A Young Pastor Learns About Rural Ministry
How I learned about the heartbeat of a good shepherd and how difficult it is to lead and herd sheep. This personal story is drawn from my ministry time in Grygla, Mn. It was my first pastorate – I had just recently graduated from North Central Bible College now called North Central University:
I was excited, ready to take on the Devil and his demons in full time ministry. I was sure I would win the area to Christ. I actually took a compass and drew a 25 mile circle around Grygla to determine how many souls I could lead to Christ in this rural area of Minnesota. I was convinced the church of 30 or so would grow quickly. I was ready but my wife tried to warn me that country life was very different than the city life I had grown up in. She was a country girl and knew the dynamics of rural ministry. I was in for a life lesson here in this rural community.
The bulk of the area was filled with farmers and ranchers. One of my deacons and his wife a deaconess in my church were farmers and they also raised sheep and cattle. Gary invited me out shortly after we had moved to this little town to help with the sheering of the sheep. I was eager to learn what rural life and shepherding was all about. I had studied and read for years as Jesus made comparisons to Shepherding and the sheep. I knew this was a common trade in Jesus day and I desired to learn more of this culture.
Life in Grygla taught me some valuable lessons about shepherds. I was amazed to soon learn that the sheep farmers of this area had to battle against Timber Wolves. These large wolves were protected by the DNR and they liked to come into the shepherd’s herds at night and kill and eat their sheep. When I first heard how protective these shepherd’s were I admired their love for the sheep. I must admit it sounded exciting for me to be able to encounter a wolf in the wild – I had never seen a wolf in the wild. I had heard from Jesus how dangerous they were. I soon learned from the farmers and ranchers that they were deadly. One of my other deacons in the church raised English Springer Spaniels and one day in the afternoon a pack of Timber wolves invaded his front yard at his house and killed all of his pups and the parents and dragged them off into the woods. Their kids witnessed this horrible attack and it left them with nightmares. I had no doubt in my mind after hearing this story that wolves were very deadly. They kill, steal and destroy.
Gary shared with me as we walked his land how the wolves not only killed his sheep but they had also killed one of his prime steers. He showed me the half eaten carcass and a few remains of his many lost sheep. The farmers hated the wolves and stated so in this small rural country. So I learned a lot about wolves and how protective the shepherds were of their flocks. One of the ways the farmers dealt with the wolves was to bring in Great Pyrenees sheep dogs. They were great at driving off a pack of wolves.
Well the day came for me to learn more about the sheep they so faithfully protected. It was sheep shearing day. I got excited the morning of the big event. I was pumped that I could help shear sheep for the day. I remember the morning still to this day it was a little cool but the sun was out as I eagerly drove out to their farm. I thought over and over how this was going to be a great day! I was sure I would gain some great sheep illustrations for my sermons. I really had no idea what I was in for! Remember I was a city boy turned country pastor. I learned that God has a sense of humor and is able to put us in positions to be humbled, especiall when we think we know it all.
As I drove into the ranch, the sun was coming up and I first saw the farm crew huddled around their trucks sipping on their coffee. I noticed a large trailer had been setup by the coral. They had also set up narrow walk ways to herd the sheep through. We were to do this one at a time so the two sheep shearers could grab the sheep and then cut off the wool from these puffy fluffy creatures.
I greeted everyone and we talked farmer talk. I then went over to introduce myself to some of the sheep because some had already been herded into the corral. I reached out to pet the wooly beast and it jumped back away from my hand and looked at me with wide crazy eyes. I also noticed how much these animals stunk – they were dirty and muddy and not real cute at all. The lambs were cute but these guys were ugly, smelly and very jumpy.
Well we all finished our coffee and got to work rounding up more of the sheep. The sheep shearers were ready to cut so Gary asked me to go to the corral side were they had set up the narrow passage ways for the sheep. They would drive the sheep into this narrow passage so that only one sheep at a time would be allowed in the passage way. Once the sheep were lined up then the shearers could handle them one by one.
My assigned task was to make sure the sheep did not get stuck in the opening as they merged into the narrow passage way. I thought after I got my assignment, “This is a brainless job.” Off course, I was very mistaken. The herd was pushed to the opening and I became amazed at how dumb these sheep were. They would jump on top of each other, but heads with each other. Went every direction but into the passage way. They ran into each other and some even tried to go in two at a time or even three and then they would literally get stuck. So as the new good shepherd of this flock I tried to help them get unstuck. But these sheep would fight against me as I tried to help them, they kicked, they squirmed and struggled. I was out to help them from getting injured and they resisted my assistance over and over. I recall some of the other farmers and ranchers laughter at me as I literally fought with these sheep. One of the guys yelled out to me something like this, “Pastor Mike they are dumb animals and will fight you even when you try to help them!” I soon realized these sheep were stupid, rebellious, smelly and uncooperative. After a while I got the process moving ahead. I worked diligently at keeping my sheep from getting stuck in the opening. Another one of the workers came up to me and said, “It makes you wonder how God thinks of us when he calls us sheep – hugh?” I had to admit these sheep were a pain and they did not like to cooperate.
A little while later into the morning herding I recall that I was feeling a little exhausted from the constant battle with the sheep. I then actually had a sheep go into the narrow passage way up toward the shearing trailer and shearers. Then all of a sudden this sheep actually threw himself backwards onto his back to keep from moving forward. This sheep was upside down in the passage way stuck and blocking the traffic flow.
Gary yelled to me Pastor Mike you have to jump into the passage way and get that stupid sheep onto his feet again because he will not be able to get up on his own. So I went to were the stupid sheep was lying upside down on its back. This sheep was laying there with four hoofs in the air wedged between the two rails. I climbed over the fence in front of the upside down sheep kicking, and wailing. I don’t recall how long I tried with all my strength to get this sheep turned over. It seemed like forever. It kicked, he bellowed, it twisted, it turned every way but the right way, it fought me tooth and nail but finally I got this sheep right side up and it then butted me. This sheep was holding up the shearing process everyone was watching me fight with this one rebellious sheep. Well I got it up, got it moving forward and as I was trying to climb out of the way of the other on rushing sheep, who now wanted to run forward for their hair cut, I was butted again half way up the fence. The butt was so hard it knocked me off balance and I fell. As I fell my back pants pocket caught on the post and my pants ripped totally across my backside. My whole butt was now hanging out and I was picking myself up off the ground as sheep were trying to jump over me or run over me. I got out of the way as quick as I could and then noticed - that everyone was laughing hysterically at my sheep battering.
The sheep had gotten the best of me, I was embarrassed, frustrated, hanging open in the back and thinking to myself, “God compares us to these stupid sheep?” I was totally insulted. Someone else yelled out Pastor Mike what do you think of sheep herding now? I said “They are stupid!” and I plan on staying a pastor.
Later that day a thought hit me, “You are called to Shepherd the flock of God and you will continue to battle against the sheep like you did today but remember they don’t realize what they are doing. You must help them get free even when they fight against you. Some of the sheep you help will get turned right side up and then will turn on you, they will try to knock you over and even cause rips in your heart. But forgive them and keep directing the sheep.” I was to remember this day as a reminder of how hard it is to be a good shepherd (pastor) and I was never to forget that I will be rewarded form sacrificial labors.
From a sermon by Michael McCartney, I am the Good Shepherd, 6/3/2010