The story of Gideon should not have ended in victory! History belongs to those who raise mighty armies and crush the enemy through superior strategy and overwhelming force. It belongs to Roman legions or Mongol hordes of countless seasoned veterans fighting for their glorious causes. The biblical retelling of Gideon’s story defied these realities. Instead, 32,000 troops became 300, and swords remained sheathed as ram’s horns, clay pots, and torches morphed into instruments of war that crushed the Midianites in a decisive blow. In the end, the only sword raised was that of each opposing soldier against his own neighbor. The hero of the story, emerging victorious from the battle was not Gideon, but the God who used such underwhelming force and unconventional strategy to win the day for his people.

I recently spoke with pastor Dwight Dozier, a 45-year veteran of pastoral ministry, who served for 20 years in Great Bend, Kansas. It took barely twenty seconds for his passion for making disciples and empowering local churches to bring fresh ministry inspiration. Over the course of his tenure in Great Bend and in the state of Kansas in general, his church has exhausted the definition of what it means to build the church. In the beginning, it resembled financial aid to struggling churches, or helping with building projects and material resources in neighboring churches and communities. As assistance progressed, the financial support continued, but scores of people acting as the hands and feet of Jesus in several counties in the heart of rural Kansas took center stage.

The wave of church planters and ministry teams began when a deacon turned vocational pastor, gave up a good-paying job and committed to a twelve-month internship designed to prepare him for pastoral ministry. Church leaders surrounded him and embraced the goal to equip him to minister effectively and love the community well. Fifteen have passed since the pastor’s initial installment, and the church he pastors continues to thrive. In a church where closure seemed imminent and lacking leadership, one disciple of Christ has now produced many.

Thirty miles away from Great Bend lies another small community of Ness City, with a story that continues the grace of the Lord. In this particular town, a church struggled with a retiring pastor, under ten active members, and a tired building. Simultaneously in Great Bend, a missionary couple returned from the foreign field and embraced a pastoral call from God to plant churches, starting with loving this neighboring community of Ness City. Through a replant and partnership with the church in Great Bend, the church in Ness City today defies the darker chapters of its history and has found growth and new life under the faithful leadership of ministers who chose to be disciples first and leaders second. Neighboring rural communities, La Crosse and Sterling, both follow similar trajectories as healthy disciples begin forming healthy communities of faith.

As we spoke of the work the Lord accomplished through Dozer’s church, we discussed keys that helped accomplish all of this growth. In the next 20 minutes, Dozer expounded on the subject of discipleship in his church. The most impressive point in the conversation, Dozer never addressed the commonly held points of trendy discipleship literature. His discipleship methods held no secret recipe, or five step formula, or even a particularly innovative model that could revolutionize the Gospel as we know it. Instead, I heard an honest heart for discipleship. Not discipleship with good intentions, or a great slogan, or a theologically complex vision statement, but instead, the kind of discipleship that honed belief, fostered community, and inspired action.

Replace the ram’s horns, clay pots, and torches of Gideon with nine months of weekly meetings, accountability partners, and biblical devotions. Imagine a group of people trained to believe in Jesus, develop that belief, and serve their church and community. Picture coffee and conversation as the means that the mundane areas of life become imbued with God’s grace and redeeming power. Now replace Israel’s 32,000 troops with just over 300 men and women who have experienced intentional discipleship over the course of the last decade, and suddenly the victory makes sense. Rural communities touched by Jesus in real and long-lasting ways, and just as in the story of Gideon, God receives all the glory.

Throughout the interview, lessons from Great Bend, Kansas emerged that can serve as guideposts for ministers looking to build the kingdom of God in their rural communities. 

1) Disciple Intentionally, not Organically

Small towns tend to function as informal places, to the extent where it can seem natural to believe that proximity and good intentions provide enough relational growth to create mature disciples. However, Dozer spoke of spending the majority of his ministry missing out on the fruits of true discipleship because he expected it to occur naturally. Instead, he encourages leaders to assume that without intentional directed effort on the part of the leader, discipleship will not take root in a meaningful and consistent way.

2) Raise the Bar

Investments count, as simple as it sounds the old saying rings true in discipleship, “You get what you pay for.” People tend to rise to the level of expectations of discipleship. Whatever the discipleship method, it should require real investment from those discipled, whether in the form of monetary or time commitments. Pastors should expect things like daily devotions, scripture memorization, and the practice of serving inside and outside the church as normal discipleship expressions. In raising the bar, discipleship achieves the normative expectation of transforming the human heart to resemble Jesus.

3) Quit Quitting on Accountability

If someone recorded the launch of every meaningful discipleship program, they would possibly fill a library’s worth of books available for the church; however, stories written for those who followed through with discipleship programs would hardly fill a bookshelf. Whether the pastor needs accountability to follow through with discipleship commitments, or the people need accountability on their discipleship journey, if no one “checks in,” discipleship will eventually cease.

Given the opportunity to charge into battle, one would not pick ram’s horns, clay pots, or torches. They seem like tools that would certainly not accomplish the task. Most would also take all the help available instead of turning away 31,700 people. However, God tends to use common and even ordinary items and people to great effect. Discipleship reflects many similarities as the steady march of Christian people walking with their God, increase in Christlikeness, and affect the world around them. Discipleship occurs during coffee and meals, Bible studies and a devotional life reflecting authentic and accountable communities. Ultimately, it demonstrates a call to recapture the methods and rekindle the passions of the master teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, for the sake of reaching the world with His message.

Discipleship at Encounter Church in Great Bend, Kansas brings a community closer to the Savior that stretches to surrounding communities. Like Gideon, the church of Jesus tends to win great spiritual victories as it follows simple but profound practices that impact far beyond the boundaries of the local church and community.

The post Discipleship, Gideon, and a Rural Kansas Church appeared first on Rural Advancement.

The name Chi Alpha comes from the term “Christou Apostloi” found in 2 Corinthians 5:20, and reads “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” The goal of Chia Alpha ministries across America is to be ambassadors for Christ on secular college campuses by investing into students and individuals in hopes of making disciples who make disciples who therefore repeat this process in places both near and across the globe. 

One ambassador for Christ and for Chi Alpha, Nick Hester, has committed this season of his life to leading as a campus missionary at Texas Tech Chi Alpha. A product of Chi Alpha himself, Hester became a Christ-follower during his time in Chi Alpha after experiencing the genuine love from his peers and leaders in the ministry. As a young student, the consistent friendship and the overflow of love he experienced opened his eyes to the fierce pursuit God had on his life. Hester and his team at West Texas Chi Alpha strive to be the same hope and light to students in their college community. 

Anyone who has witnessed the work of Chi Alpha students in West Texas knows that God is moving powerfully through the students and leaders; and discipleship is at the heart of this movement. Nick and the West Texas Chi Alpha leadership team believe the Lord is preparing to reap a harvest in rural Texas by means of the young, passionate students in their Chi Alpha ministry that are being trained on how to make reproduce disciples. Nick introduced some of West Teas Chi Alpha students and they spoke to some of their current goals, “As Chi Alpha, we want to grow disciples who make disciples… And because the majority of our students are coming [to this college] to get a degree and move somewhere else, we want to instill in them a burden for the church and a desire to serve the church wherever they end up for their vocation.” A question arose amongst the leadership of Chi Alpha in TX: What if, after graduation, more of these students started finding jobs in small, unlikely places rather than the places where they might find the highest paying positions? 

Over the course of the last two years, Chi Alpha has formulated a God-driven, rural-centered vision based off this question. Nick Hester described this vision in detail, “We are now asking [the students we disciple] if they would pray and seek the Lord about where they should go after college, and then go find a job. Not just be led where the money takes them or where the job market is…” Instead of going to a large city with the goal of making money, they ask, “would you be willing to go to a town, population 1,000, in West Texas where you won’t make as much money, but you could really effect change in that community?” This is the first thing they ask students to pray about. 

The second thing they ask students to pray about is going together, because it is crucial to building up the church in the local town. Once students move to the area and begin working, they can join their local church, build community and serve. Some students may be passionate about leading the church or even planting a church. In whatever they do, Nick Hester wants their mission to be discipleship focused; replicating the model and mission of Chi Alpha. Nick stated, “Their goal is to live missionally and say, we are going to work and honor Jesus in our work, but were also here to make disciples.” For many students, it is not an easy vision to say yes to. But with every yes there is a greater opportunity for more rural communities in Texas to be served and won for Jesus.

One local pastor of an Assembly of God church in the area, Pastor John Murdoch, makes it part of his mission to invest in the lives of these students. He has also made it a part of his passion to assist these ambassadors for Christ in taking their vocations from the urban to the rural settings. 

Pastor John and Nick Hester have joined together to pray for this vision to take hold in their ministries in hope of seeing the heart of Jesus spread throughout every community in West Texas. They have already seen some incredible testimonies come from the heart of the West Texas Chi Alpha program. Nick Hester and Pastor John testify to some of these students’ stories below. 

Chasmin’s Story:

Chasmin came to Texas Technical University looking for a place to spend her years of college drinking and partying. The very first night she arrived on campus, the Lubbock Chi Alpha team helped students move into their dorms. After meeting and befriending a young lady from Chi Alpha, her heart became open to attending the young adult’s small group at Christian Life’s church. Soon, Chasmin accepted Jesus as Lord of her life and was filled with the Holy Spirit. After graduating from Texas Tech with her fiancée in December of 2019, they began preparing for their next step; becoming missionaries to the Netherlands.

To see fruit borne from the discipleship process takes time. It took almost four years of discipleship for Chasmin to reach her current position. However, the time and dedication that Chi Alpha and Pastor Murdoch put into this one student’s life will bear fruit for decades to come.

A second example of Chi Alpha’s impact is told through the testimony of one couple. 

Another recently married couple did not to come to Texas Tech University intending to find a relationship with Jesus. However, through the opportunities Chi Alpha presented the couple made the choice to accept Jesus as their Savior and grow in Christ. They left school intending on following in Pastor John Murdoch’s steps and becoming one of the first rural church planters in their community. 

Andrew’s Story:

Andrew was raised in a nominal Christian family that did not attend regularly. He went about life with just a basic knowledge of God. After being pulled into the party life, he and a group of his friends got connected to Chi Alpha and one of their small groups. It was not long after hearing the gospel that Andrew surrendered his life to Jesus and was all in to leading a life for Christ. However, as for Andrew’s friends, once they started to realize that walking with Jesus comes with a cost, they walked away because they thought the cost was too high. Andrew stuck around and is now is considering a life dedicated to intercultural missions.

These stories would not have been possible if not for the willing leadership and initiative of West Texas Chi Alpha. And the future is getting brighter… Within the next few years, and with the help of Pastor John Murdoch, Chi Alpha plans to open a new branch of their ministry focused around church planting in rural areas. With this new emphasis on sending out young, Spirit-filled, vocational workers, there is much excitement for the future of rural places around West Texas. 

