Follow-Up

Follow-up is one of the most important aspects of the evangelism process. It does not end with the mere distribution of a short tract, a brief prayer of assurance, and then a happy hug. Those won to Christ must enter into an on-going process of discipleship. Follow-up should be a concise, well-planned process for the purpose of growing and maturing believers into becoming like Christ. A church that does not have such a process is guilty of nothing less than spiritual infanticide

The goal of an immediate follow-up plan is to provide the church with a workable process that will equip it to follow-up, assimilate, and incorporate those who make a decision for Christ into the life and ministry of the church.

An Effective Follow-up Strategy will consist of:

• Preparation—In most local SBC churches, little attention is paid to follow-up process or plans. Thus, the assimilation of new believers into the life of the local church is weak at best. This hurts not only the effective ministry of the church to the community, but most importantly, the responsibility it has to the new Christian. An effective follow-up strategy will seek to make churches, pastors, and leaders aware of the great need and moral responsibility to follow-up new believers. It will inspire and motivate churches to see follow-up, not as an addition to evangelism, but a vital part of it.
  
  
• Mobilization & Training—An effective follow-up strategy will seek to provide realistic opportunities for church member involvement. It will seek to mobilize and train an army of believers in the local church to provide the necessary manpower for follow-up activities. In most SBC churches, the most obvious army of believers and assimilation unit exists in the Sunday School/small group ministry. Therefore an effective follow-up strategy will seek to mobilize and train this organization
  
  
• Process—Finally, an effective follow-up strategy will consist of a systematic, workable plan or process. It should include the participation of many individuals from the local church in an easily followed and understood system. This process should include both the immediate follow-up of a new believer at the moment after conversion and an ongoing process of assimilation into life and ministry of the local church. The ultimate result is to place the new believer onto a road of discipleship that will seek to develop him or her into a mature follower of Christ and a reproducing witness.Follow-up is one of the most important disciplines – and often the most overlooked. Evangelism and discipleship are like two sides of the same coin. They are both necessary. The Bible calls a new believer a "babe" in Christ. As a baby, new Christians need much attention and care during their formative years. Does your church have a passion for follow-up? Review the materials, articles and follow-up plans in this section and provide the best care possible for the new babies God sends your way as a result of your evangelistic outreach.

Download The Essential Dynamics of Follow-Up (Teaching PowerPoint)

In This Section

The Immediate Follow-Up Strategy

The Ten-Four Follow-Up Plan

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Personal evangelism is the foundation of all church-growth strategies. Unless someone is telling someone else about Jesus, the church will not grow. It has been estimated that as little as eight percent of Southern Baptists will share Christ with a lost person in their lifetime. The primray reasons most do not is because of fear and not knowing how to share. These two reasons go hand-in-hdn. By training believers in a personal evangelism process, confidence is given that helps to eliminate their fears. The Great commission mandate is to "go and tell." Make personal evangelism a priority in your church or ministry.

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Follow-up is one of the most important disciplines, and often the most overlooked. Evangelism and discipleship are like two sides of the same coin. They are both necessary. The Bible calls a new believer a "babe" in Christ. As a baby, new Christians need much attention and care during their formative years. Does your church have a passion for follow-up? Review the materials, articles and follow-up plans in this section and provide the best care possible for the new babies God sends your way as a result of your evangelistic outreach.


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Personal Commitment Guide
The Personal Commitment Guide is a powerful help in worship services, revivals, or crusades for counseling people who are interested in making a decision to accept Jesus as their Savior or who are unsure about aspects of their Christian walk. The foldout pamphlet covers the areas of salvation, baptism, church membership, assurance of salvation, rededication and Christian vocations. questions are answered with Scripture references and focus on God's purpose, our needs, God's provision, our response, and ultimately our commitment to Christ.




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The Immediate Follow-Up Strategy
the Immediate Follow-Up STrategy is designed to equip churches and individuals to assist new Christians in beginning their journey with Christ. It provides training in four phases of flollow-up using "Let the Celebration Begin," "Let the Celebration Continue," and "Beginning Steps."

Equip Your Church
the Immediate Follow-Up Strategy is simple and basic. In only an hour you can equip your church or ministry in the mechanics of this effective tool.

Teaching Notes
Teaching PowerPoint
How to Train Your church

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The Ten-Four Follow-Up Plan
the Ten-Four Follow-up Plan is designed to equip churches and individuals to assit in the immediate follow-up, incorporation, and assimlialtion of new bbelievsr into the life of the church. This plan is grea tto use in block parties or high-impact evangelistic activities. This resources provides a strategy of 10 simple "touches" directed toward the new believer at the moment of conversion and continuing over the courese of four weeks using postcards, phone calls, letters, and a visit. this strategy involves the use of the Sunday School and other key leaders in the follow-up process

Equip Your Church
The Ten-Four Plan is designed to involve the sunday School/small group ministry and other key groups and individuals in the church. by involving many people you can maximize assimilation.

The Ten-Four Plan
Teaching PowerPoint
How to Train Your Church