This has also been a common approach. The entire congregation is divided and assigned to designated shepherds. Members may be assigned according to geography, age group, or some other factor. Shepherds Most small group Stephen Ministries Telecare approaches Counseling Systematic home visitation Paid Staff Minister to No set role, but Recruit and train individuals or often shepherd the group leaders. Volunteer Minister to Minister to Shepherd individuals leaders individuals or individuals or or families in a group families with special families on a regular setting, as well as needs but infrequent basis.
Regular meetings provide on-going care and shepherding.
Synergy with discipleship and evangelistic function s of the church. Sharing these three patterns with your leadership team can help you choose a shepherding plan more effectively. By being aware of the alternatives, your church leaders can see the relative merits of each approach, and more readily see the strengths of a small-groups ministry. David Limiero is the interim minister of the First Christian Church in Naperville, Illinois, a far-western suburb of Chicago. Inc. Permission to reproduce for ministry purposes only.