Blessings of Small Town Living

[Steve Epley]

This came to me yesterday I was in the City building to pay our utilities while there I spoke to the Mayor, City Clerk, Building Inspector. I go to the Library two of our saints work there and I know all of them. The folks at the grocery store, drug store, dollar store, hardware store all know us personally. A visiting missionary was coming to speak at the church last night he forgot the way and stopped and asked directions the person he asked just got in his car and led him to the church. I have saints working at both funeral homes. The church has been here 48 years and I have been here 13 years so everyone knows us. We are the only Oneness church in our small town of course our city is yet listed as an unchurched city.:winkgrin I am indeed thankful for where I am. Our church has maintained a good name in this city.

[Sherri]

I grew up in a town of 2000 in Southern Illinois. So when God sent us to Adamsville, TN (pop. 1500) I felt right at home. We were there for over twenty years. However, now that I live in Jackson, it would be kind of hard to move back to a small town. Jackson isn't huge by any means, but everything is so convenient. We actually have places to go after 8 PM, which we didn't have for many years.

But I understand the family feel in a small town; there are advantages.

[Ferd]

Brother E, you are doubly blessed. First to be in a small town and second to be in an "unchurched" town.

my small home town which i would really love to be able to move back to, has more "churches" than you can throw a stick at.

4 UPCI churches (if you count Shady Grove which is 5 miles out) then 2 ALJC and at least 5 independants. at least 4 of these are splits off another, 1 is a former pastor that has gone charismatic. one of the independants is NEW! He just felt the Lord call him to town that already has at least 10 apostolic churchs.

there are only 13,000 in town.

[Destiny2]

a few years back an enebriated fellow my mum had witnessed to many times called in the middle of the night ,from British Columbia to the city she lives in in New Brunswick.He told the operator that he wanted to talk to "mom......",and that she was Pentecostal,the operator called a pastor of one of the Pentecostal churches and told him who she was looking for,he said sure he knew her she had taught him in Bible school many years previously.So how is that for a small city.

[Old Paths]

Mitchell is sooooooo small that they nailed BOTH city limit signs back to back on the same pole.



:D

[RandyWayne]

a few years back an enebriated fellow my mum had witnessed to many times called in the middle of the night ,from British Columbia to the city she lives in in New Brunswick.He told the operator that he wanted to talk to "mom......",and that she was Pentecostal,the operator called a pastor of one of the Pentecostal churches and told him who she was looking for,he said sure he knew her she had taught him in Bible school many years previously.So how is that for a small city.

Reminds me of Andy calling "Sara" to put him through to the sheriff in Mt Pilot.

I grew up in small town called Ringle which was just East of Wausau, WI, a city consistently in the 39 thousand range. The whole county of Marathon was always close to 50 thousand.

It was large enough that you didn't know everyone but far too small to get the basic pleasures, like an Olive Garden or Red Lobster. Most of the people there didn't care either.... they would rather go to McDee's than someplace nice.

Once we got married, we've been spending nearly 4 years in Portage which us just under 10 thousand! Granted, we're half an hour from Madison, but that doesn't help much when you want to quick do something at night. (Portage also has the WORST restaurants of anyplace I have ever been..... It is a town filled with farmers who consider salt on their venison to be "Good Eats" <insert Good Eats theme>. BLAND!

Early next year we will be moving to the Phoenix, AZ area and cannot wait! Finally, STUFF!

[Hesetmefree238]

My town is about 8000, and I love it here, but my ideal location would to be
in a small city of around 50,000. There are so many more restaraunt and
shopping choices in a city of that size.

[CupCake]

This came to me yesterday I was in the City building to pay our utilities while there I spoke to the Mayor, City Clerk, Building Inspector. I go to the Library two of our saints work there and I know all of them. The folks at the grocery store, drug store, dollar store, hardware store all know us personally. A visiting missionary was coming to speak at the church last night he forgot the way and stopped and asked directions the person he asked just got in his car and led him to the church. I have saints working at both funeral homes. The church has been here 48 years and I have been here 13 years so everyone knows us. We are the only Oneness church in our small town of course our city is yet listed as an unchurched city.:winkgrin I am indeed thankful for where I am. Our church has maintained a good name in this city.

