Focus on Reproduction, Mentor's Guide, MG12

/ 1 3 3

F O C U S O N R E P R O D U C T I O N

Everywhere in the NT the Scriptures argue the importance of the follow-up of new converts and discipling new believers in urban church planting. The act of follow-up includes welcoming new believers into the church, i.e., incorporating new believers and equipping them in the local assembly of believers, which is God’s agent of the Kingdom in this world. Following up new believers in the local church is “incorporating new converts into the family of God for the purpose of edification and fruitfulness, to the glory of God.” This includes the notion of welcome and introduction into the body, building up in the body to the fullness of Christ, and using one’s gifts to contribute to fulfilling the Great Commission, all to the glory of God. The practice of follow-up of new Christians is essential to their spiritual well-being. New converts need immediate care and attention because of their need for protection and to understand their new identity, their need for ongoing instruction and feeding, for the cultivation of new friends and life patterns, and because of their need for immediate and regular pastoral care. The dynamics of follow-up include baptism and membership in a local assembly, worship, befriending, pastoral care, preaching and teaching, discovery and use of one’s spiritual gifts, and service and sharing of one’s faith. We ought to observe a number of practical steps as we practice biblical follow-up: understanding the goal of discipleship as maturity, grounding the new believer in their assurance of salvation, teaching the new Christian to share their faith, and feed upon the Word of God. This also includes equipping them to walk with the Lord, introducing them to other members of the body, and connecting them to a small group as the building block of their faith. Follow-up is an essential dimension of equipping believers in the Assemble and Nurture phases of church planting. The local church is the context for beginning and sustaining effective discipling for new and growing Christians, especially in the sense that the local assembly of believers is the place which incorporates new converts into the faith, establishes them in their walk and doctrine, and equips them for the work of the ministry.

3