Set Apart to Serve

Our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is designating October as “Church Worker Appreciation Month.” Here at Beautiful Savior, we are so blessed with a staff dedicated to using the gifts and abilities with which the Lord has blessed them to fulfill our mission of inviting people to know Jesus and providing opportunities to grow in His love. In a very real sense, they are all answers to our prayers that the Lord would send just the right people to minister in His name among us.

Jesus once said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38) Right now, our Synod is facing a critical shortage of pastors, teachers, and other workers. Imagine what it would be like if one of our teachers left and we could not find someone to fill the position, or, when the time comes and the Lord says my work here is completed, there is no pastor available. Our Synod has begun a special initiative, “Set Apart to Serve,” to encourage recruitment of those the Lord has gifted to serve as church workers. You can read more about it at lcms.org. Perhaps the Lord will raise up some workers from our church family to go into His harvest field.

Unfortunately, sometimes people think about church work and write it off as too much work for too little money, etc. The fact is, no dedicated church worker goes into it for the money, but in response to the Lord’s Call. And while there are alarming statistics about pastors and other church workers who are leaving due to frustration, I must say that for 5 years at my first congregation and for 28 here I have been extremely blessed to serve wonderful people.

And perhaps that’s another category of church worker which you have never thought of yourself as but is crucial to the harvest: the calling of encourager. Thanks so much for giving me the privilege of serving as your Pastor. Please know that I appreciate you more than you know!