Chi Alpha is doing incredible things to advance the kingdom of God. While the future Church can be excited that Bible Colleges are training up students in God-centered realms, Chi Alpha shows that there is something so powerful about students being discipled and discipling in a secular space. In places like West Texas, students are challenged to be bold, counter-cultural ambassadors for Christ. As a result of this growth in Texas, students are writing the prologue to many testimonies told by “forgotten towns” all around the America and the entire globe. 

If you are interested in reaching out to or being a part of a West Texas Chi Alpha Ministry team, you can email Nick Hester linked below.  

Email Nick Hester at nickhester90@gmail.com

The post Chi Alpha Students Launching Ministry in Rural West Texas Communities appeared first on Rural Advancement.

“My house will be a place where people gather to know about God.”

Rocky Alvarez, son of the late pastor Rochester Alvarez, recently recounted his father’s work as a minister and church planter in a phone interview. He recalled with fondness the radical change in his father’s life that came from his decision to follow Christ and the impact that decision made for the kingdom of God. Rocky grew up watching his father grow in his faith and planting 69 churches on three continents as far north as Canada and as far south as Brazil.

Rochester Alvarez migrated to the United States from El Salvador in the late 1960’s and eventually brought over his wife and children when Rocky was five years old. After doing his absolute best to avoid Christ’s interjection into his nominal faith, the elder Alvarez eventually attended a crusade and the Gospel deeply touched him. From the very beginning of that relationship with Jesus two things became true: he devoured scripture with an unquenchable appetite, and his home became a place for people to know the Lord.

The Lord called Rocky’s father to plant a church in Long Island, NY in 1973. The first church grew on the bedrock of family, community, and a deep desire to establish more communities of faith. Within a year, the church reached three hundred in attendance. At this point, many pastors and leaders would either rest on success or try to find the next milestone. Alvarez decided he had reached his capacity as a pastor a church of 300 and sent out a team to plant another church. This began a life pattern of planting churches and Alverez planted churches, sometimes once a year or even twice a year, and often the timeframe mattered less than the present need. Each time the home church grew, Alvarez responded by planting more churches, including over twenty churches in the Long Island area alone. Every person who attended one of these churches was invited (at times compelled) into this vision of what it meant to build the kingdom of God. Churches continued to multiply, spanning countries and continents. At the end of his pastoral career, 69 churches, representing over 20,000 people had germinated and taken root in their local communities.

This move of God would have been awe-inspiring by itself, but Rocky included another truly astounding detail. When asked how many churches remained open, he said “all of them,” 69 churches planted, and 69 churches still growing today. As a pastor, I asked the question that always follows stories like this one: How did he do it? How did this move of God grow to such proportions, all from an El Salvadorian migrant with a sixth-grade education? The response surprised me, in how much it contrasted with some strains of modern American thought concerning church multiplication. Rocky shared principles so common that I dare to call them overlooked. Simultaneously, however, these principles lived in such radical obedience on the part of his father comes as no surprise that God moved through such a life.

Three things stood out about Rocky’s father as he expanded a network of churches:

1) Radical Hospitality

Rocky recalls that after his father became a Christian; their home was always open. He laughed a bit as he remembered countless occasions where he slept on the couch as his bed had been given to those in need or others passing through their community. Christmas and Thanksgiving served as more than holidays for the nuclear family, instead, their home embraced upwards of 40 people for the meal and festivities in an effort to model the welcoming attitude of Jesus. This willingness to welcome others created a DNA of both the home church and the church plants that created tight-knit family bonds, which led to the formation of sustainable and lasting communities.

2) Relentless Creativity

At one point, the sending church in Long Island had a slogan of sorts, “How do we plant a church? BY EATING!” The congregation would sell food with the proceeds going to fund the next church plant. At times, the pastor would entrust lay people with $100, and, based on the premise of the parable of talents, they would then turn a profit off of the original amount and donate it back for the next mission. Alvarez remained open to seeing the need, even in a different or new country, village, or region. He looked at people with a fresh perspective and saw opportunities to expand God’s work, even as the network grew and became more diverse.

3) Unwavering Humility

When Rocky spoke of his father’s legacy, he spoke of his humility. Alvarez felt that he could not exceed his pastoral capacity of 300 people, which inspired him to keep sending people out as his church grew. Instead of pushing towards recognition or ascent inside the church world, he relinquished control for the sake of God’s kingdom. He did not use any curriculum or write his own book series in order to teach others how to lead, instead, they came for dinner, again and again, until authentic and godly leadership seeped into their hearts through Rochester Alvarez’ steady example and genuine presence in their lives.

As a rural pastor, Rochester Alvarez inspired and challenged all who hear his story by the way he faithfully lived his calling. In his life, lessons transcend time and still apply today. What is rural ministry if not practicing hospitality at every opportunity? What is small town church building if not pursuing relentless creativity even when the need outweighs the available resources. What better describes building God’s kingdom in a small community than to live with humble authenticity, accepting our own limitations in the process and seeing the Lord work miracles?

Reflection Questions:

• List some ways your church can practice radical hospitality?
• What are some ways you personally can grow in hospitality towards others?
• How do you plan to increase in creativity? And what resources do you have that you may have overlooked?
• Are you content in the role and the calling God has given you? If not, how do you plan to pray and ask God for help in humbly serving his kingdom in your context?
• How can you mentor and mobilize leaders for church multiplication?

The post A Humble Pastor, an Incredible God, and Principles of Multiplication appeared first on Rural Advancement.

Unassuming. Overlooked. Unimportant. Disinteresting.

At times, rural communities have been assigned these terms by outsiders who, at best, muster up decidedly apathetic words to describe small, out of the way, places. While lack of care for small towns remains a concern, it pales in comparison to some of the demeaning words people attribute to rural communities.

Dysfunctional. Poverty-minded. Regressive. Declining. Hostile to outsiders.

These words have served as the foundations for some of the negative stereotypes about rural places, and, more importantly for our discussion today, about rural churches, that exist in popular culture. However, others choose to see rural places and churches through a different lens. To those willing to look closely, they see potential in the very DNA of rural communities. The mutual dependence and close-knit nature of rural relationships, coupled with ingenuity, creativity, and a commitment to the good of the community, stand out as positives for those willing to look through new eyes.

Recently, I had the privilege to talk with pastor Bryan Jarrett, lead pastor of Northplace Church in Dallas, TX, and founder of the Water Tower Network, a ministry designed to equip rural pastors to build God’s kingdom in their context. Pastor Bryan described the valuable nature of rural ministry and what led him to pursue developing resources for the rural churches, and the principles he believes can help ministers succeed in this vital work for the Gospel.

The interview revealed a common story centered around the theme of “journey.” Jarrett entered a personal journey to become an advocate for rural churches. Water Tower Network  invited pastors on a journey to more effective ministry in rural places. The invitation for this journey extends to the readers of this article, wherein you may approach rural ministry with newfound confidence and begin to understand the importance of the role in God’s kingdom and the principles.

To begin, it is not an understatement to find airport napkins as unlikely recipients of God-inspired ideas. However, as Jarrett sat in the airport terminal in Chicago waiting for a connecting flight, there may as well have been a burning bush in front of him. Suddenly, God dropped a vision in his heart to invite rural pastors on a yearlong journey of spiritual refreshing, spiritual formation, and an infusion of value to inspire confidence and empowered ministry in their context. This cohort of ministers would serve to continue encouraging each other after completing the yearlong journey.

While the revelation did indeed feel quite sudden, Jarrett explained that it resulted from a long process. When Jarrett left his small town and headed to Bible college, he did so with the intent of never looking back. He wanted to leave behind all the negative aspects of small town living in order to go and make a big kingdom impact. However, as his calling progressed, Jarrett began to appreciate the rural communities’ true potential: a mission field. The rural church ministry calls for the courage to embrace a cross-cultural calling. It demands committed ministers and steadfast faith. It tests the resolve of those who decide to live there, promising high costs for what can feel like unseen rewards. Jarrett noticed that the Church applauded those who boldly sacrificed a comfortable lifestyle to travel overseas and serve small churches on other continents, and reasoned that rural churches deserved the same respect and admiration.

Along the way, Jarrett picked up principles that he considers core values for those who wish to see the kingdom of God gain ground in their small communities. As we talked, I recognized the ease with which he spoke the words of each principle. The well-rehearsed phrases whispered of the Holy Spirit’s consistent and caring work in rural communities. While practical in nature, the guiding principles also carried an incredible sense of hope and encouragement.

1) Create, cultivate, and contend for a Gospel-centered culture.

The Gospel is God’s ultimate answer to rural congregations who struggle with accepting outsiders. In general, most recognize the tight-knit nature of rural communities, and while this quality may serve as an incredible asset to unity, it can unintentionally result in a church that subtly rebuffs the “different” people that visit them Sunday to Sunday. The rural ministry becomes an incredible opportunity to engage in the constant battle against this temptation by exemplifying, teaching, living, vision-casting, and fighting for the radical love of the Gospel.

2) Celebrate the positive changes.

Culture shift often begins by celebrating each positive change. Pastor Bryan asked some rather hard questions, drawing on his own experience.

• Do we highlight the negative ways in which church growth impacts the lifelong congregants?
• Do we reinforce the loss of certain norms instead of reinforcing the creation of new ones?
• Do we speak often from our pulpits of the financial lack, stagnating growth, current church squabble, or other petty business?
• Do we instead focus on the stories of those living the Gospel authentically in front of their rural neighbors?

According to pastor Bryan, you will always get what you celebrate.

3) Strive for excellence.

Rural churches face the temptation to settle for a contented “average” in a small-town setting where change happens at a slow pace and the competition does not seem as fierce. However, the internet age has made the best preaching, worship, stage design, small group ministry, and Christmas production available to even a casual churchgoer. While I am not recommending you figure out how to rig your small stage with pyrotechnics for the birth of Christ next year, Jarrett encourages pastors to refuse to settle for second quality ministry. Instead, the church should include the very best sermon, prayer breakfast, nursery, Sunday school lesson, church potluck, Thanksgiving outreach, and small group session conducted with excellence in mind. We should seek to do our best, practically speaking, for the sake of honoring God and loving his people.

4) Learn to be present—but differently.

In a small town, “being present is part of the mission.” This includes the pastor visiting every member in the hospital, attending important sporting events or life events, and consistent present in the lives of parishioners. However, a growing church demands a shift in the role of pastor. Rural pastors committed to growth may need to find new ways to celebrate “being present” in the lives of the people. The pastor who can mobilize the church for involvement in each other’s lives leaves room for God to grow that church through more and more empowered people working to serve God’s kingdom.

