Growing Together with New Believers
Recently, Carrie had the chance to read the Bible with some new believers. She shares her experience and encourages us, the church, to continue to care for the young or new believers in our midst in this way.
The end of 2024 was a busy time for most people. For me, despite the busyness, it was an enriching time when I started reading the Bible with two groups of sisters who are new believers. The first group consists of two older women where one is a recent new convert while the other came to faith long time ago but had not attended church until last year. The second group is a sister who recently turned to God in desperation during her time of struggle and suffering.
These sisters have little understanding of God’s Word and what it means to be a Christian. However, their desire to grow as followers of Christ drives them to seek out discipling relationships. One sister, convicted to live out the implications of the gospel, made conscientious effort to mend the broken relationships in her life especially with her immediate family and relatives. I am tremendously encouraged by her newfound faith to live for Christ amidst challenges of rejection and not seeing much fruit in her pursuit to love her family. Seeing how God’s Word speaks into their lives and experiences is one of the greatest joys of this journey with these sisters. Yet discipleship is an arduous journey for any believer, what more for new believers who need guidance to help them grow in Christ.
As I reflect on these recent relationships, I realise again the importance of the church caring for new or young believers regardless of their age. Why?
Firstly, they need spiritual nourishment. As we read in 1 Peter 2:2-3, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Like a newborn, they need spiritual milk to grow. We can help them taste God’s goodness through engaging them regularly in the Word, helping them understand the basics of their faith and laying a strong foundation for them.
Secondly, they need a church community. Caring for new believers is essential for the health and growth of the church. New believers need encouragement from the church community to help them feel supported and valued, reinforcing their decision to follow Christ. Ephesians 4:15-16 puts it, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” As a church community, we can model for them what it means to hold fast to Jesus who is the Head of the church.
I am heartened that these sisters are slowly taking small steps in getting connected to the church and building relationships.
Thirdly, they need prayer. New believers need prayer in their journey of growth towards holiness and Christlikeness. Their faith journey is not a bed of roses but one that is filled with challenges as I witness the sisters deal with a range of struggles—health problems and spiritual oppression.
Prayer is of paramount importance as through it, their hearts are transformed to become more like Christ, conforming their will to His. One prayer that I pray for Christians especially for my CG members is from Colossians 1:9-14: “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Be praying that these new believers might know more and more of God so that they might thrive as a new creation who has been redeemed by the blood of Christ.
As we help new believers to cultivate and develop habits of grace in hearing every word of God, speaking every prayer and participating in the life and fellowship of the church community, let us help them behold the glory of Christ, to know and enjoy Him forever.
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The Women’s Ministry will be holding an Open House on 6 April 2025, after service. Come by to learn more about some of the Women’s Bible study groups, ways that women can serve and how you can disciple and be discipled. This is also a good opportunity to meet other women in church. Whether you are new to GBC or have been a long-time member, we hope to see you there!