What is a Care Pastor? 

Maybe you have wondered what is the role of a Care Pastor? What does a Care Pastor do?

A Care Pastor is someone who “shepherds” the congregation. Middle Eastern cultures understood what shepherding was all about. It was about feeding the lambs and the sheep, bringing them to good pasture lands and water, grooming and clipping them, delivering new lambs, leading them and teaching them to stay together, going off after the wandering lost ones, and protecting the sheep in the field and in the fold. 

As I look at my role; I see myself as an under shepherd and Jesus Christ is the Head Shepherd and the Good Shepherd. He’s my mentor, my teacher, my example. My goal is to emulate what the Good Shepherd does for the sheep. 

I believe that two of the spiritual gifts that the Lord gave me when I became a believer as a young man are the gifts of helps and mercy. Spiritual gifts are endowments given by the Holy Spirit. These are the supernatural graces which individual Christians need to fulfill the mission of the church. In 1 Corinthians 12, we learn that spiritual gifts are given to God's people by the Holy Spirit for "the common good." Verse 11 says the gifts are given according to God's sovereign will ("as he determines"). Ephesians 4:12 tells us these gifts are given to prepare God's people for service and for building up the body of Christ.

That’s what I want to do as a shepherd here at Osceola Grace, serve you and help build up the body of Christ. There are many ways to express or use the gifts God have given me, such as, checking in on someone with a phone call, encouraging someone though the Word of God, notes of encouragement, or simply making a hospital visit and to pray with someone. Listening, counseling, teaching, mentoring, discipling; they are all part of my responsibilities as a Care Pastor.

Jesus emphasized care in his ministry during the three years that He walked among us. He cared for the outcasts such as the leper, the prostitute, and the tax collector. They were people who were reaching out to Him to fill a void in their hearts. Jesus' life and ministry is my example and what my ministry is based upon in caring for people. 

John 13:34-35 says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

When we show love, compassion and support for one another the world around us takes notice of these things and it causes them to see something that is seldom demonstrated; true and genuine love. One of the best ways we can be a light to the world around us is to demonstrate the love of Christ to those around us. I want to be that light to those I come in contact with each day. How about you?

In future blogs I will be sharing ways that both you and I as believers in Christ can care for one another and in turn be that shining light on the hill that attracts lost ones to the saving grace of the Savior.

Blessings for today!

Your Care Pastor,

Dave Knight