Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Burch.
Hi Sam, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Well, I was a semi retired minister and retired social worker from Minnesotat living with my wife of 48 years in Florida. I had been in social work for 21 years, and in ministry now for 49 years. Most of our family still resides in Minnesota, so we were here vacationing when we were asked to “fill in” at a church called Sonlight Church of the Nazarene.
Sonlight was very near to closing with about 10-12 people left. My wife and I were asked to supply pastor for a couple weeks and to assess the condition of the church to see if there was any hope. That was nine years ago this month. My wife and I decided to help them through a difficult time and committed to be here all but 12 weeks per year, which we spent at our home in Florida. We began to reach out to anyone hurting or broken in spirit and our community through a large foodshelf, which is now elsewhere because it grew so much. We also began to reach recovery people and seniors in an apartment building with ministry.
After a few years we changed the name to Together Place Church (during covid), and began to grow. We launched a once a month large family dinner for anyone, whether they attend church or not. We also purchased a mobility bus to bring people from recovery programs and the senior apartment to the church regularly. Since then we now run up to 125 people, and still a very warm and loving church where everyone is known and helped to live a transformed life. We are reacing capacity for our building size, but are going out to meet people where they are at also.
We have a Christ Centered Healing and Recovery meeting once a week for addiction and or mental health issues. We also still emphasize reaching seniors and people struggling with addictions. While we build our foundation on biblical truths, we will reach out to all who are searching, regardless of their belief. Together Place is a very giving people and for our size they do amazing at helping people in the community and missions out of state and out of country.
All in all God has taken this dying church to a level of reaching many who do not fit in other places. We have a number of people driving 60 and more miles every week to come here. We feel more like a resuce mission than a country club church, and that is our desire…to reach the marginalized…like Jesus!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No…not smooth. At first, and even now we have had few workers, (mostly elderly), and people in recovery prgrams we have to transport often. This has been initially with very limited resources. The biggest struggles are walking along side those with addictions and mental health issues who have lost many relationships and all their resources. Also finances were really low, but we have overcome some of that by selling our building and leasing it back from the very wonderful business next door that bought it. God has provided many blessings. Overall it is an immensely rewarding experience.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have been a licensed social worker (retired) working with child protection, and children’s mental health in the schools. I was part of an award winning county in social services. I also worked in a wonderful school setting and was blessed by great superintendants and principals. Along side of that I was always in either evangelism or pastoring or both.
What sets me apart is perhaps a deep faith in God that my parents started in me, and a lifestyle that always looked not at money, or size of the church, but reaching those most hurting. I guess being 79 and still ministering, evangelizing, and reaching the most hurting among us brings joy that many do not know who are self absorbed.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
There is nothing better than a church family, where the church really is either small enought to know you well, or has very accessible small groups to become a part of. That has worked for me and that is what we now try to provide as we can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://togetherplacechurch.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TogetherPlaceChurch/
- Youtube: Together Place Church @togetherplacechurch8213
