When I was fresh out of Bible College I became the pastor of a very small urban church. Shortly after becoming pastor the deacons came to me and said,“We know we will need to close the church but we want to give you a chance to get some experience to help you find a larger church.” Naturally my first reaction was why didn’t you tell me that before I accepted the call. It was probably youthful idealism that led to a commitment to do all that could be done to stay open. God must have shared my idealism, He blessed and the church grew during my years as pastor. Today that small church is still preaching the gospel on that same street some 50 years latter. To God be the Glory.

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.