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The Beauty of the Small Town Shepherd

John Powell learned two very important lessons in his first two years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Hamlin, Texas.

  1. Cowboys aren’t shepherds.
  2. Success in ministry is not measured in numbers  

Hamlin, Texas is home to just 2000 people. The outlying area is dotted with cattle ranches. Pastor Powell said he learned early on that cowboys are different than pastors.

Cowboys round up cattle by force, pushing them from behind to get them where they want them to go.  They aren’t gentle.  You know what a cattle prod is, right?

Pastors don’t push from behind, they lead from the front. They must be gentle and kind, always showing a love for the people that God has put in their charge.  

That’s even more true when you’re a pastor in a small town.

Powell says he almost quit the ministry after just two years.  He was burned out and felt like a failure.  He saw no fruit, no baptisms, no conversions and his church was not growing.

But a group of friends from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary opened his eyes to a truth that he had forgotten; success is not more people, success is faithfulness, even when it’s hard.

He encourages all pastors feeling similar frustration that there is a kingdom coming where their faithfulness will be revealed, and rewarded.

And for those laboring in small towns, Powell says their job is just as important as pastors working in megachurches.  He says the church should never forget that there is a need for the gospel to go everywhere, so let’s make sure we’re not forgetting anywhere.