The Prayer We Don’t Like to Pray (Even Though Jesus Commanded It)

For as long as I can remember, I have almost daily prayed for God to raise up laborers. This is because we’ve been told to do just that:

“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

Notice that Jesus said the laborers were few. Over 2,000 years later, they are still few in number. Tragically, the Church is busy doing everything else but seeking the lost. And so, I suspect that not too many pray that God will raise up laborers. This is because it’s an uncomfortable prayer to pray if we’re not laboring ourselves. Living Waters exists as a ministry to try and change that. I love the commonsense words of D. L. Moody: “I would rather set a thousand to work than do the work of a thousand.”

“Tragically, the Church is busy doing everything else but seeking the lost.”

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That’s why we regularly host the Ambassadors’ Academy, and that’s why the following email sent to the ministry from Lisa Mahaffey is so incredibly sweet. I hope it’s a blessing (and more importantly, an inspiration) to you also:

I had to write and share with you what has happened since returning home from the Academy. Not only has it been so much easier interacting day to day with people like waitresses, store clerks, grocery bag boys, etc., but last week I got empowered to confront something that has bugged me for a long time. Our county courthouse allows Jehovah Witnesses (and has for years) to set up shop in the air-conditioned lobby of our government building to witness. They are there at least three days a week all day.

When I got back from LA, I happened to be at the courthouse one day and decided, that was it. I wrote to the Captain of our Sheriff’s office in charge of the courthouse and told him I wanted the same privilege to set up a table. What he does for one organization he has to do for all. He is a Christian and agreed I should be afforded the same rights. So, today the JW’s were told they could not come in (Tuesday is now my day), and I took a table armed with Living Waters tracts, books, Bibles, and Test Your IQ flip-chart. I took Chick-Fil-A gift cards to give out as well as money to put in the Living Waters “A Gift for You.”

Within minutes I had my first two interested people to solve the riddles. It was easy to flip from the natural to the spiritual. I was actually surprised how easy it was. The three sheriff’s deputies in charge of security stood there watching each interaction, because they were bored waiting on people to walk through the metal detectors. With each witnessing encounter I had, they would be smiling over at me—amazed at how I could get so many people to talk to me. One made a comment that in the first hour of my being there that I had more interactions than the JWs had in a year.

During the three hours I was there today, I had five people decide that they would repent and put their trust in Jesus today. They said they were going to their car and before turning the ignition on would get right with God. A few asked for a hug and several said I made their day and asked for me to pray with them.

I can’t put into words my gratitude for what each one of you did to help put on the Academy and the impact it has had on my life (and now others). Fear gripped me to the point of paralyzing me prior to going to California, and I must confess this morning after praying about it that I still was fearful driving into the courthouse parking lot. I went by myself, and I just had no idea the fruitful conversations God would bless today. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you do to make sharing the gospel easy and actually fun!

I asked AI this question: “I regularly see Jehovah’s Witnesses set up with tables. Is this legal in the United States and whereabouts do they do it?”

Here was the response:

As of my last update in September 2021, it is generally legal for religious groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, to set up tables in public places in the United States. However, there may be some restrictions and regulations that vary by location and municipality.

The legal aspects of setting up tables in public areas can depend on factors such as local ordinances, permits, and rules regarding solicitation or commercial activity. In many cases, religious groups engage in peaceful and non-commercial activities, such as distributing literature, offering information about their faith, or engaging in conversations with the public.

Where Jehovah’s Witnesses set up tables can vary, but they often choose public spaces with significant foot traffic, such as parks, sidewalks, or other designated public gathering areas. It’s important to note that they generally avoid private property without permission to avoid any potential legal issues.

Keep in mind that laws and regulations can change over time, so it’s always a good idea to check with local authorities or city officials to get the most up-to-date and accurate information about the specific rules in your area.

Let’s pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest, and let’s be those. If you want to be trained by the Living Waters team in-person from June 19-22, 2024, you can register for our upcoming Ambassadors’ Academy here. Space is very limited, so apply now if this is something you may be interested in.