I AM pastor of a district of four small churches. I enjoy my work, for I find the members loyal and sincere, with a zeal for souls and hearts big enough to receive the fruits of my labor as God blesses.
It was during the last of my college days that I heard a classmate remark: "If I am not asked to teach in the academy I certainly will teach the grades." That young man had spent time and money preparing to teach in our academies and perhaps advance to a college position. It was during the depression days, and some of the graduates were not placed in denominational work. This young man anticipated possible disappointment, and he made his decision. His forthright statement liberated a chain of thought in my mind. While waiting for a clear and unquestionable call to the ministry I was taking classes in education along with my ministerial course, to become certified in secondary education. It was my hope that if I did not receive a definite call from God to the ministry I would be asked to join the faculty of one of our academies. My definite reason for preparing to enter the teaching field was that I might give spiritual service to the young people of Adventist parents whose Christian experience and church membership was taken for granted but who needed experienced counsel and denominational guidance.
Graduation and commencement day came. I did not make myself available for the ministry, and no call came to join the faculty of an academy. After thinking the problem through and weighing the matter from all angles I made myself available to the conference as a church school teacher. I was then a married man with one child. Wages were low, but I was enjoying my work. I taught grades one to eight and one pupil in the ninth grade. I was happy in guiding these small children and one junior in their worship, work, and play, and would have been content for the rest of my life to be used in this way in the cause of God. The joy and happiness in that church school ivas supreme, and God supplied the needs of my family even on my small salary.
Three years later I was asked to teach an intermediate school. Again I was happy in my work, though if I had not been so busy I would have missed the little ones of the church school.
I was called to join the faculty of the academy of the conference in which I was teaching, and then I received a call to the ministry so definite that it could not be mistaken, and I accepted a district.
I am happy among the small churches. It is my purpose to give them as good leadership as I possibly can. We have gathered the necessary equipment to carry the programs as do large city congregations, and the members respond happily to our efforts and appreciate them.
Though the district and the churches are small, there are more people to win for Christ than any one human could ever reach without the divine help of God. The pastor of a small district can be a very busy man.
I have found satisfaction and joy as the pastor of small churches. I have felt the Holy Spirit very close to me in the humble cottage of the lowly mountaineer. It has been wonderful to witness the healing power of God for a brother and sister when bereavement seemed imminent. The personal testimony of a true child of God, the look of joy upon the face of a mother as her child is buried in the river in fellowship with Jesus, the Christian fellowship of the believers—these come to the minister of the small churches as well as to the minister of the large congregations, and I am happy to serve in this capacity as long as the Lord can use me in service for others.
