Not many people can say they’ve worked at the same place for 40 years.

Rev. Fletcher E. McAfee is one person who can.

The 82-year-old Benton Harbor man has been the pastor at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Niles since 1974.

He said the key to doing one thing for so long is not a secret: You have to love what you do.

“Church work — if you are serious about it — there is nothing easy about it, so you just have to love it to stay with it,” he said. “I just love the church service period. I enjoy working with people. It can be difficult sometimes, but if you love the job then you also love the problems that come with it and you can handle them.”

Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, located at 2261 Moulder Dr. in Niles, is celebrating McAfee’s 40th anniversary throughout this week. Each night at 7:30 p.m. a different pastor will preach at the church.

McAfee’s two sons, Willie and Jerry, will speak at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday to wrap up the celebration. They are both pastors in Minnesota and will be coming to help celebrate their father’s longevity.

“We get together two or three times every year,” he said. “I always go and do their anniversary and they do mine.”

McAfee said he’s been involved in the church in one way or another for as long as he can remember. He even taught Sunday school at age 12.

“From the cradle we were brought up to love God and love people and my mother and father were strict with that — 14 of us in the family and all of us in the church,” he said. “There is no other way for me but the church.”

McAfee said he has seen membership at Mt. Olive fall from standing room only — about 200 people — to around 60 people over the years. Not enough young people are coming to church, he said, to replace those that have passed away.

“The younger generation moved out — they aren’t here,” he said.

Loving God, he said, is the only thing that will keep a person in the church — whether you’re a preacher or a member.

McAfee plans to pastor as long as he is physically able.

“Until death do us part,” he said. “If my health fails, then that will be it. I’ve got a good relationship with the people here.”