Evangelism and Follow Up 2024-2025 Discussion Board

[pastorhelen]

Share a recent experience (at least two months’ ago) in sharing the gospel with someone stressing the important aspects of the conversation. What was the main thrust of your conversation? How did the person respond, were they open and responsive to the gospel? Did it result in a decision to accept Christ as Lord? With hindsight would you do differently?

Note: Your integrity is vital to the completion of this discussion. If you know you haven’t witnessed to a soul within two months, then it implies that you ought to do so before doing this discussion. 

Paste the same submission from the previous step here by clicking on the REPLY link just above. Your submission should be made on or before 11:59 p.m. (WAT) on Wednesday, 18 December 2024.

Then scroll down to see your peer submission and click reply to comment on their submissions. You MUST comment on at least one post with a minimum of 200 words on or before 11:59 p.m. (WAT) on Friday, 20 December 2024.

[Omininikeipiriye Igani]

In today’s society, many people are caught in religious routines without a true understanding of the Bible’s teachings. Misconceptions and a lack of revelation often result in believers living blindly, influenced by false doctrines and a sense of hypocrisy. As a result, many Christians do not fully embrace the richness of their identity in Christ.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak with a young lady who, despite being a believer, was struggling deeply with guilt. She had recently found herself involved in a relationship that led to fornication. Growing up, she had vowed never to fall into such a trap, but she had broken her own promise. The guilt she felt was overwhelming, and she believed that because of her actions, she could no longer approach God.
I was grateful that she felt comfortable confiding in me, as it gave me the chance to share the gospel in a way that helped her process her emotions and take a step toward healing. I reminded her that her positional fellowship with God as a believer, remained intact despite her mistakes. I explained that feeling remorseful was a good sign—it showed a soft heart that God would not reject. I pointed her to Psalm 51:17, which assures us that God does not despise a broken and contrite heart.
I encouraged her to confess her sins, referencing 1 John 1:9, which promises forgiveness when we genuinely repent. I emphasized that, as believers, we are made righteous in Christ, not because of our own efforts but because of His grace. Too often, we fall into the trap of sin consciousness, forgetting that we are called to live with a righteousness consciousness. This truth, that we are made righteous through Christ’s redemption, is vital for spiritual growth ( 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Before we concluded our conversation, I quoted Romans 6:1, urging her to live a life that reflects her new identity in Christ—consciously pursuing holiness. I was reminded through this experience that evangelism is not limited to leading unbelievers to Christ; it also involves encouraging fellow believers to grow in their faith. Helping her find peace and repentance in this moment was an invaluable experience, and one I will not forget. It reinforced the importance of supporting fellow believers on their journey, offering grace and truth when they need it most.
While the conversation was fruitful, with hindsight, I would have shared more about God’s transformative power to renew our minds and hearts in practical ways, rather than simply focusing on the theological truths of forgiveness and righteousness. Teaching her about how to practically walk out holiness and resist temptation in daily life could have equipped her with a stronger foundation moving forward. This could include offering resources like Bible studies, prayer habits.

[Omininikeipiriye Igani]

This was a nice experience although there are a few things I could have considered doing differently to enhance the experience and ensure a deeper understanding of the gospel for the young lady involved.
First, I would have taken more time to listen to her emotional and spiritual struggles before offering advice. Although I addressed her guilt and provided reassurance about God’s forgiveness, I could have created more space for her to fully express her feelings and doubts. Sometimes, allowing someone to process their emotions in a safe space before diving into biblical counsel can be a healing step in itself.
Secondly, I would have emphasized the importance of community and accountability. While I focused on personal repentance and forgiveness, I didn’t emphasize enough the value of walking in fellowship with other believers who can support her in her journey. True healing and growth often happen within the context of a church or small group where people are encouraged and held accountable in their faith.
These two things would have made a great difference but overall, my willingness and ability to share my knowledge of God’s word with her which made an impact in her life is commendable. Something I could not do a few years ago because I wasn’t really enlightened myself. Thank God for the continued renewal of my mind.

[Aanuoluwa Babalola]

well done

[Omininikeipiriye Igani]

In today’s society, many people are caught in religious routines without a true understanding of the Bible’s teachings. Misconceptions and a lack of revelation often result in believers living blindly, influenced by false doctrines and a sense of hypocrisy. As a result, many Christians do not fully embrace the richness of their identity in Christ.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak with a young lady who, despite being a believer, was struggling deeply with guilt. She had recently found herself involved in a relationship that led to fornication. Growing up, she had vowed never to fall into such a trap, but she had broken her own promise. The guilt she felt was overwhelming, and she believed that because of her actions, she could no longer approach God.
I was grateful that she felt comfortable confiding in me, as it gave me the chance to share the gospel in a way that helped her process her emotions and take a step toward healing. I reminded her that her positional fellowship with God as a believer, remained intact despite her mistakes. I explained that feeling remorseful was a good sign—it showed a soft heart that God would not reject. I pointed her to Psalm 51:17, which assures us that God does not despise a broken and contrite heart.
I encouraged her to confess her sins, referencing 1 John 1:9, which promises forgiveness when we genuinely repent. I emphasized that, as believers, we are made righteous in Christ, not because of our own efforts but because of His grace. Too often, we fall into the trap of sin consciousness, forgetting that we are called to live with a righteousness consciousness. This truth, that we are made righteous through Christ’s redemption, is vital for spiritual growth ( 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Before we concluded our conversation, I quoted Romans 6:1, urging her to live a life that reflects her new identity in Christ—consciously pursuing holiness. I was reminded through this experience that evangelism is not limited to leading unbelievers to Christ; it also involves encouraging fellow believers to grow in their faith. Helping her find peace and repentance in this moment was an invaluable experience, and one I will not forget. It reinforced the importance of supporting fellow believers on their journey, offering grace and truth when they need it most.
While the conversation was fruitful, with hindsight, I would have shared more about God’s transformative power to renew our minds and hearts in practical ways, rather than simply focusing on the theological truths of forgiveness and righteousness. Teaching her about how to practically walk out holiness and resist temptation in daily life could have equipped her with a stronger foundation moving forward.

[Aanuoluwa Babalola]

Follow-up is as crucial as evangelism. Like I read somewhere this week, God hasn’t called us to make converts but disciples.
Many Harvest of souls have been lost at that tail-end of evangelism. Follow-up closes the business of evangelizing.

[Author]

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