The Gift of Pastoring: Shepherding Others Toward Spiritual Growth
Some people naturally care for others' spiritual wellbeing. They feel responsible when someone wanders. They invest in people's long-term growth, not just their immediate needs. They nurture, guide, protect, and stay committed even when it's hard.
If you feel called to care for people's spiritual lives over time, if you can't help but feel responsible for those in your circle—you may have the spiritual gift of pastoring.
What Is the Gift of Pastoring?
The gift of pastoring (also called shepherding) is the Spirit-given ability to take responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a group of believers, nurturing, protecting, and guiding them toward maturity.
This gift appears in Ephesians 4:11:
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers."
The Greek word is poimen, meaning shepherd. It's the same word used for Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). Those with this gift reflect Christ's shepherding care for His people.
The Gift vs. The Office
Having the gift of pastoring doesn't mean you must be a vocational pastor. The gift and the office are related but distinct:
The office of pastor is a formally recognized leadership position in a church. Not everyone with the gift holds this role.
The gift of pastoring is a Spirit-given capacity to shepherd others. Many exercise this gift without formal titles:
- Small group leaders
- Mentors
- Ministry team leaders
- Lay caregivers
- Anyone who takes long-term spiritual responsibility for others
You can shepherd a small group, a ministry team, a Sunday school class, a discipleship group, or simply the people God places in your life.
Signs You Have the Gift of Pastoring
How do you know if pastoring is your gift? Look for these characteristics:
You feel responsible for others' spiritual health
You can't just teach people and leave. You feel personally responsible for their growth, struggles, and wellbeing.
You're committed long-term
You don't just have moments of care—you maintain relationships over time. You invest in people through seasons.
You notice when someone struggles
When someone drifts, struggles, or wanders, you notice. Their spiritual state weighs on you.
You nurture growth
You're not just there for crisis—you actively work toward people's spiritual development. You want them to mature.
You protect
When false teaching threatens or harmful influences appear, you feel protective of those you shepherd.
People open up to you
Others share their spiritual struggles with you. They trust you with vulnerable places.
You think about your "flock"
Even when you're not with them, you think about how people are doing. You pray for them specifically.
You're willing to have hard conversations
Shepherding isn't all comfort—sometimes it requires confrontation. You're willing to say hard things for people's good.
Biblical Examples of Shepherding
Scripture shows us shepherding in action:
Jesus, the Good Shepherd
Jesus perfectly embodies shepherding:
- "I know my sheep and my sheep know me" (John 10:14)
- He laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:11)
- He seeks the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7)
- He provides, protects, and guides (Psalm 23)
Paul
Paul shepherded the churches he planted:
- "We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children" (1 Thessalonians 2:7)
- "I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches" (2 Corinthians 11:28)
- He warned, encouraged, wrote letters, sent helpers, and prayed constantly for his churches
Peter
Peter received the charge to "feed my lambs... take care of my sheep... feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17). His letters reflect a shepherd's heart, urging elders to "be shepherds of God's flock" (1 Peter 5:2).
Barnabas
Barnabas invested in individuals like Paul (Acts 9:27) and John Mark (Acts 15:39), staying with them through struggles and helping them develop.
The Work of Shepherding
What does shepherding involve day to day?
Feeding: Providing spiritual nourishment through teaching, Bible study, and truth
Leading: Guiding toward good paths, helping people make wise decisions
Protecting: Guarding from false teaching, harmful influences, and spiritual danger
Knowing: Understanding people's needs, struggles, and growth edges
Seeking: Going after those who wander, not waiting for them to return
Caring: Being present in difficulty, crisis, and ongoing needs
Developing: Working toward maturity, not just survival
How Shepherds Serve the Church
Those with the gift of pastoring build up the body in essential ways:
Personal care
Large churches can feel impersonal. Shepherds ensure individuals are known and cared for.
Discipleship
Growth requires personal investment over time. Shepherds provide the ongoing relationship discipleship needs.
Retention
People leave churches because they're not connected. Shepherds help people stay and grow.
