‘Set Apart to Serve’: With thanksgiving for our church workers

Stained glass at Luther Memorial Chapel in Shorewood, Wis., depicts St. Paul preaching and teaching to the Gentiles. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By James Baneck

What do you think — should Set Apart to Serve (SAS) use St. Paul as a poster child for church work recruitment?

Paul became a Christian and an apostle in A.D. 36. Nineteen years later, he wrote to the church in Corinth. He recounted what he had endured as a servant of Christ. He received 39 lashes five different times. He was beaten with rods three times. Once he was stoned. Three times he was shipwrecked. He endured hardships, hunger, thirst and cold.

Five years later (A.D. 60), St. Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi. By this time, he had been a church worker (apostle, preacher, teacher, missionary) for about 24 years. He wrote this letter from prison. He was jailed for preaching Christ crucified and risen from the dead.

Yet, from his prison cell, he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. … Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. … In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:4–13).

This is St. Paul’s church worker story — and he tells it with thanksgiving.

Most church workers in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) do not endure the sufferings St. Paul did. Church workers do, however, suffer the cross — sometimes lightly, sometimes greatly. While we expect suffering to come from outside the church from unbelievers who hate the Gospel, it is particularly difficult when the suffering comes from within the church.

SAS has learned that one of the major reasons pastors and commissioned church workers do not encourage (and even discourage) our youth to consider full-time church work is because of the hardships they suffer from within the church. Church workers often suffer low salaries, long work hours, unreasonable expectations, negative criticism, stressful meetings and more. Sometimes they live in parsonages that have had maintenance deferred too long. It is good to remember who we are — the baptized, redeemed children of God in Christ Jesus. St. Paul writes to the church, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10), and this includes our ordained and commissioned church workers.

Why did St. Paul continue to be a church worker, even in suffering? Why did he encourage Timothy, Titus and others in the Holy Ministry? Because St. Paul saw and met the crucified Christ. He witnessed His bodily resurrection. He believed that Jesus was God who came into the flesh to take the sins of the world upon Himself to give us His own righteousness. St. Paul believed that eternal salvation is ours by grace through faith in Christ alone. St. Paul was convinced that there is no other Gospel — so much so, that He would suffer and die for the faith and in the faith of Christ Jesus.

Jesus said to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). These words ring true for every Christian, as St. Paul writes: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9), and “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).

But it is these very words that cause men and women to consider full-time church work. They believe Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead for the salvation of all who hear and believe. They are convinced in their heart to be servants of Christ by serving Him and His church in a full-time ordained or commissioned vocation.

Philippians 4 was the appointed epistle for Thanksgiving Day. Whether one is serving as a full-time church worker or being served by one, St. Paul’s voice blends with yours and mine in one confession of faith. With thanksgiving we let our requests be made known to God. We trust that in any and every circumstance, we have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. We can do all things through Him who strengthens us.

What is your church worker story? Be a poster child for church work recruitment. Tell it with thanksgiving. Encourage a young man or young woman to consider full-time church work. Find resources at resources.lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.

Posted Dec. 5, 2025