Adventist churches often struggle to retain church members who are baptized as a result of evangelistic efforts. In extreme cases, there are people who never attend church again after attending on the day of their baptism. Others attend longer but eventually fall away after failing to become integrated into the church and grounded in the faith. Improving evangelism retention rates is not complicated, but it does take a strong commitment to the essentials of disciple-making.
Let us consider important keys for preserving the harvest:
BAPTISMAL PREPARATION
Individuals preparing for baptism need to be given the opportunity to ask questions and clarify their understanding. This includes listening to each baptismal candidate’s concerns, helping them with their struggles, affirming their decisions, and praying for them. Those who are rushed into baptism without proper preparation are more likely to be confused and leave the church later. Sometimes, people feel deceived when they unexpectedly discover key aspects of Adventist doctrine or history that were not explained to them before they were baptized. The first key to church member retention is to give personal attention and careful instruction to each person who desires baptism.
“Too much hasty work is done in adding names to the church roll. Serious defects are seen in the characters of some who join the church. Those who admit them say, ‘We will first get them into the church, and then reform them.’ But this is a mistake. The very first work to be done is the work of reform.”1
CHURCH INTEGRATION
Too many churches consider their work done after the harvest, but making disciples does not conclude with baptism. Churches need an intentional strategy that will help newly baptized members become integrated into the life and mission of the church. The three thousand who were baptized on the day of Pentecost were “added to the church” (Acts 2:47, NKJV). New Testament believers were “baptized into one body” (1 Cor 12:13).2 Baptism involves a commitment both to Jesus (the head) and His church (the body). New converts need to be connected to a healthy community of believers who will “exhort one another daily” (Heb 3:13). Christians who isolate themselves, “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,” can never thrive spiritually (Heb 10:25). The work of disciple-making is unfinished until new believers feel at home with their church family. Without a sense of belonging, many will drift away over time and give up their faith.
NEW MEMBER DISCIPLESHIP
New believers also need experienced mentors who will help them become firmly established in the faith. Mentors should teach new believers good devotional habits, train them how to share their faith, connect them to church resources, and help them adjust to new lifestyle choices. There should be no delay in involving new converts in the work of the church. “When souls are converted, set them to work at once. And as they labor according to their ability, they will grow stronger.”3 Each new member should be taught to engage regularly in personal witnessing and to have at least one church ministry where they assist.
MEASURE OF SUCCESS
Churches that reduce the Gospel Commission to achieving a baptismal goal do not recognize the importance of new member discipleship. It is important to remember that Jesus commanded us to “make disciples” (Matt 28:19). Making disciples begins before baptism and continues after baptism. A disciple is one who is “perfectly trained” to “be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). A disciple is a worker. For this reason, Ellen G. White makes this comment: “The real character of the church is measured, not by the high profession she makes, not by the names enrolled on her books, but by what she is actually doing for the Master, by the number of her persevering, faithful workers.”4 When the church begins to measure its success not merely by the number of baptisms, but by the number of workers, it will shift the culture of the church towards a more biblical model of disciple-making.
WHAT THE LOCAL CHURCH CAN DO
Like every other phase of disciplemaking, preserving the harvest does not happen by accident. Churches must be intentional about establishing a new member discipleship ministry. To do this, first appoint a discipleship ministry leader. Next, make plans to assign experienced members to serve as mentors to those who are newly baptized. Provide a systematic plan or curriculum that mentors can follow to disciple new members. This plan should include weekly meetings of the mentor and new member in which in-depth study takes place and spiritual habits are nurtured.
Churches must be intentional about establishing a new member discipleship ministry.
The plan should also include hands-on activities and soulwinning training under the guidance of the mentor. Opportunities for instruction, observation, and participation are essential components of any new member discipleship plan. The church board should approve a budget for new member discipleship. Seeking the Lord in prayer, making a plan, and taking action will go a long way in retaining new members who join the church.
1 Ellen G. White, “The Need of a Spiritual Awakening,” The Review and Herald, May 21, 1901, para. 7.
2 All biblical quotations are from the NKJV.
3 Ellen G. White, Evangelism (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1946), 355.
4 Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, rev. ed. (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1915), 200.
Joe Reeves is the editor of inVerse and an assistant director of the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
