Written by Rev. Robert Voss in 1962

We have been provided with the Bread of Life, but unless we provide for those following us, they will die of spiritual starvation. How can we today provide the Bread of Life for the people of tomorrow? Obviously more boys and girls must be encouraged for the most satisfying work in the world. But how can we encourage them?

It should be recognized that the teacher is in a most favorable position to influence the pupil in choosing his life work. Next to the parents, no one spends more time with the child than its teacher.

The teacher’s attitude will be a basic factor in any encouragement given to pupils to prepare for fulltime church work. Pupils easily sense the attitude of their teacher toward their work. If the attitude is positive, if it reflects real love for the teaching ministry, it will be a strong encouragement to the child to desire and seek that office. On the other hand, a negative attitude in our work will be a very discouraging factor.

What are some of the negative attitudes which can easily deter any effective recruitment of our pupils? There is the danger that we regard our ministry as just another job, just another way of making a living.

Another recruitment-deterring attitude is that the teacher leaves the impression that he is “just a teacher.” There is a distinct difference between this negative attitude and true humility.

Still another dangerous attitude, which will discourage our pupils from preparing for church work, is this: As pastors and teachers we are making tremendous sacrifices. Surely we are called upon to make sacrifices, but this does not give us the right to develop a martyr complex; with such an attitude we can hardly encourage our pupils to become pastors and teachers.

On the contrary, ours should be a positive attitude toward our calling. It should not be difficult to develop positive attitudes when we consider what an undeserved privilege we enjoy.

What is this privilege? It is the privilege of working with or being involved in man’s spiritual welfare. We could be involved in nothing more important, nothing that so involves man’s greatest need. We need doctors, farmers, merchants, laborers, nurses, secretaries, but most of all we need pastors and teachers.

Our attitude in our work will be positive when we remember also that our labors are never entirely futile and in vain. My Word “shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it” (Isaiah 55:11). This promise should relieve us of discouragement.

And, finally, our labors have the most glorious promise of a gracious reward, more abundant than we could ever have asked and prayed for. To be sure, it is a reward which we have not earned and could never merit, but a reward of grace.

Where such attitudes prevail among pastors and teachers, they cannot but rub off on those with whom they come into contact. With such positive attitudes we can encourage our pupils to prepare for the teaching and preaching ministry.

Not only by our attitudes, but also by our word and counsel we encourage our pupils to train for life’s highest calling.

As pastors and teachers we have to be extremely careful as to what we say, especially before the children; because our words and statements can also have a negative effect and be a discouraging factor in recruitment. We should at all times speak well of the congregation and of colaborers in the parish and in the secondary schools. Mutual respect in the preaching and teaching ministry will encourage respect among the pupils and may well encourage them to desire the office of the ministry.

With word and counsel we can encourage boys and girls by telling the need for pastors and teachers. The world is recruiting many scientists today by emphasizing the need. We ought to emphasize the world’s greatest need – the need for full-time church workers to preach the Gospel. Seventy-two percent of the world still has not confessed Jesus as the only Savior. This world need represents our opportunity. This need is also prevalent in our beloved land. Forty-nine percent of the people of the US still claim no church membership whatsoever. Many areas are not dotted with church spires.

Another need to be emphasized is the need of the church, particularly of our synod. Not only have we experienced difficulty expanding our work, but also in carrying out our present program. There are almost 50 vacant pulpits now, and many classrooms are crying for well trained teachers. Our area Lutheran high schools and our synodical schools now need and will continue to need more teachers.

A third need that we ought to emphasize to encourage recruits is the compelling need of the Christian to testify and bear witness to his faith. Surely this latter need can be satisfied in every occupation and profession. But how can this need best be met and to the fullest extent? By full-time service in the church as pastors and teachers.

Finally let us all remember that all effective recruitment begins in a praying heart. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38). Above all, you can encourage your pupils to prepare for the teaching and preaching ministry with your fervent prayers.

This article is taken from the February 1962 edition of the Lutheran Educator. It is written by Robert Voss, who at the time was the pastor at Siloah Lutheran Church in Milwaukee and the chairman of the WELS Manpower Committee. We are using this article to emphasize that some of the issues we experienced 50 years ago we are still experiencing today!