Over the years, as the pastor of the Crossroads Baptist Church, I have been addressed as Reverend, Preacher, Pastor, and a few other titles. The title that I'm addressed most often by my people is "Pastor." I thank the Lord that I'm a preacher of the Word of God. God did not just call me to be a "Preacher of the Word of God," but a "Pastor of the Church of God." I'm afraid today that we're producing lots of preachers but very few real pastors. A preacher often preaches to or at people; a real pastor shepherds people. With such a great need in the black community to establish Bible-believing Baptist Churches, we need to stop preaching at people, and start pastoring people (this always includes preaching the Word of God).

The Apostle Peter tells us in I Peter 5:2-3: "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." The Word of God tells me as a pastor that the flock is "God's heritage" and He has given me the awesome responsibility of being an under-shepherd of the "Chief Shepherd" of His flock.

As I read the Word of God and strive to pastor my flock, I find that Peter exhorts us to do three important things as pastors.

First, a pastor must lead his people. The Word of God says, "taking the oversight thereof." A church is not a corporation that you can demand things of your employees. It is a body of believers that you must lead in the direction it needs to go. Black people today are looking for leadership that is competent and faithful. There are many changes that need to occur among our people if we are to establish New Testament churches among them.

So often, I see our young black preachers coming out of school trying to pound people to change. A pastor learns how to lead people to change. Real pastoral leadership can accomplish this without ever compromising the Word of God. Good leadership is not something that you are born with, but something that is learned.

Second, a pastor must love his people . There is nothing more disgusting to me than to hear pastors criticizing, condemning, and complaining about their people. Next to the Lord, and my family, I love my flock. God has given them to me. They are not perfect, and neither am I. Learn to love your people even if you haven't taught them to take care of you. Peter says, "not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind." A pastor is not one who just serves out of obligation or a sense of duty. It is an honor to pastor a flock of people (regardless the size). Don't make your people feel as though they are blessed to have you. It is by the grace of God that He saw fit to use any of us.

A pastor loves his people by demonstrating that he doesn't pastor for personal gain. So many today look at success as having a group of quality people, who are financially able to take care of the preacher. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the pastor being well provided for by his people. As a matter of fact, it is taught in the Scriptures. The Bible says, "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preached the gospel should live of the gospel" (I Corinthians 9:14). However, using the pastorate as a means of personal gain is an attitude that is forbidden in the Scriptures. A pastor should always be enthusiastic about the ministry, not the money. A preacher is a pastor when he loves the people that God has given him to shepherd.

Third, a pastor is one who lives by example before his people . The Apostle Peter exhorts us to be a model for our people, "Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock ." The old saying, "Do as I say, and not as I do" is inappropriate for the ministry. I have always begged God to help me to "practice what I preach." One of the greatest qualities a pastor can have is to be a good example to his flock. Don't preach witnessing if you don't witness. Don't preach holiness if you don't live holy. Don't preach on the family if you don't lead your family. Don't preach on giving if you don't give. A real pastor does not tell his people what to do without being willing to show them what to do.

Across the country, I have heard many outstanding black preachers. Preachers don't build churches, pastors and evangelist-missionaries build churches. If we are going to see churches established to reach our people, we need to see more of our great preachers become pastors. I wonder today, as you examine your ministry, are you preaching or pastoring. It does make a difference to your people!