Have an intentional plan for follow-up. Infants cannot be expected to navigate life independently. Neither can students who are spiritual infants.
Have an intentional conversation with new believers about their spiritual growth within the first 48 hours of their decision. (If this time frame has already passed, it is still good to start where you are.) Show them that you as a church want to help them grow in their walk with the Lord, and you have a plan to do so.
Follow-Up should be done either one-on-one or in a small group. This may require discernment due to the laws and policies protecting children. If you cannot or should not meet one-on-one, following-up with a student within a small group is ok. Do what is best for your setting.
Have a plan: You could create your own follow-up curriculum, but we recommend using something that is already out there. Word of Life has follow-up curriculum available at wolstore.org and there are also many others available.
Follow-Up Topics to Cover: Basics need to be discussed. Tackle one each time you meet with them.
- Their Decision: Help your student understand the decision they made to trust Christ. Firm up any doubts the student may be having. Talk about what Salvation is or is not. Discuss their belief and trust in Christ and His resurrection. Teach them how to deal with the doubts and insecurities they will face about their salvation. Point them to John 10 and other securities they have.
- Baptism: (Acts 2:41, Romans 6) Discuss how it is a testimony and reminder of their decision. Do not force baptism on them, but encourage it and help them understand it.
- Attributes of God: Discuss who God is. Most students do not have a good understanding of this.
- Jesus: Students may have some uncertainties about exactly who He is. He is not just a prophet. He Is God (Jhon 10:30), Jesus is Lord (Romans 6:23).
- The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit can be mysterious for a new believer. The Holy Spirit is a person (John 14:17), a down payment for our salvation (Eph. 1:13-14), and a comforter and guide (John 14:16). Explain that His indwelling means that He is always there for us.
- God’s Word: Explain what the Bible is. Explain the importance of studying and praying through it, and living it out. (Psalm 119:9, 16, 24). Growth is through Scripture. Challenge them to make scripture reading and study a part of their daily life.
Have a plan and be intentional in following up with your students who have made a salvation decision.
Any feedback or questions, email us @ multiply@wol.org. We would love to guide you through this and provide some resources.
Word of Life follow-up materials are available at wolstore.org
Brian has been in youth ministry for 23 years. He is passionate about communicating truth to young people and the leaders that work with them. Brian loves to play, watch and talk about all kinds of sports. He and his wife Lynn have three awesome teenagers and live in upstate, NY.