Complete Dissertaton - Final for Print with new editing - Dallas ...

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which is the first and most basic mentoring type.” 31 Though a disciple, discipleship,
disciple-making, or discipling can be structured in the specific ways described above, the
purpose of this study is a focus on mentoring, and discipleship remains only one informal
dimension of the mentoring relationship.
Shepherding
Shepherding speaks of pastoral care modeled for every believer by the Master
Shepherd, Jesus. Addressing women specifically, as women are instructed in Titus 2, Bev
Hislop has coined a definition for women shepherding women which reflects the focus of
this study. She explains, “The greatest distinction of a shepherd is that she is a woman
who intentionally provides the comfort and understanding that fosters healing and
growth.” 32 Phillip Keller states,
‘Sheep do not just take care of themselves’ as some might suppose. They
require more than any other class of livestock, endless attention and meticulous
care. It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. The behavior of sheep
and human beings is similar in many ways… Our mass mind (or mob instincts),
our fears and timidity, our stubbornness and stupidity, our perverse habits are all
parallels of profound importance. 33
The imagery of shepherding is found throughout the Scriptures as is the concept of the
“Good Shepherd,” (Psalm 23 and John 16) for Jesus is the perfect model of a shepherd
shepherding His sheep.
Pastoral Care & Pastoral Ministry
In light of Titus 2, pastoral care can be defined as responding to another in
their life situation with compassion, care, and wisdom. The need for intimacy and to
31 Stanley and Clinton, Connecting, 29.
31.
32 Beverly White Hislop, Shepherding a Woman’s Heart. (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2003),
33 Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at The Twenty-Third Psalm (Grand Rapids, MI:Zondervan
Publishing House, 1970), 20 – 21.