While these principles represent some of the big ideas Jarrett applies in rural churches, the cohort of rural pastors that meets annually through the Water Tower Network takes it a step further. Jarrett grew excited as he spoke about the program. Committing to the journey for a year, each cohort members’ only expense included travel, six times in a year, to Dallas for an incredible journey of spiritual formation and comradery. The goal for each pastor and spouse to leave the sessions filled with a renewed sense of calling, an unshakable resolve for the task of rural ministry, and a deep sense of value for the work they do in God’s kingdom inspires this ministry.

As our conversation drew to a close, I asked Jarrett how to apply for the one-year cohort. He assured me that all those who reach out will receive information concerning when registration for the next cohort opens. Pastors interested in such a journey can reach out to the Water Tower Network at kara@northplacechurch.com for the registration information when the next cohort becomes available.

The post A High Calling: Interview with Bryan Jarrett appeared first on Rural Advancement.

I have never met a pastor that did not want to make a lasting impact.

I had the privilege recently of talking with Cecil Culbreth, a pastor in the state of Arkansas, who believes he has discovered the best way to have a lasting impact. At first this claim sounded too bold, but with over forty years of ministry experience, Culbreth meets the qualifications to make such a claim. He has served in multiple roles throughout his ministry career. From being a lead pastor for ten years after Bible college, then engaging in full time youth ministry for thirty years, as well as serving the Assemblies of God fellowship in various local and executive capacities. He currently serves as the district secretary for the Arkansas district, overseeing almost 100 missionaries and missionary associates, as well as leading in the task of walking with prospective ministers through the pastoral credentialing process. In short, Cecil meets the qualifications to say he has ‘done it all.’

As we discussed his career, it became clear that a golden thread ran through each distinct and diverse role, and it traced back to a lesson he learned during his first lead pastorate. Cecil described how he worked hard to come up with sermons Sunday after Sunday, only to find himself at a creative breaking point three years into leading a church. To be clear, up to this watershed moment his sermons had not necessarily been bad. He, like many pastors, tried to combine great life lessons, good illustrations, and engaging examples with a biblical backdrop to persuade people to grow in their faith. The problem he encountered was that, in some ways, the Bible really was just a backdrop for his sermons.

Luckily for Cecil, God uses the obvious to teach us the profound. Desperate for a shift, he returned to his notes from his recent Bible college courses. In this very elemental way, God led him to rediscover expository preaching. For the next forty plus years, Cecil would build his ministry with expository preaching as the backbone. First, expository preaching would revitalize his love for the word of God, and by extension, faithful biblical preaching. The passion this revelation gave him would turn a three-year tenure into a decade of service in his first pastoral role. It showed up again as he led the charge in distributing a student focused study Bible (called the Fire Bible), to school campuses nationwide. Expository preaching worked its way into his mentoring, and several pastors in the Arkansas district have begun to change their communities for the kingdom of God due in part to this influence.

As Cecil recounted the incredible ways in which God used expository preaching in his life, I felt compelled to ask an obvious question:

What is expository preaching?

Having taught a class on expository preaching for a number of years, he happily broke down the basic premise. Cecil explained that expository preaching allows the Bible to speak for itself. Instead of finding topics and then supporting scriptures, expository preaching seeks to wrestle with and draw out the main point of a passage of the Bible. Cecil grew more excited as he shared about the great themes of the Bible that emerge as one approaches the text through expository preaching. He chuckled as he spoke of the classic “three-point sermon” and how it could be replaced by finding the one point of a passage of scripture and drawing it out.

The goal of expository preaching seems simple, but Cecil explained that the true process is exacting and demands much of the minister. First, it involves picking a passage of scripture, then reading and re-reading it multiple times through. Without rushing into the sermon, the initial goal is to find emerging themes, thoroughly engage context, and truly letting the scripture speak. He encouraged using commentaries and word studies only after the minister spends sufficient time in prayer and asks the Holy Spirit to speak directly to the minister through the passage.

If expository preaching had simply been about working harder, it would not hold such sway in Cecil’s life and ministry. However, throughout our interview he outlined the incredible benefits he saw from expository preaching and its implementation. Outlined below are a few of those benefits:

1) Expository preaching enriches the devotional life of the minister.

The Word of God, as ministers likely can agree on, has endless depth. In the process of preparing a sermon, digging deep into the passage yields more than a good sermon, it draws the minister closer to God. Frequently, Cecil would meet with other ministers and talk about passages together. That process left each minister with a deeper sense of God’s presence and a greater knowledge of him.

2) Expository preaching leads to church growth.

Cecil spoke of churches in the Arkansas district that exemplified contemporary and growing congregations that affected lasting kingdom change. At the heart of those congregations are ministers utilizing expository preaching to give solid biblical messages that cover a wide range of biblical themes. This in turn, has created solid disciples who can share the word with others with both enthusiasm and depth.

3) Expository preaching can prevent burnout.

When pastors speak of why they move on from congregations, interpersonal conflict, stubborn board members, and church splits rank high on a list of reasons. However, Cecil spoke of hitting a creative wall with sermon building when he spoke of burnout. After years of coming up with topics and straining for fresh illustrations and impactful examples, some ministers may move on because the obligation of the pulpit becomes too much. With expository preaching, Cecil believes the minister will find plenty of sermon material.

4) Expository preaching builds a better sermon.

Cecil believes that preachers can often be tempted to spend all their time trying to come up with a topic, whereas expository preaching allows for the passage to be the topic, cutting down the initial time investment. The majority of a pastor’s prep time can be spent on details, supporting scriptures, illustrations, etc., which has the potential to create a more polished and impactful sermon.

Cecil’s final advice to ministers was both personal and professional. He spoke first of one’s personal devotion to God. A minister should read the word for its own sake, be devoted to consistent prayer, and cultivate a walk with God that defies and resists the various temptations of each season of life. In reference to a pastor’s marriage, Cecil encourages prioritizing time with family ahead of a demanding ministry schedule. Finally, he spoke of resisting the temptation to “read topics into” the Word of God. Instead, he encouraged sermons that are consistently founded on the Word of God. Upon hearing these words, I was tempted to treat them as all-to-familiar maxims. However, from his vantage point, working with ministers for a decade or more, Cecil has seen enough ruined lives and fractured churches to recognize the need for consistent practice of the basics. Whether applying to the pulpit or one’s personal life, Cecil’s devotion to expository preaching challenges every minister to grow deeper in their faith and calling.

Reflection Questions:

• Have you ever found yourself with “preacher’s block” when it comes to sermon writing?
• What can you learn from applying expository preaching principles to your own pulpit ministry?
• Which benefit would you most like to see in your ministry out of the four listed above?
• Have you considered meeting with another minister or friend for the purpose of studying a passage together or gleaning from their insights through conversation?

The post Preaching That Endures appeared first on Rural Advancement.

When pastors hear the word “burnout,” most have an adverse reaction to it. In the best-case scenario, “burnout” is a word that applies to other people. A pastor may occasionally think of the problem of burnout, but frequently believes themselves to be insulated for any number of seemingly logical reasons. In the worst-case scenario, burnout is a cause for fear and alarm, a very present reality that is either currently taking over a minister’s life, or at the very least knocking at the door.

Chris Clem experienced both these extremes, and his journey into studying burnout holds wisdom for leaders at any level of ministry experience. Before Covid-19, Chris pastored a church of over 300 people and spread the gospel through use of contemporary worship, an updated building that doubled as a community center, and outreach that focused on showing the love of Jesus to unbelievers. When Covid-19 shut down all his regular avenues of ministry, Chris incrementally began to slip into burnout. Surprisingly, and regretfully, Chris admitted to me that he never saw it coming.

He had always approached pastoral work with energy, excitement, and a strong work ethic. He had previously served as an executive pastor in a Texas church of 4,000 members and served as the executive director for the Significant Church Network, where he counseled and ministered to rural pastors of all denominations. From this role was birthed a passion for the rural church that compelled him to accept a role as lead pastor of a rural church in Highland AK, where he has served for the last fourteen years with wonderful success in terms of church growth and community impact.

The thing about Chris’s story that stuck out to me is that it is hardly unique. When you remove the specific details, you have a pastor who was prepared by God, given a passion to minister to the rural church, and pursued that call through by serving as a small-town pastor and loving his community well. I have met many rural pastors that could fit that exact profile. If you are reading this article, it is highly likely that you fit that profile, whether you are a vocational pastor or are bi-vocational in your calling. Another common trait that we all likely share with Chris is his complete surprise that he could find himself in a place of burnout in ministry.

When contemplating whether or not we are burned out, many of us will give logical reasons why we are not “too worried” about burnout. Pastor Chris had quite a list of why he felt he could handle any trauma or emotionally draining thing life threw at him. He had worked in high pressure church environments. He had worked in revitalizing a small dying church. He even worked in law enforcement, giving him a front row seat to another level of trauma specific to that role. After surviving all of that, Covid-19 and its effects seemed like just another hurdle to be crossed without much concern for his own mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. He was even pursuing his doctorate at that time, and yet still seemed to be passionately doing the Lord’s work. However, in what he describes as a true “bait and switch,” two professors for his doctoral studies asked him to investigate burnout academically, hoping that he would see the signs as they were affecting him personally.

This journey led him to study signs and symptoms of burnout, culminating in his realization that it was closer to him than he first realized. As he studied each new symptom, he began to identify more and more with the emotionally exhausted and disengaged pastor. Ultimately, he realized a startling truth about himself.

He had begun to believe that no matter what he did, or how hard he tried, he could not make a difference.

Pastor Chris has since dedicated his doctoral journey to studying burnout and its effects on ministers in hope that his work can equip pastors to successfully avoid burnout and continue doing effective ministry. We will attempt to narrow down the principles Chris is studying into a few big principles to apply to our lives. In order to fight burnout, Chris seemed to consistently return to the following principles:

1) Get educated.

After reading countless books and spending innumerable hours studying the subject, Chris was convinced that up to 90% of rural pastors could be dealing with burnout and not even realize it. He stressed the need for basic education on what to look for in yourself or in others in order to catch burnout early. One tool he found effective was the MASLACH burnout inventory, which charges a small fee, but asks incredibly intuitive questions to help a pastor figure out where they are on a spectrum of burnout.

He also stressed knowing simple signs for seeing burnout. Emotional exhaustion is a state of existing where you cannot seem to find the passion or energy to pursue ministry as you previously did. Depersonalization means you begin to feel detached from people around you. This is commonly felt as a sense of loneliness, or a sense that your experience cannot be shared or understood by anyone else. A general sense of feeling ineffective or a loss of purpose in “why you do what you do” is also a common sign of burnout. Even knowing these simple symptoms can equip a minister to manage their own burnout or reach out to others who may be struggling.

2) Practice self-compassion.

