Last Saturday we were invited to the birthday party of an old friend, 96 years old! She is a Salvationist but no Corps Officer has visited her for the last three years. Pastoral visitation is not a priority with our Corps Officers (pastors) any more, it seems to me.
Her children's pastor now visits her once a month to give her communion, read the Bible and pray with her. Thank God for those who care. God bless them.
Our Lord told the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd leaves the 99 safely in the fold to seek and save the lost sheep.
Peter challenges his fellow elders to "shepherd the flock of God among you" by "exercising oversight" (1 Peter 5:2.) God entrusts them with the authority and responsibility of leading the flock. Pastors are accountable for how they lead, and the flock for how they follow (Heb 13:17)
Besides teaching, the pastor exercises oversight of the flock by the example of his life. Being a pastor requires getting in among the sheep. It is not leadership from above so much as leadership from within. An effective pastor does not herd his sheep from the rear but leads them from the front. They see him and imitate his actions.
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