PASTORAL

     "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'"
(Lk 15:4-6)

Ministry Mission:

The Pastoral Ministry aims to support, guide, and motivate BLD members to come together in worshipping and praising the Lord, serve one another and serve others through the community, and nurture and mold every member into the likeness and maturity of our Lord Jesus Christ through the Word of God.

Current Activities:

The ministry is tasked with:

• administering the pastoral care program of the District
• supporting the Teaching Ministry and the Life in the Spirit Apostolate in shepherding and related functions
• setting standards for and establishing qualifications of shepherds
• maintaining records and database for all district (and outreach) members with regard to their participation in formation programs, retreats, recollections, and mission work, and
• providing counseling services on drugs, gambling and similar problems.

The ministry oversees the community's Reconciliation Committee and provides the District Council of Stewards (DCS) information on eligibility of members in regard to pastoral matters.

Programs:

Other ministry concerns include the following short-term and long-term activities:

• Encourage and facilitate attendance in Worship, Living Word Group, and Teachings.
• Implement Prayer Partners and Prayer Relay support programs to strengthen and uplift community members
• Implement special mailings (i.e., Get Well Cards, Mass Cards, Flowers, etc.) for BLD members and their immediate family.
• Identify and groom spiritually mature Shepherds, Sharers for M.E., F.E., L.S.S., and Y.E., and form a Counseling pool and mentor system to strengthen the program.
• Encourage participation of every ministry in workshops, recollections, and/or retreats.
• Interpolate Teaching & Orientation with the extended M.E. Reunions.
• Assist ministries in implementing their pastoral care program.

The Lord is directing the community to focus on the spiritual growth and well-being of its members, therefore, it is providential that He created a ministry sensitive to the spiritual health and needs of the community. In ministry, we grow in wisdom, love, knowledge and other virtues. Serving the Lord gives the joy that the world cannot give. We thank God for calling us and counting us worthy to stand in His presence and serve Him, to do His will and make known His glory.