Rural church health. Assessing and improving the health of small and rural congregations.
Presence without proclamation is social work. Proclamation without presence is noise. Here is how the Rescue Gospel and the theology of presence work together in rural ministry.
Church hurt is one of the most common barriers to the gospel in rural America. Here is how to use the Rescue Gospel framework with someone who has been wounded by the church.
Rural evangelism is relational and slow. The Rescue Gospel framework fits naturally into the kinds of conversations that happen in small towns — here is how to use it well.
Small church pastors often measure health by the wrong metrics. Here are the signs of genuine church health that do not show up in attendance numbers or budget reports.
Most church planting resources are written for urban and suburban contexts. Here is what actually works when you are planting in a rural area — and what will get you in trouble.
Every small church eventually faces generational change. Here is how to lead it well — honoring what has been while making room for what is coming.
Rural communities have a mental health crisis and almost no professional resources. Here is how a small church can fill the gap without overstepping what it can offer.
The local school is one of the most strategic community partnerships a small church can build. Here is how to approach it, what to offer, and how to make it work long-term.
Addiction touches nearly every family in rural America. Here is how a small church can minister to people struggling with addiction without pretending faith is a substitute for treatment.
The candidating weekend tells you how someone preaches. The interview tells you whether they will last in your specific context. Here is how to interview for rural fit, not just pastoral competence.