Dear Potential Pastoral Candidate – A Letter from the Former Pastor of FRC

Dear potential pastoral candidate for Forreston Reformed Church,

As the former pastor, I would like to encourage you to explore the ministry you might have here at FRC. I hope to give you a bit of insight into what pastoring at FRC might be like for the next pastor of this flock.

First off, FRC is a solid congregation which has solid leadership in the elders and deacons who seek to grow as they serve. It has been a joy to work with them. They are open to dealing with the challenges and changes that ministry faces today in staying Biblical while seeking to connect with the community.

While FRC might be seen as a small congregation, it has a big heart for this small community and that opens doors for pastoring the community around you. There are many opportunities to engage the community and interact. You can become part of this community and participate in ways and places that give you conversations with people in so many places and positions.

I have found connections and friends wherever I have decided to engage. Whether it is the Lions Club, Forreston Area Business Association, being chaplain of the volunteer fire and ambulance department crews, or just walking around town, you can have conversations.

You may find being on the sidelines of a ballgame, shopping at the local stores, stopping at the post office, bank, hardware store, or library, you will find you meet people quickly and are asked to join in with community activities. You have opportunity to share concern for their struggles and become part of their lives.

The congregation is open and encourages community involvement. FRC gets behind creative ideas such as delivering candy on Halloween to the kids from atop a deer stand in front of the church! Or collecting food for the local food pantry by distributing bags to houses all over town and then picking up all the donations given.

Forreston has a community pride that is seen in the support of the schools and teams. There is also an openness about working together with the other churches for community worship and celebrations. FRC has been a leader in this community cooperation.

When you appreciate the small-town culture, it becomes a blessing that opens doors. Yes, people know what other people are doing, but that also means they care about one another, and you find out what people are going through, and you can minister to them.

The next pastor will find that as you love the FRC people and community, they love you back.

Pastor Lyle Zumdahl (Retired: 12-31-24)
Forreston Reformed Church Pastor: 2017-2024