“Then He said to His disciples, ‘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 NKJV

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2012 is a leap year. Leap years are years with 366 days, instead of the usual 365. Leap years are necessary because the actual length of a year is 365.242 days, not 365 days, as commonly stated. Basically, leap years occur every 4 years, and years that are evenly divisible by 4 (2004 and 2008 for example) have 366 days and the day is added on February 29th.

One exception is that century years are only considered as leap years if they are evenly divisible by 400. Therefore, 1700, 1800, 1900 were not leap years, and 2100 will not be a leap year. But 1600 and 2000 were leap years, because those year numbers are evenly divisible by 400.

For most of us we don’t even notice the extra day. But it brings to mind the issue of time. We are stewards of time and God has told us that laborers are needed for the harvest. Our conference is given the task of providing and coordinating laborers. This can be in the form of pastors, teachers, support personnel and training of the laity.

Appeal: It would be nice if the extra day, in 2012, provided for more laborers for the harvest, or even more resources. In our giving today we bless the work of our Conference with our gifts generated by our time and talent.

PRAY