Covid-19 especially has pushed leaders to the breaking point. With the situation changing weekly, many leaders feel as if the burden rests squarely on their shoulders to successfully navigate their church and community through this time. Chris pleads with pastors to recognize that they do not have to have all the answers, or the expertise, or even the right decisions for their church every single day. A pastor cannot possibly care for the needs of others over the course of decades if they cannot refill their own tank and minister to their own needs. Each person will likely express this principle differently, but it is important to make time for self-compassion.

3) Maintain relationships.

“It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship.” This slogan has permeated Christian culture for over a decade, but burnout increasingly impairs a minister’s ability to connect with Jesus. The only answer is to get creative when connecting with Jesus. Reading the Bible, praying, and reflecting on past experiences with God are viable methods. In addition to this, maintaining a loving family atmosphere and vibrant close friendships acts as a natural barrier against burnout. It can be hard to hear, but if a minister’s marriage, family, and close friendships are not given time and energy, it frankly will not matter what we do in our pastoral role; the end result will ultimately be burnout.

While there are many more principles to look into, it is important to remember that stopping burnout is not overly complicated. It is something pastor Chris was able to come back from, even as he experienced rock bottom. It is also incredibly important that ministers take it seriously. The church is continuing to be built, with Christ as the cornerstone, through the labors and efforts of pastors and lay people who are reaching people for Jesus. In that equation, you count for a lot. If you burnout, God’s kingdom on earth will be missing a crucial piece in his plan to reach rural communities for Christ.

Questions for Reflection

• If you are being honest with yourself, do you experience any of the signs of burnout mentioned above?
• What do you plan to do in order to learn more about burnout? Perhaps schedule a time in your week to look into it.
• How do you feel like you can practice self-compassion in your weekly routine? Think practically on what you can do to refresh your soul.
• What can you do this week to invest in intimate relationships, whether it be your spouse, children, or close friends? Again, think practical.
• What is one practice/habit that has kept you close to Jesus throughout your life and how will you continue to make time for it?
• Can you come up with a new way for you to connect with Jesus and foster spiritual intimacy?

The post Overcoming Burnout: “No Matter What You do, or How Hard You Try, You Cannot Make a Difference.” appeared first on Rural Advancement.

by Hope Mayes

Deep in the heart of rural America lies thousands of towns labeled “forgotten,” and “overlooked” because of their small population or perceived lack of potential. John Murdoch, pastor of Christian Life Assembly of God in Lubbock, Texas, sees towns with a small population in a different light. Murdoch’s passion comes alive in these unlikely places; as if each small town contains rich soil just waiting for seeds to be planted.

Born and raised in a small town, Murdoch has lived in some of the most rural parts of southern United States. Today, his background fuels his passion for planting Pentecostal (Spirit-filled) churches in every rural town in West Texas.

God gave Murdoch a passion for the spiritual needs of small towns without a Pentecostal church, “they lack a source of hope in Jesus.” He developed a metaphor-based on his observations of cotton farming over the years since his youth. Cotton fields found all across West Texas remain an essential part of the farming industry. On the edge of these cotton fields, where the crop becomes a little sparser, lies what Murdoch calls, “cotton turn rows.” “These turn rows are just as strong as the rest of the field but when machines make their way around the field, four or five stocks on the end are missed. For some, it is not worth it to go retrieve the turn rows,” observed Murdoch.

In his eyes, the forgotten turn rows of the American church, the small towns, remain left behind. Many desire to work in the big fields, often forgetting the random patches of cotton or rural towns.

God opened doors for Murdoch to reach these “turn row” towns in the last ten years. His obedience to the call resulted in the establishment and growth of eight Pentecostal churches in the most rural parts in West Texas. The once overlooked fields became centers of hope and testimonies of the possibilities for all people who reside in rural places. “When God opens up a door, you go” declared Murdoch.

8 Churches Planted in Rural West Texas

The desperate need to plant churches for the thirty nations represented in West Texas became a wide-open door. In order to meet the spiritual needs of the international community in the area, Murdoch plans to plant each immigrant church with the capacity to double as an ESL training center. This will provide an opportunity for more people in the West Texas area to first to hear the gospel, and second to learn English. Murdoch planted the first refugee church in Dumas, Texas, and believes for ten more in the near future. The Dumas Refugee Church continues to grow in number and disciples, like the other seven daughter churches Murdoch has planted in the last ten years.

Celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Dumas Refugee Church.

Canadian River Cowboy Church  lies deep in the country between Skellytown and Boger and an astounding number of around 150 people attend weekly; making their smallest community the one that contains the largest of the eight daughter churches. The cowboy church provides a summer camp for children that includes evening services and afternoon horse activities. At the end of the week-long camp, usually about fifteen to twenty kids are baptized in a horse tank.

Springs of Life AG church in Roaring Springs lies within the second smallest of Murdoch’s eight communities, population 213 people, and contains a countless number of testimonies of God’s faithfulness. Springs of Life now has made a lasting impact on one country school ten miles into the Texan countryside. By developing an ongoing relationship and ministering to over half of the students in the school on a weekly basis, Springs of Life has shown the school that God has not forgotten their rural community nor one of their 100 students.

Despite the odds, this small rural church in Roaring Springs also runs a one-year residential, discipleship program for young men and women and has sent multiple students to college to prepare for a life centered on Christ. Some students enroll at Christ Mission College, while others attend major universities and get plugged into the local Chi Alpha. Chi Alpha successfully tapped into the mighty potential of students from these “turn row” towns. The abundant fruit continues to multiply.

Future Rural Mobilization

By mobilizing more rural leaders, Murdoch sees strong potential in the future of rural church planting; “To [be a rural minister] you can’t go to a smaller town and plan on being there for only two or three years and then move somewhere else. Rural places need people that go and say, ‘I could be here the rest of my life. I have got to develop a relationship and a friendship with the people of this town’ because gaining their trust and living life with them [opens doors of ministry].”

Murdoch observed the opportunities for young people with a desire to do rural ministry are “wide open!” With eight churches already planted and many more on the way, Murdoch described a wide array of opportunities in his area alone, “So much potential for harvest lies in rural fields and the best part is, the field is wide open.”

The next industrious rural leader could be the young person trained at a Christian college, a dedicated member of Chi Alpha, or the young man or woman who has grown up in the rural church and possesses a willingness to serve. Pastor Murdoch says it takes an open mind to see the vision, a willingness to go to the “turn row” towns, and a desire to draw forth the potential that has lied untapped for generations. “Planting rural churches is almost like doing a puzzle. In the beginning, you see nothing. Slowly the pieces start to come into alignment and when it’s over, you see the beautiful picture God put together,” explained Murdoch.

John 4:35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’?  Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

The fields of John 4:35 remain in every American town that lacks a Spirit-filled church. In every one of those towns, Murdoch recognizes the desperate need for workers to commit to rural American harvest fields. It takes someone willing to look at a rural town and see the heart and soul of individuals; someone willing to spend the rest of their life picking cotton in the “turn rows” of America. Those that possess these qualities can follow in Murdoch’s footsteps piecing together puzzle pieces that once aligned form a newly planted rural church.

Both young and experienced leaders can learn much from Murdoch’s mindset. Rural places need willing hearts and open minds to go to unlikely places. As for Murdoch choice, “I am going to the turn rows and picking cotton.”

Reflective Engagement:

1. What seeds have you sown in the rich soil expecting to bear a harvest?
2. Where should “turn row” churches be planted in your region?
3. Who will plant a Pentecostal church in the “turn row” communities?
4. Who could you disciple to become part of the great harvest team?
5. What steps will you take to develop pastors for the “white harvest fields” John 4:35?

The post The Forgotten Cotton of North America appeared first on Rural Advancement.

Hot Rod Sunday could not have gone better. Seven hundred people crowded the church building for the morning service. Speakers set up in the parking lot relayed a timely Gospel message to a standing-room-only crowd of community members. The day continued with burnout competitions and drag races, complete with trophies and prizes. For the people of Princeton, Minnesota, Hot Rod Sunday would be remembered as a family friendly good time that everyone in town enjoyed. For Pastor Chuck Pruett and his congregation at New Life Church, this was becoming business as usual for the growing body of believers.

Momentum. This word began to define Pastor Chuck’s church not long after his arrival in 1997. Chuck had spent the last 10 years of his ministry journey as a children’s pastor at a large Assembly of God church in Minnesota. While he found great success, he felt the Lord’s call towards being a lead pastor, and approached his district superintendent for some guidance. His superintendent opened his eyes to see what he called the “Ring of Fire”, representing dozens of small communities in a “ring” around the Twin Cities where God’s Spirit was doing amazing things. When he considered Princeton, a town of 4,200 with a dying church of just 26 members, Chuck jokingly commented “I had to pray about even praying about it.” However, the gentle tug and steady hand of the Lord led Chuck and his family to follow God’s call and begin pastoring the church.

Near death experiences have a way of putting things in perspective, and the Princeton Assembly of God church was no exception. Facing dramatically shrinking membership, the church was willing beyond all else to reach people, even if drastic change was necessary. This recognition of the need for change allowed Chuck to quickly establish a new mindset in the church. The strategy was simple: reach kids, then their families, and by doing so reach the community. This was the vision. This was the building block and foundation of why they would exist as a church and people began to respond almost immediately.

An afterschool program for elementary age kids quickly grew to 130 kids weekly. Sunday services followed suit. Each new event maintained the heartbeat. Harvest Festivals on an annual basis eventually drew crowds of over 1,600. Sunday attendance climbed steadily eventually reaching 900 consistent attendees. Hot Rod Sunday, an event reaching 700 members, both was and was not monumental. It represented, on one hand, an incredible bridge built with the community and a wonderful Gospel presentation. However, what has not been surprising has been the prevalence of God’s blessing on the church as events like this take place in the community.

Growth such as this does not happen without a lesson attached. As we talked, Chuck spoke as much about the church itself as he did the leadership lessons the Lord taught him along the way. He began with this heartbeat:

“It is easier to raise a generation than it is to reach a generation.”

This model remains the DNA of New Life Church. The budget, staffing, event calendar and services are all geared towards effectively loving, winning, and discipling children. Chuck saw it happen more times than he could count. The kids would “drag their parents to church” and then grandparents visiting the church on Easter would stay too. This led to a multigenerational church with strong family ministries.

Sunday services became an extension of this drive. If the church itself existed to reach kids, Sunday services were going to be relentlessly centered around reaching today’s adults ages 28-42; the most likely demographic to have elementary age kids. The money showed the priorities, with every surplus amount flowing into kid’s and family ministry. Kids began to be utilized at every stage of development within the church. They began to serve as ushers, worship team members, leaders in various ministries, and event staff. This integrated approach helped kids remain grounded and connected in the local body and created a strong culture of leadership development within the church. Chuck mentioned with excitement that many of the pastors on staff were raised from within the church body instead of brought in from outside. The big picture of this church is one of incredible kingdom impact in their community.

