Since 2013 Alliance Pregnancy Center (APC) in Alliance, Ohio, has intentionally shared the Gospel with clients utilizing a macramé bracelet which has six different colored beads, each symbolizing an element of salvation found in Jesus. The effort is paying dividends in life-affirming ministry and introducing people to Christ.
In January 2021, the staff of APC participated in the 3 Circles Training for Gospel conversations. This teaching was developed by missionaries from around the world who combined their best practices into this interactive, visual presentation of the Gospel.
Regardless of an individual’s circumstances, experiences, education or cultural background, the 3 Circles Training uses a relational approach of explaining our relationship with God. It is for everyone. It is a life-giving message.
The staff at APC have found there is certainly a ripe harvest as Jesus talked about in Matthew 9:36-38 (The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few) where pregnancy help clients are concerned.
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APC Client Services Manager Kaitlyn Hochstetler first asked Executive Director Emily Trevino about using the 3 Circles Training with clients in late 2020.
Hochstetler’s grandfather is a pastor and facilitator of a program that offers training to ministries seeking to get involved in this Kingdom expansion vision that includes the 3 Circles.
In 2021 APC shared the Gospel 150 times and 29 individuals received Jesus as their Lord and Savior as a result. The many seeds that were planted for a later harvest cannot be measured.
Hochstetler shared some testimonies from the past year.
“A young lady called our office because she was wanting to get an abortion,” Hochstetler said. “She had already been to a doctor’s office for her pregnancy test and had an ultrasound scheduled there as well.”
After she offered the client an appointment to give her information on abortion, the client accepted and came into the office accompanied by a friend. Both of the young ladies were high school students.
“Towards the end of the appointment, the Lord reminded me to share the Gospel with these young ladies,” recalled Hochstetler. “I gave them both Gospel bracelets which opened an opportunity for me to engage them in a spiritual conversation.”
As is part of the 3 Circles Training, Hochstetler asked if she could show them a picture that someone had shared with her that depicts how we can have a relationship with God. Once they agreed, she began drawing the three circles and presented the Gospel using this simple tool.
“After sharing, I asked the girls where they feel like they are at in the picture, and where do they want to be,” explained Hochstetler. “Then I asked if there was anything holding them back from taking the next steps. When they both said ‘no,’ we all prayed together, and these girls gave their hearts to Jesus!”
Trevino noted a situation where one client was so encouraged by the Gospel message that she followed up her own confession of faith with bringing in her mom. So, in follow-up Bible study, which her mother attended, she also received Christ.
The vision of APC is to see these interactions as a “net casting” and as Trevino stated, “If you’re going to cast the net, then you also need to draw the net in.”
It is a standard practice for pregnancy help centers to include questions regarding religious affiliation on client intake forms. Trevino encourages others to realize that even if a client indicates they have a church home, they still may need to hear the Gospel.
One such young lady who came with her sister is a prime example of this.
“Towards the end of the appointment, I gave the girls a list of area churches and they began to tell me about a church they had gone to, and how they really liked the sermons and worship there,” Hochstetler recounted.
“I asked them if I could show them the 3 Circles, and they agreed,” she said. “At the end of the presentation, when I asked where they were at, they both eagerly pointed to the circle which represents ‘the broken world’ where we are separated from God.”
Indicating they both wanted to be in relationship with God, Hochstetler invited them to pray and receive Christ that very moment.
“The client was so thankful and kept saying ‘thank you’ after we had prayed together,” Hochstetler said. “God had been working in both of these young ladies’ hearts long before they came into our center that day.”
It has been eye opening for APC staff to see God’s work in the hearts of clients even well before they arrive.
Tweet This: God loves our clients so much and desires for them to know Him.
“The 3 Circles presentation and the engaging questions at the end had allowed these girls to evaluate where they were at, where they wanted to be, and that led to both of the young ladies deciding to pray and trust Christ that day.”
The questions asked after sharing the 3 Circles are so key because it takes it from simply being a presentation to something that engages the client to evaluate where they are at, and then opens the door for an invitation if they want to be in relationship with God.
“It’s important for us not to assume that a client is a believer simply because they have gone to church, and like the worship or sermons,” Hochstetler observed. “The client wanted to come back to get into God’s word together and learn how to follow Jesus.”
This client also brought her mother back with her and seeing the three circles, she recommitted her life to Christ. The ripple effects can be amazing.
Trevino recalled an opportunity she had while conducting orientation with two Kent State students who would be coming weekly for internship experiences with the center’s nursing staff.
“Have you always been religious?” asked the students.
With that opening, Trevino suggested Hochstetler share the 3 Circles teachings with them since this is a regular protocol at the center for the staff working with their clients.
“When asked, ‘where are you?’ and ‘is there anything holding you back?’ one of the girls said, ‘The Lord’s been talking to me.’ And the other one said she ‘wasn’t ready yet,’” said Trevino.
The last client story was of a young lady identifying herself as having no religious affiliation. Hochstetler recalled thinking it would be difficult for her to understand the things of God and that likely she had difficulties in life which had shaped her view of God.
Toward the end of the appointment was an opportunity to share the 3 Circles teaching.
Hochstetler reported, “It was amazing! I literally got to watch as the lightbulb went on in this young woman’s heart and she understood the Gospel for the first time.”
“God opened her eyes and revealed Himself and what He had done for her, and I got a front row seat,” she said. “She gave her heart to Jesus that day.”
“My confidence in God’s ability to reveal Himself to those who don’t know Him grew in such a huge way that day,” stated Hochstetler. “This woman came in with no relationship or affiliation with God and walked out a child of God!”
“He loves our clients so much and desires for them to know Him,” she said, “so He will reveal Himself as we open our mouths to share about His love through the simplicity of the Gospel.”
I encourage centers to consider hosting a 3 Circles Training. It is a powerful tool to add. At the Heartbeat International Annual Pregnancy Help Conference taking place March 30-April 1. My workshop will include information about the 3 Circles Teaching as well as strategies to “Look Inward, Look Upward to Move Onward!” Hope to see you there!
Editor's note: Heartbeat International manages Pregnancy Help News. This article has been updated to clarify the role of Hochstetler’s grandfather in the training program.
