Having been in full time ministry since early 1993, I was ordained into the Five Fold Ministry in 1998. God has confirmed His “Five Fold Ministry” call upon my life. While all Believers can be revivalists, in Ephesians 4:12 it speaks of the different callings or special anointings: Pastors, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and apostles are part of that 5-fold-ministry. My life carries a strong prophetic evangelistic anointing that permits me to reach unbelievers everywhere God takes me.

 

“Pastoring” comes straight from the heart of God. My entire life I’ve operated under the pastoral gifting without even realizing it. Called upon constantly by friends and acquaintances to give them counsel, I became acutely aware of my strong desire to help people make wise decisions based on God’s Word for their well-being and also to “feed” them Scripturally since that always points to Jesus as our Source for all we ever need. Perhaps this could be called a “shepherding instinct”. And according to John 21:15, I’ve been simply responding to a whispering voice within me that both questions & answers me with the same message:  “Simon, son of Jonah, do you LOVE Me more than these?” “FEED MY LAMBS (little ones who have just come to Christ or perhaps little children)   “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? TEND MY SHEEP.”  (or perhaps “take care of my sheep—pastor them properly.) “FEED MY SHEEP” or feed them a consistent diet of nutritious, faith filled food from the Scriptures! In God’s Word here, I believe Jesus wanted Peter to realize the difference between “agape love” versus “phileo love”. According to Streong’s Concordance #5368, the word LOVE used here in this scripture meant “phileo”  (fill-eh-oh) or to be fond of, care for affectionately, cherish, have a personal attachment for. Although God has called me to travel a great deal in sharing the Gospel, I still consider precious those whom He allows under my pastoral care. Feeding them, teaching/training them, loving each one regardless of where they’re from is an honor and joy from the Lord. As a woman in full time ministry, I’ve had many opportunities to give up when the criticism got fierce as there are those religious leaders and denominations who refuse to embrace anyone but men for such a calling. Thankfully, they must answer to God, not to me for their ideology. Joyfully, I’m carrying on in Christ as He opens each wide door much like the I Corinthians 16:9, v13-14 and truly grateful God permits me His grace in abundance. It is humbling to be chosen of the Lord to carry His glorious Gospel into all the world...and all I live for is to sense the pleasure of the Lord on my life! To honor Him every day along the way...

 

My highest call and greatest desire is to please the Lord Jesus in all I say and do and win the lost to Christ while equipping the Body of Christ to do the same.

DorotheLee Withers

President

Real F.M., Inc.