A Shepherd of the Church | REV3 = Revitalize, Energize, Visualize

“Not sheep ranchers: …a word to our elders and ministers. How often would your labors be easier, more blessed and joyful, if they were directed more to lead the flock into the Lord’s work, into His harvest fields and vineyards, into works of kindness and mercy, and helpfulness to humanity, rather than to be obliged to spend so much time and energy in the often unpleasant, and sometimes seemingly thankless task of trying to keep the fences fixed here and there, and of correcting and disciplining the large and small misdeeds that occur among the flock, misdeeds often the direct result of idleness, for ‘Satan, always has some mischief for idle hands to do.’” ¹

A shepherd knows that 100% of their sheep are intimately satisfied with the care that they receive.

A shepherd is not a shepherd if he does not have a flock. God gives the gifts to accomplish the task, which is a challenging one. There must be a desire to serve in this duty.

1 Timothy 3:1: “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.”

A shepherd, like David, must be willing to risk his life for the flock.

1 Samuel 17:34-35, “But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.’”

A shepherd must value every sheep, desiring none to be lost — no matter their age, health, socioeconomic status, gifting, or any other criteria.

A shepherd must know, not guess or assume, that the sheep are satisfied with the body life and support they receive either direct or indirectly from him. This care is not just a surface level satisfaction with church services but a deep level of tending for each parishioner.

A shepherd needs to have enough time for this calling: this is a priority-calling, and if more time is needed, others should be trained to assist him. Lack of time to fully do the task will either result in neglect or abuse of those in his care.

1 Sommer, B. L. (1929). What We Don’t Do, page 73. In The Fascination of the Race: And Other Essays, Apostolic Christian Publishing Company.