Several times, the point has been made that conversion happens in the context of relationships.

Perhaps we should say: “most often happens.”

There are always the “outlier” stories – someone found a tract, a Bible, etc., and they read it, and the truth in it spoke to them, and they became a follower of Christ.

Typically, these seem to happen mostly in very remote or restricted-access areas. In places where there is more access to the Gospel, it is more likely that – if you were to really dig into the story – you would find that there were relational connections.

Even in places where access is rare, it is more likely that the Bible was given to the individual by another individual. (Even “more than dreams” events always point the dreamer to another person who can share the Gospel with them.) It’s probably very statistically rare that a Bible is simply found and leads to a conversion. (All those Gideon Bibles notwithstanding.)

But just because it’s rare, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen (http://www.justinlong.org/2013/03/outliers) .