Back at HSU: When Writing Becomes Shepherding

“…speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16

Today Lisa and I had the opportunity to return to Hardin-Simmons University for the Brister Lecture and Luncheon. Walking back onto that forty-acre campus stirred up a lot of memories. This is where our journey as a married couple serving in vocational ministry began.

I remembered juggling classes, working part-time jobs, and trying to keep up with what felt like an endless stream of writing assignments. Papers, sermons, reflections, and notes were a constant reality. Due dates loomed large. At the time, most of it felt like survival. Just get it done. Turn it in. Move on to the next thing.

What I did not fully understand then is that those rhythms were shaping something deeper. They were forming a way of shepherding that would come to define the last thirty-plus years of my life.

Over the years, I have come to see that writing in ministry is not just preparation for something else. It is ministry itself. Sometimes it looks like a sermon manuscript written with specific faces in mind. Sometimes it is a handwritten note of encouragement. Sometimes it is a short message, a prayer, or even a few thoughtful sentences shared through a text message or an online reflection.

In each case, words become a way of caring for people. That realization sits at the heart of Getting the Church Inside You. What began as sermons and notes slowly became a broader invitation to let the message of Ephesians take root not just in what we believe, but in how we live.

Even now, I am reminded that the words we offer, whether spoken or written, have the potential to build up, speak truth, give grace, show love, and remind someone they are not alone.

That is not just communication. That is shepherding, and we each have a role to play in this ministry as we build up the people around us.

Prayer

Lord, teach us to use our words with care and purpose. Help us to speak and write in ways that build up, encourage, and reflect Your grace. Make us mindful of the people on the other side of our words. Amen.