Imagine standing and stretching out one arm in front of you and the other behind you . Your body represents follow-up . Your back arm reaches toward the work you ’ ve already done to cultivate a first-time gift , and your front arm reaches forward to connect those first-time gifts to future steps of stewardship . Follow-up brings the two together by serving as both the centerpiece and the conduit of your ability to disciple stewards . It is arguably the most important piece of the Maximize system . Yet it is as simple as a thankyou .
Nelson Searcy is the founding and lead pastor of The Journey Church . He is the author of more than seventy-five church growth resources and twelve books , including The Generosity Ladder , Maximize , Connect , and Ignite . Nelson is also an experienced church planter , coach , and church-growth strategist . Before founding The Journey , he served as the director of the Purpose Driven Community at Saddleback Church . He is also the founder of ChurchLeaderInsights . com and the Renegade Pastors Network .
Jennifer Dykes Henson is a writer , wife , and mom to two young girls . She has coauthored several bestselling books , including The Generosity Ladder and Tongue Pierced . Previously , Jennifer worked with Dr . Charles Stanley as the marketing communications manager for In Touch Ministries . She lives with her family in Atlanta , Georgia .