What does it look like to truly care for people the way Jesus did? It starts with being present with God first, so you can be genuinely present for others. That simple but profound truth shapes everything about faithful ministry and everyday Christian living.
In the latest episode of Leading by Following, I sat down with Chapin Christian’s Care Pastor, Bob Brooks. Bob is a great leader in so many ways, and we are so very blessed God brought he and his amazing wife Denee here to live and serve among us! What follows are some of the key takeaways from our conversation.
What Does It Mean to Be Obedient to God’s Call? Obedience is rarely comfortable. When God places a word or a nudge on your heart, the natural response is often resistance. The idea of leaving behind everything familiar, a career, a city, a community you love, can feel like too much to ask. For example, like asking a couple to leave San Diego and move to Chapin!
But obedience is not about comfort. It is about trust. When God gives you a word, even one that feels inconvenient or costly, He is not asking you to figure it all out. He is asking you to take the next step.
Sometimes that step looks like putting your name on a list when you were only planning to pray for someone else to be found. [Which is exactly what Pastor Bob was thinking when C4 initially reached out to him.]
How Does God Use Ordinary Moments to Direct Our Steps? God rarely shouts. More often, He whispers in the quiet. In prayer. In a still moment when you least expect it. The Holy Spirit has a way of asking the most clarifying questions at just the right time. Questions like: Do you really want them to find the right person? Are you willing to put your name on the list?
Those questions are not meant to shame us. They are meant to open us up to something greater than what we had planned for ourselves.
What Does the Ministry of Presence Look Like in Real Life? Being present with someone in their hardest moments is one of the most Christlike things a person can do, and Pastor Bob des this so very well. It does not require perfect words. It does not require having all the answers. It simply requires showing up.
Jesus modeled this throughout His ministry. He was always busy, but never in a hurry. He moved from one moment to the next, yet He was never so focused on the destination that He missed the person right in front of Him.
“My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27 (CSB) That is the Good Shepherd. And that is the model for anyone who wants to care for others well.
Why Does Being Present with God Come Before Being Present with People? You cannot pour from an empty pitcher. That is not just a motivational phrase. It is a spiritual reality. When we neglect our time with God, it shows. We become more reactive, more critical, more depleted. The people around us can often sense it before we even realize it ourselves.
But when we lead from a place of genuine communion with God, something different flows out of us. It is not just our personality or our effort. It is Him, moving through us toward the people He loves.
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8 (CSB)
The goal is not to bring yourself to people in need. The goal is to bring Him to them, through you. That only happens when you have spent time with Him first.
How Should Christians Respond to the Loneliness Epidemic? Loneliness is one of the most pressing and underacknowledged struggles of our time. It shows up in hospital rooms, in care facilities, in the homes of people who have not had a visitor in weeks.
The church has a unique and powerful role to play in addressing this. Not by running programs for the sake of programs, but by sending people who genuinely care into the spaces where lonely people live. A phone call. A visit. A familiar face at the bedside before surgery. These things matter more than we often realize. They communicate something that no announcement or social media post ever could: You are not forgotten. God sees you. And so do we.
What Happens When You Stay Sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s Prompting? There is a difference between going through the motions of ministry and actually following the Spirit’s lead in the middle of it. When you stay attentive, even your wrong turns can become divine appointments. A wrong room is sometimes the right room. An unexpected encounter. A moment that was not on the schedule but was clearly on God’s.
“And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (CSB)
God can make even our mistakes gold in His hands, if we are willing to stay open and obedient in the moment.
How Can Ordinary People Get Involved in Caring for Others? You do not have to be a pastor to visit someone who is lonely. You do not need a title to sit with someone who is hurting. You just need a willing heart and a little bit of time.
Ministries built around visitation, care, and presence are only as strong as the people who show up to do the work. And the reward is immediate. When you give love to someone who is hungry for it, you walk away filled in a way that is hard to explain but impossible to miss. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. That is not just a verse. It is something you feel in your bones when you have just spent an hour with someone who needed you to show up.
“In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35 (CSB)
How Do You Avoid Burnout When You Are Constantly Giving to Others? Caring for others is holy work. But it is also hard work. And without intentional rhythms of rest, refilling, and joy, even the most devoted person will eventually run dry.
A few things help. Inviting your spouse or a trusted friend into the journey rather than carrying it alone. Finding the joy in even the difficult moments, because there is always something to be grateful for if you look for it. And above all, protecting your time with God. Not as a religious obligation, but as the source of everything you have to give.
Joy is not the absence of hard things. It is the presence of God in the middle of them.
Life Application. This week, choose one person in your life or community who may be lonely, overlooked, or going through a hard season. Make a plan to show up for them in a tangible way. Send a note, make a phone call, or better yet, visit them in person. Before you go, spend a few minutes in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your words and your presence.
Do not wait until you feel fully equipped. Just show up. God will meet you there.
Questions to Ask Yourself
– Am I spending enough time with God that I actually have something to pour out for others?
– Is there someone in my life right now who needs the ministry of presence, and have I been too busy to notice?
– Where in my life is God asking me to be obedient, even when it feels uncomfortable or inconvenient?
– Am I leading from a place of joy and connection with God, or am I running on empty?
My time with Pastor Bob was so, so rich. I hope you’ll listen to our full conversation. Love you guys! – Jody
jodyflowers843.org 