![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/aNo8Ndn.jpg\")
\nFOLLOW \u2013 UP CAMPAIGN<\/p>\n
\nFOLLOW \u2013 UP CAMPAIGN<\/p>\n
MAXIMIZE YOUR PREACHING IMPACT<\/p>\n
Hundreds and thousands of books are distributed each year, all over the world. But we do not see hundreds and thousands becoming devotees right after that. One reason for that is, of course, not everyone is ready for it. Another reason is that no one contacted them after giving them the book. Hence often those who have developed some interest, can\u2019t join.<\/p>\n
In order to maximize our efforts, and make them fruitful. Instead of simply giving them a book or inviting them for a program and leaving it up to them to make contact, we need to always take their contact details and make a personal connection that can be followed up.<\/p>\n
We at Congregational Development Ministry dedicating this month as a \u201cFollow Up Marathon\u201d month.<\/p>\n
FOLLOW \u2013 UP<\/p>\n
The Christmas marathon was very successful, devotees went out, contacted online all over the world and distributed Srila Prabhupada\u2019s transcendental books. Even during the pandemic so many people were made fortunate and were given these books. The distributors tried novel ways to sell books on the Internet.<\/p>\n
During book distribution, we meet various types of people, favourable\/unfavourable, enthusiast. But once they take the book, it is left to them to advance further on their own. However, if we take their contact details, and after the marathon month, we contact them again, cultivate them and develop a relationship with them. The preaching would have a better impact and the people can make progress faster.<\/p>\n
On request of several devotees, to make a program and train the preachers on the importance and process of following-up with their preaching program, the Congregational Development Ministry is launching the Follow-Up Campaign. which will help maximizing the impact of our preaching, and make it more fruitful.<\/p>\n
THE BROAD STRATEGY \u2013 FOLLOW UP<\/p>\n
The main objective is bringing people to eventually join a Bhakti-Vriksa group. The idea is taking a person from the first contact with Krsna consciousness to the point he commits to devotional service. This broad strategy has three phases:<\/p>\n
\u2022 contact<\/p>\n
\u2022 cultivation, building the relationship<\/p>\n
\u2022 commitment to Krsna consciousness<\/p>\n
These three phases\u2014the 3 c\u2019s: contact, cultivation, and commitment\u2014lead the person to the point where he or she is systematically engaged in practicing and preaching Krsna consciousness. The Bhakti- Vriksa group members are themselves active in all three phases. To successfully apply this strategy, though, takes good coordination and cooperation of all the devotees involved: temple 138 Bhakti- Vriksa Manual leaders, temple devotees, book distributors, full-time Bhakti- Vriksa preachers, and Bhakti- Vriksa group members.<\/p>\n
Bhakti- Vriksa groups can only grow by cultivating people (by e-mail, phone, in-home visits, and participation) and gradually making them group members. At the beginning of the Bhakti- Vriksa Program the first groups are mainly made of existing congregational devotees, but to keep growing and multiplying the groups need to concentrate on building relationships and gradually introducing new people to Bhakti- Vriksa life. This preaching work has unlimited scope, as every contact has close relationships with other people, who in turn are in touch with others, and so on, forming a chain of connections spanning the whole of human society.<\/p>\n
THE THREE PHASES IN BRIEF<\/p>\n
Phase one: Contact<\/p>\n
This phase includes:<\/p>\n
\u2022 getting contacts (taking names and addresses of interested people)<\/p>\n
\u2022 gathering the information (collect the contact cards)<\/p>\n
\u2022 processing the contacts (entering the information in the computer)<\/p>\n
\u2022 assigning the contacts for follow-up (according to areas and interests)<\/p>\n
The first contact starts the relationship. It can be through book distribution, a festival, a harinama, a visit to the temple or to a Hare Krsna restaurant, through work connections, radio programs, the internet, and so on. The essential thing is to take the name, address, and all other essential information of whoever shows some interest in Krsna consciousness.<\/p>\n
Phase Two: Cultivation, Building the Relationship<\/p>\n
The second phases involve:<\/p>\n
\u2022 keeping in touch though the mail (newsletters and both standard and personal letters)<\/p>\n
\u2022 keeping in touch by telephone<\/p>\n
\u2022 home visits<\/p>\n
\u2022 engaging the person to participate as a guest in a Krsna conscious program (Bhakti-Vriksa group meetings, Sunday Feasts, festivals, etc.)<\/p>\n
Building the relationship involves cultivation and introductory programs of service and association for establishing friendship with devotees, building the person\u2019s interest and faith in Krsna consciousness, Srila Prabhup\u00e4da and ISKCON, until the person commits himself to regular devotional service. This phase includes staying in touch through mail, email, phone calls, home visits, visiting a Bhakti-Vriksa group meeting, visiting the temple, participating in Sunday Feasts and festivals, engaging in various services, organizing home programs, and so on.<\/p>\n
