Dear Sir,
As a pastor of a small out-of-the-way church, who is now ready to retire, I read with interest your article ‘Why doesn’t he just go’. I thought our experience might re-enforce some of what was said.
The second reason given for the pastor not retiring is that younger men are just not willing to consider going to small out-of-the-way churches. Our experience (and that of another church close to us) bears that out. As soon as we approach someone and inform them the church is in a small village on the south-western tip of the Isle of Man, the response is generally ‘No thanks’!
Whilst one to two men have agreed to come across and preach, most are not willing to do so. The result is that I feel I ought to continue in ministry for the sake of the church, especially as there are so few preachers available on the island to fill the pulpit. Am I being too cynical if I conclude that little churches in out-of-the-way places are simply beneath many of our younger men? Yes, it’s true you may not be noticed and get ‘promoted’ to a big church, or be asked to speak at conferences or even attend them, but there are sinners who need saving and saints who need building up in their faith. Should we not all consider where the Lord would have us go, rather than where we decide we want to go?
Yours sincerely,
