I have never run across a church that did not consider itself to be friendly.  Ask any active member of any congregation and they will tell you that their congregation is one of the friendliest in town.

  The problem is that not every outsider sees it that way.  Many a visitor has been turned off by what they felt was a cold attitude at a church they had tried out.  So it is obvious that friendliness or at least the perception of it can be measured in different ways.

  I submit that a chu...

  Small church pastors are called upon to fill many shoes.  They are there at weddings, births, and deaths.  They go to the hospital to pray with the sick of the church.  Sometimes they are the only non-family member some shut ins see.  All of this is in addition to the regular duties of teaching, preaching, praying, studying, and witnessing.

  And very often they are called upon to serve as counselor.  From marital problems to sin issues, he is expected to listen to and have answers for a l...