The framework from I Once Was Lost

Nobody argues
their way to Jesus.

People cross the same five thresholds on their way to faith — in order, at different speeds. Learn to walk your friends across them with patience and warmth, and never make the fifth-threshold call on a second-threshold person.

THRESHOLD 01Trusting a ChristianDistrust → Trust
THRESHOLD 02Becoming CuriousComplacent → Curious
THRESHOLD 03Opening Up to ChangeClosed → Open
THRESHOLD 04Seeking After GodMeandering → Seeking
THRESHOLD 05Entering the KingdomLost → Following
37students interviewed in the original study
5thresholds, always crossed in order
2+friends you're praying for, by name
2books behind the framework
The idea

Conversion is a journey, not a moment.

For a decade, Doug Schaupp and Don Everts listened to the real stories of people who came to faith from deep skepticism. They expected a hundred different paths. Instead they found one — told over and over.

Everyone crossed the same five thresholds, in the same order, at their own speed. The whole art of relational evangelism is learning to tell which threshold a person is at, and offering them the next step — never a leap.

This is the home for that teaching: Doug's videos, podcast, books, courses, and coaching, all in one place, organized around the five thresholds themselves.

Meet people where they are

Match the next step to the threshold. Don't apply one tactic to everyone.

Ask the 5T expert

An always-on coaching guide, grounded in Doug's teaching. Try the button, bottom right.

Grow at your own pace

Free to start, with courses, community, and coaching when you're ready.

The resource hub

Everything Doug teaches, in one place.

Videos, podcast episodes, articles, guides, and books — browsable, searchable, and organized by the five thresholds.

Open the hub →
Flagship course
Centering Relational Evangelism in Your Church
3 sessionsfor leadership teams

A guided path for your whole team.

Three sessions to move your church from a holy huddle toward a conversion culture — each with videos, readings, reflection prompts, and a plan you actually build as you go.

  1. Clarifying your evangelism vision — name, in plain words, what you want God to do.
  2. Turning programs into pathways — redesign what you already do around the thresholds.
  3. Leading culture change — the patient work of moving a whole community.

Don't make the Threshold-5 call on a Threshold-2 person.

The one sentence at the heart of the whole framework

1:1 & in person

Bring Doug to your team.

Coaching for leaders building a conversion culture, and in-person intensives for whole staff teams. Tell Doug where you're stuck, and he'll tailor it.

Book Doug as a coach →
1:1Coaching sessions, roughly $180 each
IntensivesIn-person team workshops, from $1,800
One journey, one login

Start free. Grow when you're ready.

Everything lives under a single account — from the free quiz to a coaching intensive. Move up the ladder at your own pace.

Free

$0
  • The Five Thresholds quiz
  • Free videos, articles & podcast
  • 2+ Prayer card
  • Ask the 5T expert (preview)
Take the quiz

Go deeper

Courses & coaching
  • Async course — $99
  • Cohorts — $500–1,000
  • 1:1 coaching — ~$180/session
  • Intensives — $1,800–4,000
Compare all plans

Not sure where to start?

Take the two-minute quiz to see where your church is on the five thresholds — and get a next step tailored to you.

Where's your church on the thresholds?