Transforming Church in Rural America PDF Download

Author: Shannon O'Dell
Publisher: New Leaf Publishing Group
ISBN: 1614582130
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 210

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Book Description
"No matter what size church you are a part of, this book will challenge your traditional thinking, force you to look beyond the status quo, and enable you to grasp a bigger vision of what God has in store for your ministry and your leadership." -Ed Young, Fellowship Church "Shannon O'Dell's passion for the rural church in America is contagious" -Craig Groeschel, LifeChurch.tv Small church buildings dotting the countryside are home to ministries that often struggle with limited attendance, no money, and little expectation that change can revitalize their future. In Transforming Church in Rural America, Pastor Shannon O'Dell shares a powerful vision of relevance, possibility, and excellence for these small churches, or for any ministry that is stuck in a "rural state of mind." The book reveals: how to generate growth through transformed lives ways to create active evangelism in your community no-cost solutions for staffing challenges, enhancing the worship experience, and inspiring volunteers Focusing on vision, attitude, leadership, and innovation, you can learn the practical strategies and biblical guidance that helped to grow a church of 31 into a multi-campus church of several thousand, with a national and global outreach. Discover effective structure and ways to cast God-given vision so others can follow and make an impact. Experience the blueprint for transforming into effective, dynamic, and thriving churches no matter where the location or how small it may be. MORE INFO

Author: Allen T. Stanton
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1538135256
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 137

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Book Description
As rural America continues to undergo massive economic and demographic shifts, rural churches are uniquely positioned to provide community leadership. Leading a rural congregation requires a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing these communities, as well as a strong theological and community-focused identity. Allen T. Stanton describes how in establishing this identity, rural leaders build a meaningful and vital ministry. Reclaiming Rural explores the myths and realities of rural places, and how those common narratives impact the leadership of rural churches. Ultimately, rural congregations must practice a contextual understanding of vitality, which understands both the strengths and challenges of leading in a rural setting. Arguing for a practice of evangelism imbued with this mission of vitality, Reclaiming Rural promotes the church as a leader in economic and community development, modeled upon a Wesleyan theology of grace. Acknowledging the many challenges facing rural churches, this book is an energetic and encouraging guide to overcoming social and economic obstacles to build a thriving congregation.

Author: Shannon Jung
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780687016068
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
Grounded in social research, Rural Ministry evaluates the diminishing establishment of the church in rural America, which is linked to the fifty-year-old crisis in rural ministry. It names the primary issues for leaders of Protestant and Catholic churches to ponder: the graying of the population; the closing of schools, hospitals, and factories; and the corporate buyout of farms during the 1980s. In addition to retelling the history of this crisis, Shannon Jung and the other contributors to this volume offer a set of Christian principles that respond to social problems in rural life. The situation is so intense that the book offers examples from around the heartland of cooperative or collaborative parishes that blend denominational and theological differences across the Protestant and Catholic spectrum. Key Benefits: Offers a vision of nationwide renewal in rural America; Advocates true ecumenical solutions to issues confronting the rural church in America; Sidebars feature examples and illustrations; Informs new rural ministers of the culture and issues about to confront them, allowing them to better handle the challenges and opportunities of the rural environment; Motivates congregations to activate ministries in new and provocative ways, insuring the spread of the gospel; Can help troubled churches survive.

Author: Carl P. Greene
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1666749230
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 197

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Book Description
Rural ministry can be a frustrating endeavor. Traditional metrics of success are misleading and anecdotal, one-size-fits-all approaches which often fall flat in the field. In Recognizing Rural Ministry, Carl Greene uses his research to suggest tools to customize your ministry to your community and effectively engage often-overlooked mission fields. These tools come from data-driven academic research presented through the lens of the author's lived experience as a dairy farmer, rural pastor, hospice chaplain, rural layperson, rural policy advocate, and administrator of a network of churches. The book is intended for rural ministry practitioners who want to use current scholarship to better examine the complexity and diversity of rural contexts. The book engages with the rural ministry impact of cultural phenomena such as the rise of the “Spiritual but Not Religious” (SBNR) phenomenon and “early old age” (EOA) demographics. The text also addresses key theories surrounding rural subcultures, demographic tools available to describe rural communities, and the shaping influence of rural community rituals on religiosity. Intended for pastors, seminarians, college students, and rural laypersons who are passionate about adding to their toolbox of rural ministry assessment.

