After decades of ministry I recently discovered a unique ministry opportunity. Marketplace Chaplains brings chaplains into the business world. “Marketplace Chaplains is the largest and longest continuing provider of workplace chaplains to corporate America today” (https://mchapusa.com/). The ministry started in 1984. It brings a service to employers that shows compassion and concern to their employees in a very personal way.

I was very young, probably jr-high age, when I first became a workaholic working in a grocery store and as paper-boy delivery papers on my bike. Then starting my senior year of high-school I began a toolmaker apprentice (about 30  hours a week) plus helping run a road stand nights and weekends. Once out of high school I worked over 50 hours hour a week plus going to college nights. Then worked my way through Bible College as a toolmaker (30 to 40 hours a week) plus a youth ministry. This continued as I started out in full-time ministry.

Small churches under 100 in attendance and even some churches up to 150 are facing crises times. The challenges to keep the doors open are increasingly difficult. And, when a pastor retires or leaves the challenge to find a new pastor becomes almost impossible. The challenges are faced by smaller churches from the cities (urban) to rural areas.

A question we often ask, especially at this season, when a loved one dies is WHY? This is a question from the BBM Facebook post on “Questions, Answers, Wisdom.” Those of us who have lost a spouse, parent, child, or anyone close to us often struggle with this question. Some even struggle with their relationship with God during the grieving process.