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Where are the Laborers?
By Jonathan & Elizabeth Shertzer
We recently read this sobering comment in a
message from a pastor: “There seems to be a
shortage of missionaries on deputation.”
Believers, where are the laborers? As our
precious Savior dwelled here on the earth,
did He not say, thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind (Mark 12:30)? He also
said, If ye love me, keep my commandments
(John 14:15). His final commandment
before leaving this earth was Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). If we love Him,
we will obey Him.

A lack of laborers going to the foreign lands
can only mean one thing, there must be
a lack of laborers in the homeland. When
we as Christians are not concerned about
obeying the commands of our Lord, we
will not be concerned about teaching the
glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ to others. We
will not go to our Jerusalem and we will not
go to our world. How has this happened to
the church? Consider these three reasons:
Fear of Man — We are more concerned
about pleasing the people around us than
pleasing God. This is a sin. Fearing God
Shertzer Family
is the foundational reality of an obedient
Christian. People spend endless hours
creating the perfect appearance, shooting
attention-grabbing videos, staging the
perfect environments—all for the purpose
of pleasing or impressing man. While
many Christians do it in the “name” of
Christianity, they are not obeying God.

They are not teaching others about Him
and His ways. Remember, the fear of man
bringeth a snare (Proverbs 29:25a) but the
fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
(Proverbs 9:10a). Seek the approval of God,
not people.

Fear of Suffering — We are obsessed
with making our lives comfortable. We
“need” the newer car, the bigger house, the
restaurant drive-throughs, and the door-
step deliveries. We cannot imagine living in
a country where medical conditions are not
top-notch. We are unwilling to change our
eating patterns or miss holidays with our
families. We would rather have our earthly
comforts than obey our Lord. Jesus told
the rich young ruler to sell all that he had
in Mark 10:17–22. He was given a choice,
and he chose his earthly possessions and
comforts over obedience to the Savior. Are
you willing to place your earthly comforts
in the hands of your loving God? Jesus gave
up the glories of heaven. Follow the example
of our Savior and be willing to suffer for the
sake of His kingdom.

Fear of Failure — We idolize success,
but pursuing success is like a dog chasing its
tail. The moment you have reached “success,”
it changes. Then you must charge down
another path seeking the ambiguous concept
of “success.” We exhaust ourselves with the
endless pursuits that make us feel successful.

While many are driven by success, others are
crippled by the possibility of failure. They
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Number 2, 2024



question themselves and doubt decisions,
ultimately leading to inactivity. True success
for a Christian is simple obedience to God
through the leading of His Spirit by His
Word. For as many as are led by the Spirit
of God, they are the sons of God (Romans
8:14). God will use our submissive acts of
obedience to reach souls for His kingdom. Be
humble and trust God to use you in His way.

Oh, Believers, may we fall on our knees in
repentance before God. If you are affected by
any or all of these reasons, I implore you to
make haste. Set aside your pride and earthly
mindedness. Give up your life. Go to your
Jerusalem. Go to your world. I made haste,
and delayed not to keep thy commandments
(Psalm 119:60). W
Changes at the World Missions Center
Three leadership changes were approved in the June Board of Trustees Meeting.

Jason Ritchie is now the Pre-field Ministries Director. This title
replaces the title of Candidate Director and brings the Candidate
School, CAMP BIMI, and CONNECT ministries under one
umbrella. These ministries serve to train, equip, and support the
efforts of new missionaries going to the field, exposing those seeking
God’s will for their lives to the possibilities of missions, and giving
those considering His call an opportunity to assist in an on-field
ministry opportunity. Jason and his wife, Mary, are both CAMP
BIMI alumni and have 15 years of ministry experience in Mongolia.

Benjamin (Benji) Dryden is now the Assistant Caribbean
Director. Benji brings a lifetime of experience to this position.

He was raised in Haiti. He and his wife, Kerri, have spent the last
20 years there as missionaries serving alongside his parents, Don
and Bridgitt Dryden.

Dan DeLong has now become an
International Representative for
BIMI. Brother DeLong transitions
from being Candidate School Director
to a role that will allow him to focus on ministries in Papua New
Guinea and Australia. He will also continue preaching missions
conferences, youth meetings, and family camps. He will work
closely with the General Director in assisting pre-field missionaries,
missionaries on furlough, and missionaries on the field.

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