Workers in the Harvest Field

“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. " Luke 10:2b

In the west we have traditionally used this verse as a motivator to recruit young people to become pastors and/or missionaries. This is a valid interpretation, but it is also properly applied to all disciples, to answer the call to serve God in some capacity. 

Two recent examples serve as examples of why we need to mobilize all Jesus followers to engage in spreading the Good News and discipling the people who decide to become disciples of Jesus. 

The first is Covid. All over the world churches were closed in an effort to stop the spread of the Covid virus. Recent research has begun to call into question whether or not it was necessary to take such drastic measures. It is not my intent or purpose to judge the right or wrong of what was done but rather to point out that for a significant period of time most evangelism, discipleship, and fellowship, stopped because these ministries  are centered around an event that takes place in the church building on a weekly basis. 

The second is the situation in Rwanda today. Several months ago 10,000 churches were shuttered. Most are still waiting for government inspectors to come and declare the buildings open and authorized to hold worship services again.  

When Jesus said: "Go and make disciples..." He did not add a list of circumstances under which we can stop doing what He asked us to do. For this reason alone we must train and mobilize lay people everywhere to be "workers in his harvest field." There are always places where the fields are ripe for harvest. We can also be assured there will always be opposition to the harvest. In light of this we must equip Jesus followers everywhere to be disciple-makers so there is never a time when the harvest is missed because of circumstances in the world that are beyond our control. Properly trained laypeople are an unstoppable force that Jesus will use to expand his Kingdom and build his church.