
I’ve been at the Wall lately. Maybe for the last couple of months or years. Who knows.
The Wall is stage five of seven stages on the Critical Journey.
- Recognition of God: God humbles us
- Life of Discipleship: God grounds us
- Productive Life: God rewards and exalts us
- Journey Forward: God unsettles us
- The Wall: God unmasks us
- Journey Outward: God transforms us
- Life of Love: God transcends us
If you’re in stages 1-3 you’re not going to understand the Wall or even want to consider it as a future possibility. But for most leaders—Bobby Clinton says 95%—one day the Wall will become a reality. How you deal with it will determine how you finish as a leader.
I have a hunch I may have reached the turning point. Time will tell. I don’t mind any more. Once you’ve met Jesus at the Wall you’re not in as much a hurry to move on.
Need to know more? Here’s a great article by Bobby Clinton on Paul’s experience: Deep Processing. Rich Vincent has written a handy summary of the Critical Journey: Stages of Faith. Or you can buy the book.

“The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith†(Janet O. Hagberg, Robert A. Guelich)
































2 Comments
Steve, I’m on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ in Nebraska (USA) and I’ve been a faithful reader of your blog for a couple years now. Never really got around to leaving a reply until now. Just thought I’d drop a note to tell you that you do an excellent job on this site. I’ve referred several CCC staff, and the impact of your entries here are far-reaching. Our semantics are “Movement Launching” but it looks very similar to church planting – almost everything is applicable. Thanks for all the wisdom.
-Ethan
Ethan, thanks for the encouragement. I’ll be speaking at the Australian Crusade conference in September.
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