Shepherd as both a father and a mother, 247-248.

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Laniak emphasizes that shepherd leaders know when to discipline wayward members in love and as well as they know when to be gentle to wounded members. In the same way, these two characteristics are displayed in a family unit; every child needs both the gentle loving care of a mother and the firm authoritative figure of a father. I look forward to read Laniak’s other book (if any) which writes about Paul’s model of shepherding through the writings in Acts and the Pauline letters. Take for example, in his pastoral relationship with the Thessalonians; the apostle Paul is likened to an affectionate mother (1 Thessalonians 2:7) and as well as an instructing father (1 Thessalonians 2:11) towards God’s flock at Thessalonica.

Paul, like most male pastors in general, had no difficulty in being a strict leader. This is evident in the way he decided to exclude John Mark from the second missionary journey. The sharp disagreement with Barnabas over Mark led to two separate mission endeavors; Paul went to the interiors with Silas while Barnabas sailed with Mark to Cyrus. Leaders may need to be constantly reminded to be gentle and patient in difficult moments. Returning to Paul’s situation, he was humble enough to confess and acknowledge in the final years of his life that Mark had been a great help. And in the process, Timothy was reinstalled publicly in 2 Timothy 4:11.