I would like to share with you the need, that I see, for workers in small congregations in the brotherhood. One such church, that I am aware of, is at Cedar & Cimarron in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This group currently has six members and only one is male. Evangelist Steve Wright from our home congregation here in Topeka has been asked to guide and assist this congregation, and you can see what a challenge this will be. I mention this because I know this is not the only congregation in the brotherhood, that is in this position. There are many more and I think it is of value for us all to consider our responsibilities to seeing if we can change this trend.

I believe there are two groups of people, within our brotherhood, that have a special opportunity and ability to aid these congregations.

The first group would be those that just finished college or technical training. You, in many cases, will have a choice as where to live and work. I ask that you prayerfully consider where you can be of the most value to the LORD as part of the process of deciding where you will live and work.

The second would be those that have just retired. As the “baby boomers” reach retirement age we see a vast resource that is underutilized in many cases. This is a great opportunity for you ! Is your work done? Or is there more you can do?

I am certainly in no position to say that the needs of one congregation are greater than that of any other. I also know that anyone choosing to locate in any congregation, mine included, would be welcome and would be of value. Yet I believe a careful consideration of these facts would show us that there will be some congregations that will not exist in the near future, if something doesn’t change. Can you see what a positive influence just one or two families moving to one of these congregations would have ?