Shepherding the Flock of God
“For you were like sheep being led astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Pet. 2:25)
“Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his household to give them food at the proper time?” (Matt. 24:45)
Christ’s shepherding of His flock includes His caring for their outward things and also their inner being, their souls. He takes care of the things concerning their souls by overseeing their souls.
To shepherd the flock of God is to watch over the souls of the saints, being one with the Lord as the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls in His care for the welfare of their inner being and in His exercising His oversight over the condition of their real person.
Matthew 24:45 tells us the way to serve; it is to “give them food at the proper time.” Give them food refers to ministering the word of God and Christ as the life supply to the believers in the church. Our speaking in the meetings and our visiting people in their homes to minister Christ to them is our giving them food. Toward ourselves, we must deny our soul and follow the Lord in spirit, and toward others, we must learn to always minister the word of God and Christ as the life supply. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 4, “Crystallization-study of the Gospel of John,” p. 448; Meeting God’s Need and Present Needs in the Lord’s Recovery, msg. 6, II; CWWL, 1970, vol. 1, p. 228)
International Chinese-speaking Conference
“And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us…, full of grace and reality.” (John 1:14)
This year’s International Chinese-speaking conference (ICSC) is entirely online, February 18 to 20. The general subject is “The Grace of God in the Economy of God.” Details regarding the meeting schedule and Zoom link for each language will be communicated by hall or district. Outlines may be downloaded at any time before and during the conference at http://conf.lsmwebcast.com.
All the saints are invited and encouraged to join the blending of all the churches and the saints on the whole earth through this conference. Please pray that the burden of the Lord’s present speaking will enter into and operate in the Body and that the churches and the saints everywhere will be blended together in the Lord’s speaking.
FTTA
The Spring 2022 term of the Full-time Training in Anaheim will begin next week on February 20. In preparation, all returning trainees will be gathering this Wednesday, February 16 for orientation. Around 230 trainees in total are expected to attend this term.
Please pray for all of those serving the trainees, that they themselves would enjoy the Lord’s serving of them as their abounding grace. Also, pray for a safe return for all the trainees and a healthy, strong beginning in the Lord together.
Southern California Young People Blending Conference
“That He might display in the ages to come the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:7)
This past weekend, February 11 to 13, we enjoyed a hybrid blending conference for the young people across Southern California. The conference was on “The Kindness of God” and focused primarily on the story of David and Mephibosheth from 2 Samuel 9:1-13.
Over 50 young people across LA attended the conference. We ask that all of the saints in the church in LA pray that our young people would continue to experience and be encouraged by the kindness of God.
Cameroon
There are currently four lampstands in the central African country of Cameroon, with 230 saints in the church life and 120 attending the table meetings. We continue to contact and shepherd people one-by-one and distribute Bibles and the ministry. The Lord has attracted some key contacts, such as a pastor in a free Christian group. We pray for the Lord to bring this seeking one and all his followers to take His way.
The saints have also taken advantage of the many opportunities to blend with saints in other countries through online conferences and trainings, including a precious and unprecedented opportunity for our sisters to participate in a conference with all the French-speaking countries in Europe. Meanwhile, the Lord has been equipping the brothers through the ongoing West and East African Training for Elders and Responsible Ones. Two serving ones from Cameroon have also been in a monthly perfecting pursuit for serving ones all over Africa.
To read more about the church life in Cameroon, see the December issue of the Lord’s Move to Africa newsletter in English or Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org.
Announcements
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Morning Revival: Week 6 of Meeting God’s Need and Present Needs in the Lord’s Recovery.
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Atlanta Meeting Hall: Offerings for the church in Atlanta’s building project may be given through the church in LA with designation for ‘Atlanta Meeting Hall’. More information is posted at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
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Bibles for America continues to offer easy-to-use resources for telling people about God’s salvation. Visit http://gospel.bfa.org (English) or http://gospel.bfa.org/es (Español).
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Living Stream Ministry: The January digital newsletter includes a consideration of pray-reading the Word of God and an introduction to a new print series, Historical Evaluations of Christian Thought.
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Ways to Give: Information about the church’s online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.