Is there a program in place in today's church to help bridge the gap from 'New Believer' to 'Plugged In', a mentoring program of sorts?

 

After visiting some churches, I've noticed that a lot of the time new believers just don't know where go or even how to study or how to work on their relationship with Christ.  It seems the jump off the starting line is clear; accept Christ and get baptized, and some even join a small group (yippee!!).  When I first accepted Christ, frankly I was scared and not sure at all what I just did, but I knew what I was doing was right.  It was like holding my breath and jumping in the deep end.  I knew  it was good, actually great, just not sure what was in store for me and what it was all about.  I was so blessed to have a friend close to me who I could ask questions and am I grateful for that!!  But there are so many that don't have that around them or in their life.

 
Some churches are great at reaching seekers of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, etc!!  Sometimes when people start going to a 'seeker' church, they will join the church feeling that is where God is calling them.  I'm sure a lot of people feel that way when they visit these churches.  What happens to those that take that step of faith and accept Christ and then are baptized? I know everyone is encouraged to join a small group and I also realize there are a lot of new believers coming through the doors of these churches.  I don't want to see them get lost, no matter which Christian Church they walk through the doors of.

 

If you were a new believer or seeker, wouldn't it be comforting to have someone care enough to call you to just see how you were doing?  Not to shame or condemn, but just to see how your day was?  Or even do you have any questions?  Or how about meeting me for a cup of coffee?  Someone to just be a friend and build a relationship with when there are questions.

 

When I had hostes a small group in my home and was trying to get some of my co-workers to come, they were afraid that they don't know enough to go to a bible study or small group and that happens with a lot of new believers.  New believers need to be shown the love that Christ teaches and that we are real too with real problems and we're not perfect and no one is expecting them to be too either.

 

So, all that to ask, is there anything in place in our church today, in your church, to help a new believer?  Something one on one and that can encourage a new believer?  Something to help a new believer to go from scared (what did I do) to give me more, I want more?  By building that relationship, a new believer can join a small group and maybe even plug into a ministry.  The friend I spoke of earlier is no long around, and even though I have a tendency to work and study, to learn and ask questions, having that friend there really made a huge difference.  And not everything that friend said may have been right but I still learned from it (and I have a lot more to learn).  I pray, though, that I'm still learning the day I die.

 

Please understand, that I'm in no way criticizing any church.  There is a gap in the fence of Christ's church and the sheep are slipping though.  In the early church, Christians, new and old, did everything together.  Today life is so busy, that we forget or get side tracked.  I know some people, by choice, don't want to move forward.  I also know, there are those that are afraid or just confused and need someone they can call one on one.  So my last question is how can we help?