Tomorrow’s Teachers and Preachers

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38

Hannah vowed that if the Lord gave her a son that she would offer him to the Lord’s Service and so young Samuel began his service as a young boy.  Joshua and Elisha followed in the footsteps of Moses and Elijah respectively.  The Scriptures are filled with different descriptions of how the Lord sets people apart such as young people like Jeremiah or older adults like Abram.  While we know the paths of service to Christ’s Church are quite varied, we know that the Holy Spirit still guides people today into church work vocations.

The late Rev. Alfred Rodewald told me the story that Concordia Seminary professor John Fritz preached one Sunday at his congregation when he was a boy.  Dean Fritz said to young Alfred’s father, “A fine group of sons, surely one of them can serve the Church.”  Many men and women chose to enter church work vocations following the encouragement of others, be they pastors, Sunday School teachers, youth counselors or parents.  The best recruiters for “Tomorrow’s Teachers and Preachers” are found in the local schools and congregations.  My encouragement for you is to begin praying for children and youth in your congregation who you believe would have the faith and gifts to serve as Directors of Christian Education or Outreach, Deaconesses, teachers or pastors.  Then look for the opportunity plant this seed with the young person and their parents.

Another sainted servant in the Synod, Evelyn Brandt told me that she was led to decide to become a Lutheran school teacher as a young girl after singing the hymn “Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying.”  The hymn showed her in a simple way that the Lord could use her to “lead the little children to the Savior’s waiting arms.” (LSB 826 v. 2)  The Lord still has need of tomorrow’s teachers like Evelyn Brandt and preachers like Rev. Alfred Rodewald.  Please join us in praying for God to send out laborers into His harvest.  Which young person will you begin praying that God call into service in the Church?  “Tomorrow’s Teachers and Preachers” is a way for the Missouri District to encourage church work vocations and support of those who will prepare for their service for generations to come.

Prayer – Merciful Lord, for the benefit of Your people You call faithful men and women to serve in a variety of offices in Your Church.  Grant that You Holy Spirit will lead and guide future servants in Your Church to serve among us according to Your gracious will; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen. 

Fraternally in Christ,

President Lee Hagan