by Doreen Kajulu | 30 July 2024 08:46 pm07
Acts 11:25 – “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul.”
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Today, I want us to reflect on an important but often overlooked aspect of Christian ministry—the ministry of follow-up. As believers and workers in God’s field, our mission doesn’t end at leading someone to salvation. Evangelism is not complete until the person who has come to Christ is nurtured, strengthened, and established in their faith.
It is common to see people get saved after hearing the gospel—they respond with faith, receive Jesus Christ, and begin a new life. But what happens next? Some may grow on their own, but most need spiritual support and guidance. Without proper follow-up, new believers can easily drift away or fall back into their old lives. Jesus Himself instructed in Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV):
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Notice He didn’t say just “make converts,” but “make disciples”. Discipleship requires consistent teaching, mentoring, and walking alongside new believers. That is follow-up in action.
In Acts 11:25, we read about Barnabas—a man whose name means “son of encouragement.” After Saul’s (Paul’s) dramatic conversion in Acts 9, he faced rejection from the church in Jerusalem because of his past as a persecutor of Christians. Due to threats against his life, he withdrew to Tarsus, seemingly forgotten by many. But not by Barnabas.
Barnabas heard of Paul’s transformation and decided to act. He left Antioch, traveled to Tarsus, and brought Paul back to be part of a vibrant church community where he could grow in ministry. Acts 11:26 (NIV) says:
“And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.”
This act of follow-up changed everything. From there, Paul’s ministry flourished. God used him mightily to spread the gospel throughout the Roman Empire, writing much of the New Testament.
Sometimes we dismiss or overlook new converts, especially if they seem inconsistent or spiritually weak. But we must remember: even the great Apostle Paul had a rough beginning. It took someone like Barnabas to see beyond the present and invest in Paul’s future.
You may be witnessing to someone today who doesn’t seem promising, but with proper follow-up and guidance, they might become a mighty instrument for God. As Paul later wrote in Galatians 4:19 (NIV):
“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…”
Paul understood the importance of nurturing believers until Christ was fully formed in them.
Follow-up ministry may not be glamorous, but it is powerful. It is through this investment that we make lasting disciples. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV):
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm… Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Don’t just preach and walk away. Stay involved. Walk the journey with new believers. Encourage them, guide them, and disciple them. You never know—the person you’re following up on today could be the next Paul.
May the Lord bless you and strengthen you as you continue to serve in His harvest field
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2024/07/30/follow-up-a-vital-part-of-evangelism/
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