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PUBLISHED BY THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
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VOL. 2, NO. 19
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
MAY 31, 1978
Greetings fellow ministers,
We have held up this Pastor's Report an extra day so something
dealing with recent developments could be included. I apologize for
not having been able to communicate more with you since being in this
present position, but these have not been normal days, to say the
least.
Right now there are just a few things I would like to say which
I hope you will find helpful during our present circumstances.
You fellows are the pastors of the churches. You are the daily
shepherds of God's people. You are the ones who can discern most
accurately right from the grass roots level, the health, stability,
concerns, fears, doubts, hopes and trends of the people in God's
church. Also, you are the ones who can have a tremendous personal
impact and influence on the membership. As a shepherd cares for his
sheep, moves them to new feeding grounds, waters them, watches over
them, etc., so this analogy applies to you as ministering servants to
God's people.
We know we cannot, and should not drive people in our care. We
are not ultimately responsible for the actions of others so long as
we have done all we can do in service to them as needed. But, any
local pastor who has dedication to God {which is perceptible to those
around him), and has a sincere, service-oriented attitude toward those
God has placed in his care, does have a very powerful impact on those
he serves. This power of influence, an aspect of leadership, must be
used cautiously, discreetly and for the proper reasons.
Human nature being_what it is, it is sometimes easier for us to
use our influence to disorient, create negativism or confusion rather
than lift peopl� above despair, di��qµragernent, hopelessness, etc.
We all know this, so I do not need to dwell on this aspect of my
subject.
But, fellows, aren't times of stress, change, uncertainty, and
crisis the times that really test a man's strength of leadership;
test his mettle and possibly test the depth of his own personal
conviction and loyalty? A famous writer once wrote, "It is good for
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a man to stand against the wind." Standing against the wind is being
able to withstand prevailing forces -- strong elements capable of
moving heavy weights, strong pressures affecting surrounding conditions.
What are our responsibilities as ministers of the Worldwide Churci?
r>f God during times of crisis? Are they not to 1) stabilize the
church, 2) establish and maintain credibility in ourselves, the
,c: 1911 by Wo111l....,1tl1t Chur<:n of G"d