“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”” (Matthew 9:36-38, ESV)

How do we plan to address the problem of a shortage of leaders, pastors, and church-planters?

According to Barna Group research, the Church is poised to experience a significant turnover among pastors in the near future. As of 2023, only 17 percent of Protestant pastors are 40 years old or younger, and the average age among pastors is 52. One quarter of pastors is hoping to retire within the next seven years. I believe that the average age of our pastors would more likely be 60 or above. More of our pastors are pushing retirement as far out as possible out of a love for the people of God in the hope that God will raise up replacements for them. If we don’t have enough pastors for our existing churches, what will we do when this challenge turns into a crisis?  The resistance to release pastors to become church-planters is understandable. Where will church-planters be found? How will they be prepared? Doing nothing and ignoring the problem is doing something It is throwing our hands in the air in surrender to the inevitable demise.

To this information we add that these figures do not include the number of Christian pastors and leaders who are considering leaving the ministry because of burnout, discouragement, or disillusionment. The above paragraph is originally addressed to the Board Committee to which I answer. I am caught between the reality of a shrinking number of workers and the verses above that call for us to pray that the LORD of the harvest will thrust forth laborers into the harvest fields. Has He stopped thrusting? I believe NOT! Does He not want to bring in the harvest white and ripe? I say, “NO”! God is not willing for any to perish. Then the problem must be that we are NOT praying for Him to send them (me)! Am I praying? Am I praying correctly? This is one area where we must prevail! Prevailing prayer is the call of the hour!

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:11-12, KJV)