Shepherding Lesson: Church WhatsApp Group

Ten years have elapsed since I have been in touch with and are shepherding a couple of families in the city of Gurugram. With much hope and good faith, I have been shepherding these families at my own expense of time, money, and energy. However, even after over ten long years, they don't seem to be inclined towards the church life. Yes, I am aware that I should simply shepherd the believers without any expectation of bringing them into the church life, but at the same time, I also need some tangible result in the shepherding I have been carrying out. What parents would not care for their children's future after parenting them for years? Like it or not, there has always been a hope and expectation from someone whom you pour out your time and energy to shepherd. I am just being frank and open.

On the contrary, some of these ones whom I have shepherding with much hope and included them into the Church's WhatsApp group has of late started posting things not in line with the healthy practice of the church life. While seeing those messages my heart ached. Not merely for what they posted, but mostly because my shepherding did not seem to have much effect in their living and constitution. That was indeed very painful. I squarely put the blame on myself.

Besides, the brothers I am coordinating with have expressed their feelings that those who are not regular in the church life need not be in the church's Whatsapp group. Since the group is to communicate important matters related to the practical church life, it may not be relevant for those who are not regularly meeting with the church to continue to be in the group. Therefore, a decision was made to close the group and create a new Church group with all the regular saints as members. Even for this, I prayed much for those who are not regular in church life. I seriously do not want to lose them, but I still pray that the Lord would one day recover them to enjoy the Lord and the church life. Therefore, a notice was sent out.

THANKSGIVING AND NOTICE FOR CLOSURE OF THE CHURCH IN GURUGRAM WHATSAPP GROUP

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Thank you for being with the Church in Gurugram WhatsApp group all this while.

Gurugram being a city with flowing crowd where some of you were meeting or fellowshipping with the church at one point in time, and now, due to shifting out of the city or for other reasons best known to each one, are not now meeting regularly in the practical church life in Gurugram.

To serve the rightful purpose of the group, we don't want to bother anyone who are not regularly meeting with the church with messages meant for those who are regularly meeting with the church. Therefore, we feel good to close this existing group and create a new one for all those who regularly meet.

Nevertheless, we will still send important messages and updates that may be deemed useful to all. 

Date of Closure: 7 May 2020

Thank you, brothers and sisters!

Then, the old church Whatsapp group was closed on the set date, and a new one was created right away with all the regular saints as members. Even after this, the Lord still burdened me to continue to shepherd those who are left out. So I included them in a broadcast list. As I continued to pray for these ones the Lord comforted me with the word that my labor upon them will not be in vain. In fact, He promised that these ones would also be awakened and they would all come back for fellowship one day. In fact, that happened after a week of closure. Some of them have come into closer contact and fellowship again. I believe more would come. Now the number of saints in the new group and the number of saints in the broadcast shepherding group is tallying, with the latter more.

May the Lord gain all the saints and gather them for His testimony.