what happened, what you learned, and any phase-shift signals: new baptisms, new groups, leaders emerging. Share updates with your network and Mission Information Community.

Guiding Principles

Context first: Adapt ideas to language, culture, security, and local wisdom.
Sequence matters: Choose actions that advance the phase rather than entrenching the current one.
Build on strength: Look for where God is already at work and join in. Avoid replicating what's already succeeding.
Partner widely: Involve local believers, proximate cultures, diaspora, and specialty ministries.
Keep it light: This is a guide for prayerful creativity. Use it to focus, not to add burden.

Appendix

Phase-Specific Accelerator Questions

Each phase has tailored questions across all 12 accelerator domains. Download the full Phases of Engagement Toolkit to access the phase specific Accelerator questions.

Download Full Toolkit (PDF)

Ready to Put It Into Practice?

Download the full Phases of Engagement Toolkit, including all phase-specific accelerator questions.

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