I am currently
finishing up my service as part-time assistant to the pastor at First Lutheran
Church in Gainesville, Florida. This is
not only the congregation where I grew up, where I was nurtured in faith in
Junior High and High School and beyond.
This is not only the group of believers who encouraged me and sent me
away to study for the pastoral ministry.
This is also the congregation where, in September of 2023, I began
serving as Vacancy Pastor after Pastor John Glover had taken a call to a
different position. When Pastor Chris
Kollmann was installed in February of 2025, First Lutheran asked me to continue
serving ¼ time when Kathy and I are in town.
This service at First Lutheran has been a joy and a privilege for me.
However, as
Kathy and I were preparing to return to Gainesville in May of 2025, on April 15
I received text asking me to help out at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in
Chugiak, as their pastor was leaving.
Then again, on April 16, 2026, I received another phone call
asking me to help out at Anchorage Lutheran Church, which is currently without
a permanent full-time pastor.
While it is an
honor to be asked to serve as part-time pastor in all these areas, even when
retired, these requests reveal an underlying reality, a problem even. THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF CHURCH WORKERS, a growing
shortage.
I recently read
an article about Roman Catholic congregations in America. The churches are growing again after COVID,
but there are fewer and fewer priests. “When
asked about the priest shortage, Dan Monastra, a seminarian for the Archdiocese
of Philadelphia, said, ‘One reason is the overall lack of desire in our culture
to commit oneself to something permanent, especially among younger generations.
We see this not only with the priesthood but with marriage as well. Another
reason is that the priesthood is antithetical to what modern culture offers;
namely, comfort.’This is the paradox of the present moment: a renewed interest
in Catholicism colliding with a severe priest shortage and the business of
staffing, financing, and sustaining parish life. The Catholic population is
growing with fewer priests to guide it.” (Fox News, April 4, 2026)
I believe
discussion on this church worker shortage is healthy. First, the Christian Church is not a human
idea for organization, but part of the plan of Jesus to reach the world. Jesus tells Peter, “. . . I will build MY
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew
16:18) Different congregations may
function differently, but the Christian Church is JESUS’ plan!
Secondly, in the
Old Testament and in the New Testament the Lord has provided for workers,
workers who will faithfully lead the people of God in worshiping and serving
Him. God inspired St. Paul to write in
Ephesians, “11 It was he [Jesus] who gave some to be apostles, some to be
prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to
prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the
Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13) Church
workers of various types are not only God’s plan, but His gift to His people.
Finally, Jesus
cares enough about people that He came to this world. He cares enough that He suffered and died,
and rose again, in order to save His children through faith in Himself. Wanting people to receive the results of His
saving work, and knowing the need for workers, Jesus encouraged His disciples
to “PRAY!” “36 When he saw
the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and
helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his
disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38
therefore PRAY earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvest.’" (Matthew
9:36-38)
There are
obviously other issues in today’s world affecting the shortage of church
workers in all churches. When asked
about the shortage of priests, Dan Monastra cited a “lack of commitment” in
people today, and a “desire for comfort.”
In addition, churches and church workers also fail. The church is composed of sinners who need a
savior. Such failures can hurt the
people who are the Lambs of God.
Nevertheless, the Lord will guide, and heal, and save.
So are you doing
what Jesus called for? “ . . . PRAY
earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his
harvest." In addition, I might
add, we not only need to pray to our Lord for more workers and pastors.
We also need prayers for those who are currently serving. Being a shepherd, a spiritual leader, in a
secular age with conflicting ideas about organizational structure is a
difficult task. Just look at Moses, or
Elijah, or Peter, or Paul, or others in Scripture.
I ask the
question again, are you doing what Jesus called for? “ . . . pray earnestly to the Lord of the
harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Jesus desires for all to know and to
receive His saving work. His plan is for
workers to share His Word and to disciple people in faith in Jesus! Please pray for workers in the Christian
Church!
A Child of God,
Praying for The Lord to Send Out Laborers Into His Harvest!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. Here is a link to the article on Roman Catholic
priests from Fox News.
P.P.S. I am now in Gainesville, FL, finishing my service
this year as assistant to Pastor Chris Kollmann at First Lutheran Church, the
congregation where I spent my teenage years.
