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APPENDIX
"Foundations Of Faith" is an important study for new believers. It teaches the basic doctrines of Jesus which provide the proper foundations for spiritual maturity (Hebrews 6:1-3).
New believers are like newborn babies in the natural world. You would never take a newborn baby, show him the door, and say, "We will look in on you in a couple of weeks.” Yet this is often what happens in the church. This is why many newborn believers die spiritually. Your responsibility for the souls of men and women does not end at an altar where they pray the prayer of repentance. You are responsible to move the new believer from the altar to the church.
A new believer has entered a strange environment. He has been born into the Kingdom of God (John 3:3-7). We speak a language different than he has ever heard. There are terms like faith, repentance, baptism, eternal judgment, etc., which must be explained. Not only must he learn the language of the Kingdom, he also must learn the basic principles of new life in the Kingdom.
Each new believer needs the personal care of a mature Christian. He needs nurture in the spiritual world just as a baby in the natural world. A baby is in greater need of care immediately after birth than at any other time. Use the following guidelines to provide proper spiritual care for newborn believers:
STEP ONE:
Within 24 hours after a person has responded to the Gospel message, repented, and accepted Jesus as Savior, he should receive personal contact from a mature Christian.
The new believer may live in a bad environment surrounded by cursing, immoral conversation, and sinful actions. Personal contact from a mature Christian will provide encouragement and let him know someone cares and is praying for him. The objectives of this first follow up contact are:
-To let the new believer know he has a Christian friend who cares. -To answer questions he may have. -To pray with him regarding any personal needs. -To enroll him in the "Foundations Of Faith" program described in Step Two.
STEP TWO:
As was stressed in this study, continued teaching after conversion was the pattern set by Jesus and followed by the early church. This course, "Foundations Of Faith", can be used to teach the basic doctrines of Jesus to new believers. There are two ways this can be done:
First: Form a class on "Foundations Of Faith" for new believers. This should be taught by a mature Christian and should be repeated continuously in the church.
Each new believer should be enrolled in this course. If he misses a session, the teacher should make personal contact and provide opportunity for makeup sessions.
The advantage of this method is that new believers are taught in a group situation with other new Christians. They become acquainted with people on their own spiritual level with similar needs and questions.
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Second: A mature Christian can be assigned to each new believer. This Christian will meet regularly with the new convert to study "Foundations Of Faith" on an individual basis.
The advantage of this method is that a new believer can progress spiritually at his own rate of speed. He can move rapidly or slowly through lessons as he is capable. There is more opportunity for personal questions to be answered and a relationship to be established between the new believer and his teacher. He can turn to his teacher with questions, needs, and problems requiring spiritual counsel.
If individual instruction is used, men should train men only and women should train women only. Each person teaching "foundations" by either method should have completed the "Foundations Of Faith" course and be committed to the responsibility of caring for new believers.
STEP THREE:
Guide the new believer into regular prayer and Bible study. Do not assume he knows how to pray or study the Bible. Give him basic instruction in these areas. Harvestime International Institute offers a course entitled "Creative Bible Study Methods.” Guidelines on prayer are given in a course entitled "Intercessory Prayer."
STEP FOUR:
New believers should be guided to the experiences of water baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit as soon as they are ready spiritually. For some, this might be the same day, week, or month of their conversion. For others, it may take more time to prepare them for these experiences. If you are teaching new believers in a group situation, do not hold one person back until the group is ready. Let each progress as he is spiritually capable.
STEP FIVE:
Help the new believer find his place in the Body of Christ, the Church. Guide him in the discovery of his spiritual gift. The Harvestime International Institute course, "Ministry Of The Holy Spirit," will help you do this.
Challenge him with the personal responsibility of all believers to reach others with the Gospel message. You may want to use the Harvestime International Institute courses entitled "Strategies For Spiritual Harvest" and "Developing A Biblical World View" to communicate this challenge.
Remember: Your goal is to integrate the new believer into the Church as a functional, reproductive member capable of going on to perfection [spiritual maturity].