ICLC 2024

*GATHER IN THE FRAGMENTS THAT NOTHING BE WASTED : RETENTION*
PASTOR VALE ODU THOMAS

1. Acts 2 : 47
1. One person that comes to your Church was added by God.

2. 1 + 1 = 2 when the other one at the beginning remains.
Growth is a result of retention. You must be responsible for new comers to deliver them to the Lord.
Growth is a direct result of your capacity to retain those who come to you.
John 15 : 1
Ensure that everybody that comes to You stays.
The scripture that talks about Son of perdition has been fulfilled. There wont be another one.

Compare the list of First Timers to the actual population of the Church...

If you Gather all the fragments, you will need an overflow.
Retention starts from the way you receive the people. We will keep everybody that walks through our doors.
From the first time, you prepare for them to stay. Prepare to keep them. That is where retention starts from. Who prays for them? No matter who calls them out, Pray for them.

Timing of the Visitation: if you visit me earlier than i expect, I am valuable to You.
What you do with them is very important. It must not be more than 36 hours.
Who visits is very important.
The communication in that first visit is very important.

THE ADVANTAGES OF INTRODUCING THEM TO OUR STRUCTURES

1. Get them into our structures as quickly as possible. Let them kearn the things we do.
2.FOUNDATION SCHOOL: First class of foundation school changed my life.

3. Put them in a cell. The initiation into the Cell ministry is a family, a support system. Let them be groomed and raised . In a cell they suddenly acquire so much value.

Purposely get them to change friends by putting them in an activity department.

RETURNING FIRST TIMERS
Dont pay casual attention to first timers.
1. Welcome them and give opportunity for salvation.
2. Fill them with the Holy Ghost. Otherwise thwy will go back to rhe way they were before thwy came foe your meeting.

3. Give them a physical material to stay with them for studies. Somerhing they can interract with beyond you..eg ROR. HtTN magazines
4. A definite person to be praying for them on a daily basis and to deliver them to the next cell meeting.
5. Hand them to Somebody that must be responsible enough to bring them back to Church.
All these will make them committed.