rural churches

Redeemer Church

 

"God is not turned off by the relatively small number that sits on the population sign at the edge of my town."

We are so excited to share this week's conversation with you. Jon Sanders is the Founder of the Small Town Big Church Network, an incredible ministry to support and encourage leaders in small towns and rural contexts. We had the opportunity to meet Jon a few months back and have immediately hit it off with him and feel a strong connection in perspective and vision.

Along with pastoring a rural multisite church for many years in South Dakota, Jon is also a full-time firefighter / EMT. Today we have fun talking about how pastors are doing right now, pastor appreciation month, bivocational pastoring, and a little preachin' from Jon about what he's been seeing in his work with leaders. We know you'll enjoy hearing from him and we hope you're blessed by this conversation today.

Check out the show notes and get the link to the Rural Matters Institute National Conference here: https://www.95network.org/blog/jon-sanders-50

"I got this sense that the rural church had really been forgotten about."

Today we're joined by Danny Davis, author of Rural Church Turnaround and Pastor of Life Point Church in Odessa, MO. Danny has a rich story, spending 11 years planting and revitalizing churches in South Africa before coming back to pastor a rural church in Odessa, MO. He also holds a Doctor of Education in Transformational Leadership.

Danny shares some insights from the research he did for his recent book of successful church turnarounds in rural contexts. We cover topics like navigating change, what it takes to lead a turnaround in a rural context, the heart of a pastor, church size, and a whole lot more. We hope you'll be encouraged and challenged as you listen through!

Check out all the resources mentioned and more at the show notes for this episode: https://www.95network.org/blog/danny-davis-43

In this 9th installment of the #WomenInYM emphasis Chad chats with fellow podcaster and youth minister Arielle Williford. This interview is so encouraging for women who lead in youth and for all of those who know the special blessing and challenge of leading youth ministry in small towns or rural areas. Check this warm and helpful episode filled with baby-coos. Thanks Arielle!

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Key Takeaway: Stop trying to fit the mold, be who God created you to be  

• Growing up in Virgina I never had a male youth pastor apart from my father.  
• Working with my husband and seeing him lead a student to Christ is one of the great moments of my ministry. 
• I love creating worshipful spaces  
• I think so many female youth pastors that are single think they have to have a spouse  
• Focus on God’s purpose first and foremost  
• Stop trying to fit the mold, be who God created you to be 

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