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Preserve
A-CROSS WYOMING
Your church has worked hard, going door-to-door,
sharing the gospel and inviting your community to church for
Easter. All across our state, churches have hosted prayer-walks
and prayed for people and families. And on Easter Sunday,
you witnessed some of the fruit of your effort – new faces
appearing in your worship services, men, women and young people
discovering Jesus personally!
It's now time to preserve the results of
the labor through follow up. When someone attends your worship
services, your Sunday School or small group Bible study they
have opened the door to relationships being developed, connections
made.
The goal for A-CROSS
WYOMING ,
as stated earlier, is to reach every home in your area with
the gospel and an invitation to attend a local congregation
for an evangelistic Easter service . When
they attend, involving newcomers in small group Bible study
or Sunday School is one of the most effective ways to help
people discover Christ as their personal Savior and grow them
to maturity.
Small
Group / Sunday School and Evangelism
The relationship-oriented ministry of your
Sunday School or small group Bible study class provides a
perfect opportunity for people to explore Christianity and
discover Jesus . In small groups, not only can they ask questions
about Jesus Christ , but they experience Christian living
and see first-hand, changed lives through the Gospel. Belonging
to the group aids their believing in the Savior.
The
Six-Week Window
Experience tells us that the first
six weeks following a non-churched person's first visit to
a church is critical. It is when they are most receptive to
the church and to the gospel. This receptivity gradually declines.
If no contact has been made between the church and the newcomer
in six weeks, the newcomer will become indifferent to the
church again.
Five
Step Follow-Up
•
VISIT
They
have already expressed an interest in your church by attending
worship, express interest in them. Bring something with you
when you visit.
•
A pupil book from your Sunday
School curriculum along with your church newsletter
•
A gift basket – include items such as fresh baked goods,
tea and coffee, “goodies” for the children, church information,
or other small gifts your church may have.
•
PRAYER & ANSWERS
When making a visit, don't just thank them
for attending. Get acquainted and ask them if there is anything
that you could pray for them about. Answer their questions
about salvation and the church. Be prepared to give a testimony
of how the Lord has changed you.
•
ENROLL
Belonging to a Bible study class is a vital
part of sharing the Gospel. When unsaved people join a Bible
study, they have the opportunity to see first-hand what Christianity
is like and to study God's word.
Research
gives us the following information:
•
A church will baptize one out of four hundred (1:400) lost
people it tries to reach outside of its Sunday School or
small group Bible study.
•
A church will baptize one of
two (1:2) lost people it enrolls in Sunday School or small
group Bible study.
Many people think that they have to be
a church member to belong to a class, so be sure to ask them
if they would like to join a Sunday School class or enroll
their children. Enroll them on the spot. They do not have
to attend first before they can enroll.
•
MINISTER
Always look for opportunities for your
class to minister to the person you are visiting. Perhaps
they need prayer; visit a loved one in the hospital, or offer
to bring food for the family during a time of need.
•
INVITE
Invite those you visit to your small group
or Sunday School class. Give them information such as, what
time classes begin, where the classes are located, etc. Offer
to meet them at one of the church's main entrances and help
them locate classes for their children.
Research tells us that 82 percent of non-churched
Americans will attend a small group or Sunday School class
if asked. However, only 20 percent have ever been invited.
Invite these new people to one or more
of the following:
•
Small Group
•
Sunday School
•
A class fellowship
•
Start a new Bible study in their home or neighborhood
Resources
for Follow-Up
•
“ Decision Time ”
•
“316 – The Numbers of Hope
,” Max
Lucado
•
“Beginning Steps,” (NAMB,www.namb.net)
•
Bible study curriculum
•
Enrollment cards
•
Church Newsletters
•
“Survival Kit: Five Keys
to
Effective Spiritual Growth,”
Ralph Neighbors, Jr
& Bill Latham ,
(LifeWay)
- “Welcome
To God's Family,”
(tract)
- “Taking
the Next Step: A Guide For New Church
Members,” Ralph Hodge
, (LifeWay)
Sample
“Follow Up” Plan
•
Week One
•
A letter from the Pastor to all
of Sunday's guests. The letter may include: a list of all
Sunday School classes and small groups; an invitation to
attend a Fellowship hosted by the pastor and Sunday School
leaders.
•
Begin visiting homes
•
Week Two
•
Mail post cards from Sunday School
classes and small groups to all visitors, inviting them
to Sunday School or small group Bible study.
•
Host a Fellowship.
•
Continue visiting in homes.
•
Week Three
•
Continue visiting in homes.
•
Sunday School or small group
classes make phone calls inviting guests to class fellowships.
•
Week Four
•
Continue visiting in homes.
•
Sunday School class or small
group fellowships
•
Week Five
•
Follow-up so that all guests
have had several contacts from the church and Sunday School
or small group.
•
Plan to celebrate the harvest
through a special baptismal service. Provide “personal invitations”
to baptismal candidates. Candidates can then send invitations
to their baptism to family members and friends.
•
Baptism Sunday! Celebrate! Invite
guests of baptismal candidates to meet the pastor and the
congregation. Initiate, build and develop relationships.
•
Have a prepared, ongoing discipleship
plan for the new believer.
•
Week Six
•
Continue to provide genuine care
and community to those who are searching.
•
Continue to visit in homes, seeking opportunities for ministry
and sharing.
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