Bridge Cities Church · Discipleship Offsite · June 2025
The Five Growth Stages
The organizing framework for everything BCC does. Every program, class, trip, and role exists to move people through these five stages. The stages are the system. Everything else is a tool.
Stage 1
Surrender & Foundation
Receiving love
Milestones
First Visit
Salvation
Baptism
Membership
What Lives Here
Foundation Classes
New Member Process
Guest Care & Follow-Up
Baton Holder
Pathway Connector
Guest Services
The Pass
"I just came through this. Walk with me."
Stage 2
Rooted & Growing
Growing in love
Milestones
Joined a Small Group
Prayer Life Established
In Scripture Regularly
What Lives Here
Small Groups
Discipleship Classes
Spiritual Disciplines
Baton Holder
Small Group Leader
The Pass
"My group has meant everything. I want you there."
Stage 3
Sent & Serving
Expressing love
Milestones
Active Volunteer
Gospel Relationship Outside Church
What Lives Here
Serving Teams
Mission & Outreach
Community Engagement
Baton Holder
Ministry Leader
Small Group Leader
The Pass
"There's room on this team. Come try it with me."
Stage 4
Leadership Development
Multiplying love
Milestones
Named Apprentice
Leading Others
What Lives Here
Leadership Training
Apprentice Relationships
Coaching & Mentoring
Baton Holder
Core Leader
Discipleship Director
The Pass
"I see it in you. I want to pour into you."
Stage 5
The Climb
Reproducing love
Milestones
Released an Apprentice
Elder / Core Leader
What Lives Here
Core Leadership
Elder Development
Ongoing Mentoring
Baton Holder
Lead Pastor
Core Leaders
The Pass
"I'm releasing you. Now find the next person."
The Framework
Stages Are the System
Every program, class, trip, and role at BCC serves one purpose: moving people through these five stages. The stages are not one option among many. They are the lens everything else gets evaluated through.
The Mechanism
The Baton Is Always a Person
Programs do not move people. People move people. At every stage, a specific congregation member takes personal ownership of another person's next step. Not staff. Not a flyer. A person saying: "Walk with me."
The Coverage Question
No One Without a Baton Holder
Every person at BCC needs someone personally responsible for their next step, whether they are in a class, a group, a serving team, or none of the above. No program reaches everyone. The baton chain must.
The Baton Pass Chain · Who Passes to Whom
VisionLead Pastor
SystemDiscipleship Director
LaneMinistry Leaders
GroupSmall Group Leaders
SundayPathway Connectors
The PassCongregation Members
Staff build and equip the chain. A congregation member always makes the personal pass.
The Question That Follows Every Conversation Today
Who is personally responsible for this person's next step?