Author: Brent Lacy
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781986315067
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Book Description
Rural youth ministry is an amazing adventure--a truly unique beast, different from serving in the inner city or the heart of suburbia. But even though our culture is becoming increasingly urban and suburban, rural youth ministry isn't going away anytime soon.Brent Lacy is no stranger to the realities of rural ministry--the joys, the challenges, the rewards, the heartaches. He grew up in a rural community and serves as the youth pastor at a rural church today.Through the pages of this book, Brent examines keys to thriving in rural youth ministry, strategies for building solid relationships, tips on reaching your local schools, wisdom on surviving church politics, ideas on effectively using technology, and advice on adjusting to a new church or community. Whether you're new to rural youth ministry or your life has been forged in a rural setting, this book will inspire you to hold firm to God's calling. You can be successful in your ministry. You can reach your community in ways you and your church never even thought were possible. The work may be long, hard, and messy, but the rewards are amazing. The Expanded Second Edition also includes updated and additional content.

Author: Lyz Lenz
Publisher: Indiana University Press
ISBN: 0253041546
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 142

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Book Description
“Will resonate with any readers interested in understanding American landscapes where white, evangelical Christianity dominates both politics and culture.” —Publishers Weekly In the wake of the 2016 election, Lyz Lenz watched as her country and her marriage were torn apart by the competing forces of faith and politics. A mother of two, a Christian, and a lifelong resident of middle America, Lenz was bewildered by the pain and loss around her—the empty churches and the broken hearts. What was happening to faith in the heartland? From drugstores in Sydney, Iowa, to skeet shooting in rural Illinois, to the mega churches of Minneapolis, Lenz set out to discover the changing forces of faith and tradition in God’s country. Part journalism, part memoir, God Land is a journey into the heart of a deeply divided America. Lenz visits places of worship across the heartland and speaks to the everyday people who often struggle to keep their churches afloat and to cope in a land of instability. Through a thoughtful interrogation of the effects of faith and religion on our lives, our relationships, and our country, God Land investigates whether our divides can ever be bridged and if America can ever come together. “God Land, Lyz Lenz’s much-anticipated debut book, is a marvel. Not only is it a window into the middle America so many like to stereotype but fail to fully understand in all of its complexity, but it mixes reportage, memoir, and gorgeous prose so seamlessly I wanted to know how she did it.” —Sarah Weinman, author of The Real Lolita

Author: Will Basham
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 133

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Book Description
Rural Mission is written to help Christians see the specific nuance of carrying out the Great Commission in a rural setting. This book provides some practical tips about the beautiful simplicity of rural ministry. Doing simple ministry to reach simple folks in your rural setting will help you reach the lost in your town as well as start new discipleship ministries. The advice is deeply practical and applicable for pastors, church planters, and any Christian who is serious about reaching folks in a small town or rural setting.Religious undertones and the warm hospitality of many rural places make them easy places for ministry, primed for the gospel. We just need to get to work at this rural mission. And it can't just be preachers. It needs to be all of us.Rural places lend themselves to isolated cultures and each of those cultures need biblically rooted missional strategies. Every unique subculture presents a variation of ministry strategy, but at the root of every missional strategy should lie biblical principles, centered on an unchanging gospel.The roots and remnants of religion that still remain in many rural places create some of the most wonderful opportunities for ministry. But these opportunities are quickly disappearing. Today's generation must be won to Christ before religious traditionalism and false Christian identity take many to hell.

Author: Kyle Bueermann
Publisher: The Replant
ISBN: 9781733690362
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 78

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Book Description
God has plans for Nowhere, USA. You might be surprised to learn that God has great plans for Nowhere, USA; population you, your family, a few people, and scores of cattle. As you surrender to Him, remain faithful to proclaim His Word, and maintain earnest prayer on your church's behalf, you can play a pivotal role in advancing the Kingdom. Maybe you have just been called to a town like that, maybe you are still wondering where you will serve, or maybe, just maybe you want to step out of your comfort zone and into the long-forgotten communities of rural America. If that's you, this book is for you.

Author: Sally Gaze
Publisher: Church House Publishing
ISBN: 9780715140840
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 164

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Book Description
Using a mix of theological reflection, sociological analysis, case studies and personal experience, this book explores ways forward for mission in a rural context in both traditional and fresh expressions of church. It offers insights into issues facing rural England and explores the nature of mission with reference to the rural situation.

Author: Danny Davis
Publisher: Crosslink Publishing
ISBN: 9781633572058
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
"Rural churches across North America are dying at alarming rates. Rural Church Turnaround is about real people who decided their rual communities needed a life-giving church. Rural Church Turnaround recoutns the experiences of pastors and lay eladers who led their dying congregations back to health, vitality, and impactful ministry."--Back cover