Mar/Apr 2013 Dude Just Know How to Start a Church! |
 Carlton L.Coon Sr.927kb download At the time, I didn’t know who “the dude” was, but I was soon to get to know Detroit church planter Scott Sistrunk. The pundit was right, “The dude just knows how to start a church!” Today, tomorrow, and next week any area would benefit from having a Scott Sistrunk around. |
Jan/Feb 2013 Pastoring/Shepherding: Not for the Coward or the Selfish! |
 Carlton L.Coon Sr.0.86 MB download Pastor/shepherds are stewards of a significant endeavor. It is not a casual career choice; eternal destiny is impacted by the action of a pastor. Feelings of inadequacy and fear of not being effective are legitimate responses for any of us who pastor/shepherd. A question pastors should ask is, “How will I know when I have succeeded?” Is it the size of our crowd? Plaudits other shepherds give me? Meetings at which I’m invited to speak? No! None of these are a measure of a pastor. Oh, I do believe a good pastor/shepherd will lead a growing flock, and I don’t minimize any honor bestowed, but pastoral effectiveness will only be fully measured in eternity! |
Nov/Dec 2012 Heal the Hurting |
 Carlton L.Coon Sr.0.98 MB download The shepherd’s job description from Ezekiel 34 is seek ‘em, lead ‘em feed ‘em, and heal ‘em. God’s complaint was at leaders whose concern was, “What’s in it for me?” God wanted His people to be better served. Shepherds are to bind up that which was broken, and strengthen that which was sick (Ezekiel 34:16). Broken and sick people are part of His flock. Are they part of yours? |
Sept/Oct 2012 How Are You Feeding the Sheep? |
 Carlton L.Coon Sr.1.22 MB download The topic of my last Communiqué was the pastor/shepherd’s responsibility to feed the flock. However, this topic is much too important for me to leave it just yet. Charles Dickens opens A Tale of Two Cities with the phrase, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” I can’t help but feel in this day of what seems to be the worst of times, God is raising up the Apostolic minister to prepare for His best of times. These "best of times" can be facilitated by anointed preaching of the word. Today, there are far too many resources for any flock to be malnourished. God has provided many good men and women with the knowledge, talent, and anointing necessary to not only feed the flock God has entrusted to them, but also provide input and information to help others do the same. |
July/Aug 2012 They Will Eat Where We Lead and What We Feed |
 Carlton L.Coon Sr.1.02 MB download We’ve been considering the pastor/shepherd’s responsibility to the sheep. He seeks the wandering and leads the flock. There is the further obligation to feed the flock (Ezekiel 34:2). The charge against a bad shepherd is “you eat the fat . . . you kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock” (Ezekiel 34:3). These shepherds received benefit from the flock, but did not take responsibility for the sheep being nourished. |
May/June 2012 The Who, What, Where, and There Shepherding |
 Carlton L.Coon Sr.0.9 MB download Pastors/shepherds not only seek wandering sheep they also lead. Let’s go back to Ezekiel’s word to shepherds: Bring [my sheep] out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and . . . bring them to their own land . . . there shall they lie in a good fold, and . . . bring again that which was driven away (Ezekiel 34:11-16). This business of “flock leading” is amazing in its possibilities and can be overwhelming in its perils. As I walked into church one week a little girl pointed and told her mother, “Mom, there’s Jesus.” Obviously the girl had not talked with my wife or sons, but her misunderstanding of my particular role does draw attention to this pastor/shepherd responsibility. |
Mar/Apr 2012 Little Bo Peep wasn't a Pastor |
| Carlton L.Coon Sr. 927kb download A shepherd/pastor is an essential catalyst for “revival in a plain brown wrapper,” and being effective is not measured simply by one’s ability to preach. The shepherd’s work is ultimately about the sheep. |
Jan/Feb 2012 Revival Begins with Shepherds-Not Sheep |
 Carlton L.Coon, Sr.1,218.82kb download Revival starts at a local church-a local church under oversight of a pastor. In Baby Boomerang, Doug Mur-reen said, "Revival begins with shepherds, not sheep." A church cannot sustain revival without the good work of a pastor/shepherd. |
