Feed My Sheep
May I speak directly to those serving in leadership roles within a local church? As a new year of ministry begins, it is encouraging to remember that our call from Christ remains the same: “Feed my lambs.” In his book In The Name of Jesus, Henri Nouwen puts it this way,
“He (Jesus) wants Peter (and us) to feed his sheep and care for them; not as ‘professionals’ who know their clients’ problems and take care of them, but as vulnerable brothers and sisters who know and are known, who care and are cared for, who forgive and are being forgiven, who love and are being loved.”
What a beautiful picture of how a pastor or shepherd ought to lead and serve their congregation!
Have you taken an inventory of your flock recently? Are there people in your fold who are being left “un-shepherded?” As pastors, we are called to teach and to tend the flock God gives us—Paul speaks to both of these things often. But this is a difficult task to do alone, in fact, it’s not meant to be done alone.
A shepherd is as necessary for people with disabilities as much as anyone else in the fold.
Many churches choose to hire or appoint pastors who can help provide oversight and shepherding to a group of sheep who may be more vulnerable or in need of their own shepherd (e.g. children’s ministry or youth ministry). As you ponder who these groups are in your congregation, have you considered those with disabilities? If there are people with disabilities in your congregation without a shepherd, I’d encourage you to find them one – not to separate them out (as can be the danger), but to better enfold them. Whether it’s an elder, a lead pastor, a staff member, or an empowered volunteer, a shepherd is as necessary for people with disabilities as much as anyone else in the fold.
“While program directors make programs, shepherds make disciples.”
One key distinction I’d like to draw your attention to is the difference between “shepherds” and “directors.” While program directors make programs, shepherds make disciples. Both are necessary, but too often people with disabilities are left under the care of a director without the guidance of a loving shepherd. Unfortunately, people with disabilities often find themselves slipping through the cracks without any watchful shepherd noticing.
As we own this task of feeding his sheep, we can be encouraged by the reality that all of us are under the care of the Great Shepherd. Our role is quite simple: to point people to him. Let him lead and care for you, and
“may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.”
Written By—Vinnie Adams
Vinnie Adams is the Reflectors Special Needs Ministry Director and Campus Worship Leader at Faith Church in Dyer, Indiana. He and his wife, Kate, currently life in Crown Point, Indiana with their sons, Jakob (7) and Josiah (4).
[1] (e.g. Ephesians 4:11, Acts 20:28)
[1] (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, Acts 14:23, 1 Peter 5:1-2)
[1] (Hebrews 13:20-21)
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