Converts are new believers who find life in Christ. They are the whole goal and purpose of The Great Commission: “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and … teaching them” (Matthew 28:19-20).
(Senders provide support and encouragement for others who go and share the gospel and Go-ers leave their homes and travel to isolated regions to share the gospel. Read more about Senders and Go-ers in Parts 1 and 2 of this series.)
Yet the number of Converts is not the sole indicator of whether or not a mission has been a success. Being born again and accepting Jesus as Savior is just that: it’s a birth and a beginning.
What needs to follow after that new birth is the nurturing and developing of a Convert’s relationship with Christ. When new believers have access to follow up, spiritual mentors, and resources, they grow. Ultimately, by supporting missions around the world, you transform lives, not just help birth them.
The Ultimate Evidence of a Transformed Life
It happened to Rosa as she bowed her head and prayed along with Becky. “I believe in you, God” she said. “Thank you for my Savior Jesus. I will follow him.” Rosa looked up, her face beaming. She had just walked from darkness into the light and the change in her was visible. Meanwhile Becky cried openly. She cared deeply not just about Rosa’s salvation, but also for her ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the next several months, Becky spent time each week with Rosa reading scripture and praying. She took Rosa with her to worship in a nearby village. A year later, Rosa had started a Bible study on her own with three of her friends.
Challenge a Convert to Go Deep
Becky understood that Converts like Rosa need to be spiritually healthy. But geographic isolation and few resources mean Converts are vulnerable, often facing significant challenges at the outset of their walk. If left unchecked, obstacles can slow or even halt a Convert’s journey of faith – obstacles like literacy, access to scripture, limited Bible teaching, confusion about prayer, few worship and fellowship opportunities, persecution or rejection, and tribal or local traditions. Yet those same challenges are often opportunities to nurture a new Convert from the point of their spiritual birth to mature discipleship. Multiplication is not just about helping a Convert step over the line into life. It’s about walking with them as they learn to live it.
When you help Converts to keep growing, they develop deep roots of faith and even become Senders and Go-ers themselves. You don’t just preside over the birth of a Convert. You cultivate a whole new life.
