“I’d much rather make an appeal because of our friendship. So here I am, an old man, a prisoner for Christ, making my loving appeal to you. It is on behalf of my child, whose spiritual father I became while here in prison; that is, Onesimus.”
(Phm 1:9, TPT)
Spiritual Fathering and Mothering
The crying need of our generation is for spiritual mothers and fathers. We live in an age of information overload and people can find any information they want in a matter of seconds at the click of a button.
However, what people desperately need and long for deep down is connection. There is an overload of information, resources, coaches and mentors available. But very few spiritual mothers and fathers even in churches. And yet nothing influences people more than someone who genuinely cares, loves and invests in their life like a spiritual mother or father.
A spiritual mother or father connects because they have proximity, time, love and integrity. This foundation creates the atmosphere for influence and transformation in their lives. People who experience post-traumatic growth have had someone in their life acting like a mother/father figure to help them heal and gain new vision and direction for their lives.
In my message, I want to show through the example of Paul and Onesimus, that we all need a spiritual mother/father and are called to spiritually mother/father others also.
“I’d much rather make an appeal because of our friendship. So here I am, an old man, a prisoner for Christ, making my loving appeal to you. It is on behalf of my child, whose spiritual father I became while here in prison; that is, Onesimus.” (Phm 1:9, TPT)
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A Church That Heals RightNow Media Series:
Watch the trailer with Henry Cloud:
With churches full of hurting people, pastors spend a lot of time helping others get better. They counsel and comfort those struggling with a range of emotional problems, such as anxiety, loneliness, and depression.
But often our pastoral leaders do not spend time on helping themselves heal, and wounded leaders are hindered from effective ministry.
In this five-session study, psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud shows how spiritual growth and formation can lead to healing clinical issues, relational struggles, and professional discouragement. Why should pastors dedicate time and energy to their own healing? Because leaders who are healed can better lead churches that heal.
Watch “A Church That Heals” on RightNow Media today :