My people, make I gist you wetin dey happen for dis rural place wey I call home now. E no be small matter, oh! I don pack my load come down from South Carolina to small village for Northern Lancaster County. Naija no dey carry last, and I dey bring you correct gist!
As e be, I be youth and children minister for one small Baptist church wey dey for Tradesville. You fit imagine, the church get members wey be like 300 people. No be like that big church for Greenville wey I dey work before, wey get more than 2,000 members. But my heart dey sweet me for here, and na so e suppose be, abi?
From August to October of last year, I dey reflect on all the tings wey God don do for my life. My friends dey tell me say I don lose my senses as I leave big city life come rural area wey no reach 300 people. But my new church family don open their arms for me, they dey love me well, well! E be like say God carry me come here to do I go fit call ‘grassroots ministering’. All this big salary and Instagram notoriety wey most pastors dey chase, e no dey for my life o.
For here, I dey enjoy life well. No be for social media you go see me, but you fit see me dey enjoy Sunday lunch with my new family after church, we dey talk about life, community, and God. On top Friday night, na dem local high school football match I dey. Omo, you no go understand wetin rural life dey bring for my soul!
Statistics don show say 60 million Americans dey live for rural areas, and na about 1 in 5 of them dey call this side home. People dey call am ‘middle of nowhere’, but I dey tell you, for many, e dey be ‘the middle of somewhere!’ The gospel wey I dey share as I dey minister fit reach plenty people for these small towns wey never hear am before, no be like for big cities!
For rural area, I dey meet different youths and children for schools. Schools dey wide open for pastors wey wan bring ministry enter their midst, unlike big cities wey dey block am. The biggest lesson wey I don learn na say this congregation dey crave for the Word of God. Na every week them wan hear am for pulpit and classrooms.
If we wan make impact, we gats encourage more young men to take up pastor roles for rural areas. For America, many people dey wait for somebody to lead dem. The message wey John Piper talk about how preacher suppose lift up the glory of Christ fit guide us on how to engage rural ministry effectively!
Another dey wey don show say the congregation dey long for fellowship. My potluck experiences don blow my mind! My new family dey take care of me, even help me when I just move into my new single-wide trailer wey no get furniture. I dey see God’s love and I dey enjoy all the blessings wey dey come my way.
To dey live out God’s calling for your life be very sweet thing. If you dey read this and you be young man or older man, I dey encourage you to consider rural ministry. No be about fame or fat salary, but to play your part for God’s kingdom. God dey work miracles for this rural church, and I dey get holy baptism for three students soon. No be joke, this work wey God dey do dey remind us of His power and love!
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