Series: The Whole Church Caring for the Whole Person
In the last two posts, I’ve shared why I believe the “pastor-centered” model of care isn’t sustainable or biblical, and how a gospel-centered philosophy calls the whole church to care for the whole person.
But philosophy alone won’t change a culture. For care to take root in the life of a local church, it needs to move from concept to practice. It needs a structure — a way for care to become natural, organized, and ongoing.
At Redeemer Church, that’s been our journey. Over the years, we’ve learned (and are still learning) how to make care not just a value we talk about, but a way of life we live together.
Here’s how we’ve sought to build that culture of care.
1. Leaders Who Model Care
Culture always starts with leadership.
If pastors are distant, unavailable, or detached from the life of the people, care will never trickle down.
A pastor is not a sage on a stage but a guide by the side.
That might sound a little cheesy, but it captures something important: pastors are called to shepherd among the flock, not above it.
In 1 Peter 5:1–4, Peter exhorts pastors to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight… being examples to the flock.” Two words stand out: among and examples.
At Redeemer, we take both seriously. Every pastor (or elder — we use the terms interchangeably) is expected to be actively involved in people’s lives, not just through Sunday preaching but through genuine, personal community.
One way we do this is by having each pastor lead or co-lead a Gospel Community — our small group structure. These groups meet regularly to study Scripture, pray, and share life.
Currently, we have five elders and close to fifteen Gospel Communities. Each elder provides oversight for two or more groups. That way, when a care need, concern, or crisis arises, group leaders know exactly which elder to contact.
This structure helps us live out the reality that shepherds aren’t just decision-makers; they’re disciple-makers.
2. Small Groups That Practice Care
If leaders model care, small groups are where care actually happens.
Gospel Communities are the front line of care at Redeemer. 80+% of our members are active participants in one, and that’s intentional. We believe the primary context for Christian care is community, not crisis response.
The New Testament paints this picture beautifully:
- “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2
- “Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:14
That’s what we want our Gospel Communities to look like — places where brothers and sisters gently correct, faithfully encourage, and practically support one another.
So, when someone in our church loses a job, has a baby, gets sick, or walks through grief, their Gospel Community rallies first. Meals are delivered. Bills are covered. Prayers are prayed. Tears are shared.
And when the situation is too heavy or complex for the group alone, the leaders reach out to their overseeing pastor. That pastor steps in, not to replace the group’s care, but to reinforce it.
In short, Gospel Communities help make sure no one falls through the cracks, because care isn’t centralized — it’s multiplied.
3. Systems That Organize Care
Finally, if care is going to be sustainable, it needs structure.
Churches face complex and varied needs — everything from mental illness and addiction to financial crisis or trauma. One pastor, or even a handful of leaders, can’t manage all that haphazardly. That’s why systems of care are crucial.
At Redeemer, we’ve developed several layers of organized care:
- Counseling Partnerships: We’ve built relationships with two local counseling centers — one faith-based with licensed professional counselors, and one biblical counseling ministry that partners closely with our elders. When a member’s need surpasses the training or capacity of a pastor, we refer them to trusted professionals. We even budget funds each year to help scholarship counseling for those who need it.
- Benevolence Ministry: We maintain a benevolence fund managed by a small team who process requests and oversee distribution. This allows us to provide tangible help — covering rent, utilities, or groceries — without burdening a single pastor with every financial decision.
- Prayer Team: A group of elders, deacons, and faithful prayer warriors intercede regularly for specific needs in our body. This team often provides one of the most meaningful forms of care: quiet, consistent prayer.
These systems aren’t about bureaucracy; they’re about stewardship. They make sure our care is intentional, organized, and consistent.
A Story of Care in Action
A few months ago, a struggling person in our church shared in their Gospel Community that their rent had just increased by $400 a month. They shared willingly, “Please pray for us — I’m not sure how we’ll make it.”
The person’s Gospel Community didn’t just pray — they acted. The group rallied together and raised the $400 needed that month. Then the leader called one of our elders to let me know about the situation.
The elder followed up to understand the person’s needs more fully. After learning more details, we passed specific requests along to our benevolence team, who approved two additional months of rent coverage to help them get ahead.
Our prayer team began praying specifically for the person’s specific situation.
Within a few weeks, this person wasn’t just helped financially — they were seen, supported, and strengthened.
That’s the picture: the whole church caring for the whole person.
Flourishing in the Care of the Good Shepherd
When pastors equip instead of exhaust themselves, and when members see care as ministry, the church flourishes.
A serious look at the New Testament shows that Jesus never intended care to rest solely on pastors. He gave shepherds to equip the saints (Eph. 4:12) — to form a people who reflect the care of Christ to one another.
At Redeemer, I’ve seen the fruit of that design. I’ve watched members step into one another’s lives, leaders grow in wisdom and compassion, and pastors shepherd with joy instead of burnout.
And through it all, one truth has become clear:
The Good Shepherd is still caring for His people.
Series Recap: A Church That Cares
- Part 1: Why Pastoral Care Can’t Be Pastor-Centered
The traditional model exhausts pastors and leaves members uncared for. - Part 2: Building a Culture of Care — The Whole Church Caring for the Whole Person
The gospel defines our philosophy of care, addressing every part of life affected by sin. - Part 3: From Concept to Culture — How We Practice Care at Redeemer
Care becomes a community project when leaders model it, groups practice it, and systems organize it.
Ministry That Matters 