New Shepherds Orientation and Seasoned Shepherds Revitalization

Learning, training, and growing as a shepherd brings:

• Joy as people follow you as you follow Jesus. 1 Corinthians 11:1; Hebrews 13:17
• Respect because you have worked hard, you have encouraged, you have admonished, and the people are at peace because you have been willing to endure the pain that brings peace with God, yourself, and others. 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13
• At your graduation, you will receive a crown of glory given by the Chief Shepherd. 1 Peter 5:1-4

Contact Jerrie for more information, cell: (615) 584-0512     

What I learned in my first year as…

…an elder: 

BEING an ELDER
Beginning First Year

I’ve changed jobs at least 14 times since High School. Nothing prepared me for the newness of being an Elder. I started off with some concepts that I wanted to be as an Elder – Caring, Compassionate, Communicative, Lively, and Sincere. Genuine also comes in there. But always, and I mean always, I sought to do God’s Will. Prayed for it. Questioned myself daily. Studied to assure positions were pointed in the correct direction. And through it all, still kept seeking to know if I was in His direction. This continued not only the first year but on-going.

So I learned that no matter how confident and poised and studied, I would doubt myself and the Elders and the Congregation in many ways.

My history has been one of reading the Bible front to cover several times, and being studious in classes and even taking notes during sermons. I’ve done that since my teen years. I regret not attending a Christian College with Bible studies. I was surprised to find that only half the Eldership personally studied the Bible or had read it front to back. So, one thing we did as Elders was to study together Saturday mornings, since many of us taught or attended different classes. Additionally, there were so many strong differing options about scriptural topics that I would write each one and start studying. My list of topics was three pages long—-the list not the results. In addition to the studying I spent a large amount of time spent meditating on study and checking for bias or false premises. I have not completed my studies, and I do not see an end in sight. The more I think I know, the more I know that I don’t’ know.

To read more from Bill: Bill's First Year

To read more from elders and their wives about their first year of service, click on the button:   Click Here