Agree~ Livening in a small town has many advantages, like when your in need others help, or you forgot your wallet or short on cash we'll take care of it next time you come in. Plus everyone knows you and likewise, they look out for you and your family. My town is small 190, most are Amish or Mennonites~

[Trouvere]

sorry but having lived in both I definately prefer a more metro area.I miss our church family though.You get used to people and pray and cry with them you eventually miss them.I like having alot of things to do that are christian and not
being stuck home all the time eating pop corn,reading a novel for entertainment.Plus the bigger the area the more souls that live there.

[Pastor Keith]

Brother E, you are doubly blessed. First to be in a small town and second to be in an "unchurched" town.

my small home town which i would really love to be able to move back to, has more "churches" than you can throw a stick at.

4 UPCI churches (if you count Shady Grove which is 5 miles out) then 2 ALJC and at least 5 independants. at least 4 of these are splits off another, 1 is a former pastor that has gone charismatic. one of the independants is NEW! He just felt the Lord call him to town that already has at least 10 apostolic churchs.

there are only 13,000 in town.

Shady Grove is that in the Dallas Area, and is that a former UPC work?

[Margies3]

Our town is small enough that one year my parents received a Christmas card from a friend that had been addressed to
Mr. & Mrs. Clarence
Swanton, Ohio

No last name, no street, no nothing. Just Mr & Mrs. Clarence and the town.

And it was delivered to the right person!! Not THAT is small town living!!!

[CupCake]

sorry but having lived in both I definately prefer a more metro area.I miss our church family though.You get used to people and pray and cry with them you eventually miss them.I like having alot of things to do that are christian and not
being stuck home all the time eating pop corn,reading a novel for entertainment.Plus the bigger the area the more souls that live there.

Well I can assure you I don't sit at home eating popcorn:nah, I have a very active life. I've lived in the big city's most my life, and would not trade my small living for nothing, not even for a real pizza....;) It all comes down to a frame of mind, I seek out simple things these days, maybe that comes with age~

[Sherri]

My town is about 8000, and I love it here, but my ideal location would to be
in a small city of around 50,000. There are so many more restaraunt and
shopping choices in a city of that size.
So come on over to Jackson......my house is for sale!!!:killinme

[Monkeyman]

The good thing about my small city is that it is within driving distance of NYC so I can go get rid of stress in a good ol' fashioned traffic jam, mmmm! That gives me warm fuzzies!

[Old Paths]

Shady Grove is that in the Dallas Area, and is that a former UPC work?


I believe Ferd was speaking of Deridder, LA.

Ooooops maybe he didn't want anyone to know.


:D

[CupCake]

When you live somewhere that has less people you tend to live closer to the maker creating. I love the fact when I step outside there no city street lights shinning above me just the moon or the star to light my way, no siren or neighbors yelling, braking dogs, just the coyotes, frogs, crickets to sign me asleep. I love my view of the mountains and the wild life in my own front yard, we've had bears, white tail deers, mt lions, Elk even moose. I rather take in these beauty then see buildings and trash and drink fresh water from my own well then recycled water treated with chlorine. I prefer dirt under my feet over concert and growing my vegetables and hunting for meat, and walking down to the river to fish, or pick wild berries, then buy foods that been over processed and shot full or cancer causing hormones that have no nutritional values . When you live next to the things God made, living for Him a lot easier, I do not believe man was ever meant to live like rats on top of one another~

[tamor]

Our town is small enough that one year my parents received a Christmas card from a friend that had been addressed to
Mr. & Mrs. Clarence
Swanton, Ohio

No last name, no street, no nothing. Just Mr & Mrs. Clarence and the town.

And it was delivered to the right person!! Not THAT is small town living!!!

I can beat that one Margie. Two different times I have gotten "intercompany mail" from work in my mailbox at home. It would be in an envelope with my name on it and accidentally get processed through the postage meter. The next day it would show up in my mailbox. That's truly a one horse town!

[Brother Strange]

The good thing about my small city is that it is within driving distance of NYC so I can go get rid of stress in a good ol' fashioned traffic jam, mmmm! That gives me warm fuzzies!

