The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

In the United States, there is an acute labor shortage for many service jobs. “Help Wanted” signs abound at countless restaurants, hotels, and many other businesses begging for people to come to work. The shortage is an artificial one, however, because people are making as much money as those working by staying away from work and living on the government dole.

Jesus spoke of a labor shortage for qualified “spiritual” workers in His time: “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest’” (Matthew 9:35-38).

We are facing a labor shortage ourselves. We have just experienced the tragic loss of two of our beloved pastors, Ken Martin and Randy D’Alessandro, who were actively serving their congregations. Both men were excellent teachers and related wonderfully to the brethren. Suddenly there is a big void!

We are praying for God to call men and their spouses to the greatest calling of all. For some time we have been carefully and actively searching for the right candidates to take on pastoral duties. In my tenure as president, I have been encouraged by the quality of the men and their wives who have been added to the ministry. They provide a continuation of spiritual leadership for our brethren. At the just-completed Feast of Tabernacles, we listened to enlightening and inspiring sermons by our newer pastors. They also held jobs such as festival coordinator among other service roles. Our newer pastors now fill most of the camp director roles, too. This transition in leadership has been remarkable and noticeable over the past 10 years.

So, how does one become an elder? Being called to the ministry of Jesus Christ represents a high calling to challenging responsibilities (1 Timothy 3:3-6). In one sense, we are all called to be servants and, as I mentioned in my festival sermon, to follow the example set for us by our Elder Brother. But the Bible shows that ordination represents a unique calling to high and often demanding service. I would encourage us all to be praying daily that more laborers—including ordained ministers of the gospel—be called to the spiritual harvest.

How are ministers ordained and set apart for service? The apostle Paul declared that it was God who called and put him into the ministry: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12). People who receive this calling usually exhibit spiritual qualities of humility and other exceptional spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) long before they are actually ordained. Through deep consensus, prayer and fasting, one’s potential calling into the ministry is then recognized and brought forth by other ministers to be considered by the Council of Elders, all ministers of long-time depth and experience, prior to actual ordination.

The ministry is much more than preaching. It includes much time visiting and intimately getting to know the people in our congregations. One must be a person of outstanding integrity and be skilled at working with a wide range of people. Most of the qualities of an elder that are listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-2 deal with personal integrity and character. This job demands sacrificial service. We continually ask God to send such people to us, and God has responded.

The apostle Peter eloquently and clearly expresses what an elder should be and what he is to do:

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:1-10 English Standard Version).

As I speak with our newer pastors, I note how knowledgeable they are in the use of new technology and social media. They are well-read and skillfully use biblical resources. Some creatively stream mid-week Bible studies on various platforms such as Zoom, YouTube, or Facebook and have good followings. Pastors stay in immediate contact with their congregations through text messaging groups.

This past week I visited New York City and spent time with pastor Lewis VanAusdle and his wife, Lena. He streams a weekly Bible study from various locations that range from city parks to scenic backdrops in the New York area. Some of our pastors are particularly skilled at conducting interactive Bible studies.

Our pastors will increasingly be called upon to more directly reach our Beyond Today subscribers, the public and to go beyond simply maintaining their congregations. We have been acquiring church buildings in some of our cities as we are able. This presence is helpful to be a base from which to reach the community and prospective members.

Our pastors must relate to all strata of the membership: the elderly, young adults, teens and children. We ask our pastors and wives to work together. I thank all of our elders’ wives for their part in their husband’s ministry. My wife, Bev, has been a huge part of my ministry for years and has traveled to the ends of the earth with me. I could not do what I do without her encouragement and support.

Other Laborers Needed

To continue to do God’s work, we need other laborers as well. For example, we need people to work in information technology, video editing, animation, graphics, web development and more. We find it difficult to find the right people to fill these job openings.

The future of the Church and its role is exciting to consider as a greater transition to a new world is close at hand. I thank God continually for helping us see His Kingdom from His perspective. We will always have work to do and God promises to help us do it: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

The laborers are few, but they are there. You can help by doing what Jesus said: “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).