Sharing about one’s faith can be daunting. It can feel vulnerable and awkward. For many Christians, it is also seen as a duty or calling. Christians might go into such conversations feeling a combination of expectations and trepidation—fear of being too much, of being too timid, of being misunderstood or creating distance in a relationship with someone who holds other beliefs.

A pastor or church leader cannot accompany a congregant into these personal interactions—but they can and should prepare congregants for them.

In this field guide from our Spiritually Open series, we’re drawing from the article “How Churches Can Coach Christians to Share Their Faith.” We’ll dive into three areas—communication, conversation and congregation—to offer a holistic view of what this training might look like.