In light of what God has done through the church, I asked Chuck something many pastors wonder: What’s the secret sauce? How does one reproduce this kind of spiritual and kingdom impact as a leader? What are the takeaways for other pastors? He shared a few common principles that may help with growth:

1) Hold vision close, hold everything else loosely.

The vision of reaching kids and families is the heartbeat of New Life Church. Beyond that, a culture of steady change is fostered. The goal of this is simple. Growing churches with good visions frequently stop growing because they become more focused on how something is being done versus the goal in mind. Instead of reaching families, a congregation settles for arguing about musical styles, refuses to abandon dead programs or events, or begins to let personal projects drain time, effort, and resources. Chuck said a key to the vision was a constant reevaluation of methods in order to reach the goal.

2) Create strong administrative structures.

This is the most BORING and incredibly useful detail in the whole interview. No one I know gets very excited about administrative structure. However, each new growth bracket, from 26 congregants to 900, necessitated the creation of strong administrative structures. New positions had to be prayed about and created based on where growth was going to be, not where it was at the moment.

Pastor Chuck guided the board through the process of becoming a vision driven church instead of a deacon driven church. This created a case where resources could be spent and used without having to jump through red tape and layers of committee approval, allowing the work to go forward quickly. Positions were added only when deemed absolutely useful or necessary, balancing the need for more workers with the availability of resources. The celebration of 1,600 harvest festival attendees resounded loudly from atop a foundation of administrative backbone.

3) Develop leaders. Seriously, just do it.

This seems like a no brainer. However, as Pastor Chuck spoke to me, it became clear that true leadership development is a highly intentional process that takes immense pastoral discipline to carry out. This does not mean it cannot be done anywhere; quite the opposite. It simply means many are not willing to undertake the task. Pastor Chuck delegated pastoral authority and then let those people have the freedom to run events or ministries without micromanagement. Strong leaders will usually be attracted to a church that allows for that kind of trust. He also began entrusting leadership roles to people being raised in the church, giving students as young as elementary age a stake in the church in some way that kept them around through adulthood. The culture of developing leaders is key to church growth in any context.

Growing churches sometimes appear to be like the Great and Terrible Oz in the Wizard of Oz. The impact they have for God’s kingdom can be so immense that it seems intimidating and impossible to approach. However, behind the curtain exist regular people, faithfully serving the Lord. Behind the curtain we often find people like Chuck Pruett, who have worked within God’s call and put into practice common principles that other churches can, and should do, in order to see growth.

Questions for Reflection:

• What is the vision of your church? Is it easy to define? Do your resources go towards your vision?
• What formats or “ways of doing things” need to change to accomplish God’s vision for your church?
• What administrative structures need to be written down, updated, fleshed out, or strengthened to make the vision possible?
• How are you engaging young people and families in church leadership?
• How are you as a pastor personally developing leaders in your church? Or, as a lay person, how can you take steps toward being developed as a leader?

The post God is Still Moving in Minnesota’s Ring of Fire appeared first on Rural Advancement.

By Hope Mayes

Pastor Chris Gray and Encounter Church in Sedalia, Missouri give testimony that when the Body of Christ does more than aspire to effect positive change, but becomes intentional about making a long-lasting, far-reaching impact in their community, planted seeds turn into flourishing fruit. However, creating far-reaching impact often happens in a different timeframe than what one might expect.  

God used their district superintendent at the time to assist Encounter Church in discovering the direction He was pointing them in over seven years ago. This direction launched the church’s mission and vision to “love, reach, and empower people of all cultures for Jesus Christ.” Mission, vision, and dreams, however, often do not easily or quickly culminate. Every ministry, in its beginning stages, has a season of tilling the ground and planting the seeds before harvesting the fruit of mission and vision.

For Encounter Church, this difficult season of preparing the ground lasted for about three years. This process can sometimes take even longer, but Encounter Church hit the ground running. Pastor Gray pushed forward with determination to reach out and become an asset to the community. As a result of their diligence, fruit developed much faster than was expected.

“This community was ready for something to break loose, so we began to shake things up pretty quick. – Pastor Gray

The ministry of Rural Compassion assisted Encounter Church in facilitating effective change in the community. Through Rural Compassion, they were provided the opportunity to reach their local schools and community through regular distribution of health supplies and food to townspeople, conducting shoe giveaways, and donating resources to the local senior center, police department, fire department, ambulance district, and Citizens Against Spousal Abuse Inc. (CASA). In the last seven years some of these projects have grown to over ten times the original size.

Working with this organization provided an educational experience for Gray. He learned an important lesson for establishing a seat at the table of leadership within the city of Sedalia by regularly attending all the city’s Chamber of Commerce Meetings. This practice produced the opportunity for Gray to represent Christ to the decision-makers in the town. These leaders have since come to know and trust Gray and the local church. Founded on the biblical command to freely give, the hope and light that Encounter Church had freely received was put on display to the people of Sedalia.

As a result of building their foundation on a love like Christ’s that overflows into the community, Encounter Church has experienced uncommon moments in their relationship with Sedalia. Following an outreach to the local school, a thank you note said, “You truly are the hands and feet of Jesus. Thanks again for all that you do for us.” The local fire department also expressed their thankfulness, “We have said it numerous times how very blessed we are by your congregation. I hope you really know how appreciative we are of your generosity.” These are the types of “unheard of” occurrences that pastors do not often see happen in relationships between the church and the average secular community.

Sedalia, Missouri has seen, “unheard of,” and experienced transformation as a result. In the three-year preparation season, this “unheard of” fruit remained obscure. Encounter Church believes any church willing to push forward into their community, despite not seeing results right away, will see a harvest by diligently planting seeds in hope producing fruit for years and years to come.

“Sow the seeds. Only then will God be able to bring about fruit.“

Gray suggested other rural pastors remember; “They do not have time to not invest into the community.” He encourages them to not get so absorbed in the job that they neglect the community around them that needs partnership and assistance. Further, he observed the importance of a rural pastors’ attention to personal spirituality, emotional care and a coaching or mentoring relationship that can help them move forward and strengthen their personal growth.

“Pastors, I want to encourage you; try not to become an island. Instead, wrap yourself around other pastors. And rather than attempting to do everything yourself, hear the ideas; we were made for community.”

Making a difference does not always start off with a bang; sometimes it begins with a vision, and a lot of willingness.

Over the course of the last eight years, Gray’s expectancy and vision has taken root in this rural church and community. God has grown an abundance of flourishing fruit that has yielded blessing for Encounter Church, for the whole of Sedalia, Missouri and beyond.

Reflective Engagement:

1. What seeds have you sown expecting to bear a harvest?
2. What steps could strengthen the relationship between your church and the community?
3. What needs do you believe God could help you address?
4. Who could partner with you to meet those needs?
5. Who could partner with you as a mentor and/or coach?

Click here to read Pastor Chris Gray’s unexpected testimony: What if Your Blessings Come Through Forks?

The post From Planted Seeds to Flourishing Fruit appeared first on Rural Advancement.

By Hope Mayes

“What are we going to do with hundreds of thousands of plastic forks?”

Every six to eight weeks, Encounter Church in Sedalia, Missouri receives food and supplies from Convoy of Hope’s ministry, Rural Compassion. Their partnership over the years blessed many homes, businesses, and schools in their community through the distribution of essential supplies. Sometimes on seemingly ordinary days, God directs accurate timing to bring the right resources.

“On one of the occasions we picked up supplies from Rural Compassion; they had given us a pallet full of hundreds and thousands Sam’s Club style plastic forks,” explained lead pastor of Encounter Church, Chris Gray. “We didn’t know what we were going to do with all of those forks!” That week, when church volunteers allocated supplies to the different members in their community, each order received hundreds of extra plastic forks in attempt use them. One afternoon, Pastor Chris Gray arranged for a school, which the church had developed a partnership and often blessed, to receive an especially large order of these plastic forks.

A volunteer from Encounter Church works at this school and often transport the supplies to the school. She unloaded her car to make the school’s cafeteria delivery of six boxes of these plastic forks, thinking, “I don’t know why I’m doing this. This is a waste of time. They don’t need these forks!”

She arrived at the cafeteria and gave the forks to the head of the kitchen staff; however, then the cafeteria worker surprisingly stopped her and said, “You don’t understand.” Tears started to stream down the kitchen worker’s face, “We ran out of forks this morning. There were not enough forks to serve the kids for lunch. We were going to have to use our real forks and we don’t have enough of those for every class period!” The church volunteer stood stunned as she recalled her earlier thoughts while delivering the forks to the cafeteria. The kitchen staff member continued, “We didn’t know what we were going to do. Then you walked in with all the forks we needed.”

When the volunteer told Pastor Chris Gray what happened at the cafeteria that afternoon, he too became amazed that God takes any opportunity possible to show His love and open doors. He realized God cares for every single person, school, and community.

Testimonies like this continue to arise in the time of the corona virus pandemic. Every Monday, Pastor Gray helps distribute about 300 food packs to his community through a drive through pick up location. Pastor Chris Gray says through this, God’s love has spread like wildfire; “We’ve had handful of people that have messaged us and said, “‘You don’t understand, without this we would not have had food this week,’ and ‘Thank you to your church for supplying food.’” One stunned person called to ask, “Is it really the church that puts this on?” He answered, “Absolutely.” To which the person answered, “Really! The church is doing this!”

God’s hand opening doors for people to view His love and blessing on display in surprising and different ways, which amazes Pastor Chris Gray and Encounter Church; even when blessings come in the form of thousands of plastic forks.

Reflective Engagement:

1. Who could partner with you to show Jesus love in your community?
2. What new opportunities has God provided through unusual circumstances?
3. How has God surprised you in the past?
4. How can your new circumstances encountered become an opportunity?

The post What if Your Blessings Come Through Forks? appeared first on Rural Advancement.

by Hope Mayes

A woman nine months pregnant, kicked out of her house by her husband, had almost no belongings, and baby arriving soon. Feeling hopeless and alone, she surprised New Life Assembly of God by stumbling into the building of what would soon become the Woodstock Hope Center. Upon seeing her situation and the opportunity to show the woman she was welcome and loved, the lead Pastor Chad Payne and church volunteers packed her car with a baby crib, play place, car seat, diapers, baby clothing and food. As she drove away, they thought this act of compassion would not change her life forever, but it would give her threads of hope.

Threads of Hope in the Form of Community

Right at the top of the second poorest county in Alabama lies a unique church, equipped with creative vision and eyes that see through the lens of hope. New Life Assembly of God, led by pastor Chad Payne in Woodstock, lives out their motto “healing for your past, hope for your future” with every person that stumbles into their church. However, in the twenty years Pastor Chad has pastored at New Life, he learned the importance of knowing he pastors every person that walks into his church, and every member of the community as well.

