Ps. Jeff Chong entry on Effective follow-up

Effective Follow Up

1. Effective Follow Up Through Relationship

One of the most important keys to effective follow up is relationship. God is a relational God. Spiritual growth takes place best in the context of genuine and authentic relationship.

We can build such relationship in our care groups (Hebrews 10:25) and 1-1 follow up (Acts 20:28).

2. Effective Follow Up Through Experiencing God

We need to help the new believers to experience God as soon as possible. We have to help them come to a personal conclusion that God is indeed real and active in their lives.

Do our best to help them experience the reality of God in the course of their daily life: in their work, studies, family life, in various relationships etc.

We can encourage the new believers to ask God for 3 things in their lives. However, we need to explain to them in a balance manner. (Philippians 4:19) God will answer their prayers according to His timing and if it is for their good.

We should also help them experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This would help them in their personal prayer life as well. (Romans 8:26-27)

3. Effective Follow Up Through Small Groups

We should do our best to ensure that we have a conducive atmosphere in our care groups for the new believers to grow in. The atmosphere should be one that is supportive, meets needs and shows care & concern. (Acts 2:42-47)

4. Effective Follow Up Through Selecting The Appropriate Follow Upper

We need to get this right such that there will be minimal barrier for the new believers in relating with the follow uppers.

Do take note of factors like gender, education level, campus and school they come from, availability, existing relationship etc.

5. Effective Follow Up Through Teaching The Bible

Let's do our best in giving them practical teaching that they can apply in their lives. Then they can reap the blessings of obeying God’s Word. (Acts 20:32)

We want to reap the harvest and store the harvest into the God's house.

Interesting to see that people may have giftings, talents, knowledge and understanding about vast things in music, in fields of biomedical, physics, mechanics and philosophy and arts but it becomes meaningless if you dont have God in it. Even wealth, fame, beauty, power and popularity becomes meaningless when you dont have God.

In all of us, there is a God size vacuum in our hearts that only God can fill. People search and search for answers in life, filling their lives with accumulated wealth, with relationships, with achievements, with authority, and with other earthly things.

King Solomon was a smart man of his age and even to this day, his quotes are being used in main stream media and classes. He had everything but he said its meaningless. Until he really understood the meaning of life, when he understood that he needed to have a personal relationship with God.

We can be running around in circles in life, chasing cars from one end of the road to the next. Being lost in the crowd and feeling alone in it even though amongst millions of people. We can be doing great things in helping people, making world records, or getting to places of power. What God desires most is us, is to know us, not any sacrifices or any deeds, but to know us. To love us and to love him back. Thats the key to being fulfilled.

Relating to People

1 Corinthians 9

¹⁹Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Paul a great apostle of Christ was able to win many souls throughout different churches and along the roads of evangelism. He was able to relate to many different people from all nations he came across. How? He learnt and understood the culture, the language and the peoples hearts. Paul speaks of relating to everyone being a servant to all so that he is able to win peoples hearts. He became a Jew who was under the law, which meant knowing the law very well. Although he knew the law well but he was not under the law of the Jews but of God. Similarly those who did not have the law, Gentiles, the commoners, uneducated, he would relate to them in their terms not that he was out of the law (still under Gods law). For those who are suffering, poor and downcast he would relate to them in their terms by sharing what his experiences of hardship has been like. He was able to relate to all in order to win people for Christ.

Our skills to assimilate and become accustomed to external and cultural matters will allow us to win friends from different nations. Remembering that we do not violate the clear teaching of the Word of God nor our identity in Christ in any way.

Application wise, listening is key to conversing with people. When you listen you are able to catch peoples thoughts and hearts. Ask sincere questions so the person can open up and find a common ground to speak. When you ask questions people will realize you are truly interested in them and in that way, they will feel comfortable when you personal testify about Christ. Therefore, sometimes our general knowledge needs to be increase in order to win different people. Only then that we can relate and speak on their terms, their culture and lingo. Then we are able to speak further in the matters of the heart to them.

e.g. In past I met Columbian girl during evax and I had no idea about columbia except that country had great coffee. So I went home and did a google search on columbia history to find out what columbia culture, government, people, industries and places of interest were in order to relate. People do like speaking about what they know best. By creating opportunity you show genuine interest in them. In the end we want to win friends for Christ genuinely and sincerely. So make no mistake, we do this from the right heart.

e.g. For working people I would ask them general questions and go deeper. If you have some idea of the type of job they do, go further into details of how its done, what the future prospects are, what its like to work in the company. If you have no clue ask questions to show that you want to learn what it is to be like in the life of YOU. Similarly for students, ask about course and future plans moving towards personal hobbies and their thoughts on certain topics in news and music. When you are able to capture someones heart, you are able to share Christ to win them over for Christ.

