Discipling new Christians is challenging. When you see someone come to faith, you’re full of joy and excitement for how God might use this person for the spread of the gospel among their family and friends. But, then reality sets in. Young believers often make foolish decisions. Perhaps falling back into sin, accidentally immersing themselves in false teaching, or simply losing their initial zeal. And, of course, this can be discouraging.
Here I was sitting on his childhood back porch as a new Christian reminded me of the biblical truths that I taught him a few months earlier.
But, God has called us to patiently invest in one another’s lives. This is our responsibility as members of local churches. We don’t simply share the gospel and move on to the next person. Instead, we give them not only the gospel of God but our lives as well (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
When I was in college, a pastor in our city gave me this advice: “Share the gospel, be patient, and walk with people as they come to know Christ. But, don’t move on after that. Invite them into the local church and continue to care for them.”
A Personal Experience of God’s Grace
I must say, God has used those who have come to faith through my ministry profoundly to encourage, challenge, and remind me of the truths of the gospel. I remember being in Atlanta, Georgia when I received a devastating phone call. At that moment, Matthew—a friend who came to faith after a year of sharing the gospel with him—was among the first to reach out to encourage and remind me of the gospel.
Here I was sitting on his childhood back porch as a new Christian reminded me of the biblical truths that I taught him a few months earlier. This was a profound gift of God’s grace that showed me what we gain when someone experiences God’s regenerative work. As this friend experienced God’s grace, he not only received salvation, but I gained a brother in Christ.
The Temptation to Move On
At the same time, it can be tempting for some to move on to the next person. We can be so zealous to see people reached by the gospel that we forget to continue to invest in them as they come to faith. There are certainly varying gifts within the body. Some will have a particular gift to evangelize and then will help them connect with other church members who can continue the work of discipleship. But, some of us need to be slower to pass people off. Instead, we should consider inviting others into our evangelism.
Involving Others in Evangelism
Today, I’m much more inclined to invite other Christians into my evangelistic relationships. When I spend time with my Hindu friends, I always invite a church member or two into that time. During this time, I can introduce my Hindu friends to a broader Christian community and encourage my Christian friends to be active in evangelism. Instead of one member of our church meeting with a particular Hindu friend, now we have two or three. As time goes on, and we meet more non-Christians, members of our church can continue to spread out and invite more church members into relational evangelism.
And, if I ever move away from Birmingham, there is a group of church members who feel confident and connected enough to continue this gospel work. My wife and I spent the summer out of the country, and one of our fellow church members continued to reach out to Hindus and Muslims at one of our local college campuses.
After I returned for the summer, I asked a Muslim friend about his summer—and he immediately told me about how his favorite memory of the summer involved spending time with a member of my church.