"The Art of Stealing Sheep or Chronicles of the Squatting Shepherd"...

The Art of Stealing Sheep or Chronicles of the Squatting Shepherd is a reference to a recent experience I had where a man with a desire to minister, steps into another's demographic of ministry and declares his intention to start a new ministry. There is an outstanding conflict between the two ministries I am referencing, nothing overtly hostile, but a definite insensitivity, coupled with immaturity and a lack of integrity. I am a college Chaplain and serve a specific college with a campus ministry history of over 30 years of service. When I started I inherited the luggage that was packed between these two ministry groups. There's nothing wrong with a desire to start a new work of God, however its important to collaborate rather than to compete. The lack of professionalism and the butchery committed by the ministry I am referring to has this reputation and legacy in my hometown. I engage in a life transforming ministry that reaches many people on a daily basis, while this other ministries lane of traffic is high school kids. Young adults and college age are who I serve. I don't try to steal the sheep from their flock and hope they will stop squatting on my property and stealing the sheep I shepherd. In years past this same ministry has overtly recruited students out my ministry setting to be a part of their ministry and then done nothing to endorse my ministry. Why all the politics you might ask? I'll indulge you! Its called immaturity, its called spiritual warfare, its called lack of professionalism etc... . I find it sad that some people that are so talented and gifted with potential for ministry butcher the relationships that could have been established and strengthened if they had only used wisdom in their approach to ministry networking. Communication is so important to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts the could have been avoided by a simple phone call or discussion over coffee. So now I have to write a letter asserting where my pasture is, who my sheep are and why I am their shepherd. I may have quard my pasture against squatters that have no right to be there. It is my hope though that I can work with this "other" ministry, but I am prepared for anything.

Selah.....

Chaplain Jeremy Evans