Though many things interfere with our desire and effort to disciple new converts, we have very strong reasons to disciple new converts and these reasons keep us going against all odds:
1. The new converts need discipleship
And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 13:17–18.
When God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt to take them to the Promised Land. God could have led the Israelites to pass through the land of the Philistines; that would have been a shortcut to the Promise Land. However, God did not do that. He knew that when the Israelites pass through the Philistine territory, the Philistines would come out in full force to fight against them. And when the Israelites encounter war at this early stage and they see chariots of iron, armed horsemen, arrows flying towards them, etc., they would be frightened to flee back to Pharaoh, king of Egypt. That would have ruined God’s plan to deliver them. Therefore God led them in a different direction.
If the new convert is left to himself, he is more than likely to either be scared out of Christianity or be tempted to backslide into the world again if he should encounter problems in the early stages of his Christian life. New converts need to be discipled; it is necessary for their survival, lest the church would lose them.
It took a mother and a father for every person to grow into a stage of maturity where he can take care of himself. When you lead an unbeliever to become a new convert, you should disciple him into spiritual maturity – it is necessary. Render discipleship to the new convert because he needs it.
2. Discipleship helps to retain the new convert
The purpose of discipleship widens over time. At present, the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the temptation to sin really make following Jesus a hurdle, especially, for new converts. When the new convert is left to himself to survive, we risk losing him again to the world. In consequence of this, many new converts neither experience much of Christianity nor remain in Christianity for long; rather, they easily backslide into their pre-conversion state. Discipleship is supposed to be a solution to such a problem. Therefore, the soul-winner ought to befriend the new convert, teach him, direct him, encourage him, etc. so as to help him gain a foothold in the Christian faith – that is discipleship. It is at the heart of discipleship to retain new converts in the church.
3. Discipleship is the avenue to start transforming the new convert
If we lead an unbeliever to accept Jesus to become a new convert or a new Christian and we do not disciple him, two things are like to happen: they will either become sinful Christians or they will backslide soon into the world again. The new convert should undergo a positive transformation upon accepting Jesus into his life. Simply put, he should not continue in his sinful course of life anymore. Rather, he should transform into the likeness of Christ. Why do we think Jesus instructed us, saying, “… and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you ….” Discipleship includes the service of teaching the new convert or guiding the new convert to read the Bible to know the word of God. We should not leave it to chance, thinking that the new convert, left to himself, will get to grow in the knowledge of the Scriptures and, consequently, apply it to lead a desireable Christian life. The new convert will transform to the likeness of Christ if we make the conscious effort to help him to break loose from their indulgences or sins by teaching them to obey God’s word.
4. Discipleship draws new converts to church
Supposing you lead someone to accept Jesus Christ and right after that, you lose touch with each other. Honestly, it is 99% likely that the new convert will slip back into his pre-conversion state and it will never look like he has ever accepted Jesus before; and it will also look like your effort is in vain; I have seen this a lot of times before. The soul-winner has to visit the new convert, then invite him to church, and then call to remind and help him to attend church services – that is part of discipleship. Discipleship is what bridges the gap between the new convert and the church, in other words, it is discipleship that gets the new convert to join a church and remain in the faith.
5. You have been commissioned to disciple new converts
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19–20
The command written in Matthew 28:19-20, which is popularly called the Great Commission, is the last command from the Lord Jesus. As a Christian, you have a course to do something just because your Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, bids you to do so. You know what? The great commission is not only about preaching to an unbeliever and leading him to say the sinner’s prayer. The soul-winner is supposed to nurture the new convert, teaching him to obey the word of God, helping him to cultivate habits that will sustain him in the faith, etc. so that he can gain a foothold in the faith. Therefore we disciple new converts because Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master, has commanded us to do so.
6. Discipleship comes with benefits for all.
Another reason for discipleship is that it comes with benefits for all. The benefits of discipleship is a feast for all – the new convert, the soul-winner and the church at large.
7. Discipleship helps the new convert in difficult times
A new convert of mine, who loved the Lord, called me. Her voice suggested she was devastated and worried, and she cried on the phone while talking. I calmed her down and paid her a visit right away, for her house was near mine. according to her, she was provoked into a hot quarrel with her neighbor. And afterward, she fell strongly that she has done a very bad thing. I realized the Holy Spirit was convicting her of sin. She really felt like she has failed. This is where I, the soul winner and discipler, came to her aid. I comforted her and encouraged her that she has not lost yet, rather she should prepare and try as much as possible to overcome such a temptation in the future for more of such temptations were yet to pop up in her Christian life.
A similar thing happened another time in the life of another new convert and, again, I helped her in the same manner. I have learned that in a bid to pursue holiness in Christ, the new convert might fall many times; and each time he falls, he would need someone, especially, a discipler, to help him to stand again. Hence the Bible says,
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1
Conclusion
These reasons for discipling new converts or new believers stresses on the importance of discipleship. Discipleship is just as important as the very act of evangelizing to win souls. When Christians win souls alright, but shrink from discipling them, we pave way for these new converts to become sinning, Christians and backsliders.