Shepherd, Lead Us!

 This is a letter that I sent to Senior Pastors as they prepare for Sunday Morning following the violent week of killing in Charleston, SC.  I am encouraging Pastors to be a Shepherd and lead their people in Romans 12:15 - weep with those that are weeping.

 

Shepherds!  I hope you never grow tired of hearing that title. Perhaps Shepherd and Servant Leader were two of the words that I prayed that the congregation I was serving saw more in my life than any other title that was attached to my name.

Shepherds, you have a great opportunity tomorrow in worship.  I am not referring to Father’s Day or perhaps a sermon with three points that begin with the same letter.  I am referring to the shepherding moment that you have with the congregation regarding the horrendous acts of violence, death,  and murder brought upon 9 precious people in Charleston, SC this week.  This senseless act of violence is not a time to raise a political bias or argue about race.  It is a time for Romans 12:15 – weep with those that are weeping.  My heart is broken.  My heart is broken for the families of these precious saints.  He heart is crying for their families tonight.  My heart is bleeding for black brother and sisters that are afraid, that are tired of racism, that are angry – my friends, it is not well with my heart tonight.

With the horrible acts of violence brought on by hatred and bigotry, friends, I feel more and more that I don’t belong in this world.  I don’t want to belong to a divided people.  I don’t want to belong to people who hate a color of skin or think less of a people who speak a different language.

And then I remember that I belong to a Kingdom of Peace – where love is the law.  I belong to a kingdom where broken hearts are healed, rich men give, dead men live and sinners become royalty.  I belong to a Kingdom of Peace where the color of your skin can be different from mine but you are my brother and sister.  I belong to a Kingdom whose King will reign supremely and will fill my heart with overflowing joy and confidence that this world is not my final home.

This Kingdom of Peace is what the world needs.  Preach the Kingdom message tomorrow – keep Jesus central – because, in the words of Andre Crouch’s song – Jesus is the answer.

Please take time to weep tomorrow.  Please take time to pray tomorrow.  You may not be popular by calling your church to remember, pray or weep.  Do it anyway.  Use your shepherd title wisely tomorrow.

I am praying for you as you lead,

Eric

Shepherd of Illinois Ministries

Does Mission Matter?

The church doesn’t have a mission, the mission has a church!

I’m not sure who said the true statement first but I have used it repeatedly as I have coached and mentored pastors and church leaders.  I have read mission statements that are long and short.  I have read a few that do not make sense to me and others that I wish I would have thought of first.  I have read mission statements that are really more vision statements but try to not argue about the correctness because the desire of my heart is that pastors and church leaders have clarity to what they are doing.

What is the difference between Mission and Vision?  It is easier to start by thinking about vision.  I encourage you to define vision as something that is seen, it is a preferred future that taps into your kingdom potential.  A mission is what you do.

Lisa and I have a mission and vision for our marriage.  Our mission is to have a healthy and growing marriage.  Our vision is to grow old together, enjoy one another, know each other deeply, never lose intimacy… Our vision is to laugh together and appreciate each other, it is to touch one another and feed one another with kindness and forgiveness. 

Do you see the difference?  The mission is basic and simple.  But the vision describes a healthy marriage that we desire, not that we have already attained it but we press forward.

For the church, the mission is connected to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.  It is basic and simple to understand.  The mission is to make disciples. Some churches say, “love God, love others and serve the world” while others proclaim, “reach up, reach in and reach out”.  It is based on the model that Jesus left for us, it is the task that the Savior requires of us.  We are God’s plan to change the world by the message of hope and salvation for the world.

What do you do?  How would you say it?  Remember, mission is not your preferred future or how you do what you do.  It is basic and simply said, share and to the point.

Think about mission and discuss it at your next board meeting.  Download the free worksheet that helps churches define mission for their unique calling.

 MISSION WORKSHEET

Why I Believe in Summer Camps

The average American Youth spends
82 minutes on the phone per day
6 minutes reading per day...
80 minutes playing games per day
27 minutes of the computer per day
only 4 minutes per day outside.

At Camp Warren...

There is a chance to be known and loved
To be in the beauty of nature
To help navigate the TOUGH decisions of teens
Time to Think without distractions
Caring adult role models
High adventure environments
A community where risks can be taken and important questions can be asked.