Phase Three: Commitment to Krsna Consciousness<\/p>\n
This can be affected achieved through:<\/p>\n
\u2022 joining a Bhakti-vriksa group<\/p>\n
\u2022 joining as a temple devotee<\/p>\n
\u2022 becoming committed to some other factual, regular<\/p>\n
Krsna conscious engagement.<\/p>\n
For the success of the Bhakti-vriksa Program to expand smoothly, all group members must be systematically trained in all the aspects of these three stages of preaching.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Excerpt from the Bhakti-vriksa Manual\u2014<\/p>\n
For more information on this book please visit our website:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/iskconcongregation.com\/pro\u2026\/bhakti-vriksha-manual\/
\nFOLLOW UP<\/p>\n
\u201cTRAINING IS THE ESSENTIAL TO MAKE PEOPLE KRSNA CONSCIOUS.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although of course acknowledging the power of his books and energetically encouraging devotees to distribute them, Srila Prabhupada was perfectly aware that the dissemination of literature was only part of the broad strategy for making people devotees of Krsna<\/p>\n
Therefore, he said: \u201cImmediately, a person cannot be renounced; therefore gradually, step by step. So, unless there is proper training\u2026 Now just like we are selling millions copies of these books, they are reading, and how many of them coming forward? So, it requires training. Training is the essential to make people Krsna conscious.\u201d (Evening Darsana, Bombay, 14 Aug 1976)<\/p>\n
It\u2019s like a house: the foundation is essential and irreplaceable, but on that foundation, we need to build walls and rooms and equip them with electricity, water, furniture and everything else is necessary for comfortable, civilized living. \u201cYes, begin the bus program village to village, distributing kirtana, prasadam and books. That will make our foundation strong.\u201d (Letter to Hamsadutta, 29 Jan 1976)<\/p>\n
Following up includes building a relation with the people who buy the books; encouraging them to read the books they bought; helping them to understand them by remaining available for questions; explaining to them the fundamental aspects of bhakti-yoga and how to gradually implement them in their daily life; assisting them to remove the obstacles and overcoming challenges; providing them with avenues for association and engagement \u2013 and so on.<\/p>\n
Imagine a town with no houses but only foundations of houses. Who would wish to live there? Imagine if we only distributed knowledge but not cultivated people who receive that knowledge. \u201cTraining is the essential to make people Krsna conscious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2013 By Kaunteya Das \u2014<\/p>\n
CREATING CONNECTIONS<\/p>\n
STEP 1 MINDSET<\/p>\n
\u2022 Change your mindset<\/p>\n
\u2022 Understand the purpose of the effort<\/p>\n
\u2022 From just organizing a program, to thinking about connecting with people.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be mentally prepared to really connect.<\/p>\n
When you approach life with a \u201cGrowth Mindset\u201d you understand your abilities can be developed.<\/p>\n
STEP 2 STRATEGY<\/p>\n
\u2013 BRAINSTORM<\/p>\n
\u2022 Discuss with your team ways to connect with people.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be open-minded to new ideas.<\/p>\n
\u2013 STRATEGY<\/p>\n
\u2022 Design contact collection forms.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Train devotees on how to approach people effectively.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Share<\/p>\n
\u2022 Get all the team on board as regards the plan.<\/p>\n
STEP 3 CONTACT<\/p>\n
\u2022 The most important part of the process.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Don\u2019t be shy and talk to people.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Remember as much information as possible from the conversation.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Write down points of interest in the contact sheet.<\/p>\n
STEP 4 -PROCESSING<\/p>\n
\u2022 All contacts can be submitted to the central office.<\/p>\n
\u2022 If no central office, download the Individual contact database from CDM website.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Database should contain as much information as possible.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Regularly update the contact database.<\/p>\n
STEP 5 \u2013 FOLLOW-UP \u2013 BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS<\/p>\n
\u2022 Establish immediate contact with those interested<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be an attention listener<\/p>\n
\u2022 Appreciate their efforts<\/p>\n
STEP 6 \u2013 INVITE \u2013 BEING PRESENT<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be personal<\/p>\n
\u2022 Introduce the local temple<\/p>\n
\u2022 Host special programs, yoga sessions, cooking classes.<\/p>\n
STEP 7 \u2013 CONNECTED<\/p>\n
