Anointed To Care

Anointed to Care: The Weight and Wonder of Pastoring in Today’s World

Pastoring in today’s environment is not a casual career move, a stepping stone, or a title to be worn like a badge. It is, and has always been, an assignment from the Chief Shepherd, Christ Himself. “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:4). To pastor is to participate in the very heartbeat of God’s care for His people. We are anointed to care, called to see the flock not as an obligation, but as an inheritance entrusted to us by the One who laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:11).

The gospel message remains timeless. Its truth is established, unshakable, and eternal. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). But here is the tension: while the message never changes, it never lands in the exact same place for everybody. The Spirit presses the Word into lives differently, because the people receiving it carry different histories, struggles, and hopes. In other words, it is different strokes for different folks.

The Myriads Within One Body

Within a single local church, you will find a tapestry of differences. The single mother and the married mother both sit under the same sermon, but the gospel touches them in profoundly different places. The single mother may hear the story of Hagar and see survival in the wilderness (Genesis 16), while the married mother may hear Proverbs 31 and see the weight of expectation. Both need the gospel. Both are nourished by the same Word. But they need the Shepherd’s care expressed through a pastor who understands the unique cross each carries.

Some saints walk in with pockets full and hearts open, while others drive to church on fumes, praying the gas will last until Monday. Some hear the word “father” and think of protection, while others flinch, remembering absence or pain. Words as simple as “church,” “family,” and “love” are soaked in the memories of our upbringing. To pastor well is to recognize that words do not land on blank slates. They strike chords that either comfort or convict, heal or reopen wounds. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).

Different Crosses, Same Gospel

The gospel calls all of us to carry our cross. Yet not all crosses weigh the same. Jesus said plainly, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). For some, that cross is illness. For others, it is loneliness. For another, it is the crushing temptation to deconstruct their faith and find solace in voices that seem easier, softer, and more appealing than Christ’s call to deny self.

And then there are those who carry applause in their daily life—athletes, business professionals, and influencers who live on the stage of constant recognition. When they walk into the church, they sometimes expect the same applause inside the sanctuary. Yet the beauty of the body of Christ is that we are equalized at the foot of the cross. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). That can feel jarring to someone used to being celebrated, but it is necessary for true discipleship.

Pastoring as God’s Care

What then is the role of the pastor in all this? It is to embody God’s care in real time. It is to bring the timeless Word into the timely needs of the people. To remind each soul, whether applauded or overlooked, wealthy or struggling, that Christ sees them. It is to listen as much as to speak, to discern as much as to declare.

Ultimately, pastoring is how God cares for His people. Pastors are not superhuman, but when they understand that their ministry is a sacred extension of the Chief Shepherd’s heart, they become priceless in the economy of God’s kingdom. A pastor’s presence says, “You are not forgotten.” You are not overlooked. The Shepherd of your soul has sent someone to walk with you, speak truth to you, and carry you in prayer until you see Him face to face.

And that, dear friends, is why I remain committed to this holy assignment. For though the gospel is one message, its echoes are as diverse as the people who hear it. And to serve those people, day after day, stroke after stroke, is the joy of my calling.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Frank Henderson
EPIC Fellowship Church
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