By proclamation of the 2019 United States Senate, October 28th of each year is designated as National First Responder Day. There are approximately 4.6 million first responders serving the 342.6 million Americans. These include firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and 911 dispatchers.1 While this seems like a lot, the math demonstrates otherwise. There is one first responder for every 74 Americans and that doesn’t guarantee that the first responder type you need is available to you.
“The work of first responders is not without its risks. Last year, according to the National Fire Protection Association, 89 firefighters in the United States died from traumatic injuries, heart attacks, strokes or aneurysms while on duty or within 24 hours of duty. Beyond the physical dangers, many first responders also grapple with the mental and emotional toll of their work, including high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder.”2
Physical and mental hazards aren’t the only thing affecting first responders. The divorce rate among firefighters and police is higher than that of those in the military.3 Suicide rates are also higher among first responders.4 Many scenarios can be blamed for causing these tragic statistics. This doesn’t have to be the case. Perhaps the negative statistics wouldn’t be as high if there were more who would become first responders, helping to share the burden and relieve the stress load.
When you think about the term first responder, the simplest definition is the first to respond. While others run from trouble, the first responder rushes towards it. They are the first ones on scene to assist and provide help to someone in need. For their service, we are grateful!
Now, let’s apply this to the Christian. Are you one of God’s first responders? When there is a situation or a need, are you the first to rush to help? Do you even see the need?
Isaiah’s commission from God is familiar to most Bible students. Isaiah 6:8 says, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah wanted to be one of God’s first responders. He wanted to
be used of the Lord.
During our missionary conference, there was a constant challenge to answer God’s call. It seems that fewer and fewer people are surrendering to full time Christian service, whether that be as pastors or missionaries. Has the need diminished? Have so many people answered the call and accomplished the work that fewer are needed? Has God stopped calling?
I highly doubt it! Jesus said in Luke 10:2, “… The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” If we can demonstrate that the harvest is no longer great – which we can’t – then we can justify a fewer number of workers in the field. Unfortunately, the statistics indicate that Americans don’t believe the harvest is great.
In a 2014 Barna report, America has 156 million unchurched individuals, making up over 45% of our population.5 Every year, the numbers are progressively worse. In 2022, Barna reported a shift in attitude towards church. Nearly 25% are church hoppers and 16% have completely dropped out of church.6 And, Axiom.com reports that 15,000 churches could close this year amid religious shift in U.S.”7
This isn’t the characteristics of first responders!
As we celebrate first responders today, maybe there is something you could do in your community to be a first responder. If you aren’t physically able or have aged out of serving as a first responder, there are other ways to help. The Red Cross is always looking for volunteers. Through the fire department, I have worked with our local Red Cross agents, a wonderful elderly couple who respond to those in need. They could have said, “We’re too old!” but they didn’t. They answered the call.
God is looking for more first responders to answer the call. Don’t let Ezekiel 22:30 be said of us!
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”
1https://www.usfa.fema.gov/blog/national-first-responders-day/
2Ibid.
3https://www.oldest.org/people/jobs-with-high-divorce-rates/
4https://www.usfa.fema.gov/blog/study-examines-higher-suicide-rates-among-first-responders/
5https://www.barna.com/research/10-facts-about-americas-churchless/
6https://www.barna.com/research/church-attendance-2022/
7https://www.axios.com/2025/10/03/us-churches-close-religious-shift-christians
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