Richard was a shepherd. Born on the Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico, he spent much of his life tending his family’s sheep. He kept them well fed and watered. He protected them from predators like wolve and coyotes. And, of course, he readied them to fulfill their ultimate purpose, which might include production of wool or even meat at the next church pot luck.
With this experience, from the moment he sensed God’s call to service, he understood at a deep level why the Lord chose the work of shepherds to describe leadership in the church. Serving as his missionary, I was moved whenever he would describe his ministry, his love for the sheep, occasional frustration, but most often the great care he gave for their well being. I remember him saying to me once, “Bro. Jim, if we’re going to reach the lost sheep around here, we must first shepherd well the sheep we have.”
That thought has resonated me over the years. Often in seeking to reach unbelievers, a noble and essential task for Christ’s church, we focus on what we don’t have. I’ll consult with churches about their evangelism and the members might say “If we only had money for a staff member for this or that,” or “It would be different if we had a better location or more people.” Much of the conversation centers on conditions outside the church and often not about the sheep, the people who make up the church.
In 1 Cor. 12:18, the apostle Paul says, “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” Ponder this thought together with Jesus’ command to Peter in John 21:16, “Feed my sheep.” As I read this, the church has everything it needs to faithfully follow God’s call today; therefore, the work of ministry always begins with the sheep you have. Shepherd the sheep well and the flock, together with their shepherd, is best positioned for reaching even more sheep for the Good Shepherd.
My friend Richard, who never went to preacher school, was incredibly fruitful due to his faithful obedience to the Lord’s simple call to “shepherd the sheep under your care.” May we all follow his example.
Bro. Jim
Epilogue: Richard Delores was pastor of the Laguna-Acoma Baptist Church, located on a patch of land between the Laguna and Acoma Pueblos, just east of Grants, New Mexico. As a missionary with North American Mission Board, I served him as an encourager and support while he preached Christ across Native American communities unfriendly to missionary activity. But as Richard, together with his lovely wife April, shepherded the people of his congregation, their witness drew many to faith in Christ. Richard was the first indigenous pastor for the church, and their current pastor is a product of his shepherding.
Richard passed away in April of 2011, but his example as a simple shepherd of the gospel continues bearing fruit.