Our Lord Himself said it best – “the harvest is great, but the laborers are few.” It is obvious from the text that Christ was speaking about a harvest of souls. He was moved with compassion because people were lost and headed for a Christ-less eternity. His simple yet profound strategy for reaching these lost masses then and for centuries to come was to “pray the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers.” That was the Lord’s plan then – and that His plan now. We are to pray for laborers to reach the harvest of “sheep” that were “scattered abroad.” (See Matthew 9:36 – 38.)If the harvest of people needing a savior then was “great” – just think of how it could be described today. The world’s population will soon reach 7 billion people – most of whom do not know the Lord. In fact, over 124 million people are born each year around the world.
How on earth can we expect to reach a harvest of 7 billion people? Let me suggest that the only way possible to reach this over-whelming multitude of people is to actively and immediately implement Christ’s strategy of prayer for laborers. The only strategy we have is to pray for laborers. The harvest was great then – it is mind-boggling now. Christ was moved with compassion then – we must be moved with compassion now! The Lord implemented one strategy then – and it’s still His only strategy for reaching the world today. We must pray for laborers! There is no other option.
We can design all the methods we want to reach people for Christ and to impact the next generation for world-wide ministry. We can implement all the man-made plans we want, but until we recommit ourselves and our ministries to Christ’s original strategy we will fail miserably. Christ’s plan then must be our first priority now. We must pray for laborers!
Youth workers: this letter is an appeal to prayer – a prayer for laborers. Please, please – do everything you can, within your sphere of influence to encourage all believers to pray specifically and fervently that the Lord will send laborers into His harvest. Christ assured us that this plan would work. More than ever before the sheep are scattered abroad. There is a world-wide need for laborers to go into the harvest. The answer is to pray! Pray for laborers.
My prayer is that this appeal will be the start of a youth ministry driven campaign – where youth workers all around the country gather their teams of youth workers, the parents of teenagers, and our students to pray specifically for laborers to go into the harvest. The harvest certainly is ready, but the real need is for laborers. We must pray for laborers.
Take some time this week to motivate your students to pray that laborers will go into the harvest. We all know that as God’s people pray a burden will grow in the hearts of individuals so that they may prayerfully consider what God would have them to do. Plus, God answers prayer. So, we must pray for laborers. Spend time during Sunday School and youth meetings in prayer for laborers. Call special prayer meetings before or after your meetings to pray specifically for laborers.
Encourage parents of teenagers to pray for laborers. Last summer I met with hundreds of youth workers who collectively agreed that one of the biggest struggles they face was trying to convince parents to support students heading toward ministry. Maybe it’s time to quit struggling with this and instead call on parents to pray. As they pray for laborers undoubtedly the Lord will work in some of their hearts creating an openness to encourage their students to full-time, vocational ministry.
It’s time to rally the church to pray for laborers. Put a plea in the church bulletin and in your PowerPoint announcements. Encourage all generations to pray for laborers. Motivate the children to pray; encourage your senior citizens to pray.
When you meet with other youth workers spend some time in prayer for laborers to go into the harvest. When you go to pastors’ meetings encourage them to pray. Send out letters. Post announcements on web sites. Do whatever you can do. Just pray!! Pray for laborers.
This is what Christ wants us to do and it’s what works.
I am praying that youth workers everywhere will get serious about the harvest; so serious, in fact, that we’ll take it to God. We’ll pray and we’ll use every ounce of influence we have to get others to pray. Pray for laborers!
Please!
