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THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL FOLLOW-UP

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“Much can be done through the medium of the press, but still more can be accomplished if the influence of the labors of the living preacher goes with our publications.”  Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, p. 204.

The success of your Saturation Mailing largely depends on the personal efforts made before and after the books are mailed. Plans should be made well in advance to insure that when the interest cards come back from your mailing, there is someone ready to meet the needs of the individuals who have responded.

CHOOSING A FOLLOW-UP COORDINATOR

MAKING THE FIRST CONTACT

FUTURE CONTACTS

DISCOVERING AND MEETING FELT NEEDS

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITHFULNESS

PROJECT: STEPS TO CHRIST FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT

CHOOSING A FOLLOW-UP COORDINATOR  [ Up ]

If you cannot personally follow-up on interests generated from your mailing, we recommend that you arrange to have someone from your local church do this, such as your pastor, elders, or personal ministries leader. If you are unable to make these arrangements, please request on your order form to have PROJECT: Steps to Christ send the cards to your local conference office who can forward the cards to the appropriate individuals.

MAKING THE FIRST CONTACT  [ Up ]

Personal follow-up after a Path to Peace or On The Edge Of Time mailing can be done in several ways. The first contact with your mailing interests should be made to find out if they received their free books and/or Bible study lessons, and to identify yourself as working with the program.

This first contact should be made no sooner than three to five weeks after you have received their response cards from PROJECT: Steps to Christ. The reason for this delay is that you may get their cards before they get their free materials from us, some of which is sent media mail. It also gives the people a chance to get into their books and Bible studies where they might have questions, which you can answer. Do not delay your first contact too long as the interest may grow cold, or they may forget they ordered the free materials. If they have enrolled in one of the free Bible courses, it may take up to five weeks for them to receive their lessons. This is communicated to them with a letter of confirmation on their enrollment.

The first contact can be done either by phone or by a personal visit. You may want to call before visiting if a phone number is given. Keep in mind that many people may have responded to your mailing because there was apparently no risk of being personally contacted. Contacting respondents who only have a PO Box and no phone number can be done through a note in the mail. If you find a respondent has not received their free books or Bible study lessons, please contact PROJECT: Steps to Christ, and we will assist you in making sure they receive their requested material.

Remember that your first and most important work is to pray. Pray before the mailing goes out. Pray for its safe delivery. Pray for the people as they receive it into their homes. Pray that the Holy Spirit will impress hearts to read it. Pray for the ones who respond. Pray for each and every contact. “Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good.” Desire of Ages, p. 362.

FUTURE CONTACTS  [ Up ]

Future contact with your mailing interests should be made at your discretion. Some may be warm to your personal interest in them while you may sense others are not. As you pray for each one, the Holy Spirit will teach you the best approach. The frequency of your visits should be decided on a case-by-case basis. Ultimately, you will want to develop such a trusting relationship with them that you can invite them to join you for personal Bible studies, a visit your church, or attend health and evangelistic meetings.

DISCOVERING AND MEETING FELT NEEDS  [ Up ]

One special feature found in The Path to Peace is our offer for a variety of free booklets that appeal to the reader’s felt needs. We offer reading in the following areas: grief recovery, addiction recovery, marriage, divorce, parenting, health, finance, stress, loneliness, suffering, and death. The purpose in offering these booklets is to not only minister to these felt needs but also to alert you to the specific needs of the people in your community so you can more effectively reach out to them. These booklets are very popular, which tells us the majority of people out there are struggling in at least one or more of these areas in their lives. Your mailing respondents also have an opportunity to request special prayer on the response card. This is an opportunity for you to pray with and for them.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITHFULNESS  [ Up ]

“Personal effort will accomplish far more than could be accomplished without it.” Atlantic Union Gleaner, March 8, 1905.

Remember your personal follow-up efforts are essential to the fruitfulness of your Saturation Mailing. Although much of your work in using this type of ministry is in planting the seeds of truth, there may be immediate returns, which will require careful cultivation to bring to harvest.

PROJECT: STEPS TO CHRIST FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT  [ Up ]

You may call us at any time to get updated information on any of the contacts made through your mailings. We maintain a computer record of every contact and update it with every request for additional literature and Bible studies. Upon request, we can send you an updated contact report or give you an update by phone.