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Jesus said to his disciples: "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD...I know my sheep and my sheep know Me ... and I lay down my life for the sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:14, 27)
To better serve the needs of our congregation, the Session has implemented a method of spiritual oversight and pastoral care that focuses on the Sunday School Community as its primary context for ministry. Elders serve as shepherds in each of our adult classes, helping class officers with the general oversight of the class. Weekly, personal contact enhances the life of our covenant community and serves as a vital link in our network of pastoral care. Those members of MRPC who do not attend Sunday School are placed on a class roll and are assigned a shepherd from among those overseeing that particular class. Members are notified of their elder shepherd and are encouraged to interact with him on a regular basis.
It is our desire to insure that the members and families of MRPC experience the love and support of the whole congregation through this ministry. We want to provide a strong sense of belonging and a depth of caring that distinguishes us as a fellowship of believers. This sense of community should reflect our unity in Christ and the joy of knowing Him personally as our Savior and Lord.
The role of the elder shepherd is multi-faceted. It involves personal contact with each of his sheep through visitation, phone calls, weekly interaction and fellowship within the context of church and Sunday School. It involves the ministry of mercy, prayer, and encouragement in times of trial and personal loss. It is a shared experience of service projects, short-term missions and outreach opportunities. The elder shepherd leads by example in seeking to promote and facilitate spiritual growth by participation in the worship services, Sunday School communities, weekly Bible studies and small group meetings. The elder shepherd is also sensitive to the spiritual gifts and abilities of his sheep and looks for opportunities where these gifts may be exercised for the building up of the body. He is a valuable resource in helping his sheep to discern their spiritual gifts.
We have seen many benefits to exercising pastoral care in this way. We have found that it greatly enhances the process of assimilation for our new members, integrating them into the life of the congregation in a very effective manner. It is a highly visible demonstration of our network of care, assisting the pastoral staff through the communication of needs, prayer concerns, and information. It even involves assisting the pastors in caring for the sick, shut-in, hospitalized, and needy. And because it is such a vital link, without our pastoral care network, the possibility of losing track of one another has been greatly reduced.
In an article in EQUIP MAGAZINE by Charles Dunahoo, he states:
Whatever else an elder says or does, whatever jobs he carries out, whatever words he utters, programs he administers, visits he pays, or decisions he makes, the orientation of his life and the heart of his ministry before God consist in shepherding the people whom God has entrusted to his care. When sacrificial love and care motivate elders to enable the saints to grow in Christ, not only do those elders become in fuller measure the leaders God meant them to be, but also the congregation grows and serves in the way God meant them to. Caring, loving, equipping - these three words express the essence of Christ's lesson about shepherding. A good shepherd is one whose care for the sheep drives him to equip them for doing what sheep do best, even at the cost of his own life. In the church, members should follow the lead of elders, not because the elders tell them what to do, but because the elders have cared for them. What the members should feel is not compulsion, but care. As they experience the depth of his commitment to them, they know him and trust him completely.
This is in reality what we want to happen at MRPC.
The Congregational Care Committee
The Congregational Care Committee of the Session is responsible for overseeing the entire Elder-Shepherding ministry.
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