 “It’s an essential and key component to see yourself as pastoring the community and not just the church” – Pastor Chad Payne

Pastor Chad has intentionally spent significant amounts of time “being present in the community,” representing the church in the restaurants and marketplace, and becoming acquainted with the people, culture and changing needs of Woodstock and the surrounding area. Payne finds it amazing what opportunities open up when “spending a lot of time being seen in the community.” Because of this, New Life has stayed attentive and addressed the essential needs with doses of hope prescribed specifically for the community’s symptoms.

Threads of Hope in Unique Forms

By adopting this mindset, New Life has begun to imagine new ideas for their small town! They have started to ask questions such as, “How can our church make a difference in the community?” and “What about our church would make the community sad if it went away?”

As a response to these queries, New Life has developed the Woodstock Hope Center, which provides hope to many foster families and individuals in hardship situations. In partnership with the Department of Human Resources, the Hope Center has already made available essential provisions, groceries, and clothing to foster families. Even before the grand opening in April 2020, the Woodstock Hope Center lived up to its tagline, where hope comes alive, by helping over two dozen foster families.

In order to address more needs unique in their community, God provided a 15 ½ acre property directly behind the church to be creatively used for ministry purposes! On one end, Pastor Chad plans to construct a fully functioning park with a softball field, walking track, picnic tables and much more. On the opposite end, Pastor Chad hopes to fill with tiny homes for senior citizens. The goal provides smaller homes for senior citizens to stay near the church and receive needed help rather than moving to an assisted living facility.

These solutions fulfill needs and place their church as a central hub within the community. Pastor Chad and his church have seen this building plan as an opportunity to build relationships with people who join from all around their area of Alabama and become a witness with their words and love for community.

 “Everywhere I go in the community I treat every person like they are the most important person in my life at the moment… If I can communicate to each person that they are valuable, if I don’t treat them like a counselor or something like that, but if I treat them as a friend and if I try to encourage them, it’s so much more effective in bringing out the best in people” – Pastor Chad Payne

If the Church takes the attitude of communicating to every person they encounter that they are wanted, valuable, and that someone believes in them, hope catches like a wildfire.

Threads of Hope That Endures

Pastoring the whole community, imagining what can be, and treating every person with importance remains the culture New Life exhibits in Woodstock, Alabama. New Life has made the most impact by involving themselves in their community and finding essential elements for their unique area and people. This proved more effective than trying to emulate a big city church in a small community.

 “When you take that approach, then the possibilities in your community are endless. There’s so much we can invest in. Whether the church grows numerically or not, we can still make a big difference in the community” – Pastor Chad Payne

Pastor Chad and New Life Assembly of God represent true testimonies that God’s people must take the attitude of relational service in all they do. Then ministry matches the needs of the community around them and quickly finds areas in which to invest resources, time, and love. Discover ways to communicate and deliver hope to the people around you, the options are endless.

Reflective Engagement:

1. How can you and your church get creatively administer of hope to the people and community?
2. What unique needs occur in your community?
3. How does ‘pastoring the whole community’ look in your ministry?
4. What does ‘treating every person as important’ change?
5. What new creative idea can you imagine?

Click here to read Senior Pastor Chad Payne’s recount of his battle with cancer while in a pastoral role.

The post Threads of Hope appeared first on Rural Advancement.

By Hope Mayes

“Is this where I belong now?” Sitting in an Alabama waiting room chair with other cancer patients in various stages of brokenness, Pastor Chad Payne wondered these thoughts to himself; “Do I belong with this group now? Is this my future?” After being diagnosed with kidney cancer in November 2017, the way this rural minister pastored and led his church was about to change. Payne found three key effective elements in pastoring during illness: support from others, prayer and honesty.

The First Key: Support

The afternoon sitting in that Alabama hospital, he heard the comments of the patients around him, “The doctors think the cancer is coming back…” “The numbers are not looking good…” In this moment, Payne experienced the darkest moment of his whole life; he had never felt more alone. This pastor soon found in these dark situations God’s love came rushing in stronger than previously experienced.

This love came from individuals, families and organizations near and far. Not only did his church, New Life Assembly of God in Woodstock, Alabama show support by taking a large love offering to help Payne and his wife cover medical bills, but multiple other churches and organizations in the area did too. Missionaries from all around the world prayed for his healing, and various friends and family members even offered to donate their own kidneys to his cause. These very humbling acts of kindness reminded this rural pastor and his wife that God continually worked good for them and wrapped them in His love.

The Second Key: Prayer

During this time, God met Payne in ways he did not expect. As an assignment for one of his PhD classes, he spent twenty-four hours alone with God at their district’s campgrounds.

“I got alone and the first day I was there, I couldn’t even pray. I would get silent and it was like there was a tape playing on fast forward in my brain; all the anxiety, fear and questions. I could not get my brain quiet.” – Pastor Chad Payne

With so many thoughts seeding through his mind, he resorted to reading about prayer. He read Mark Batterson’s book, Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God, then journaled. This exercise effectively quieted his thoughts.

At the conclusion of the twenty-four-hour period, Payne began to feel connected and in sync with God. He found that the private time allowed him to focus and re-center on his Heavenly Father and helped hear His direction about how to pastor through this unexpected time of illness.

The Third Key: Honesty

Although unprepared and caught off guard by the kidney cancer. Payne attempted to keep his circumstances from reflecting on his congregation and community in a negative way. He prioritized complete transparency about the state of his situation. While walking in faith, he did not conceal the anxiety or fear involved; rather, he used his situation as sermon illustrations about the dark moments. Off the platform, he took time to care for himself. Self-care during kidney cancer involved clearing his schedule as much as possible, taking time away, and additional rest. This gave others in the church the opportunity to expand their involvement through volunteer and leadership roles. He learned to humbly received the support for he and his wife needed.

A Conclusion

Since November of 2017, Payne has learned many skills to pass on to others regarding pastoring though illness. The straining and anxious time made him a stronger leader, a stronger prayer warrior, and a stronger witness to share the goodness of God. Payne’s biggest life message declares of God’s goodness; after months of battling state three kidney cancer and being on the edge of stage five kidney disease, he recently received the report that his kidney function has radically improved over the last two years. Though his kidney disease currently remains at stage three, Payne can officially mark February 2020 as two years of being cancer free!

“I once heard someone say, you will attract people because of your strengths but you will connect with people over your weaknesses.” – Pastor Chad Payne

Payne has found this attraction connecting with the other generations. If young people come to believe the reality of Christ, Payne believes his illness removes the superhuman model some would see on the platform. Instead, he worked to convey a real image of Christ by presenting himself as a normal person on and off the stage; laughing at himself, talking about his struggles, and attempting not to take himself too seriously.

Being honest with himself and others, praying through the process, and accepting support from those that care, Payne displayed how to continue pastoring in the midst of illness and found peace in the fact that no matter the circumstance, God’s children always find shelter and peace in the arms of their Father. That is where they belong.

Reflective Engagement:

1. How can you accept support and care from others in timers of challenge?
2. Who do you have that provides support for you? How do you show them your appreciation?
3. Who in your sphere of life needs your support and authentic sacrificial love?
4. When have you prayed through the difficult processes you faced? How now can you arrange essential time for prayer?
5. How can you model authentic responses to current circumstances?

The post Pastoring in The Midst of Illness appeared first on Rural Advancement.

by Hope Mayes

God’s plans are always better than our plans…

Jon Sanders thought he had mapped out his life and assumed he had settled into a life-long career; however, the young soon-to-be pastor realized that responding to God’s will remains far better than attempting to direct his own life.

At age 21, when his aspirations to become a professional football player fell from his grasp, young Sanders selected his second-best career option: fighting fires in big-city Illinois. While pursuing his dream job, Sanders wrestled with the thought that God’s plan for him involved more than firefighting. He loved God and the church, yet continued to run for several years from the underlying and growing sense that the Lord had created him to work as a minister. God’s plan conflicted with his personal ambitions.

“Before being obedient, I couldn’t see all that God had in store for my life

and the adventure He was inviting me to take”

Finally, Sanders realized he no longer wanted to spend his life running from the calling God placed in his heart for many years. “Lord,” he said, “If You want me in ministry, I have a really long list of reasons why You are making a mistake and choosing the wrong guy. But at the end of the day, it’s Your will and if You want me to serve You in ministry in a pastoral role, I will.”

After resisting it for so long, the moment Sanders surrendered to God’s plan, he felt peace in God’s will. At this point of surrender, God revealed to the young pastor the next few steps in His perfect plan. His only regret was not obeying God sooner.

God’s plan will be something we love

Immediately upon entering ministry, Sanders knew that God directed and superintended his life in ways far above his own control. His ability to work as a bi-vocational pastor and continue to serve as a fire-fighter made the transition extra ordinary. Sanders testified to many advantages of bi-vocational ministry, such as less financial struggle for the church.

“When pastors find ‘something’ they love and brings them life,

they and the church receive financial benefit”

Today, Sanders loves to help current and aspiring rural pastors discover ways to make money and serve the world using the unique giftings that God has placed inside of them. In addition to shepherding their flock, pastors get to take part in ministry outside the four walls of the church, which can become an affectual component in impacting a community.

God’s plan on our lives will affect others

Pastors often have the opportunity to rub shoulders with the same community they are called to reach while acting in the dual role of a businessperson, farmer, carpenter, or fire fighter, and taking financial pressure from themselves and their church.

Jon has seen marketplace ministry affect the way pastors view their communities. Bi-vocational ministers often have more opportunity to reach out to their communities and represent Christ beyond the walls of the church. It can put into perspective the roles of both the pastor and the congregation in how they should represent Christ to their community. This also pushes the congregation to function in their role within the body of Christ, as they recognize the pastor cannot “do everything.”

Sanders has experienced the many strengths of this ministry firsthand; however, he does not prescribe a bi-vocational lifestyle for every pastor. Sanders believes there are many potential benefits for pastors working in bi-vocational roles in their spare time, in unique areas of numerous giftings. Of course, these benefits only become evident as long as the pastor’s second source of income includes something they love to do; not a draining obligation.

After pastoring in a rural setting for 16 years, Sanders recently entered a ministry of a different form. As the new Director of Content and Conferencing at Rural Matters Institute (RMI) Jon exercises his God-given gifts in a new way. Part of his job with RMI includes executing eight different one-day summits for rural pastors around the country and administrating Rural Matters Institute’s annual National Conference. In 2020, the National Conference will take place in Dallas, Texas starting September 21^st and going through the 23^rd. These events are meant specifically to build up and encourage rural pastors and churches.

