Pastor / Shepherd = gathering & tending God’s people
From LifeLift Assessment D = Spiritual Gifts
The gift of pastor / shepherd is the divine strength or ability to care for the personal needs of others by nurturing and mending life issues.
Remember, though, there are two types of gifts Jesus gives to His church:
- Equippers. This is the five-fold group of leaders who are called to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:11-12).
- Spiritual gifts, that is, the supernatural abilities we each have.
A person with the pastor / shepherd gift could be one, the other, or both.
Therefore, we might see this gift operating in small groups, Sunday school classes, and other “non-stage” venues. Or, we might see this gift highlighted as someone leading a church.
This is a “gathering” gift, not so much a “leadership” gift.
Sure, you may find a pastor (five-fold office) with the supernatural gift of leadership (like my Dad), or you might find a pastor who has a different gift (as I was, when I led in a church).
Many of the most-effective “pastor / shepherd” spiritually gifted people today are serving behind the scenes, I believe.
This is why we need to look at our “total person” (our personality, our created design, and more) as we discern where we should serve. And, it’s why we need the input from other trusted friends and spiritual leaders to help guide us.
See also John 10:1-18, Ephesians 4:11-14, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Peter 5:1-3.
