(HQ) The Harvest Is Plentiful; Pray To Send Out Workers

 
By Pastor Ron Ward

"Raise fully devoted shepherds on each campus in North America!"
 
Our Lord Jesus shares his vision and gives his disciples a clear prayer topic in Matthew 9:37-38: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Jesus applies the metaphor of “harvest” to people who will respond positively to the gospel. “Workers” refers to those who carry out his ministry of saving souls by preaching the gospel, teaching the Bible, and healing the sick. In context, it means those who do the practical work of shepherding lost souls.
 
Jesus sees that the world is like a ripe harvest field. In Jesus’ eyes there are many who would accept the gospel if only someone would preach to them. There are many who would grow as his disciples if only someone would teach them the words of God. There are many sick people who could become wonderful blessings to others if only they were healed by God’s grace. The problem is not that people are unresponsive; it is that there are few workers–shepherds.
 
How do we see the world? We may naturally think the world looks dark due to wars, political violence and economic uncertainty. So it is not a good time to venture and try something risky. It is natural to see the faults and weak points of others and dismiss them, sometimes before even speaking to them. It is even more natural to see our own sins and weaknesses and give into fatalism. But Jesus’ vision is different. Jesus sees with compassion. Jesus sees with faith. Jesus sees so many needy souls who are eager for his gospel.
 
Jesus sees that the hearts of young people in Generation Z, like Nathaniel, are seeking real purpose. Jesus sees the soul agony of those who suffered painful rejections, like Matthew, and are now desperate for a new beginning. Jesus sees many young people who are looking for a real and lasting love relationship, like John. When Jesus saw and understood each of these people, he called them to a new life, and they left everything and followed him.
 
These days the words “see me” have deep meaning. People say “see me” when they want someone to recognize and understand them. It is because many people feel overlooked and abandoned. Many parents are negligent, teachers indifferent, and government leaders harsh. Very few people have room in their hearts to care about others. When our hearts are full of selfish concerns, we can look at people with mindless indifference as though they are not even there. But Jesus sees each person as they truly are. Jesus understands the inner agonies of each person and cares about them. Jesus has a great hope that each person can be transformed into a most beautiful, glorious, and powerful child of God and shepherd for others.
 
When we have Jesus’ eyes we can see that people are ready to hear his gospel. When we have Jesus’ heart of compassion we become aware of the pains and struggles of others. We can “see” people as Jesus does. Lord, forgive the fatalism and pessimism that so easily creeps into my heart. Most of all, forgive the remnants of selfish indifference. Give me your compassion and your eyes to see and care for the lost. Help me to see the harvest of souls as you do.
 
Once we see others with Jesus’ eyes, and care for them with his compassion, what should we do next? Jesus said, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” The word “ask” is the only imperative verb in Matthew 9:37-38. It is the only action we are expressly told to take. To “ask” means to “pray.” This prayer is directed to “the Lord of the harvest.” This means Jesus himself. We need to recognize that the harvest is under Jesus’ sovereign guidance. Jesus is the Father of lost souls. Jesus is the one who plans the harvest work. Jesus has the tools that empower workers to get the job done. Prayer to the Lord of the harvest means we utterly depend on Jesus. We depend on him to raise the right workers, choose the right mission field, devise the right strategy, provide the right spiritual resources, and at the right time to send them out to minister to lost souls. Before doing anything, we should pray earnestly.
 
When Dr. Samuel Lee began his ministry in North America, he gave a prayer topic to “raise 561 full-time campus shepherds.” It was thought at that time there were 561 major universities. He wanted to see a full-time shepherd on each campus who would care for lost souls. He believed that reaching these universities was the most effective way to transform North America, fulfilling God’s world mission plan. He prayed for North America to be a shepherd continent and a greater missionary sending continent than ever before.
 
 When Dr. Lee gave this prayer topic, the passionate brothers and sisters in Korea and all over the world prayed fervently. As God began to raise a handful of young Americans, Dr. Lee shared names and asked for specific prayers. Innumerable people prayed for the raising of Mark Vucekovich, Teddy Hembekides, Ron Ward, and others. Though they mispronounced our names, God worked mightily through their prayers. God raised us to be coworkers for Dr. Lee and the senior staff in North America, and ultimately for God’s world mission work. But now, this generation of full-time American shepherds is aging. What can we do?
 
Jesus says to pray. Each chapter leader in North America should pray to have one person who shares life in Jesus together with him. We should pray for and serve that person until they become a fully devoted campus shepherd. Do you pray with this prayer topic? Really? In addition, we should pray for the younger generation of full-time shepherds who are now serving: We should pray for them to grow like Jesus, and to raise shepherds until a new generation of full-time shepherds are raised.
 
Full-time shepherds does not mean those who are supported financially. It means those who receive Jesus' calling to full-time ministry. They preach the gospel on their campus with the life-giving spirit of Jesus, believing God will provide. They value Jesus more than worldly things, even their own lives. Their hearts burn for the lost souls of their campus, their nation, and their continent. They call people out of the darkness and into the light of Jesus.
 
We should pray for such shepherds to be raised for every university in North America. We thank God for establishing UBF mission power centers in major cities: Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more. Yet these ministries need to grow in power and influence on their own campuses, and to embrace smaller chapters in their region and support them. We should pray for house church leaders who are working full time, caring for their families, and engaging in ministry, to have one disciple of Jesus under their care who can grow as their successors in ministry. Moreover, there are so many universities without a UBF disciple raising ministry on their campus. We should reach these campuses with Jesus’ sense of urgency.
 
There are so many young people on the campuses of North America who are ready to hear the gospel and follow Jesus. The harvest is indeed plentiful. Let’s pray that Jesus, the Lord of the harvest, may raise fully devoted shepherds on each campus in North America.
 
This message and prayer topic emerged from the recent North American Senior Advisory Council meeting held last weekend. Let’s take it seriously and pray persistently. May God richly bless you!
 

 
more announcements