On Monday evening here in Omaha, Cheryl had a dinner and a meeting. Because of that, I arranged other dinner plans. A young lady from the congregation where I am a member and that I used to serve as pastor is currently living here. She just graduated from Concordia University – Nebraska as a Director of Christian Education (DCE) and is serving a summer internship here. So I offered to take her out to dinner and she agreed.

I’ve known Abby since she was born. Her parents raised her to know and love Jesus. I led her through the study of God’s Word and Luther’s Small Catechism before she was confirmed in the faith. She felt the Lord call her to church work, so she pursued a course of study that would lead her to this point. Through her college years, she spent her summers as a counselor at Camp Lone Star. Starting August 1 she will serve a congregation in Iowa as an intern to complete her education.

I had a wonderful time at dinner. We talked about what she is doing now and what she is about to start when she goes to Iowa. As part of her summer internship, she will be traveling to Hong Kong to help with a VBS there!

As I reflected on her entering the next phase of her ministry, I realized that she will be sharing and teaching the love of God in Christ Jesus to the next generation. She will fill a vital role of continuing to proclaim the Good News of Jesus as Savior to those who have not yet been born. The only reason you and I heard about Jesus is because so many who went before us made sure to share the message that His life and death and resurrection secured our forgiveness and opened heaven for us. We need to pass that down as well.

Psalm 34:11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 11:19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Psalm 78:4–6 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.

The sharing of this message needs to begin in the home, as it did for Abby. But it is also crucial that we raise up more like her who are willing to enter the ministry. We need to encourage our children to consider serving as full-time church worker. We have a shortage of pastors and teachers and DCEs in our church body.

Join me in praying that more would answer the call to be workers in the harvest fields.