The Art of Follow-up

"Follow-up is a spiritual and physical exercise," Bishop Ishmael Sam began during the afternoon session of the second day of the Art of Shepherding Conference.

He taught on "The Art of Follow-up" from the chapter on Retention Evangelism in Bishop Dag's book "Mega Church".

He outlined the three core aspects of follow-up namely:

# Prayer

# Visitation

# Teaching

On prayer, he taught participants to bind the strong man and to travail in birth, like Paul did (Galatians 4:19). He challenged pastors to pray that Christ will be formed in the sheep. Adding, he challenged participants to pray Ephesians 1:15-20 and Colossians 1:9 for the sheep.

He said, "What God alone can do, we need to let him do through prayer. Your follow-up ministry should have a prayer wing. You must pray that the members will be stable."

On visiting, he indicated that we need to visit them to know their needs. He expounded that if we visit we will know what to preach to the Church. Visitation should never stop.

The man of God recounted many experiences of how visits turned out to stabilize members. He cautioned that every visit must be spiritual.

He charged shepherds and pastors present to concentrate on retaining the sheep and to teach them to be devoted to the teaching.

He said, "Teach them to feel that the pastor's teaching is the best. Sheep must be led so teach them to be devoted to one and another and you must also be devoted to them."

He instructed that the sheep be led to find a ministry to join.

He said, "A permanent member is unmovable, stable and dependable throughout the years."

He said, "As much as lies in your power, make sure no one leaves. What makes you a shepherd is the sheep."

In order to be made into a retainer of souls, you need the grace of God (Zechariah 4:6). For every ministry to be successful, you need to be anointed. You need to humble yourself to know something that you don't know. 

Bishop Sam indicated, "When you have a desire, it will lead you on a journey...the more you associate with somebody, the more the person rubs on you."

He charged participants to obtain the Makarios, which is a library of 40 books on the work of ministry, by Bishop Dag Heward-Mills and the Makarios 60, which has an additional 20 books. This collection of books will elevate your ministry to a whole new level as you read them.

He further urged participants to also get the messages to listen to.