St. Paul Lutheran Church

1075 Glenwood Ave. Napoleon, OH 43545

Church # (419) 592-3535  Fax # (419) 592-0652

E-Mail  stpaulnapol@yahoo.com

2007-2008 Theme:  "Hearts Ablaze"

        Shepherding Program

    "So keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your care.  Be shepherds of the church of God which he made his own through the death of His Son."  (Acts 20:28 ff--To the Elders of Ephesus)

    The goal of the shepherding program is to help make St. Paul a better caring and concerned community, while at the same time make "the big church smaller."  This is done be personal communication, discussion, and assignments of various informational handouts to assist the shepherds in their contacts with church families.

    Special focus was added to the regular duties of the shepherding program, centered around assimilation of new members.  The whole idea behind this emphasis is to try and make sure that every new member will attach themselves to a group or an organization within a short period of time, thus closing the back door and preventing new members from becoming inactive.  The goal is to have the shepherds attend the New Member Class along with all of the new members (converts and transfers) so the new members will enlarge the circle of those members whom they know, and better get to know their shepherds and get to see them on a different level, as people who really care and will take the time to get to know them.

    We also hope to have the Shepherds contact the new members in their zone six times throughout the first year, to help them along in the process of becoming active members in our mission and ministry.  The idea behind this emphasis is to allow new members to see that we are in this together.  New shepherds are always needed to fill vacant zones.  Call Pastor Marcis at the church office for more information.