When Dr. Tim Witmer awaited the release of The Shepherd Leader, a book that represented his heart for ministry, he did not expect the impact it would have. It sold out within the first few days, and P&R Publishing rushed to fill the demand.
Leaders, pastors, and authors have found the book essential to understanding pastoral ministry. Kevin DeYoung read it and wrote for The Gospel Coalition,
“I read Witmer’s book in one sitting. I found it that engaging and helpful. This is ‘practical theology’ at its best: applying biblical principles to contemporary pastoral needs. His grid for knowing, feeding, leading, and protecting the sheep through macro public ministry and micro private ministry is simple and compelling. If you can read this book and not be motivated to develop a more effective shepherding ministry in your church, you might want to check if you are called to shepherd in the first place.”
The book has now been translated into Korean, Russian, Indian, English, Chinese, and most recently Spanish. Dr. Witmer enjoys the opportunities he has to present the materials of the book to church sessions, conferences, and presbyteries.
Most of us who have been in church leadership for some time understand the frustration of failed efforts in church discipline. Here’s how it goes. We learn that a member has left his wife. We reach out to him to see what the circumstances are. We are rebuffed. Then we send him a letter asking…
When you come right down to it, the heart of shepherding and success in shepherding for that matter, boils down to the importance of relationships. This is quite clear in the dynamic that Jesus established in John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me.” This remarkable…