| Pastoral Network | ||
| World Harvest Church > About Us > Fellowship |
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| A network of cell groups in a church can provide pastoral care for every member. And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws." So Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace" (Exodus 18:15-23 NKJV). • The anointing from Moses was released through a network of small groups to every person in Israel (see Numbers 11:25). • Every Israelite learned the laws of God from Moses through this network (see verse 20). • All matters were given attention because there were spiritual leaders at every level responding to requests. Moses could focus on greater matters (see verse 26). • Every one received spiritual care at where they were because leaders of fifties and leaders of tens were all over the nation (see verse 25). 1. Anointing flowing through network God distributed the anointing through Moses' network of spiritual leaders. • Jethro proposed the system to Moses for managing the nation but God used it for conveying the anointing of Moses to the people. Jethro's proposal worked initially. Again, Moses became discouraged (see Deuteronomy 1:15; Numbers 11:14-15). To have his problem solved, God instructed Moses to take with him the seventy highest leaders to the door of the tabernacle and He distributed the anointing on them (see Numbers 11:25). • These seventy persons were leaders of ten thousands. The number of married men at that time had passed 603,550 and had probably reached 700,000 (see Numbers 1:46). God imparted the anointing through Paul on those who associated closely with him. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established (Romans 1:11 NKJV). • Paul was called to impart spiritual gifts or the anointing for believers to establish their ministries (see also Ephesians 3:2, 7, Galatians 2:9, Romans 12:6a). • To'impart', metadidomi, means'to give a share of' or,'to share in association with someone'. The sharing is given on the condition of association. • In close association with Paul by giving financial support to his ministry, the believers at Philippi had partaken of his ministry-grace (see also Philippians 1:7; 4:15-16). Likewise, Elisha received a double portion of Elijah's anointing (see 2 Kings 2:9). Joshua from Moses (see Exodus 24:13; Deuteronomy 34:9; Joshua 1:1). The four hundred in the Adullam cave received from David, and became great warriors like him (see 1 Samuel 22:2; 2 Samuel 23:18-20). • Close association transfers the anointing from the chief vision carrier to the Pastors, Section Overseers, Cell Leaders, Interns, and members. • Close association allows Cells and Sections to be established in the anointing. 2. Spiritual coverings of pastoral network Through a network of small groups, every Israelite was taught God's laws. Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do (Exodus 18:19b-20 NKJV). • Moses' responsibility was to'stand before God for the people' to'teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do'. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you (Hebrews 13:17 NKJV). • Spiritual leaders are called to'watch out for your souls', to oversee your spiritual condition. • Members benefit and are protected by submitting to the spiritual authority that God has placed over them. • The pastoral network of cells gives every member the covering of a higher level of spiritual authority. Members attending Fellowship Cells are protected by the truth they are taught and by the godly counsel of leaders. • Intercession of leaders keeps members to live in the will of God (see Colossians 4:12). Members attending cells are protected by leaders' prayers and benefited from their agreeing in prayers. 3. Receiving reports and giving directions quickly There were spiritual leaders in Israel at every level to give attentions to all requests (see Exodus 18:26). And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you (Exodus 18:22 NKJV). • The network of small groups facilitated communication between the people and their leaders. Hence, Moses could focus on every great matter. • The pastoral network moves information upward quickly because relationship is blended with the system. A Cell Leader is a friend and therefore he regards members' needs with affection. • The chief Vision Carrier can always have up-to-date information about members and the spiritual condition of the target community. He and t he church are able to respond appropriately and pray effectively for the members and over the community. • The pastoral network can channel congregational instructions and information quickly. Instructions can be conveyed to every member or specifically to certain Sections, cells or individuals via the various level of leaders. Urgent requests for prayer and special announcements can be disseminated very quickly. • Information disseminated is reliable because all levels of leaders are carefully appointed. 4. Provide pastoral attention Moses' multiple-level leadership system emphasized caring for every person. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves (Exodus 18:25-26 NKJV). • The leader-members ratio was very small at the lower levels. Every ten persons had a leader to take care of them and every fifty, a higher leader. • The leaders could'judge the people at all times' means all their needs were promptly met at where they were encountered. Leaders of fifties and leaders of tens were all over the nation. With a Leader and two Interns in every Fellowship Cell, members receive pastoral attention quickly. • Cell Leader and Interns can mobilize the members to pray for urgent needs or to help out promptly. They can also report to the Section Overseer promptly on needs that they cannot meet. The following special needs should be reported to a Section Overseer to reach the church for an appropriate response. • Illness —When a member is ill, the entire Fellowship Cell should be encouraged to pray for him. Visit him if necessary. Arrange cell members to take meals to the person if his family is not able to attend to him. • Hospitalization —Cell members can arrange to provide intercession, visitation, calls to family, flowers, child-care, or baby-sitting for the hospitalized. • Financial need —Discuss with your Section Overseer before helping a member who has a financial or material need. • Moving house —Encourage members to assist in packing, moving, cleaning of the new place, child-care, and meals.'House cleansing' prayer may be needed for some cases. • Courtship and wedding —Report to Section Overseer a couple intending to begin or have begun courtship. They will attend the pre-marriage preparation six months before their wedding. Pray for their courtship development and help in their wedding. • New baby —Set up a schedule to provide meals for the family, help baby sit other young children of the family, and provide meals for the family. • Ministry calling —Report to Section Overseer to reach the Vision Carrier for confirming the calling and making other arrangements. • Emotional healing or deliverance —Report to Section Overseer for making arrangements for special caring, counseling, and deliverance. Problems in the area of alcohol, drug abuse, physical abuse, finances, and marital problems require competent counselors. • Death and funeral —Be sensitive to the needs of the family and serve wherever you can. The church will help in arranging and conducting a Christian funeral. |
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