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WHERE ARE THE SHEPHERDS?
If we listen to the stories of those who are in the
field, we hear this recurring cry, "there
is acute short-age of leaders." This shortage could be
due to several reasons. In terms of market place, shortage of a
commodity happens when the demand exceeds the supply. Why is it
that we lack shepherds? It is possible that we have not been
training shepherds proportionate to our bringing in sheep into the
fold? It is also possible that we have neglected the task of
preparing under-shepherds and gone at lightning speed to evangelise the
whole world? One thing is clear, shepherds are lacking and sheep
are scattered.
Is it an
overstatement that we have more spiritual orphans in the church and
scattered outside than unreached people in the world? Many of these
orphans are either stunted due to malnutrition, are dying or are
already dead. How do we improve the health situation of the
sheep? How do we as leaders respond to this need?
"When Jesus went ashore, He saw a
large crowd and he felt compassion (moved in the in-ward parts) for
them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd..." Mark 6:34.
The great
Shepherd, when He began His ministry quoted this scripture remembering
Numbers 27:17. The Shepherd God desires that His people be taken out and brought in safely.
This is leadership. He instructed Moses, a great shepherd to
appoint under-shepherds to effectively carry out this job.
Appointing a Joshua who had been trained was a step forward.
With this picture in mind, Jesus, "the great Shepherd,"
invited the 12, trained them, shepherded them and appointed them as
under- shepherds. (All through
history we see that He appoints only those as shepherds, whom He has
shepherded). Paul warns the elders in Acts 20:28, "Be on
guard for yourself and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His
own blood".
He continues to be involved in the business of
appointing shepherds. Managing is very different from this.
The shepherd metaphor seems to be dear to the heart of
God. In Revelations, we see the beautiful picture of the Lamb who is in
the centre of the throne, guiding His sheep to the springs of water of
life, and wiping away every tear from their eyes. (Rev.7:17). No
wonder the final picture we have is that they "follow the Lamb
where ever He goes". There seems to be such a sense of security,
love, and care. They love following this Shepherd-Leader. His mission
is effectively carried out.
What about this metaphor in our context? Are we
training and appointing under-shepherds? Are we an example to the
sheep? Have we captured this heart of the shepherd? Do we
also feel stirred in the inward parts when we see people like sheep
without shepherd? In a hurting world around us, we see the sheep,
so insecure, lost, hurt, directionless and hopeless. Will we
carry the heart of this shepherd? Is this our favourite leadership
metaphor?
Through DAI's research we know that there is a huge
generational gap between established and younger leadership. With
hierarchical models of leadership, younger people are often not given
opportunities to use their gifts and can end up being discouraged,
pushed down or even leaving the church. Younger leaders are
constantly looking for sincerity. They need to see word equate
with action.
We need God's wisdom and direction as we seek to promote
his kingdom and not our own. At the Lausanne Congress in Cape
Town recently the theologian Chris Wright admonished the Church to live
out the values of humility, integrity, and simplicity (HIS). May
we espouse these values in our lives as we look to be Spirit-filled
agents of change.
May the Good
Shepherd continue to lead you in your own journey!
Edited with permission from India Update, Issue 2,
November 2010, The Development Associates Initiative (DAI). Written
by Sam Thomas and Jonathan Abraham. For more information, please visit:
http://www.daintl.org/where_we_work/india/
The shepherd metaphor seems to be dear
to the heart of God. In Revelations, we see the beautiful picture of
the Lamb who is in the centre of the throne, guiding His sheep to the
springs of water of life, and wiping away every tear from their eyes.
(Rev.7:17). No wonder the final picture we have is that they
"follow the Lamb where ever He goes". There seems to be such
a sense of security, love, and care. They love following this
Shepherd-Leader. His mission is effectively carried out.
What about this metaphor in our context?
Are we training and appointing under-shepherds? Are we an
example to the sheep? Have we captured this heart of the
shepherd? Do we also feel stirred in the inward parts when we see
people like sheep without shepherd? In a hurting world around us,
we see the sheep, so insecure, lost, hurt, directionless and hopeless.
Will we carry the heart of this shepherd? Is this our favourite
leadership metaphor?
Through DAI's research we know that
there is a huge generational gap between established and younger
leadership. With hierarchical models of leadership, younger
people are often not given opportunities to use their gifts and can end
up being discouraged, pushed down or even leaving the church.
Younger leaders are constantly looking for sincerity. They
need to see word equate with action.
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