A printable team resource
Response team training card.
For the people waiting at the front when the invitation is given. Print it for your training night, and carry it on the day.
Before you serve
- Recruited through a partner church whose pastor vouches for you
- At the team training, and you know who your safeguarding lead and first-aider are
- Wearing your lanyard or team shirt, with a partner you will stay with
- Carrying Bibles or Gospels of John, connect cards and a pen
- Prayed up — for the people who will come forward, by name, though you don't know them yet
A simple prayer
Only if they would like to. Their own words are just as good.
Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God, that You died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my sin and trust You as my Lord. Thank You for forgiving me and making me new. Help me follow You. Amen.
“Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” John 6:37
When someone comes forward
- 01Welcome themSmile, introduce yourself and your partner, and thank them for coming. Courage brought them here.
- 02Listen firstAsk their name and why they came forward. First time giving their life to Jesus? Coming back to Him? Prayer for healing? Asking about baptism?
- 03Explain simplyIn a sentence or two: Jesus died for our sins and rose again, and He forgives and gives new life to everyone who turns from sin and trusts Him as Lord. Check they understand.
- 04Pray togetherInvite them to pray in their own words, or to repeat a short prayer after you if they'd like. Pray with them, not at them.
- 05Give a first stepA Bible or Gospel of John, and one simple habit: read a chapter a day, starting with John.
- 06Offer the connect cardExplain it's so a local church can help with next steps. Make it clearly optional, and fill it in with them.
- 07Hand over wellWalk them to the next thing — the baptism tent, a pastor, their friends — rather than leaving them standing alone.
Safeguarding
- Always in pairs — never alone with anyone
- Never take a child aside; talk with them with their parent or guardian present
- Ask before laying a hand on anyone, and keep it to a shoulder or hand
- Where you can, men pray with men and women with women
- If anyone is in distress or crisis, bring in the first-aider or pastoral lead straight away
Praying for healing
Do
- Pray boldly and simply, in Jesus' name
- Ask how they are and pray again if they want
- Encourage them to have any healing confirmed by their doctor
Never
- Promise an outcome God hasn't promised
- Tell anyone to stop medication or medical care
- Pressure anyone to say they feel better
Connect cards
- Name and a way to contact them (with consent)
- Their area or neighbourhood
- What they responded for
- Any church they already attend
- Cards go to one named person, not a loose pile; entered securely that night
- Shared only with the church that will follow up — within 48 hours
Train the team together.
The full guide covers preaching for a response, giving the invitation without pressure, and the first 48 hours after. Pair it with following up with a new believer and planning baptisms.