From the time you take your Encounter to experiencing your Life in the Spirit; to joining in the ministries and homesteads; to undergoing your discipleship, you have people who will guide you and minister to you in your spiritual journey through The Shepherd’s Flock community. You can seek their counsel or prayers or support as you continue with your walk with the Lord.
Members who commit to be molded as Covenant Disciples or who wants to serve in various ministries as well as those who are still discerning on their spiritual journey are encouraged to receive pastoral care.
The “Flock” or “Kawan” is the basic pastoral unit of the Community. It is in the Flock or Kawan where we experience true satisfaction in solidarity with other members as brothers and sisters in Christ. It is where we feel that we “belong” in The Shepherds Flock Community. The Kawan is composed of eight (8) or more members who have taken up the Life In the Spirit Seminar (LSS) of almost the same age, sex and more or less the same social standing- whether single, married, widow, widower or separated that meet regularly.
Objectives of the “Flock” or “Kawan”
Through the Flock or Kawan an environment is established where the members are supported in a mature Christian life by regular Bible study and Bible sharing and where the members are helped to place their life and service on the foundation of God’s word.
Through their Kawan, the members grow in friendship and learn to live as brothers and sisters in Christ. They learn to encourage and support one another and begin to help one another when in need.
The saying “No man is an island” applies also to Christians and the Kawan members help one another in their walk with the Lord- to know Him more intimately and to serve Him through service to the Community.
The Kawan is formed among the graduates of the LSS and they are grouped by and report to the Pastoral Ministry. In the Provincial Chapters, the Chapter Head, in consultation with the LSS Coordinator assigns people to their Kawan immediately after a LSS.
There are exceptions. LSS graduates who join or asked to join any of the Ministries shall join a Kawan within that Ministry. For example, if you join the Music Ministry after the LSS you will be assigned to an existing Music Ministry Kawan or a new one that will be created within the ministry. In this case, pastoral care of the Kawan will be taken cared of by the Ministry Head. It is also permitted for all the members of a Kawan to join one Ministry.
Another exception are members who have taken their LSS in another Community prior to joining The Shepherds Flock. They shall be assigned to a Kawan by the Pastoral Ministry.
The members of a Kawan agree to work together as a group to build up their team in a relationship or Circle of Love as commanded by the Lord. The Kawan Leader (and if needed an Assistant Leader) is chosen by the group by consensus. He/She is the leader of the group and is responsible to all the members. The Leader sees that the meeting format is adhered to, their attendance reported to the Pastoral Ministry and that all members attend the Prayer Meetings and the Formation Program including all the important Celebrations of the Community.
The leadership of a Flock must be rotated among the members every six months or one year as they determine among themselves (This does not apply to a Ministry Head who is also the Kawan Leader). They meet regularly once a week, to share what is happening in their lives and to witness to the glory of the Lord. The members are paired as Prayer Partners to pray for each other and for the community. The pairing is rotated every six months.
Aside from regularly attending the Prayer Meetings and their Flock or Kawan meetings, members are expected to:
Pray and Intercede for each other and their families
Matt 18:19-20, Mk 6:7, Matt 7:7-11
Guide each other’s growth in their walk with the Lord.
1 Tim 2:1-4, Acts 8:30-31, James 5:20, Heb 12:15
Affirm each other in Christ (words of encouragement).
Respect and Witness to each other
2 Tim 1:7-8, Mk 16:15, 1 Thess 3:12, Jn 13:34-35, 1Pt 1:22
Appreciate the goodness and beauty of God in each other.
Develop Praise and Worship among each other, as well as Christian meditation for a balanced prayer life.
1KG 19:9-12, Eph 6:18, Matt 26:36-40
BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMUNITY, through the Pastoral Care Ministry, suggestions for the upliftment of the Kawan or of its individual members.
Eph 6:22