The larger university and suburban churches and their church plants have little difficulty in gathering together an army of young graduate ‘apprentices’ looking for ministry experience. But smaller parish churches in the north of England, such as ours, find it much more difficult to recruit even one person.
We were unable back in 2003 to recruit anybody and I had to return the money charitable trusts had very generously given. By God’s grace we got a young man in 2004 who had seen our advert in St. Ebbe’s, Oxford. The Ebbe’s-based 9:38 network, which runs conferences for those considering full-time ministry and encourages apprenticeships in local churches, had kindly displayed it.
Attractive big churches
Inevitably, young graduates are going to be attracted to a thriving, happening church with a dynamic minister. Small churches cannot compete on the ‘cool’ stakes. But by God’s grace we can provide tremendous opportunities for a young person to serve our Lord Jesus Christ and gain experience in what are typical ministry situations in the Church of England. These churches are often elderly, with little background of Bible teaching and evangelism, and a keen Christian young person joining them is a huge encouragement. There are great opportunities to help kick-start children’s and youth work.
