I just recently went from a very urban area doing ministry to a more rural area. I'm looking for some good book ideas for doing rural ministry. Suggestions please?
I just recently went from a very urban area doing ministry to a more rural area. I'm looking for some good book ideas for doing rural ministry. Suggestions please?
Josh,
I dont have any good books on this topic, just my experience of ministry in a rural setting for the last 3 years. I am wondering how you would see differences in ministry? If you get to know the people and love the people, I would hope it wouldnt change from a urban to rural setting. For myself, I have tried to get to know what the people do. Even getting involved as much as I possibly can in their work as well. That is my approach. Learn a lot. I have learned a lot in three years. For me, I dont know if a book would be able to tell me how to do this, I just get out there and learn from the people. just my humble opinion.
Josh,
One interesting one might be "Entering the World of the Small Church" by Anthony G. Pappas, put out by Alban Institute. This would be helpful whether your rural church is small or not. Pappas makes the point that entering into a rural church can be somewhat like a missionary or anthropologist entering a tribally structured society. It's a little out of the box--makes you look at things with fresh eyes.
Hi Josh, Thanks for the review. You appear to be very perceptive, so what makes you think you need book on rural churches. If you are aware of failings in this book you reviewed, you probably prepared to be a condoit for Christ in most settings. Listen,look and feel for the Holy Spirits que's and you will have the decernment of profound wisdom. Incidently the reason you can't find more books on rural churches is probably due to lack of market. (Sad)
Anything you need Josh in your ministries I will try to help, Josh. Be it money,time or prayers. God has put this on your mind and you blessed me with your expression of desire to help rural churches.
Thanks
Ken
Josh,
There are not many books on specifically rural ministry, however, if you do a search on amazon for smaller churches, you would come across many books which are applicable to rural ministry, whatever the size of your own church may be. A very good one along these lines is "Small, Strong Congregations" by Kennon Callahan.
The Natural Church Development process, in which many of our home missions representatives would be familar with, is also helpful, and doesn't differentiate between rural/urban large/small churches. Instead, it simply focuses on improving several "quality characteristics" of healthy churches.
Also, I can't think of it's exact title now, but there is a good conference in Illinois for "Town and Country" churches and pastors, focusing specifically on the challenges and opportunities of rural ministry.
Josh,
Found the link. Do a search for "Rural Home Missionary Association". The keynote speaker at their conference this year is Mark Dever. Previous years keynotes have been Calvin Miller, HB London and Henry Blackaby. They also offer certification and specific training in town and country ministry. Hope this helps.
Josh, How is the your church doing. We haven't heard anything from you for spell. Hope things are good and blessed.
Thanks\
Ken
Hi Josh and others.
I just sort of stumbled on these forums and as a pastor of a small church for the last 15 years, I thought I'd jump in here. Maybe you're not paying attention to this thread anymore, but at least I'll have a place to gather some thoughts.
First, you're right that a small rural church is vastly different from a small urban or suburban church. I would also submit that a small midwestern church will be vastly different from a small west coast or east coast church (etc.). Finally, I'd suggest that a small rural farming community church will be different from a small rural working class church. This is all about culture, and we have to minister within the context of the culture we're in.
It might surprise some that not all rural churches are made up of farmers. My church has a few dairymen, but the vast majority work in or are retired from other area industries. It's very much a blue collar church.
One thing I'd suggest for a small town church or rural church pastor is to get involved with a community agency of some kind. I joined our local volunteer fire department and have found it to be a great way to hang around with people who, while not all Christian, enjoy helping people and playing with big-boy toys. ;-) This has opened a lot of doors into the community for me, given me credibility with the unchurched, and has given our church a reputation of being with the community (not just in it - if you know what I mean).
Two big surprises for me are two ministries that I never thought would be anything but hobbies for those involved. The first is a theatre group started by a former Christian school teacher. We have an annual play, with a positive message, no foul language (etc.). It's become a ministry to actors and a way to meet more people in our community who come to see the plays. The second is a 7 1/2" guage train club. We have a few hundred feet of track and a train just the right size for giving rides to kids (of all ages). It was begun by a guy who loves trains and saw an unused area of property and asked if he could put a train there. This has become a train ministry, touching the lives of hundreds of people (when they go out to county fairs), and dozens here in our small town.
I was in another small church in Plain, WA (not CRC), who had a fishing ministry called "Family Lines." It was started by a guy who loved fishing and wanted to leverage his knowledge and experience into a ministry targetting family relationships (mostly father & son/daughter).
My point is that rural churches can do somethings urban & suburban churches can't do, but that these things are usually dependent on the interests of the folks who live there, and the willingness of the church to try something different, something that doesn't look very 'churchy.'
So another suggestion is to look at the hobbies of the folks in the church and brainstorm about ways to transform a mere hobby into a way to meet and interact with people. In a rural setting the best evangelism happens while doing something else (IMHO), letting the light of the Lord shine through in our everyday lives.
Another observation I have that distinguishes blue-collar communities from white-collar or college educated is this: college educated want to understand why it would work before trying it, blue collar folks just want to know if it will work or not, why is secondary (if not irrelevant). So, in my church, I don't need to explain social dynamics, psycho-social relationships and discuss trust-building before lauching a ministry designed primarily to interact with people. But I do need to convince them that just being a believer and living like one, while hanging around unchurched people, will make a difference in the lives of those unchurched folks, and that some of them will become believers because we've made friends with them.
It's also very helpful to create or nurture an atmosphere where it's okay to fail. One of my most helful phrases has become "Let's try it for a month and see what happens." Sometimes it doesn't work -- great! What did we learn? Sometimes it does -- great! Can we do it even better?
As far as teaching/preaching goes, in my experience and study, the NT was written by and for working-class folks, and they get it (if we don't muck it up too much with overly-subtle theological points). Don't underestimate their ability to grasp and live out the grand and glorious themes of Scripture. And when they get it, they're "all in." It's amazing.
Finally, I've found that it takes more than 10 years to be seen as part of the community, especially in small rural churches. Most pastors view a small rural church as a stepping stone in their career (I did too). So most members have learned to view their pastors as just passing through, not really invested in their church nor their community -- at least not as much as they are. Settling in for the long-haul with them is something they're not used to (usually). Some amazing things have happened here after 15 years, when my wife & I decided to buy land and build a house. "I guess you're planning to stay a while," folks said with a broad smile; and ministry has taken on a new depth. I wish I would have known earlier.
Hmm, this got longer than I first envisioned. Hopefully, it's helpful to someone.
Hey Rich... welcome... good to see you on here... if you don't remember, I met you a prayer summit @ Cedar Springs a few years back... great thoughts and insight... thx. for sharing...
You're welcome. I'm glad something, at least, in my 'shot-gun' response stuck. (Oops mixed a metaphor there.)
BTW, last Sunday we had 11 people join our congregation including 5 baptisms: one infant, one 5 y/o, 3 adults (including one retired couple)! Two of the families got connected with us because of the train ministry. The retired couple came in part because of my work with the fire department, and in part because of my participation in a community response to a tragedy in our area (4 people murdered, 6 wounded by a mentally-ill, local man). Folks (locals, law enforcement, and others) came because they knew me in the community, or knew our church as a place that cares for our community.
It was an awesome service!
That is awesome!!! Thank You Jesus...
You could check out a book called "The Rural Pastor: Ten Things I Wish I had Known Before I Began Rural Ministry" by H. Andy Wiebe. You can find it at www.lulu.com.