\u2022 Person is regularly attending temple\/home\/other programs.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Inspired to chant<\/p>\n
\u2022 Willing to share with others.<\/p>\n
For further tips on CONNECT please visit our website:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/iskconcongregation.com\/media\/bhakti-vriksha-manual\/
\nIMPORTANT OF CONTACT MANAGEMENT<\/p>\n
-HH Sridhara Maharaja \u2014<\/p>\n
\u201cThis idea of creating a database and collecting contacts at all our festivals and in<\/p>\n
any situation where we come in contact with the public is very important. I tried<\/p>\n
for a number of years to teach this to devotees and I fully agree with Jayapat\u00e4k\u00e4<\/p>\n
Mah\u00e4r\u00e4ja as to its importance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can follow up in so many creative ways when we have a list of people who<\/p>\n
we know are relatively favorable. There is a whole science to database marketing<\/p>\n
and every successful organization, including non-profit and religious organizations,<\/p>\n
uses it successfully.\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cI would caution that you should be ready to follow up your collection of data<\/p>\n
soon after it is collected. Names, addresses, and the impressions of people become<\/p>\n
redundant quite quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf nothing is done to follow up and also report the successes of follow up, those<\/p>\n
doing the collecting of names become despondent. Get some good software and start planning now.\u201d<\/p>\n
FOLLOW UP<\/p>\n
-By Navina Nirada das \u2014<\/p>\n
\u2022 Collect the names, addresses, email and phone of the interested people.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Keep a clear, up to date record of: type of person ex: pious, philanthropist, jnani, religious, impersonalist, etc., books they have, their area of interest, hobby etc., important dates like birthday etc., financial possibilities, how much they usually give for the Mission, family members names and their attitude toward Krsna Consciousness, other\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2022 Follow up personally the people you met.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Contact them regularly and\/or in special occasions: Christmas, birthday etc.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Visit them regularly, once a year. More often in special cases.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Bring them presents.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Bring them prasadam.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Bring them Books they do not yet have.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Encourage them to read Srila Prabhupada\u2019s Books for solving their problems.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Preach to them according to their advancement in Krsna Consciousness.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be patient.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Listen to them, be sensitive and attentive.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Give them all the time they need.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Do programs at their home.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Never ask for laxmi when you visit them also if you gave presents, books and prasadam.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Accept whatever donation they give.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Mention, especially the first time, how we use the laxmi for.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be sensitive if they do not want to be contacted any more.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Always give a last try.<\/p>\n
\u2022 In the Temple there should be a competent telephone answering.<\/p>\n
\u2022 If you are for example a Congregational member and you prefer that the person you met is followed up by some preacher or trainer of the Temple, introduce.<\/p>\n
TAKE PEOPLE\u2019S CONTACTS AND FOLLOW UP ON THEM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We are good at advertising… and planting seeds but… we are not so good at harvesting! We have become expert at showing people the beautiful world of Krishna consciousness; giving them a glimpse Into this dynamic wonderful culture with Innumerable books distributed, millions of plates of prasadam distributed, thousands of Harinamas performed, countless festivals, millions of hours of work Invested, a fantastic number of dollars spent, but… we are not so good at harvesting! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-92979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=92979"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92979\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":92983,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92979\/revisions\/92983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=92979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=92979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=92979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/6lo5LMR.jpg)
By Congregational Development Ministry<\/strong><\/p>\n