When our good Lord – the very Good Shepherd – saw the multitudes, he had compassion on them,

because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest-ready fields.

Mt.9:36-38

This admonition of our Lord has been heeded over centuries – and the triune God has answered this prayer of His Holy Christian Church according to His unfailing gracious favor, mercy and kindness. We praise Him for that and pray that He will continue to send out workers into His global harvest.

And those called in the name of our good Lord to serve His people faithfully as pastors, bishops, teachers, evangelists and missionaries are well advised to rejoice in their precious calling, which is truly wonderful, lovely and most helpful and uplifting – thanks to the divine consecration of this holy office of being shepherds of our good Lord´s flock as J.H. Jowett writes:

It is our God-appointed office to lead men and woman who are weary and wayward, exultant or depressed, eager or indifferent, into “the secret place of the Most High”. We are to help the sinful to the fountain of cleansing, the bond slaves to the wonderful songs of deliverance. We want to help the halt and the lame to recover their lost nimbleness. We are to help the broken-winged into the healing light of “the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” We are to help the sad into the sunshine of grace. We are to help the buoyant to clothe themselves with “the garment of praise.” We are to help redeem the strong from the atheism of despair. We are to help little children to see the glorious attractiveness of God, and we are to help the aged realize the encompassing care of the Father and the assurance of the eternal home.

J.H. Jowett quoted in Doberstein Pg. 351

We, as members of the Holy Christian Church, continue to sing and plead the Good Shepherd himself with prayers and petitions:

1 Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

2 We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Hear, O hear us when we pray.

3 Thou hast promised to receive us,
Poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Early let us turn to Thee;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Early let us turn to Thee.

4 Early let us seek Thy favor,
Early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
With Thy love our bosoms fill:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Dorothy Ann Thrupp (1779-1847)