This new ministry has provided a fresh opportunity for Sanders to continue his personal podcast, Small Town Big Church, on a larger platform for a wider audience to benefit. The name, Small Town Big Church, conveys that God loves to do big things in small places, rather than the misconception of a numerical reference. Sanders aims to help pastors believe that serving a small church does not mean only making a small impact.

Sanders often reminds ministers that the Lord loves rural. God is not disappointed when He reads the relatively small number on the population sign that sits on the edge of your community. Not at all. Jesus knows, loves and gave his life for every individual in your rural setting.

“Jesus doesn’t read that sign, drop his head in disappointment and say,

‘man, I wish there were more people on that sign.’

He has you pastoring in that place on purpose,

for the purpose of serving them and reaching them for His eternal kingdom.”

When rural pastors believe the mindset that they play in the minor leagues, it effects and projects onto their people. Jesus looks for leaders willing to believe for the impossible to occur in rural communities because it is in these obscure, tucked away places where He receives all the glory.

“If we can get a generation of pastors believing this truth and responding to it by going to the small

places, it is going to be very impactful for the kingdom.”

In his time in ministry, Sanders has seen numerous salvations, baptisms, marriages saved, addictions overcome, and testimonies of God working in the lives of people. “When I look back, I can think of so many cool stories to tell. The coolest part is when all those things come together to transform a life.”

Whether ministering as a bi-vocational pastor, making a podcast, or coaching and encouraging rural pastors through RMI, Sanders life testifies that God’s plans never fails to be the best option, bring the most fulfillment, and produce the most fruit in a believer’s life.

Reflective Engagement:

1. How has God challenged you to surrender your plans to His?
2. What is God calling you to do that you might be holding you back?
3. What gifts do you have that may assist in financial strength for you?
4. Spent several moments asking, “God how do your view this community?
5. How should your view change to line up with His view?

For more information on the Rural Matters Institute, visit, https://www.bgcruralmatters.com/.

Or to listen to the latest Small Town Big Church Podcast, visit https://www.smalltownbigchurch.com/podcast.

The post When God’s Plan Is Not Your Own… appeared first on Rural Advancement.

Edited by Hope Mayes

I have always been interested in music, ever since I was seven years old. When the Beatles came on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964, I turned to my mom and said, “That guitar player, George Harrison? That’s what I want to be.” Later that week, my mom bought me my first guitar and I started taking lessons at seven years old. I had no idea that that small musical instrument would turn out to be a big spiritual instrument for God to use to affect His plan for my whole life.

My first opportunity to play came when the Catholic church I was raised in needed a guitar player in their folk mass band. Even though I was a shy kid my mom said “Why don’t you go?” I tried out and they took me on board at twelve years old.

A couple years into playing for the Catholic church, a boyfriend of one of the girls in the folk mass was starting a rock and roll band and needed a guitar player. I tried out and the band hired me; they liked the way I played. Because I was only fourteen and the guys in the group were much older than me, they said, “Dennis, grow a mustache and talk with a low voice so you look older.” I borrowed my mom’s eyebrow pencil and colored in my mustache a bit; it was hilarious. I joined them in playing parties, at schools and even clubs, proving myself as the youngest person to join a musician’s union at fifteen years old in New Haven, Connecticut. Slowly, over the next seven years, my career as a professional musician began to grow. And all the while I continued to play guitar in the folk mass in that old Catholic church.

During those years of growing fame, I did not feel like I knew enough about God and His Word. I set out on a quest to find out who God really was and why I was here. My quest for truth took me through years of experimenting with transcendental meditation, astral projection, martial arts, and even studying under the Dali Lama’s teachings. After three years of what felt like chasing the wind, a series of events took me to the end of my rope; the relationship I was in went downhill, the band I was in fell apart, I had just bought a home and I could not pay it off. I came to a point of suicide. I did not want to live anymore because everything I was living for had fallen apart.

One day on a Thursday afternoon I sat at the kitchen table with a Sam’s Club sized bottle of aspirin and a bottle of water; I was about to take my life. When suddenly I felt a still small voice say “Go to church. Right now.” I listened to the voice and I went into the only church I knew. The doors to the Catholic sanctuary were open. With no one around, I walked up to the altar and knelt down. “Oh Lord” I prayed from the bottom of my heart, “I’ve blown it. I have blown the life you’ve given me. I am not going to ask you for a new relationship, I am not going to ask you to fix my business or my band. All I ask is that you give me a reason to live. I will do whatever you want me to do, go wherever you want me to go. Just give me a reason to live.”

I felt the same still small voice I had heard at my kitchen counter speak to my heart again, “You will live for me because I died for you.”

I said to the Lord, “Lord, I believe who the Bible says you are; Jesus, the Son of God who died for my sins and was raised from the dead. I know that somehow that cleanses me, but I don’t understand it. Help me understand.” That is when I felt a rush, that I now know as the Holy Spirit, come over me. I felt clean for the first time in my life. I came back to my house and I was just thrilled. I began reading my Bible and growing more and more eager to tell others about my relationship with God.

Two weeks later, I was playing my guitar on the front steps and thinking over the events of the last couple weeks. That was when my next-door neighbor pulled into the driveway across the street, smoke billowing from her overheating engine. I put my guitar aside and ran to help the beautiful woman who introduced herself as Bobbie. That day, I met my future wife whom I will be married to for thirty-six years in the summer of 2020.

From then on, not only did Bobbie begin to disciple me, but her dad and the pastor of their church began discipling me too. I read my Bible and attended church regularly; learning things about God I had never known. I was all in for Him. I went through a three-year Bible college program in about a year and a half, still playing music for income on the side. Every so often, Bobbie and I would get to perform worship music for events in our small Florida town.

After that year, gigs and jobs began drying up. I was sure this meant the Lord was preparing Bobbie and I for a new season, but I never would have been able to guess what He had in store. One morning through prayer, I felt the Spirit of the Lord speak to me and say, “I am going to put you back to where I took you out of. There are people out there that will never step foot in a church and I want you to tell them what I have done for you.”

So, Bobbie and I put together a show of country, gospel, and good story songs and approached the manager of our local Holiday Inn because we knew the hotel often had bands play on the weekends. “My wife and I play music and if you ever need an evening filled or if you have a cancellation, give us a call.” A couple days later, the phone rang.

We enjoyed our time playing in the small Holiday Inn that weekend and as it turned out, the audience loved it too! The opportunity arose to play in a big hotel in Orlando, Florida where in the audience that night was not just one, but two agents from a popular cruise ship company. When they asked us if we would ever consider playing professionally on one of their cruise ships we were taken aback. We knew God was doing something. We said, “We’ll have to pray about it… Where we going?”

Within only a month, we were out at sea, on a beautiful cruise ship, playing music. The company continually asked Bobbie and I to stay and play for them; they loved us. Before long, we went from just playing music to writing and headlining our own songs in the main theatres on the cruise ships. It was a blessing from the Lord.

Even though we knew the Lord was opening all these doors, we still had this feeling like there was a lack in ministry. Two weeks into headlining, we sat in the cruise director’s office getting ready for a show and we overheard the some of the cruise staff talking. “Well who is going to do the Sunday Service? The captain doesn’t want to do it. I don’t want to do it either.” Bobby and I looked at each other and thought, that’s our que! We interrupted and said, “Excuse me, we’ll do it!” They liked the service we put together so much that they actually revised our contract to say we are required to do the ship’s Sunday services. The ministry did not stop there. We took the opportunity to start and lead crew services and crew Bible studies. The Lord blessed us to see vacationers and crew members get saved every week and every Sunday service. We were thrilled to do this on and off for over twenty years.

The only problem we saw was the fact that most of the cruises were only seven to ten days. With that little time, we did not have a chance to disciple people. Sending them home with a wave and a “Find a good church!” never sat well in our hearts. During that time, my wife and I hoped and prayed that someday the Lord would give us a church so we could disciple people and duplicate what the Lord has done in our lives.

In 2016, we knew God was getting ready to change our season. He opened up the door to take the opportunity to be pastors of Refuge Church in Rock Island, Tennessee. Since then, we have pastored at this church for about four years and have loved every second of this season. The weekly opportunities we had on the cruise ship days to be in front of large crowds, not only playing music but speaking, was what prepared us to be at this point of pastoring and ministering in a church setting.

When we started out in ministry, we looked to our heroes and tried to be like them. But something that we have learned over the years is, the Lord wants us to be ourselves. Along the way it is okay to pick up things from people who we admire. But there is strength in embracing who God wants us to be. Lord give us the power to be what you want us to be, and use the unique skills you have given us as instruments for your glory.

To connect with the Refuge Assembly of God in Soddy Daisy, TN or Pastor Dennis and Bobbie, visit their website here.

Questions for Reflection:

1. How can you use the creative abilities God has given you to further your ministry or reach out to an untouched part of your community/area of influence?
2. Are there areas of your ministry or discipleship relationships that can be taken to a deeper level beyond where they are at now?
3. What unconventional opportunities has God placed before you that you can utilize to advance the Kingdom?
4. How can the church better reach those on the fringes of society? How can we better promote unity in the midst of our diversity?
5. Are you on a quest for truth? Are there people in your life or in your church seeking reason and purpose? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance on how to find truth and how to encourage others towards godly purpose.

The post Dennis Parillo: A Cruise Ship Musician’s Testimony… appeared first on Rural Advancement.

By Hope Mayes

Who would have guessed the same couple that stood on major cruise ship stages every evening as headlining musicians would not only act as pastors to guests and crew on Sunday mornings, but after twenty years would land in Tennessee as pastors of a rural church?

Dennis and Bobbie Parillo have been used by God in a variety of settings all their lives. But no matter where God has placed them, He has always included their passion and talent for music. Few rural ministers can say they have retired from working as cruise ship pastors as well as music entertainment headliners.

“The opportunities every week to be in front of large crowds not only doing music but speaking was part of our training to bring us to this point. It prepped us for what we do now.”

In 2016, the Parillos sensed God asking them to retire from the music industry. When He moved them to Soddy Daisy, Tennessee to become the pastors of Refuge Assembly of God, they had no idea their background in performing music on cruise ships stages would transfer over as well as it did. The music industry prepared them for speaking to large audiences, and, unexpectedly, gave them a powerful testimony to share of how God’s sovereign hand protected them and helped them arise unscathed after coming shoulder to shoulder with the temptations that come along with the music industry. Even as they witnessed almost everyone around them fall into heavy drinking and drugs, Dennis and Bobbie are physical evidence that it is possible to refrain from and escape the pull of the worldly current. To this day, God has used them and their testimony to encourage people in their church and community who have dealt with similar issues.

“Being in the music industry for years, the Lord always kept us safe and out of that stuff even though people all around us were drinking heavily and using drugs. I saw from a very early age what it could do to people and it was not good.”

God has used Dennis and Bobbie and the power of this testimony to witness to members of their church and community in a variety of formats. One of those formats is a ministry called The Transformation Project.

