Shepherding Care

Last Lord's day was as ordinary as it used to be. But what was special was, after the meeting, as a shepherding gesture I proposed to drive a brother's family back to his home, not knowing what would happen later.

When I drove the family home, I got to meet another spiritually dormant brother who hardly joins the meeting. I could spend some time cherishing him, then prayed with him. This one visit has enthused him to even come for the following week training of the church. It was very unexpected of him, who missed almost every meeting to suddenly turn up for a training, that too, a whole day training on the Crystallization-study of Ezekiel.

Later, with a brother, we went to visit a family who has not been in touch for five years or so. God had sovereignly arranged the visit in such a way that we could meet and spend solid time of fellowship with the entire family. Beginning with the father, then the son and then the mother. It was like a spiritual awakening for the family. All the three of them were very happy that we visited them, especially the father, who himself has been struggling in his life, in spiritual matters. The son wanted to have more personally time of fellowship which we fixed up for the following Lord's day, the mother also wanted to have more fellowship, and the father has already decided to regularly come for the church meeting. They, as a family, however are considering to start a Bible study in their home too as I proposed for their own benefit. May the Lord recover this family. This meeting was supposed to be just thirty minutes, as I proposed, but it turned out to be three hours long. And we did not feel time went so fast.

Later, I met another family again; mother and son. They were very happy with my visit. With few words of encouragement, I prayed with them. Though I wanted to spend more time in fellowship I had to rush to another family meeting.

Finally, I met another family who is undergoing intense mental pressure due to their grandma's hospitalization for almost two months now. It was just a cherishing time allowing the sister to pour out all her feeling, anxiety, concern, and my simple responsibility is to listen patiently to all she said. In that way, the burden deep within her was all poured out and I prayed for the family.

In words or in deeds, whatever the situation of the saints may be, cherishing them with human love and care, and nourishing them with the divine word and prayer, is a good way of shepherding. All the messages that I have been learning in ministry for shepherding has now been carried out one by one in reality. My next challenge is to bring all the saints to do the same work of shepherding care. Not I alone, but with the saints as the church, then the Lord will revive the church and gain a strong testimony, both in quality and quantity.

Lord, thank You for Your shepherding care. Shepherd us further to carry on the shepherding care of the church.