Years ago when I was just starting out in teaching an adult Bible class, I was asking an experienced pastor about his follow up practices for his class as I was trying to develop my own follow up routines. I am definitely still learning but I wanted to share some habits I have developed that have tremendously helped me minister to my class.
Every Monday my office produces what we call a “weekly snapshot.” It provides our teachers with one document that helps them keep the pulse on their class.
The weekly snapshot includes the first-time guests, one-week absentees, two-week absentees, three-week absentees, and a discipleship update.
The top section is about the first time guests. It includes all of their contact information and our teachers are encouraged to personally visit these people. See my article: How to Make an Effective Follow Up Visit for practical follow up ideas.
The first-week absentee section lists all of the people who missed class on Sunday but were in attendance the previous Sunday. These may be people who were sick, out of town, or something like that. We encourage our teachers to write these people a note and let them know they were missed and are being prayed for.
The two-week section lists all of the people who missed class on Sunday and it was their second absence in a row. This may be an extended vacation, a serious sickness, or something like that. We encourage our teachers to send a postcard in the beginning of the week and to make a phone call later in the week. This personal touch helps to understand why someone has missed two weeks in a row and is a great opportunity to encourage them to return.
The three-week section lists all of the people who missed class on Sunday and it was their third week in a row to be absent. We encourage our teachers to go and visit these absentees personally. Usually if someone has missed three weeks in a row, there is a reason or a small problem the teacher can often help resolve whatever has happened and can encourage that person to return to class and church.
The last section on our weekly snapshot is the Discipleship section. This section lists everyone from that class who is enrolled in our Daily in the Word Discipleship Program. It shows the teacher who their disciples are, when they started, when they last met with their Discipler, and what lesson they are on. We encourage our teachers to keep those from their class encouraged to be faithful to Discipleship until completion.
This is a simple tool but it is one I use every week of my life. I pray over it and do my best to faithfully follow these action items each week. I pray this is a blessing to you as well.
What do you do to follow up?
