Every three to four weeks, my associate pastor does something significant. She doesn't do much the rest of the time. No one in my congregation would even identify her as a staff member. But about once a month, they welcome her ministry.

I'm the sole pastor of a small-town church. I'm also the secretary and sometimes business manager. There's no way this congregation can afford an associate pastor, so the one we have works for free.

Every week in the classroom, pulpit, and living room, I try to speak and live the gospel. I work hard at teaching and preaching, visiting and spiritual direction. In all I do as a pastor, I want to help draw people further into a grace-filled life, a life marked by prayer and worship, witness and joy.

But I know I can't do it all.

Larger churches, faced with this dilemma, hire an associate pastor, someone who can specialize in outreach or education or youth ministry. I don't have that luxury, but I do have that unpaid associate pastor: the church newsletter.

Every ...