If you’re considering a Bethel Sozo, you may have questions. You may be wondering what happens, whether you need to be a Christian, how long a session takes, or whether Sozo is right for you.
Here are some of the questions we’re asked most often.
What is Bethel Sozo?
Bethel Sozo is a Christian ministry of prayer and listening that helps people develop a more personal relationship with Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and discover greater freedom and wholeness as they hear from God for themselves.
You can read more in What Is Bethel Sozo?.
Is Sozo counselling?
No.
Bethel Sozo is not counselling.
It is a prayer ministry centred on your relationship with God. The Sozo facilitator isn’t there to diagnose you, provide psychological treatment or tell you what you should do. At Wonderfully Free, we also offer Wonderfully Free Sessions, which deliberately combine Sozo and counselling.
You can read more about the distinction in Is Sozo Counselling?.
Do I need to be a Christian to have a Sozo?
You don’t need to understand Sozo or have previous experience of Christian ministry. What matters is that you’re willing to engage with God. If you’re unsure whether Sozo is appropriate for you, we’re happy to talk with you beforehand.
What actually happens during a Sozo?
An individual Sozo is a guided time of prayer and listening. Normally, two trained team members facilitate the session. One is the First, who leads the session, and the other is the Second, who supports the First, prays and writes down significant things that the guest receives.
You may be asked questions and encouraged to ask God what He wants you to know. The team may use some of the Bethel Sozo tools, including the Father Ladder, Four Doors, Presenting Jesus and the Wall.
You can find a fuller explanation in What Happens in a Bethel Sozo?.
How long does a Sozo take?
An individual Sozo usually lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. Every Sozo is different, so there isn’t a rigid timetable.
Do I have to know what I want God to do before I come?
No. You don’t have to arrive with a particular problem or know exactly what is wrong. You don’t need to know how Sozo works. You can simply start where you are and allow the session to unfold.
What if I don’t hear anything from God?
Don’t worry. A Sozo isn’t an examination of your ability to hear God, and there isn’t a “right” answer you’re expected to produce. Sometimes something comes immediately. Sometimes it takes time.
Sometimes something that initially seems insignificant becomes meaningful later.
The facilitators are there to help you rather than manufacture an experience for you.
Will the Sozo team tell me what God is saying?
No. The purpose is to help you hear from God for yourself. The facilitator may ask questions or help you explore what you’re receiving, but we don’t want you dependent upon someone else to tell you what God thinks.
That’s fundamental to the way we understand Sozo.
Will I have to talk about everything that has happened to me?
No. You remain an active participant throughout the session. A Sozo may touch on significant or painful experiences, but you aren’t required to disclose everything about your life.
The purpose isn’t to make you tell your story to the facilitators.
It’s to help you engage with God.
What if something painful comes up?
Sometimes difficult things do emerge during a Sozo. If that happens, the team will help you bring those things into God’s presence and explore what He wants you to know.
A Sozo isn’t intended to make you dwell endlessly on the past. The aim is to discover what is really going on and allow God to speak truth into it.
Will a Sozo solve my problems?
We don’t promise that. A Sozo can be profoundly significant, but we don’t believe it is the answer to every situation or that everything will necessarily be resolved in one session. Sometimes further ministry is helpful. Sometimes another form of help is more appropriate.
If we think you would benefit from something other than Sozo, we’ll say so.
How many Sozos will I need?
There isn’t a prescribed number. Some people have one Sozo. Some find that further sessions are helpful.We suggest allowing some time for what God has shown you to settle and begin to make a difference before deciding whether another session would be useful.
Can I have a Sozo more than once?
Yes. If you feel another Sozo would be helpful, you can talk to us about it. However, our aim isn’t to create dependence on Sozo or on the ministry team. We want you to become increasingly confident in your own relationship with God and in hearing from Him for yourself.
Can I have a Sozo with my spouse?
Yes — but there is an important distinction. We offer Sozo for Couples, a ministry we developed, which enables a couple to receive Sozo together so that they can overcome problems and enjoy greater freedom and wholeness in their relationship with God and with one another.
That’s different from each person simply having an individual Sozo.
Can I have a Sozo online?
Yes. We offer individual Bethel Sozo sessions in person and by Zoom. If you’re unsure whether an online Sozo would suit your circumstances, just ask us.
Can a Sozo be helpful if I’m having counselling?
It may be. Sozo and counselling are different things, and there can be circumstances in which they complement one another.
At Wonderfully Free, our Wonderfully Free Sessions deliberately combine Sozo and counselling.
If you’re already receiving counselling and are considering a Sozo, we’d encourage you to talk to us about your circumstances so that we can help you decide what is appropriate.
Is Sozo a replacement for medical or psychological treatment?
No. Bethel Sozo isn’t medical or psychological treatment. If you need medical, psychiatric or psychological care, you should seek appropriate professional help.
Sozo can sit alongside other forms of appropriate support, but it isn’t a substitute for them.
Is everything that happens in a Sozo confidential?
The details of your session are treated with care and respect.
Before arranging a session, we’ll explain our confidentiality arrangements and any relevant limits so that you know what to expect.
Who facilitates my Sozo?
Your Sozo will normally be facilitated by two trained members of our Sozo team. One is the First and one is the Second. We want you to feel comfortable with the people facilitating your session, so if you have particular questions or concerns about this, please talk to us beforehand.
What does “Sozo” mean?
Sozo is a Greek word carrying the combined meaning: saved — healed — delivered. Those words give something of the breadth of what Sozo is about.
It is concerned with the whole person and with our relationship with God.
What are the Sozo tools?
Bethel Sozo has developed a number of tools that can help facilitate prayer and listening.
These include: The Father Ladder, The Four Doors, Presenting Jesus, The Wall
You won’t necessarily use every tool in a session. They are tools, not formulas. Every Sozo is different.
Where did Bethel Sozo come from?
Bethel Sozo originated at Bethel Church in Redding, California, and developed through the work of Dawna De Silva and others within Bethel. It is now practised internationally through trained ministries and teams.
Wonderfully Free has been involved with Bethel Sozo since 2009.
For more background, see What Is Bethel Sozo?.
Is Financial Sozo the same as Bethel Sozo?
Financial Sozo is a specialised Sozo ministry that focuses particularly on our relationship with money, work, provision, purpose and identity. We offer Financial Sozo, but we did not originate it.
It is distinct from our own Sozo for Couples, which we developed.
Can Sozo help with marriage problems?
It can sometimes be helpful, but we offer several different ministries for marriage because different situations call for different approaches. Sozo for Couples enables a couple to receive Sozo together. Going Deeper in Marriage combines Sozo, counselling and coaching.
Marriage Lived God’s Way is our marriage weekend, which we run ourselves and also provide at the invitation of churches. Marriage Preparation is based on our Starting Out material and is delivered through a series of sessions by Zoom.
What if I’m not sure which ministry I need?
That’s absolutely fine. You don’t need to diagnose yourself or choose the perfect option before you contact us.Tell us a little about what you’re looking for, and we’ll help you find the most appropriate way forward.
Start where you are.
Still have a question?
We’d be very happy to hear from you.
If your question isn’t answered here, Ask Us a Question.
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