On Gaining a Hearing: Reflections from "Shepherding the Small Church - Glenn C. Daman"

"By meeting the needs of people we gain a hearing through which the redemptive message of Christ may be communicated. Christ, being the master evangelist, often spent a great deal of time ministering to the needs of the people even as he was sharing the hope of the kingdom of God (see Matt. 15:30; Luke 6:17-18). In like manner, understanding the needs of the people and the community enables us to develop ministries that address those needs, at the same time affording opportunities to share the hope of Christ." (p.38)

This struck a particular chord with me. While Daman is writing about how the church can engage the community more effectively, I think this applies even more fundamentally to how we minister to members within the church.

I am reminded that church leadership is often quick to demand loyalty and support from members (which usually means supporting and attending church programs leaders have organised), but slow to visit church members, listen, and journey with them on what they are wrestling with in faith and life. We can be so quick to set expectations and impose demands on them, yet so slow to nurture, encourage and support them as they struggle in working out how to trust God and walk worthy of Jesus in day-today issues in life.

When our leadership is so different from the pattern that the Lord himself has modeled for us, should we be surprised that at the times when we demand support, it is so slow in coming? We have not even gained a hearing, let alone a following!

It is interesting that when the Lord Jesus restored the disheartened apostle Peter, he thrice gave Peter this charge: "Feed my sheep!" (John 21:15,16,17) Peter was not so much tasked to grow God's kingdom, but to feed the Lord's sheep. Peter would later urged fellow church elders to do the same: "Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them ... not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:2,3).

May God grant us grace to not lose sight of what the Chief Shepherd has called us to do in his name, and what he ultimately will hold us accountable for.