It is my joy to introduce Revive Nations ministry coordinator, Wilson Christopher from Malaysia. He has been with our ministry now over eight years serving the Lord with much commitment and enthusiasm. Just as we are preparing for a crusade in Malaysia, read his heart beat for the church and ministries that do crusades to bless the Kingdom of God.
Today’s Churches travail to gather members and new souls to attend meetings and crusades in mass volumes. Meetings are important for the body of Christ, as it is able to strengthen one another, and is an open door for new souls to know about Jesus. The efforts required may include many hours of praying, organizing and strategising, and more things to consider, often a huge amount of cash!
The eagerness of having this crusade organised at the local church or hometown excites many, and leads them to be involved in the different activities to make the crusade happen. I have witnessed church members and organisers charged up with schedules and programs before the meeting.
However, sad as it may seem, often for the organisers, that is all that is there to a meeting or a crusade. Once the meeting successfully concludes, one tends to just pack up his bags and leave.
What is crucial then, you may want to ask. All successful meetings are termed so due to a ‘follow up’. To make a meeting successful, follow up is very important. None of us should forget that the core objective of the crusade is to steer up the spiritual atmosphere and to win souls. What is the point if the hall is crowded but not the Heaven?
Following up with a new believer is the most important factor! The work of grounding a new believer and making them mature in Christ is explicitly expressed in Col 1:28 -29 “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me”. Such was the goal of Paul and his fellow labourers. A new soul is the most vulnerable when he/she is not grounded in faith.
Accepting Jesus as one’s personal saviour is the ultimate goal, but making them to understand about the relationship with Jesus and helping them to understand the Word of God is a long term process.
How Should Church Prioritise a Follow Up?
– Personal follow up: This is a one-to-one relationship of a newly saved person with a mature believer to aid and inspire the latter. Prepare a name list and assign it to someone who is staying around the new believer.
– Involving them in life groups.
– Understanding their needs but keeping it to a limit, such that it ultimately leads to dependence on God.
– Motivating and making them understand the challenges they would face as a new believer.
What the church needs to do is go beyond just holding crusade but leading and holding their hand and walking along with them until the coming of Christ.
This comes to each one of us as a challenge.
Can you adopt one new soul the next time you go to your church or attend a crusade and follow up with them?