After 52 years, Chlastak to retire from ministry

“For everything there is a season...” Ecclesiastes 3

On the last Sunday of October, the Rev. Frank J. Chlastak will retire from active ministry after 52 years to begin a new season in his life.

He is senior minister of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Poplar Bluff.

“It has been my challenge and pleasure to serve the members of First Christian Church as senior pastor and to also be involved in the community in various activities. I look forward to continued activity to better our community,” said Chlastak.

He was ordained at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Monroe, Louisiana, in November 1988.

Chlastak first began his ministry as a member of the Wesley Foundation Deputation Team while at Northeast Louisiana University. He was then called as a youth pastor at his home church in Monroe.

His first active ministry was at the Monterey Christian Church in Monterey, Louisiana, on the banks of the Black River and his last will be on the banks of the Black River in Poplar Bluff.

Life has come full circle.

Chlastak was called to serve the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and began serving as senior pastor in September of 2015.

Prior to being called as senior pastor of the First Christian, he had served churches beginning in Louisiana, Arkansas, Virginia, Oklahoma and Missouri.

In his younger days, he directed many summer church camps from 1, 2, 3 Go, Junior, Chi Rho, and Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) and canoe camps on the Buffalo River in Arkansas.

Over the course of the years in the ministry, he founded the Garland County Habitat for Humanity in Garland County, Arkansas, and the Nottaway County Habitat for Humanity in Blackstone, Virginia.

He also was a founding member of the Lunenburg County Ministries in Lunenburg County, Virginia, which still today seeks to help those in need.

He has a Bachelor’s of Arts from Northeast Louisiana University in Journalism and a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

He has an honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Toadsuck Theological Seminary.

He has served on various district and regional church committees over the years in each region of the church he has pastored.

He served on the Arkansas Interfaith Council, promoting understand of the various religious groups in the state.

He has also been active in the various local ministerial alliances, often serving as President.

After retirement, he plans to continue being the volunteer lead chaplain at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and writing columns for the Daily American Republic.

He currently serves as the vice president of the volunteers at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

He also plans to spend as much time as he can trout fishing.

His wife, Doris, will continue working at the Money Center at Walmart until she retires.

He and his wife are avid fans of the Kansas City Royals baseball team, the St Louis Blues hockey team and “occasionally” the St Louis Cardinals.

They plan to attend as many games as they can after retirement.

There will be a reception following the worship service on Oct. 27 for the Chlastaks.

All in the community who worked with Chlastak and his wife are invited to attend.

Please RSVP the church office, 1601 N. Main St., 573-785-6466.