VISION Update: Shepherding the Flock

W. Phillip Keller's book, "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23", offers a more complete understanding of what David was trying to express in this Psalm.  Keller had some intimate and authentic insights that were inspired by his early childhood as he grew up in East Africa surrounded by simple native herders.  His insights were developed even further when as a young man he actually made his livelihood as a sheep owner and rancher.

Keller explains the never-ending tasks he faced shepherding his flock.  The shepherd must constantly guide, protect, urge, and comfort the sheep as they travel through their journey of life.  Sheep need a tremendous amount of intervention to stay healthy and happy.  In order to meet the needs of the sheep, the shepherd works tirelessly to ensure that their water is drinkable, the pretty red berries are not poisonous, and the terrain is free from sinkholes; the shepherd even has to play doctor and attend to every sheep individually to keep the parasites at bay.  The sheep's need for the shepherd is evident nearly 24 hours a day.  David, in this Psalm, willingly acknowledges the role of being a sheep and the need for a shepherd.

In keeping with the Vision for the Chicago church, we as shepherds for the flock have taken very deliberate steps to meet the challenges before us.  We have taken to heart what Paul told the Ephesian elders:

We have been regularly meeting together for the sole purpose of watching over one another.  We meet once per month keeping focused on the need to disciple one another, to help develop our shepherding skills and to build an eldership for God to use throughout the entire Chicago church.  It will be through this gathering that we will also begin to invite future elder candidates to develop relationships with us and prepare for the eldership.  In addition, we gather once per month along with our wives for the purpose of working with the Lead Evangelists and their wives, in order to provide for the needs of the flock in Chicago.   These regular meetings and other impromptu meetings provide the needed oversight for our evangelists and staff so they can inspire the church to grow and flourish.  While some of our most purposeful and satisfying times are found when working with many of the members in our particular Ministry Centers, these additional meetings provide what is necessary for building an eldership for the Chicago church.  We are greatly encouraged by our repentance in this matter and promise to you to continue to make every effort to supply the protection to the flock that David wrote about. 

We were so encouraged in 2008 to appoint two new elders, both in the North Suburban Ministry Center.  Phil Lasarsky was appointed an elder last Easter Sunday.  He, his wife Kim, their daughter, Nicole and son, Lane are courageous disciples who are known for their deep love for God's word and for their personal and family example.  Phil, whose personal passion is Old Testament Studies, has served in many leadership roles in the church over the years, and is also one of our teachers in the Chicago Church. In December of 2008, Mike Rawls was added to our number. He and his wife, Daphne, have also been Christians for nearly 30 years.  They, along with their children Nick and Brittany, epitomize faithfulness, humility, servitude and love. They have served the North Suburban Ministry Center for many years and currently live in Palatine.  Jim and Virginia Lefler, after serving for years in the North Suburban Ministry Center, moved to the Central Ministry Center late last year.  We now have elders in place in the Metro, Southland, Greater Westland, North Suburban, and Central Ministry Centers.

Our desire is to continue to train men for this daunting, yet rewarding task, and to be able to see elders in each of our Ministry Centers in the near future.  Continue to pray for us as we rise to the challenge of this essential task. 

Jeff Balsom
For the Elders