Life at the Church Office

It’s 1989. The smell of ink fills the church basement as the mimeograph machine hums to life. With each turn of the crank, another freshly printed bulletin slides onto the growing stack. Anita Hubers, a young mother of four, works diligently. What began as five to seven hours a week of “just doing the bulletins” would slowly grow into a lifetime of service at Pease (Minn.) Christian Reformed Church.

Hubers’s father-in-law was serving on the church council at the time and had asked if she would be interested in helping out.

“We love the church, and [my husband] Steve and I had only been living in Pease for about five years at that point,” Hubers said. “So I said, ‘Sure. I have four little kids. It’ll be a nice little break.’”

What began as a small, flexible role grew along with the church as time went on.

From building projects to variations in worship style, Hubers has witnessed decades of change. Her workspace evolved from a space in the church basement into a modest two-room office. And as the church expanded, so did her responsibilities.

“It just grew . . . to more and more hours,” Hubers said.

And while the church evolved physically, so did the nature of Hubers’s job.

The mimeograph and typewriter gave way to desktop computers. Copy machines became computerized also. Media entered the sanctuary. Church management software was introduced. Online giving followed.

“It would be horrible to think of going back and doing it the old way,” Hubers said with a chuckle.

Throughout the many seasons of change, she said, she wanted to learn whatever would best serve the church and its community. “I did appreciate all these new things in making our church more progressive,” Hubers added.

But at its heart, her work was not about machines or software, she said.

As one of the first people visitors see as they walk into Pease CRC today, Hubers noted that she is often present in some of life’s most significant moments on the front lines of congregational life.

“Sometimes when people come in, they have just lost a loved one. Sometimes they’re engaged to be married, and they’re just bouncing off the wall. Or sometimes they’re just really struggling with their marriage,” Hubers said. Reflecting on her role as part of the Pease church staff, she added, “You’re kind of the first one to see all that.”

While Hubers has loved being present for the Pease congregation, she said she also learned that serving in that capacity requires boundaries.

Working in a church rarely follows a typical nine-to-five schedule, she said. There is no clean clocking in or out. For years, late-night phone calls and unexpected conversations at the grocery store left her feeling like she always needed to be “on.”

“You go home from your work at church, and it’s always in your mind,” Hubers said.

Separating her work from her personal life became difficult at times, she said, until a pastor gently intervened. He encouraged her to establish clearer boundaries and to protect her time. Now Hubers passes that wisdom along to the younger administrator at Pease CRC, reminding her that ministry is healthiest when it is sustainable.

Through leadership transitions and shifting seasons, Hubers recognized, she became more than an employee; she became part of the church’s legacy. From her work with weddings to helping with finance and membership records, her experience has touched nearly every corner of the congregation’s life.

Over the years, she said, she has worked under five pastors. As in any congregation, there have been what she calls “bumps in the road,” but she has also learned that growth often comes through challenge, she said.

“You never know what the Lord is doing here,” Hubers said.

Hubers added that she did not just grow professionally at Pease CRC. She also grew spiritually. She now shares Scripture with more confidence and finds deep joy in intergenerational ministry, she said. Sharing an office with the church’s youth pastor has also helped her stay connected to the next generation, she noted.

“I kind of feel like I’m staying a little bit young,” Hubers said with a smile.

Now semiretired and working part-time—and even logging in remotely during the winter months from sunny Arizona—said Hubers, she still cannot quite step away. It’s a striking contrast from the days of making hand-cranked copies of bulletins in the church basement, she recalled, but as she approaches 37 years at Pease CRC this April, her affection for the congregation remains unchanged, she said.

“I still love that church so much. I just really want to stick around and help for as long as I can,” Hubers said. “There are good things going on there.”

Is there a staff member or volunteer at your church whose story could inspire others? Let us know at [email protected].