A Shepherd's View

Book excerpt: Leaders are often pressured to lead in the way 'others' would have them lead. Although advice and opinions will be numerous they must learn to hear only from the Chief Shepherd, and lead the way He would have them lead. The bible has provided perfect examples of leadership; Moses in the Old Testament and Jesus Christ, in the New Testament. Moses shepherded people for over forty years in the wilderness only to miss out on the Promised Land, in the end. In attempting to shepherd God's people today, this can too easily be the predicament of our current day leaders. Sheep have a view; it is just different than that of the Shepherd. Sheep (the congregation) will never be able to see what the Shepherd sees. It is the responsibility of the Shepherd to lead, care for, protect and feed the flock. The caveat is that the shepherd is not leading, caring for, protecting, and feeding his own flock, but he is shepherding the flock that belongs to God. Therefore, a shepherd can't operate on his own preference but must be careful to always follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit. A Shepherd's View is full of encouragement for today's shepherds. There are biblical principles, application worksheets, and humorous and painful life experiences. The goal of this book is to help leaders shepherd after the pattern that God has designed. It is crucial that the leader cares properly for the people of God so they won't miss out on the Promised Land - Heaven. ABOUT THE AUTHOR _________________ Rufus K. Turner is the Bishop, Prelate over the Visionaries Pursuing Excellence, Inc. churches. He began his ministry in 1995 with just one family. Since that time the ministry has grown into seven thriving churches. Rufus consults with ministry and community leaders throughout the nation. He is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, with a Master of Divinity degree in theology and continues to return periodically as a guest speaker. Rufus ministers in conferences and churches throughout the United States. He and his wife, Trena, live in California and have two grown children and a grandson.