The Shepherd Leader: Achieving Effective Shepherding in Your Church

This is a great book that every pastor and elder should read. Pastors and elders are responsible to shepherd souls and they need to take that responsibility seriously. It’s so hard to find a church that shepherds their sheep well.

Is your church leadership a board of directors making decisions or a team of shepherds caring for the flock? That is the question posed in Witmer’s book, and he argues that caring for the flock is the primary ministry of the elders. This is not a new idea but is rooted in both the Old and New Testaments, culminating in the example of The Good Shepherd Jesus Christ who knows every one of His sheep. The biblical imperative for leaders within Christ’s church is to “shepherd the flock of God among you.” (1 Peter 5:2) This is accomplished through the matrix for ministry that Witmer outlines in his book, primarily through knowing, feeding, leading and protecting the sheep entrusted unto your care. The first way we shepherd is by knowing our sheep. Witmer distinguishes between macro and micro knowing. It must begin with macro-knowing, which is maintaining an accurate membership roll. We need to know all of the names of the sheep that are actually under our care. Next is micro-knowing, which is knowing the sheep personally. Witmer wisely suggests that every member should have a personal connection with at least one elder. A reasonable suggestion for accomplishing this is by telephone. Because prayer is a huge part of the ministry of the shepherd, asking for prayer requests over the phone is a great place to start. At the very least the sheep should know that we care enough to pray for them. Additionally, shepherds will need to feed their sheep. This is accomplished through the teaching and preaching ministries of the church. On the macro level, this is best done through expository preaching of the whole counsel of God. On the micro-level, the shepherd should address each household’s shepherd, which would be the father. The father is the head of the household, so it is his role to feed his family God’s Word and to lead in praying with those under his care. Perhaps this aspect of equipping men to lead and disciple their families is the most neglected today. Our churches need strong family shepherds now more than ever before. A biblical shepherd must also lead his sheep. On a macro-level, this means setting the vision, mission, purpose, and policies of the church. On a micro-level, this is being an example of Christlike character. The fundamentals of the Christian life are crucial, because you cannot lead your flock if you don’t practice what you preach. This includes your personal relationship with the Lord, but also how you lead your own family. Leading your family once again is of utmost importance. We cannot lead a larger group if we can’t even lead those within our everyday reach. Finally, the sheep must be protected. This requires the shepherd to ground his flock in the truths contained in the Scriptures. The shepherd needs to know what false teaching is and how to respond to it. The shepherds of the church should monitor church attendance by having eyes on all its members. We should know who is straying or struggling so that we can reach out to help. Witmer puts it all together by outlining seven essential elements of an effective shepherding ministry. Our plan for shepherding the flock of God among us must be biblical, systematic, comprehensive, relational, include the previous four functions (knowing, feeding, leading, and protecting), and include accountability, and prayer. If we fail to plan in all these areas, then we will be planning to fail. We are called to shepherd the flock of God, and Witmer’s book shows us how we might do that well.

For Witmer, the art of Shepherding is becoming a lost one in the Church. Surprising? Maybe, especially as the word Pastor comes from the latin to shepherd. In a conservative Christian culture whereby the focus is preaching, shepherding has been left on the side lines. For most pastors, the time and effort that visiting and looking after people take away from the `preaching' preparation means that shepherding is neglected. Witmer challenges leaders to plan and implement a Shepherds ministry. The pastors role is far more than just preaching and teaching. Alongside feeding the sheep a Shepherd also should know his sheep; lead his sheep and protects his sheep. Witmer is also very practical. In chp 9 he gives 7 Essential Elements of an effective shepherding ministry (1. Must be biblical; 2. Must be systematic; 3. Comprehensive; 4. Relational; 5. Include the four shepherding functions of knowing, feeding, leading and protecting; 6. Accountability; 7. Prayer) as well as suggestions for beginning to implement one. Witmer wisely forms his theology around the idea that the shepherd ministry is not just a pastor responsibility but a leadership responsibility. It should be flowing OUT from the eldership and elders must be involved with this process. Witmer's book definitely espouses team ministry - which is a great thing. This is a very practical book and one which will be useful in forming your approaching to making sure that all people in your church are indeed shepherded.

The Shepherd Leader "The Lord's purpose would be fulfilled in preserving a remnant of his people in his land from whom would issue the promised Messiah, the ultimate Shepherd of God's people (p. 17)" "The responsibility to shepherd the flock is on the shepherds, not the sheep (p. 198)." This is the first book on leadership I have come across that challenges the context in which a leader should be evaluated. Witmer also confronts the responsibility with taking on leadership with the seriousness and implications that come with it. "The casual observer can see the wisdom of the plurality of elders in a local church. That is, if it is understood that the elders are not merely called to be decision-makers but to be involved personally with the sheep (p. 41)." The authority, under Jesus, that God places in our lives is there for a reason and should not be misrepresented in a lackadaisical effort when charged with being a shepherd to others. Shepherding isn't by our efforts to promote change in the sheep, but to love them as Christ has loved us already and point them continually to that truth. "The Son of Man, the Chief Shepherd, came "not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (p. 89)." "A proactive, loving relationship with the sheep will lead to a greater likelihood (though certainly not a guarantee) of effectiveness in winning them back from error. Another problem with a reactive approach is that it leads to the neglect of the healthy sheep. If you are only contacting members when they are negligent, when are the healthy sheep contacted for support and encouragement? After all, shouldn't those who are faithful in following Christ and supportive of the church receive the dedicated attention of the elders? Unfortunately, this is not the case in many churches (pp. 124-125)." Since the call to leadership is so significant, we should all view this resource as valuable for everyone in knowing how to recognize and encourage a leader and shepherd whether you are leading or not. Bibliography Witmer, Timothy Z. Shepherd Leader. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2010.

As a new Pastor just starting out in ministry this book is by far one of the best books I have read in the area of cultivating a faithful shepherding ministry. I have been convicted where I have fallen short but at the same time encouraged to know that my Great Shepherd is guiding and leading me and I don't lean on my own strength and wisdom but on what he has provided in his Word and church. A must read for any undershepherds who wants to be faithful in their ministry.

The idea that personal connections make disciples is not new but the way it was presented was clear. Very good tactical approach to discipleship.

This is a great overview of shepherding in the Bible and throughout church history with applications for the church today. This would be a great book for current elders or pastors to go through together. It would also be a good book to give to men who are training to be leaders in the church.

Having read multiple books on this topic and struggling to understand how to work out this function in practice, this is the first book that seems to bring everything into clarity. I would recommend that teaching elders, ruling elders, and deacons of a local church read this together.

Have found this book an excellent read, very practical and helpful for any in leadership.

In this book Witmer provides not only the theology and rationale for shepherd leadership but also a very practical framework for implementing a system of shepherding in the church. A great resource for any church leaders wanting to increase the effectiveness of shepherding in their community of faith.

really a nice and handy book with very detailed and deep conviction, pray that we may apply it well at our church.

Great book, speedy delivery. Many thanks.

A systematic approach to pastoral care that looks at knowing, feeding, leading, and protecting your people, both on micro and macro levels.