Praying for The Lord to Send Out Laborers Into His Harvest

I am currently finishing up my service as part-time assistant to the pastor at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, Florida. This is not only the congregation where I grew up, where I was nurtured in faith in Junior High and High School and beyond. This is not only the group of believers who encouraged me and sent me away to study for the pastoral ministry. This is also the congregation where, in September of 2023, I began serving as Vacancy Pastor after Pastor John Glover had taken a call to a different position. When Pastor Chris Kollmann was installed in February of 2025, First Lutheran asked me to continue serving ¼ time when Kathy and I are in town. This service at First Lutheran has been a joy and a privilege for me.

However, as Kathy and I were preparing to return to Gainesville in May of 2025, on April 15 I received text asking me to help out at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chugiak, as their pastor was leaving. Then again, on April 16, 2026, I received another phone call asking me to help out at Anchorage Lutheran Church, which is currently without a permanent full-time pastor.

While it is an honor to be asked to serve as part-time pastor in all these areas, even when retired, these requests reveal an underlying reality, a problem even. THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF CHURCH WORKERS, a growing shortage.

I recently read an article about Roman Catholic congregations in America. The churches are growing again after COVID, but there are fewer and fewer priests. “When asked about the priest shortage, Dan Monastra, a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said, ‘One reason is the overall lack of desire in our culture to commit oneself to something permanent, especially among younger generations. We see this not only with the priesthood but with marriage as well. Another reason is that the priesthood is antithetical to what modern culture offers; namely, comfort.’This is the paradox of the present moment: a renewed interest in Catholicism colliding with a severe priest shortage and the business of staffing, financing, and sustaining parish life. The Catholic population is growing with fewer priests to guide it.” (Fox News, April 4, 2026)

I believe discussion on this church worker shortage is healthy. First, the Christian Church is not a human idea for organization, but part of the plan of Jesus to reach the world. Jesus tells Peter, “. . . I will build MY church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) Different congregations may function differently, but the Christian Church is JESUS’ plan!

Secondly, in the Old Testament and in the New Testament the Lord has provided for workers, workers who will faithfully lead the people of God in worshiping and serving Him. God inspired St. Paul to write in Ephesians, “11 It was he [Jesus] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13) Church workers of various types are not only God’s plan, but His gift to His people.

Finally, Jesus cares enough about people that He came to this world. He cares enough that He suffered and died, and rose again, in order to save His children through faith in Himself. Wanting people to receive the results of His saving work, and knowing the need for workers, Jesus encouraged His disciples to “PRAY!” “36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore PRAY earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’" (Matthew 9:36-38)

There are obviously other issues in today’s world affecting the shortage of church workers in all churches. When asked about the shortage of priests, Dan Monastra cited a “lack of commitment” in people today, and a “desire for comfort.” In addition, churches and church workers also fail. The church is composed of sinners who need a savior. Such failures can hurt the people who are the Lambs of God. Nevertheless, the Lord will guide, and heal, and save.

So are you doing what Jesus called for? “ . . . PRAY earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." In addition, I might add, we not only need to pray to our Lord for more workers and pastors. We also need prayers for those who are currently serving. Being a shepherd, a spiritual leader, in a secular age with conflicting ideas about organizational structure is a difficult task. Just look at Moses, or Elijah, or Peter, or Paul, or others in Scripture.

I ask the question again, are you doing what Jesus called for? “ . . . pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Jesus desires for all to know and to receive His saving work. His plan is for workers to share His Word and to disciple people in faith in Jesus! Please pray for workers in the Christian Church!