A Father’s Prayer

“Pray to the Lord of the harvest, that he will send out workers into his harvest.” — from Matthew 9

A long time ago, on 9 November 1865, a baby boy was born in the state of Illinois, in America. His name was John Nelson Hyde. Many years later, Christians all over the world would call him by a special name: “Praying Hyde.” This is his story.

John grew up in a little prairie town called Carthage. His father, Smith Harris Hyde, was the minister of the Presbyterian church there. John had two brothers and three sisters. His big brother Edmund was two years older than he was.

John’s mother loved music. Years later John told a friend that she was the best singer he had ever heard, and “such a holy woman.” She taught him carefully about Jesus.

The family prayed together at home, and again and again John heard his father pray the same prayer. It was the prayer Jesus told his friends to pray: that God would send workers into his harvest. Jesus meant that the world is like a great field full of people who need to hear about him, and there are not enough workers to tell them. John’s father prayed that prayer gladly, even though it might mean God sending his own children far away.

John grew up and went to Carthage College. He decided that he wanted to be a missionary. But, to be honest, he wanted to be a famous one. Later he said, “I wanted to shine as a great missionary.” He really did love God. But he also wanted people to think he was wonderful, and God would gently have to change that.

God hears every prayer, even small ones, even ones we pray over and over again. John’s father did not know how God would answer his prayer. But God was listening, and God listens to you, too.

Dear God, thank you for the people who pray for me. Please send workers to tell everyone about Jesus, and help me to be one of them. Amen.