
Teen Follow-Up and Discipleship
I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 34:15
The shepherd is not satisfied until the sheep are both nourished and settled. A vital part of growing a healthy teen ministry is to follow up with every teen and to disciple as many teens as possible in your youth ministry.
The Vision
- To Ensure that Follow-Up is done with Every Teen (Leader’s Responsibility)
- To Endeavor to provide Discipleship to Every Teen (Learner’s Responsibility)
The Follow-Up Plan
- Create a Teen Ministry Email for a shared, safe and accountable contact
- Create a Teen Ministry Social Media accounts
- Obtain Current Members and Visitor information on Registration Cards
- Today’s Date, Name, Address, Cell Phone, Email, Guardian names and phone numbers
- Birthdays are good to track for members but its creepy for visitors
- Develop a Follow-Up Strategy
- Visitor letter to be sent out by Tuesday
- Personal visit to be done by Saturday
- Decide how many follow up letters and visits to do
- Create Standard Follow-Up letters for all visitors
- Prospect Visitors
- Out of Town Visitors
- Other Church Visitors
- Make Personal Visits
- Track Visitor Contacts
- Connect on Social Media
- Connect current teen members with new visitors and prospects
The Discipleship Plan
- To Disciple is to train in the Disciplines of a System
- The level of discipleship is determined by the Desire of the Student
- Biblical Discipleship is the deliberate transfer of knowledge and training in the ways of Christian living
Corporate Discipleship
- Jesus discipled the Twelve both together and individually
- Active church participation is Irreplaceable for any Christian to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Healthy sheep are always in the heard!
- There is the “Follow Me” discipleship of being a consistent Spiritual leader
- There is the “Serve with Me” discipleship which provides multiple opportunities for both group and individual development
- Have an high level overview of what doctrines and truths you will both teach, train and model to them in the time they are in your youth ministry
Individual Discipleship
- Daily devotions are Indispensable for a Christian to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Dynamic daily devotions of prayer and bible Study go way beyond just checking off chapters and saying obligatory prayers!
- Teach and Train teens on how to have a Powerful Prayer life and a Bountiful Bible Time
- Provide Teen Devotional materials like the Play Book
- Look for Teachable Moments to impart Truth and Life Lessons
- Be prepared to Mentor and Disciple those who seek to grow to higher levels also be aware that Higher Levels bring Bigger Devils
- Personal discipleship is an investment of Time and Resources
- Personal and direct communication is vital to fostering an atmosphere of discipleship
Robert Pophal
Senior Pastor | Rose Park Baptist Church of Holland, Michigan
http://www.roseparkbaptistchurch.com/