First Lutheran Activities
·
On Sunday, May 3, Kathy and I were invited and
attended the graduation of First Lutheran member and college student YuSheng He
from the University of Florida. Here are
some pictures from the graduation. https://photos.app.goo.gl/rQsGr7Vf6P19KQN5A
·
ADULT SUNDAY BIBLE CLASSES - Pastor Kollman
and I are teaching separate Sunday Bible classes on Sundays at 8:45 a.m.
o
On Sunday, March 22, Pastor Kollmann began
teaching an Adult Member Class in the library.
This will finish soon.
o
On April 26, I began teaching a Lutheran Hour
Ministries study of Christian citizenship, “We the People.” COME AND JOIN US! We finish this Sunday.
·
Funeral Service for Julie Schilling – Long-time
First Lutheran Member passed away from prolonged illness on Tuesday, March
31. Julie is known for many things. She blessed others with her beautiful voice. Julie loved her family and helped her friends
and neighbors. She knew and loved her
Lord, Jesus. Julie also helped make the
“Card Ministry” of First Lutheran a special blessing to many. Julie’s service will be held at First
Lutheran on Saturday, May 9, at 1:00 p.m.
This is the link to a web page sharing about Julie and her upcoming service. BatBarn.com
·
STEPHEN MINISTRY - We started Stephen
Ministry classes at First Lutheran on Thursday, February 12. Stephen
Ministers are trained Christian care-givers. A Stephen Minister is not
a pastor, and not a counselor. But they are Christians who are
trained to bring Jesus and His love to another Christian person facing a
difficult time.
Open Arms Director, Angie Burr, is a trained
Stephen Leader. Susan Lucas is also training to serve as a Stephen Leader
for FLC.
We have 7 people who have committed to train
and serve as Stephen Ministers, as Christian care-givers. Training was
completed on Thursday, April 30. We will
commission new Stephen Minissters in worship on Sunday, May 10. They include Julie Dicks, Tina Gorske, Patty
Holloway, Susan Lucas, Linda Pierson, Kathy Rockey, and Jon Visscher.
Please pray for our Lord to use these
Stephen Ministers to serve His people.
·
Young People Activities at FLC –First
Lutheran families and youth had 3 activities in February, March, and
April. Pastor Kollmann and Lena Rabe are
discussing a possible Youth/family activity for First Lutheran this summer.
·
Sunday School concludes on Mothers’ Day, May
10 for the summer.
Other
Activities of Faith:
·
I have again started my two-year journey with my
Lord. On Tuesday, May 5, I read Deuteronomy 34, concerning the death
of Moses. Feel free to join me in
reading God’s Word again if you wish. You may also contact me at
907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these readings. Or send an
e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net
I have received questions and comments about the readings. It is always
good to consider our Lord’s love and guidance. I will TRY to answer, but some
things only God knows!
P.P.S. Family
Fun and Fishing!
·
Last week I wrote about our “fish fry.” Since that time Christine Dietrich also sent
me some pictures from the event. Here is
our whole group of pictures from the fish fry on April 25, including those from
Christine. https://photos.app.goo.gl/n8vkyxPFQkT9Uz3n7
·
On Saturday, May 2, some other men from First
Lutheran Church joined me in a benefit golf tournament. Here is a pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/oReoWhAEqhJ1gVXp6
·
Guess what I did Saturday afternoon, after the
golf tournament? I . . . went fishing at
Rodman Reservoir. Here are pictures of
the fish I caught, and also pictures of some manatees which swam around me. I released the fish. https://photos.app.goo.gl/bCTMTZHLNxMXxGoM9
*******
ABOUT THIS
DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as full-time
senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, AK. I was writing a
weekly devotion previously entitled, "Thoughts from the
Pastor." When I retired many asked me to continue writing these
devotions. So I have continued writing. However, with life's
changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys Through Life as a Child
of God." Since I am no longer senior pastor at St. John, I felt it
right to only send this message to those who asked to receive it.
(However, I currently serve as Assistant to the Pastor for First Lutheran
Church in Gainesville, FL.)
So,
if you stopped receiving these devotions and wondered why, now you
understand. And, if you are now receiving these devotions and do not wish
to receive them, please let me know, and I’ll gladly remove your name from my
distribution list. My e-mail address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My
prayer is that these devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our
Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan Rockey
Child of God
Husband, Father,
Son, Grandfather
Assistant to the
Pastor , First Lutheran Church, Gainesville, FL
Pastor Emeritus,
St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK
“How great is the love the
Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that
is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 a)
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