Protection
Shepherds guard their flock from wolves—false teaching, harmful relationships, spiritual attack.
Reproduction
Shepherds raise up other shepherds, multiplying care throughout the body.
Ministry Opportunities for Shepherds
If you have the gift of pastoring, consider these contexts:
Small group ministry
- Small group leader
- Community group host
- Bible study leader
- Home group facilitator
Discipleship
- One-on-one mentoring
- Discipleship group leader
- New believer follow-up
- Spiritual parenting relationships
Ministry leadership
- Ministry team leader
- Sunday school leader
- Youth or children's ministry (age-appropriate shepherding)
- Men's or women's ministry leader
Care ministry
- Stephen Ministry or similar care programs
- Visitation team
- Hospital chaplaincy
- Grief support leadership
Elder/deacon ministry
- Pastoral oversight roles
- Care for members in need
- Spiritual guidance responsibility
Developing Your Shepherding Gift
Like all spiritual gifts, pastoring can be cultivated:
Know Scripture well
Shepherds feed sheep. You need to be well-fed yourself to nourish others. Study deeply and continuously.
Learn to listen
Shepherding requires understanding people. Develop skills in listening, asking questions, and discerning what's really happening.
Study good shepherding
Learn from pastors, mentors, and ministry leaders who shepherd well. Read books on pastoral care and soul care.
Start small
Begin with one or two people. Take responsibility for their spiritual growth. Learn shepherding by doing it.
Develop availability
Shepherding requires presence. Build a life that has margin for people—you can't shepherd from a distance.
Learn to confront in love
Shepherds sometimes say hard things. Develop the skill of speaking truth in love without avoiding or being harsh.
Build perseverance
Shepherding is long-term. Develop capacity for faithfulness through seasons of difficulty and slow progress.
Common Challenges for Shepherds
Be aware of these potential pitfalls:
Over-responsibility
You can't make people grow. Do your part, but remember transformation is the Spirit's work.
Neglecting your own soul
Shepherds often care for everyone but themselves. You need shepherding too. Find those who care for you.
Burnout
The weight of care can become crushing. Build boundaries, practice rest, and share the load.
Controlling
Shepherding can become domineering. Lead with humility, not authority. Release people to follow Jesus, not just you.
Focusing on the few
It's easy to give all your attention to the most demanding people. Spread your care appropriately.
Neglecting accountability
Shepherds need accountability too. Don't lead alone—stay connected to other leaders.
Taking wandering personally
When people leave or wander, it hurts. But it's not always about you. Do what you can and trust God.
The Heart of a Shepherd
Ezekiel 34 describes God's indictment of failed shepherds and His own shepherding heart. Good shepherds:
- Strengthen the weak
- Heal the sick
- Bind up the injured
- Bring back the strayed
- Seek the lost
- Don't rule harshly or brutally
This is the heart shepherding requires—care motivated by love, not position or power.
Shepherding vs. Other Gifts
Shepherding works alongside other gifts:
Shepherding + Teaching = Long-term discipleship with solid content
Shepherding + Encouragement = Care that motivates and uplifts
Shepherding + Mercy = Deep compassion for struggling sheep
Shepherding + Leadership = Vision-casting with personal care
Shepherding + Administration = Organized, sustainable care systems
The combination of your gifts with shepherding shapes your particular style of care.
Finding Your Place
Not sure where to use your shepherding gift? Consider:
- Could you lead or co-lead a small group?
- Is there someone you could intentionally disciple?
- Does your church have a care team or shepherding structure?
- What ministry team could benefit from your long-term care?
Talk to your pastor about shepherding needs in your church. Many churches lack enough people willing to take ongoing responsibility for others' spiritual lives.
Next Steps
If you think you have the gift of pastoring:
- Confirm your gift through a spiritual gifts assessment and observed fruit
- Find a mentor who shepherds well and learn from them
- Start with one or two people to shepherd intentionally
- Study pastoral care — read books and take training
- Build community — shepherding is hard to do alone
