Personal Ministries
GROW
Preserve

05. Preserve

After the joy of the harvest, we must not relax our disciple-making efforts. Jesus called us to make disciples, not mere members. To do so requires that we PRESERVE the harvest through nurture and training after baptism. For the disciple-making process to result in multiplication, we must teach newly baptized church members how to labor for souls. The consumer must become a producer. The one caught by the gospel net must become a fisher of men.
Preserve illustration

PERSONAL DISCIPLE-MAKING

Here are several ways to mentor a newly baptized member into an active disciple-maker disciple-maker, and to continue developing spiritual habits, church involvement, and soul-winning abilities:
  • Establish weekly discipleship studies with your friend soon after his or her baptism (using Discipleship Handbook or a similar resource).
  • Help your friend begin a Bible and Spirit of Prophecy reading plan.*
  • Invite and involve your friend in church events, social gatherings, and personal evangelism training.
  • Participate in outreach activities and church ministries with your friend.

LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRIES

To preserve the harvest, which involves getting members active and improving retention rates, a New Member Discipleship Ministry is essential in every church. To establish this ministry:
APPOINTa  personal ministries assistant to serve as discipleship ministry leader (Church Manual, p. 107
BUDGETannually for new member discipleship resources and related expenses
ASSIGNone or two members to serve as mentors to every newly baptized member, following a systematic plan to nurture spiritual habits, train in personal evangelism, and integrate into the life, message, and mission of the church
PLAN ways to inspire, equip, and involve members in mentoring newly baptized members, while identifying and scheduling programs and events that can aid in the nurture of new members.
PROVIDEleadership support—prayer, promotion, financial support, and participation.

Take Note!

  1. 1.
    To be ongoing, local churches need ministries, not just events. Every disciple-making ministry should have a leader, a budget, and annual action plans.
  1. 2.
    The local church’s role in disciple-making is twofold:
    • Equip and involvemembers in personal labor by providing resources, giving ministry assignments, inspiring and motivating, launching personal labor initiatives and campaigns, etc.
    • Conductevents and Programs that minister to members’ friends and interests, as well as to new interests in the community.

Recommended Resources:

View All

Discipleship Handbook

  • Perfect for new member discipleship!
  • Give one to each mentor and new member
  • Study one chapter a week for 6 months
  • Sections: discipleship, devotional life, personal witnessing, church life, Christian lifestyle, and evangelism cycle
    Download
    Discipleship Handbook
    My Disciple-Making Journal:

    My Disciple-Making Journal:

    A Global Total Member Involvement

    Personal Planner

    • A must for every church member!
    • Learn the process for making disciples
    • Gain invaluable insights and practical tips
    • Create your own interest list
    • Use disciple-making logs that guide you in planning and recording your efforts
    • Use journal pages to record testimonies and reflections
    • Gain inspiration and encouragement to get started with personal disciple-making
    • Pastors and leaders can use the accompanying PowerPoint for training
    Global Total Member Involvement

    Global Total Member Involvement

    Church Planner

    Revised Edition

    • A must for every church pastor and local leader!
    • A companion resource to My Disciple-Making Journal: A Global TMI Personal Planner
    • Guides in making a disciple-making evangelism plan for your local church
    • Learn the twofold role of the local church in making disciples
    • Discover essential disciple-making ministries
    • Get church members ready for personal disciple-making
    • Includes sample and blank planning forms
    • Use the accompanying PowerPoint for training

    Take Note!

    1. “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).
    1. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men’ ” (Mark 1:17).
    1. “After individuals have been converted to the truth, they need to be looked after. . . . These newly converted ones need nursing—watchful attention, help, and encouragement” (Evangelism, p. 351).
    1. “When souls are converted, set them to work at once. And as they labor according to their ability, they will grow stronger” (Evangelism, p. 355).
    1. “Let all be taught how to work. Especially should those who are newly come to the faith be educated to become laborers together with God” (Christian Service, p. 69).

    Explore the full Global TMI strategy by navigating through the five essential areas of disciple-making.