ShepherdLeader.com

The author describes how Jesus went throughout towns and villages healing people with all sorts of diseases and bondages. He makes a profound statement on page 68, “leading means healing�. This is quite an ironic statement. We often think of great leaders in terms of what they accomplish. For example, leaders in business, entertainment, sports, government, the church, and other areas are known for how many people follow them. They are also known for being able to get the most out of their people. The ministry of Jesus was healing, delivering, saving, and changing. His mission was to make the lives of his followers better for the glory of God.

Healing and helping has to be the primary focus of every Christian ministry. One key example in scripture is where Jesus got on His knees and began to wash the disciples’ feet. He demonstrated how they should serve each other. This is particularly challenging for pastors. We often think in terms of growing our churches by getting more members, more staff, more money, and more influence. We need to reverse our thinking and measure our impact by monitoring the depth of healing that God brings to the people we are privileged to serve. As a pastor, I have to think “what healing does God want to bring in the life of this individual?� My thinking should not be, “What can this person do for the church?