In summary, have empathy and understanding in order to relate to people. It does not mean that when you meet a African person that you braid your hair, wear their clothes and speak their language. If you can, great but the true meaning behind communication is in order to understand someones heart and to relate to them heart-heart. The tools on how to relate to is to understand where they are coming from, from their culture, experiences and teachings of their past. This will give us a clearer picture of person to relate to and to share Christ in a way that will speak to that person. Noting that in all we do, we shall not undermine Gods Word.

Communication Tips

Do’s

1. Persistence; There are those who will just take the flyer and walk away, grab there attention by asking a question such as “where are you from?”, or continue speaking about the coming meeting, “this coming Wednesday we have multicultural gathering, watching a movie it’s about…” Normally people would be willingly to listen to you for another 5mins. Persist by grabbing there attention in any way, be creative and biblical.

2. Friendship and be genuine; Ask questions that open people up, questions that interest them and that you want to know more about them. “Are you studying, what course?”, “where do you live, do you come here to shop often?”, “what country are you from, what’s that like, what is it famous for?” Friendship enables you to invite more easily and speak into peoples lives. More likely will come because of this. Smile, laugh, joke with them, and make them feel comfortable.

3. Engage interest; Quality relationship with a few people is worth more than a dozen contacts that you hardly know. Elaborate on questions above and try to relate to it, allow them to speak more than yourself by asking related questions. Give them your full attention and make them feel special. E.g. where are you from? China? Which state? Wuhan? I heard it’s the biggest state in middle of china, I forgot what’s its famous for, do you know? What food is special there, do you cook since you cam here etc….Further, you can ask them what they normally do on weekends, what hobbies and interest, then this can be used to invite them to activities or relate to them later on. Remember to write down as much information as you have after you part way, so that you remember who they are, and mention it in the next conversation to show genuine interest.

4. Read Body language; Handing out flyers really up to the individual. Personally it has work best when people are either doing something slow, like sitting down reading, or walking slowly to shop, just waiting around. On the occasion people who walk by, you can read their expression if they are in a hurry, closed off, deep in their own thoughts, follow the holy spirits leading. When speaking you can see if they are friendly, keen to make new friends and their openness by their replies and if they are standing to face you.

5. Walk by the spirit; Use the time walking to pray in your heart and in spirit, be aware of surrounding and people. E.g. look around for people that you feel the spirit is speaking to you.

6. Be bold and courageous; don’t over analyze, that puts hesitation in your heart, select person and speak to them. Be confident in what your sharing, people can see your nervousness when you speak (tone of voice, speech ums and ahs) and by your action (body language) and this can put them off. When you see this, it is preferable that your partner can help out.

7. Work as a team; Back one another up, when you see that your partner has gone blank or nervous, jump in with a question, can be related or not. Don’t just stand back and let your partner do all the work, take turns speaking to person. Take different approaches and see what best suits you. E.g. Partner is sharing about Wednesday night, gets stuck, jump in and start talking about the people on Wednesday night who come from different nations, ask them how they would fit in, how they feel about different cultures etc.

8. Pattern of conversation; Introduction (where you from?) -> Invitation (explain event) -> friendship building -> Invitation -> Get contact number; Process may be repeated over and over again for the same person in cycle if you find that person lacks interest in invitation, appeal to their friendship.

Don’ts

1. Don’t be aggressive; Don’t be pushy, if they are busy, or not interested, let them go, there are more fishes in the sea who are hungry for Gods word;

2. Don’t be afraid; Speaking to different people from different cultural background especially when English is not your first language can be daunting. Remember that we are all Gods creation, equal in all abilities and characteristic. We have the same makeup just maybe different color skin, or cultural background but we share one Father, God. When you talk to a fluent English speaker, remember that God places the words in your mouth, and allow the spirit to speak through you, picturing that the fluent English speaker is not really fluent and you trying to explain to them in English can give you more confidence too.

3. Don’t get distracted; don’t let your eyes wonder else where when you are speaking to the person, engage them. If you don’t show interest in them, they won’t be interested in you or what you may want to offer.

I hope this helps you to be more confident in sharing, if you want to discuss about it more, just email me;