Session #27 — What is follow-up and why is it important?

As I explained at the beginning of this course, we don't do evangelism apart from discipleship. That would be pointless because our overall purpose is to make disciples. 

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20 / CEB)

So, this is why we want to follow up on every evangelistic encounter and decision. 

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship explains the importance of follow-up. Read what they have published on their evangelism training site.

Follow-up Makes Disciples

Faith decisions are extremely important, life-changing moments of great significance for any person (Lk 15:10, Col 1:13-14). With good follow-up, we can help people beyond the infant stages of discipleship. We can help them become disciples, laying solid foundation for a lifetime journey of trusting Jesus in all things. Following up with new believers helps us to do that faithfully and lovingly.

In Matthew 28:19-20, we are not just called to help people to make decisions about following Jesus, although making decisions are important. We are called to make disciples. Following up on decisions of faith is essential to faithful Kingdom Work. It’s a part of making disciples. There are times when perhaps following up on decisions is not possible (for example, a large gathering where people don’t provide contact info), but where possible, it is paramount.

These are the BENEFITS OF FOLLOW UP

1. Increases likelihood that a faith decision will translate into a new kingdom lifestyle.
   
   
2. Helps clarify what kind of decisions people are making. The truth is, no matter how clear the call to faith is, there are going to be mixed reasons for why people are responding.
   
   
3. Helps increase the likelihood that the new believers are going to integrate into the broader community of faith.
   
   
4. When we follow up with new believers, it increases our ownership in the conversion-discipleship process. Follow-up helps increase the spiritual leadership of students in the lives of the responding students.
   
   
5. Holds a witnessing community accountable to discipleship beyond the call to faith. It can be all too easy to just settle for a decision.
   
   
6. Follow-up helps new believers to process their faith decision. Often times people are not totally sure, explicitly, why they responded. Follow-up helps new believers clarify for themselves why they responded.

So, what exactly should follow-up involve? I see follow-up as a process that can be divided into three often overlapping phases: Immediate Attention, Integration into Christian Community, Individualized Direction.

IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

InterVarsity trains their evangelists to do the following:

Follow-up is a marathon, not a sprint, but is the only way to help new believers fully integrate into your community. Ideally, follow up takes about three weeks, with more investment in the first week, less the second, and a little on week three. 

The day after a friend becomes a new believer at your large group, small group, or other event, send a text message to check-in and set up a meeting for later. 

During the first week of follow up you will want to meet with the new believer. Ask, "how has your week been going?" Debrief their decision and answer questions they have. Then bring them to your small group and debrief the experience afterwards. 

The second week, check in with the new believer again, via text/call. Bring them along to small group and help them connect to other members of the group (or the group leader if it isn't you.) 

The last week, continue to connect them with other members of the small group and encourage them to share their story. 

When you are debriefing with a new believer, consider asking these questions along with some of your own:What did (standing, raising your hand, filling out the card) mean to you? Who will you share your decision with? How do you want to grow in your faith?

INTEGRATION INTO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

It is impossible to grow into a mature Christian apart from participation in a healthy Christian community (church). Invite new believers to join you in worship or in your small group Bible study. (Don't just send new believers to a church or a group, accompany them.) If there are several new believers maybe you can start a new Bible study just for them. 

INDIVIDUALIZED DIRECTION

Meet one-on-one with new believers a few times each month to help them get started in their walk with Christ. 

• Maybe you'll want to read one of the Gospels together and talk about them. I suggest you start with either Mark or John. 
  
  
• Memorize some key Bible verses together (for example, John 1:12-14; John 3:16-17). 
  
  
• Walk through some new believer materials like Jump Start with them. 
  
  
• Teach them to pray. (I've created a resource called Using the Lord's Prayer as a Template Pattern as a resource for learning to pray.) 
  
  
• Encourage them to tell someone about Jesus and their new faith.

The important thing is that new believers have a mentor to get started on the discipleship journey.

For this assignment, I'd like you to examine the Jump Start materials mentioned above. Send me an email (bboydston@piu.edu) explaining why it would be good to use this particular resource for new believers. This assignment is worth 25 points.