Shepherds Mindful


by Paul Boeker, Editor Can you picture the Von Trapp children in the “Te Sound


of Music” dangling puppets and singing “High on the hill was a lonely goatherd …”? What fun! But in real life, goats are pretty in- dependent and adventuresome (or is bothersome the right word?). Jacob was a real-life lonely goatherd (Gen. 30, 31). But shepherds and shepherdesses are the real heroes of the Bible.


Rachel was tending sheep when her future husband Jacob


came along. Joseph’s brothers were tending sheep when Joseph was sent out to check on them. Zipporah was trying to water her sheep when Moses came along and helped her. David was herding sheep when God called him to be king of Israel.


Te picture of a young man or woman tending sheep was


so common in ancient times that it soon began to be applied figuratively to people responsible for other people. Tribal leaders, kings, even God, are pictured as shepherds by those who experi- enced their care, feeding, protection and oversight. Jacob was the first to introduce God as “the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this very day” (Gen. 48:15). Joshua was chosen by God to be the shepherd of Israel (Num. 27:15-23). David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Micah loved to think of God as their Shepherd.


In the New Testament, Jesus revealed himself as the Good


Shepherd. But he also appointed under-shepherds over his people. Elders are shepherds (John 21:15-17; 1 Peter 5:1-4).


Many of our churches need pastors, that is, shepherds. (See


the column to the right.) We’re looking for someone who can feed us from God’s word, care for us, teach us, be an example for us, and lead us to the pastures of God’s grace. Yet, as Pe- ter pointed out, all elders are shepherds and have those same responsibilities.


As you read through this issue, find a shepherd who is guard-


ing his flock through prayer. Discover a new commission intend- ed to shepherd shepherds. Meet two of FEBC’s newest shepherds. Learn about an FEBC program to renew shepherds. Above all, thank God for the faithful shepherds in your church!


Fellowship Views


With the Lord Sandy McFarland, wife of Pastor Chris McFarland, Gospel


of Grace Church, Hooker, Okla, went to be with the Lord on Aug. 16. Before Chris and Sandy moved to Hooker in 2003, they had served as missionaries in Brazil and pastored a church in Iowa. Her obituary can be found at robertsbrothersfuneralhome. com/obituary/sandy-mcfarland.


Ordinations


• Rev. Seth Gheen was ordained by Community Bible Church of Omaha, Neb., in January. Learn more about him on page 8.


• Rev. Leymin Alvarado was ordained by Community Bible Church of Omaha, Neb., on Aug. 4 . Leymin is the pastor of Iglesia De Cristo Mahanaim, a Hispanic church that meets on Sunday aſternoons in Communi- ty Bible’s fellowship hall.


Shepherd Found •


Archer Woodstock has been hired as the interim Se- nior Pastor at Cornerstone Bible Church in Mountain Lake, Minn.


Shepherd Search Churches needing a lead pastor:


• Community Bible Church of Wolf Point, Mont. (htoews@nemont.net)


• Crosspoint Bible Church of Omaha, Neb. (crosspointbible.org/pastoral-search)


• Fairview Bible Church of Swiſt Current, Sask. (fairviewbiblechurch641@gmail.com or dwsfehr@sasktel.net)


• Riverbend Bible Church of Dallas, Man. (c/o James Tiessen, Box 252, Hodgson, MB R0C 1N0 or jteasin@mymts.net)


• Salem Church of Waldheim, Sask. (salemchurch.ca/news/)


Churches needing an associate pastor:


• Salem Church of Waldheim, Sask. (salemchurch.ca/news/)


• Langham Evangelical Bible Church of Langham, Sask. (langhambiblechurch.homestead.com/)


FEBC Shepherds Connect over Lunch 4 Fellowship Focus, September/October 2019 FellowshipForward.org


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