Un huh, I understand.

The warm and fuzzy feeling that I get is going to the stock auction at the nearby sale barn, mixing it up with all the snuff dippers and tobacco spittin' good ol' boys. GREAT FUN!

Then, there is the local Baptist church that have a lot of "Sangin's," usually on Saturdays. Great resturant not too far away where you can enjoy farm fresh fried catfish and a Gospel Sangin' at the same time.

Then of course the seasonal things that I enjoy so much too. There is the Dogwood festival, an event that is well attended and looked forward to by all. Other events that are really great, all of which I greatly enjoy including the world class fishing event at the nearby Lake Sam Rayburn. Folk come from all over the world for that event...only about ten minutes away. I love Lake Sam Rayburn, the Neches River (which is now at flood stage) and Toledo Bend which is another 45 minutes away.

But the event that I love the most is the annual fall "Syrup Makin." Boy! Is that a lot of fun! Farmers bring their sugar cane to the local mill, have it squeezed into juice, cooked until it is syrup. People come from all over. Of course, I'm there too just to see and visit with the good folk. I'm there with my favorite pair of bluejean overall with one strap dangling, of course. I wear my boots and usually a flannel shirt. There is dinner on the ground and a lot of socializing...and talking and talking and talking. Man! It just don't get any better than this.


Aaaah, life in these beautiful East Texas forests. How beautiful!

[Ferd]

I believe Ferd was speaking of Deridder, LA.

Ooooops maybe he didn't want anyone to know.


:D

LOL! OP knows everyone!

[Ferd]

Shady Grove is that in the Dallas Area, and is that a former UPC work?

Dallas could actually stand to have a few more Apostolic churches.

[DEAK]

We are in a college town. The population is about 25K besides the students.

There are over 40 churches in a 10 mile radius.

[ForeverBlessed]

Small town living has its advantages and disadvantages. I am 10 min from Indianapolis…gotta go through 10 min of cornfields to get to Indy, but it is that close. I stay here because it is a safe suburb with the convenience of a big city.

Our suburb is about 18 thousand now…sometimes I think it is getting too large though. Being raised in a minister’s home afforded me the opportunity to know many people as lots of people have Apostolic roots and familiar with the church… even if they never attended church. The city has really grown over the last 15 years or so… but there is still so many that have roots in the church.

I was at a store in Indianapolis about 10 years ago and left my drivers license after writing a check. The store manager couldn’t mail the license because of policy and didn’t have a phone number for me… so they decided to call the Police Department of the suburb I live in for help… hoping that I reported them lost.

The manager of the Store was quite impressed when I picked them up… he told me that the police said “Lisa Taylor is Rev So-and-so’s daughter… we will call him and let him know. Even though I was married w/different name, I was still identified and that was helpful.

Down side of small town living is everyone knows too much about people and whatever they do in life… I’m still taken back at the people you meet in Walmart who you’ve not seen in years, but they sure know what you’ve been up to in the last 5-10 years. Or the clerk at my utility office who keeps track of my personal life over the last 16 years…thanks to a local newspaper that still reports small details of the local courts.

Life is good in small town living but can be a pain in the backside at times too…. I keep saying I am going to move someday… probably when my kids are gone.

[Old Paths]

LOL! OP knows everyone!



:D

I have preached at Shady Grove for JP.

Great guy.

Did you know that he is the presbyter now?

[Ferd]

:D

I have preached at Shady Grove for JP.

Great guy.

Did you know that he is the presbyter now?

Oh yes. and doing a good job. JP is awesome. do you know if his son became a missionary? I know he was thinking about that.

Love Brother P. (that is one of the good churches.)

[ILG]

I would like to live in the country.....I might prefer outside of a town that had at least a few choices for shopping. I would like a secluded house in some acreage. It's sooooo expensive!!

[Old Paths]

If you can get to Walmart in 20 minutes, then you are NOT in the country.


:D

[ILG]

If you can get to Walmart in 20 minutes, then you are NOT in the country.


:D

I understand that. A person can also find cheaper housing in an area that is very small town (no walmart or mcdonalds) but that is because there are hardly any jobs! LOL!