OIKOS STORIES
A true story from an Oikocentric Church
“Ryan and his wife were on the oikos lists of a couple people in our church. Ryan grew up Catholic and totally despised the idea of church.
Over a year ago, they were on the brink of a divorce. And they have four young kids too. Ryan’s wife started coming to our women’s bible study and Sunday gatherings. Then slowly, Ryan started coming to church with her, but very begrudgingly. He sat in the back and frowned for six months straight.
Then just a few months ago, by the grace of God, Ryan’s heart was regenerated and he fell in love with Jesus! — It’s all he can talk about!
A few weeks later, Ryan’s dad passed away. Ryan says he couldn’t have imagined going through that without Jesus and a church community.
To carry the story even further…
Another couple, Jason and his wife recently moved to our town a few months ago. Jason’s wife posted on social media looking for a women’s bible study in the area and recently got plugged into one at our church.
Jason, on the other hand, grew up Catholic and didn’t want anything to do with the church — just like Ryan!
Jason’s wife and the other ladies from Bible study have been fervently praying for Jason’s heart to soften and to check out our church community sometime.
This is where the story gets even crazier…
Ryan and his wife own a little coffee shop in town. On a whim, Jason and his wife stopped by Ryan’s store a few weeks ago to grab some coffee having no idea that Ryan and his wife own it. Ryan just so happened to be at the shop and ended up connecting with Jason. Truly a divine appointment.
Ryan, who won’t stop talking about Jesus to everyone, shared with Jason how Jesus changed his life!
He also shared with Jason about how much he loves his church community and how they rallied around his family when his dad passed away.
At this point, Jason’s wife was overhearing bits of their conversation. When Ryan mentioned what church he attends, Jason’s wife excitedly said, “Wait, I attend women’s bible study there!”
Talk about something only God could orchestrate!
A few weeks later, Ryan invited Jason to a men’s event hosted by our church and not only did Jason attend and connect with other guys in the church, he brought his brother-in-law as well!
Through all of this, Ryan recently shared that the oikos principle finally clicked for him after his interaction with Jason.
Praise God!”
- Chris T. | Lead Pastor
Beachpoint Church | Huntington Beach, CA
We just had 14 baptisms. All of them were 8 to 15 stories!
They were families, friends, and even the young man below who engaged in a conversation with one of our young adults in a coffee shop. He didn’t plan on someone being in the front row of his life that day. He just wanted a cup of coffee and to read his Bible. But God was already at work in Rocco’s life. Josh from our church initiated a conversation that developed into a lasting friendship. The friendship leaned into what faith was all about, so when Rocco gave his life to Jesus, he wanted Josh with him to help him get baptized.
“Oikos is our primary evangelism strategy and it’s having an effect on our community!”
- Pastor Bill Staffieri
Eric’s Personal Story
Growing up, I didn’t know Jesus. And a majority of my family didn’t know much about Him either. I attended church a handful of times and was mildly exposed to the idea of God, but my pride and ignorance disregarded Him rather entirely. Instead, I spent the remainder of my childhood placing my hope and identity in the things of this world and was shackled by a heavy burden of shame that brought me to the end of myself. With absolutely nowhere else to run, I gave my life to Jesus at the age of 23. All praise and glory to Him!
So if I grew up not knowing anything about Jesus, then how did I know to turn to Him?
Because He strategically placed individuals in my life who not only shared Jesus with me, but also modeled His character. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God used those people to draw me closer to Him. Over time, my heart began to soften and grasp the truth of God’s Word that I once dismissed and rejected.
Praise God for those Jesus followers who included me in their oikos. I am forever grateful for those who took time to pray for me, invest in me, and even invite me to church. Only God knows where I’d be if they hadn’t.
Jesus came to intentionally seek and save the lost. As believers, sharing and modeling Jesus is not just something we were tasked with. It’s something that should genuinely, organically, and excitedly be pouring out of us because of what Jesus has done in our own lives. And it can start with the 8-15 people whom God has strategically and supernaturally placed in our lives.
There’s a 95% chance that someone in your oikos may one day come to know Jesus through your intentionality. And if their story is anything like mine, they’ll be eternally grateful for you.
Be intentional and stay intentional.