Gathering

On the third day of the 2018 Art of Shepherding Conference, Bishop Edwin Morgan Ogoe, the host of the conference, continued to teach on the beautiful job. He moved on to the second pillar that makes Shepherding a beautiful job viz. gathering.


He set forth the background of his message with the key Scriptures for the entire conference: Ecclesiastes 10:15 and Isaiah 40:11.


He noted, "God never used anybody; He only gives people an opportunity to experience blessing and honour."


Adding, he noted that it's not enough to practice your profession but you must know how to practice it.


He reiterated the four major cornerstones of the ministry viz.:


# Feeding

# Gathering

# Carrying

# Leading


Zooming into the crux of his message, the man of God emphasized that a Pastor cannot call himself a Pastor if he is not an expert at gathering.


Reading from Isaiah 53:6, he noted that the default setting of the sheep is to go astray. But to gather means;

# To bring together in one group.

# To bring together or assemble from various places.


He urged pastors present to assume that their sheep are lost. He said, "Sheep are better at scattering than coming to Church."


He cautioned that you cannot substitute feeding on Sunday for gathering. He added, "Your real members are in town."


He encouraged pastors present to develop strategies for finding every sheep. Reading from Matthew 9:35, the man of God hinted that preaching, healing and teaching do not prevent scattering.


We must, however, have a well-developed system of gathering the sheep from every corner and area. He postulated, "The normal behaviour of sheep is to wander off. Your Church must not be less than 1,000. The New Testament Church must be counted in 1,000s. Being a branch does not stop you from having 1,000 members...Your Church is small because you don't have the vital links to boost your sperm count. Don't think that preaching will fill your Church. Don't limit your ministry to teaching, preaching and healing."


Bishop further taught the water attendees how to gather the flock. He poignantly posited, "There can never be gathering if you do not deliberately raise leaders."


Reading from Numbers 11:10-17, he remarked that you must have people who have control over sections of the Church.


 "A Pastor who does not have chiefs can never gather a crowd," he continued.


 He further explained that we must have people around us who represent numbers. Adding, he encouraged that women should be chosen for the work.


He said, "If you are not surrounded by chiefs, you are not a pastor."


 He also taught that we should accommodate different sizes and groups in our Churches. He indicated that to be a gatherer you must have sheepfolds. A sheepfold is a place where the sheep gather or stay. A real shepherd must have many sheepfolds. He noted that our Church Services must be made up of sheepfolds gathering not just sheep.


In conclusion, he read from Micah 4:1, saying, "In the last days, we don't go to Church, we flow to Church."