Sheep Without a Shepherd

This is seminary Sunday.  We encourage men to enter the ministry and women to become deaconesses.  And, we encourage men and women to heed God’s call to become teachers, youth directors, missionaries, and other church workers.  We ask congregations to support them with prayers, words of encouragement and financial support.

People without godly shepherds are at risk of being led astray. But, the Lord provides righteous shepherds who care for the flock (Jeremiah 23:1-6).

Jesus cares for people.  He provides for them.  Mark 6:34 (ESV) says that when Jesus went ashore from the Sea of Galilee, “He saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”  People without the Word of God are lost.  Jesus calls pastors who are to shepherd people by teaching them the Word of God, both Law and Gospel, leading them to the pathway of eternal life in Him.

Within ten years, two-thirds of existing Lutheran pastors will be eligible for retirement.  God calls us to pray to the Lord to send workers into His harvest field (Luke 10:2).  By praying fervently about the needs of the church, we align ourselves with God’s will and He will direct us in encouraging people to become church workers.

The Lord, through our denomination, led my wife Martha and me to write a book to encourage second-career pastors and their families.  It is titled, “Leap of Faith – A Resource for Spirit-Led Explorers.”  If you know someone considering the ministry, direct them to www.whataway.org to request a free copy of the book.

Pray for, encourage, and support people to become church workers so that we do not become “like sheep without a shepherd.”  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Raymond Van Buskirk, Pastor, Redeemer Lutheran Church

Baytown, Texas          www.rlcbaytown.org                 7/19/2009