Minister Message - Roll call

April 13, 2026

Dennis Kresier, Layperson, Last Mountain Anglican Parish

Key points from this story:

• A childhood roll call experience
• Principal arranged a fire drill
• Miss Stan led the roll call
• Alex was hiding during the drill
• A biblical reference to lost sheep
• Call of the Good Shepherd

While reading the paper the other day, I came upon a word not heard very often. That word was "Roll Call." It reminded me of the only time that I took part in a roll call. It was in Grade 9 in High School at Semans, Sask. Our principal, Mr. Chase had called an impromptu fire drill for the entire school. When the fire alarm sounded, all 12 grades had to march out to the playground.

When the drill was over, we returned to our own rooms and responded to a roll call with a "present" or "here" when our names were called. Our room teacher, Miss Stan, did the roll call.

She started, "Dorothy" (present), "Lloyd" (present), "Diane" (here), "Philip" (present), "Alex" (no response), again "Alex," again (no response). Miss Stan then told us all to remain safely in the classroom while she went to find Alex. We could hear her calling his name. "Alex, where are you, are you OK?" She checked the gym, lab, coatroom, washrooms, and eventually found Alex hiding in a broom closet.

She returned him safely to the classroom. Apparently, unknown to the class or Miss Stan, Principal Chase had pre-arranged the whole scenario with Alex. I have never forgotten that Roll Call!

Did you know that in the Holy Scriptures, Matthew 18:12 to be exact, tells of a roll call done by a shepherd who had a flock of 100 sheep? Jesus tells us that the shepherd took his flock out to pasture in the morning and returned with it in the evening. He would count them by name as they came into the sheepfold. To his amazement he found out that one sheep was missing. Securing the gate, he went out into the wilderness to find his lost sheep, calling it by name.

Suddenly he heard its faint and feeble cry. He picked it up, put it on his shoulders and returned it safely to the fold.

Jesus tells us that HE is the Good Shepherd and that He still is seeking the lost sheep in the wilderness of our lives. Have you responded to the call of this benevolent Shepherd? He knows your name. Have you heard His Roll Call? The angels in Heaven rejoice over every "Human Sheep" that responds to this Good Shepherd. Please do so today.