Confessions of a Small Town Minister

by David John Ford

Ministry in a small town or rural context is challenging. The minister and his or her family live in a fishbowl, with every aspect of life under constant scrutiny. In addition, few seminaries or Christian colleges and universities offer courses preparing people for small-town ministry. Throw in limited resources and small-town politics, and you might begin to understand the struggle of Ben Wright, minister in Madison, Montana. In a last-ditch effort to find help before he quits ministry altogether, Ben solicits the advice of another minister, the aged and experienced Kain Hoddis. Ben and Kain undertake a journey of discovery as together they explore the joys and struggles of small-town ministry.

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 2014

Reviews

[Florence Osmund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never gave much thought as to what it’s like to be a small town minister—not until I read this book, that is. While the author makes it very clear it is a book of fiction, his background as a small town minister must have played a significant role in its writing, and I was moved by his candidacy in telling the story. It’s an emotional read given the loneliness, isolation, frustration, and pain endured by the main character. And in the end, I found it uplifting to learn what a best friend, a supportive family, and the love of God can accomplish. Well worth the read.