The Transformation Project, originally based out of Chatenooga, TN, is a curriculum-based program. Some refer to it as a “little brother to Teen Challenge” because it helps people with life-controlling issues such as drug and alcohol addiction, but is a non-residential program. Several times a week, these students come together and go through the curriculum called “Living Free.” These meetings also give the students an opportunity to receive support, advice, and guidance from volunteers like the Parillos.

Dennis and Bobbie take these opportunities to speak into student’s lives, pray with them and share their story of how the Lord kept them from falling into the sins and temptations of the music industry. They share with them the good news that God is their protector. If they have fallen into these sins, He can most definitely pick them back up.

One husband and wife, after becoming associated with The Transformation Project, recognized the value of the curriculum and saw the potential benefits it could have on people’s lives. The couple made a significant impact when they decided to take this ministry to their family, friends and even to the local jails. To this day, this husband and wife remain involved by teaching one of the weekly Transformation groups.

“The biggest thing with this Transformation Project is being able to speak into these people’s lives. We get a chance to pray with them.”

The testimonies of this couple and of so many others who have come out of The Transformation Project has been a witness of the life changing power of God to so many people who have connected with Refuge Assembly. While the stories of some students are not yet complete and it can be difficult to see some continue to struggle through their life-controlling addictions, the Parillos and the rest of the volunteers are relentless in their prayers and discipleship.

 “The Lord will lead them. It might take a little bit more time for some of them, but He will lead them to get out of their addictions.”

This is their greatest pleasure in ministry; seeing the successes and having the ability to leave a legacy in each life. These rural Tennessee pastors have used their testimony to pass on knowledge and experience gained from their time in the music industry. They have both walked in the same shoes, faced the same choices and have both had the will to turn away from the life of drinking and drugs. It is their greatest pleasure to plant seeds in people’s lives, knowing that it is an eternal seed that will last and a fire that will not go out. And it is pure joy to witness the students cling to God, get involved in ministry and watch them run the path God has laid out for each one.

“Sometimes we learn it the hard way, but it leads to testimonies in the long run. Sometimes you have to get through the test before you see the testimony.”

Throughout their lives, Pastors Dennis and Bobbie Parillo, have performed on cruise ships to audiences of thousands as well as in small church congregations of less than fifty. They have found blessing, influence, and success in both settings. The success they have found in their music ministry, rural pastoral ministry and through The Transformation Project demonstrates that success is not measured by numbers, or how big or small the audience. God measures success by our willingness to say “Yes” to whatever He asks of us and our obedience in doing it well.

To connect with the Refuge Assembly of God in Soddy Daisy, TN or Pastors Dennis and Bobbie Parillo, visit their website at https://refugeagtn.com/. 

The post From Headlining Musicians to Rural Tennessee Pastors appeared first on Rural Advancement.

It all started in 2012 when leaving the mission field in Mexico for furlough, Randy and Lisa had a strong feeling God would not lead them back to the Latin American country they had ministered in the last six years. The Lord had spoken to them about doing something quite different from foreign mission work – planting a church in rural America. They knew in their hearts God had spoken to them and told them to plant an Assemblies of God Church in Ness City, Kansas, but God showed them nothing of the timing. This did not discourage them. They exercised patience and diligence in the meantime by blessing others with their ministry through their work at the Central Kansas Dream Center in Great Bend, Kansas. This multi-faceted, holistic ministry was founded in August of 2013 to meet the needs of broken people within the community, with the driving vision of creating disciple-making disciples. After about five years of doing ministry through the Central Kansas Dream Center, in September 2018, God spoke to the Parrs and said, “Now!” It was time to plant what would soon be Generations Church Assembly of God in Ness City, Kansas. 

They began this exciting journey by laying the spiritual groundwork. Before even launching the church, Randy and Lisa actively began to love and embrace the community. They baked muffins for events, stopped by businesses and schools, and served Gatorades to the high school football team. While investing in Ness City a year before Generation Church’s official launch, they learned that pastors who are present and invest in the community gain natural connections, and build a solid establishment of trust that carries through Sunday morning and into the rest of the week.

During the first year of laying the spiritual and relational foundation, the pastors were looking for places where they could lay the physical foundation for their new church building. After having considered launching their church in either a gymnasium or a community center, they looked into an old 165-seat movie theatre on Main Street. This run-down building was not listed for sale by a realtor, but by the retired owner who was traveling in Australia at the time. Immediately, Randy spotted potential in this building’s location and in what it might have to offer a future AG church. When Lisa had gathered all the documents and arranged the funding, the future pastors of Generations Church were ready to settle on a price for a one-year lease. However, God had other plans. When this 5,800 square foot building and half a million-dollar piece of property was offered to them by the owner for only one dollar, they could not believe it! They had never before seen a miracle of this proportion!

God did not stop there. What should have been a $150,000 to $175,000 remodel project, by the grace of God only cost $75,000. They walked away debt free and with a story that provided them with a beautiful building that gives testimony to God’s faithfulness and providence. Those who heard this story began to realize this was only the beginning of many miracles God would work out for the good of Randy and Lisa Parr’s ministry.

After a year of building renovations and establishing relationships within the community, they officially launched Generations Church on September 8^th, 2019. The next miracle the Parrs would see came in the form of their partner church, and the long-time pastor of Great Bend First Assembly of God, Pastor Dwight Dozier. Pastor Dwight and his willing congregation gladly chose to help out every Sunday since their launch by attending and filling skilled positions on a short-term basis so local leaders could be trained up. From the beginning of the vision to its fulfillment, First Assembly has supplied the prayer foundation on which the church stood at its formation and continues to stand on today. “Without the help of Great Bend,” Lisa Parr said, “it would have been difficult to start.” As Pastor Dozier partnered diligently to advance the church in Ness City, The Ness City pastors realized how important it is to have a strong church to help launch a new work. He assisted in casting the vision to help plant churches in this rural area of Kansas by asking individuals to make a short-term commitment to attending Generations Church, fully aware that it would cost him workers and tithes. This gift of finances and workers demonstrate the deep level of commitment Dozier and First Assembly have made to plant churches in area rural communities.

It would have been a difficult to get through the beginning stages of launching this new church without the help of three ladies who had previously attended the small church that had recently been closed in Ness City. These ladies became the infrastructure that formed the bridge between the Parrs and the small, but close-knit community in Kansas. With their supportive energy and financial giving, the new local pastors were able to better understand how to contextualize their ministry for the community of Ness City. Once again, God had provided a miracle through the blessing that these three women provided.

The Parr’s foreign mission ministry background helped them contextualize ministry and embrace the culture of Ness City. While on the field, Lisa came to realize learning the culture of a community is one of the most important aspects to ministering among the people. They understand that they might always be foreigners to the people and lifestyle of Ness City, but they can be embraced and received by them. This acceptance has already begun as a result of their humble entrance into the rural community. Taking Gatorade to the high school football team, being intentional about building relationships, and displaying a true representation of Christ has slowly eased the skepticism and broken down the walls that had formed upon their arrival. One can constantly hear questions ring from the Parrs’ lips such as; “What can we be a part of? What can we do to be a blessing to you? How can we integrate ourselves into your community?” These are approaches they never would have learned without spending time in Mexico.

Creating a spiritual foundation prior to entering a community, offering yourself in service to the people within that community, partnering with a grounded church to assist you in the beginning stages, adhering and contextualizing yourself to the culture of the rural town, and relying on God to work out miracle after miracle for the good of His plans are just some of the many lessons Randy and Lisa say all rural leaders and church planters should learn. In a special setting such as this, one can connect with and pastor not only the town but the greater area that surrounds the community. When pastors support the community, the community will support the pastors. For the Parrs, rural church planting has come at a cost of time and finances. But, because of the support network they have beneath and behind them, they have been able to count the cost as worth it. “To any potential rural church planters, if you know that you know God has told you to do it, do not go ahead of God’s timing, but go for it,” says Lisa Parr.

Randy and Lisa Parr are a great testimony of God’s faithfulness and providence. Romans 8:28 describes their journey to plant the church in Ness City well, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (ESV). These wonderful pastors have shown that when we wait on God’s timing, seek His will, work hard and pray hard, the next miracle is just around the corner.

The post Miracle upon Miracle, Grace upon Grace… appeared first on Rural Advancement.

By Hope Danzl

God placed a vision in Pastor Dwight Dozier’s heart for the growth of the church in rural America since starting full-time ministry in his early 20’s. Now, at age 62, having served in ministry for over 40 years, most Americans view this season of life as the conclusion of their working years and beginning their retirement, but not this rural pastor.

What motivates his continued work of pastoring, pursuing education, and leading church multiplication in rural areas? Dozier’s passion to see the incredible need in rural places met with more healthy churches, more spiritual leadership and training for the next generation, and to see his healthy church launch more churches in smaller communities. Dozier’s vision supersedes the natural rhythm of life or personal comfort for most people in his age group.

Little did he know when he set new goals, God would surprise him by preparing the first church planters, Randy and Lisa Parr, two valued church members in his own congregation, First Assembly of God in Great Bend, KS. God took these former missionaries to Mexico from the mission field to rural America, on a different ministry journey. They already had a vision to relaunch a church in Ness City, Kansas. God miraculously blessed them with the miracle purchase of an old theater and office space in the center of town for Generations Church, for the price of one dollar. However, Ness City had one challenge; only three members in the previous congregation remained to start this new church. Pastor Dwight and First Assembly jumped at the chance to assist Randy and Lisa in making their God-given dream a reality, fulfilling what God was speaking to them.

Dozier invited ‘A-team’ members from his church to join Generations Church, filling the voids with skilled people while also raising local leaders. Members quickly volunteered to fill ministry roles such as; worship leaders, ushers, greeters, nursery helpers, children’s ministry leaders and much more. The church in Great Bend displayed selfless generosity that assisted the new Kansas church to walk through its hardest first steps with grace. Today, with an average of about 70 people, Randy and Lisa Parr are well on their way to raising up a strong church for the greater Ness City, Kansas area. (See more on their story here… (attach link to their article).

Dozier’s plans to leverage his decades of leadership in multiple church planting endeavors. He also began a Master of Arts degree in Rural Ministry through Trinity Bible College and Graduate School in 2018, not a conventional endeavor for someone his age. This master’s program contributed to defining and executing this church planting vision. His strategy to begin works in 7 or 8 area communities formulated in a class project. Beginning formal education brought him through many successive learning stages. One helpful insight he learned helped create a church, different from the existing community churches in both style and ministry for effective results. His ministry strategy engages people in the Good News, worship, and gives personal attention to people related issues. Pastor Dwight sets the spiritual climate within the community and works to create an effective and healthy church in Great Bend, Kansas, leading the local ministerial association outreaches.

Pastor Dozier desires to multiply churches that model these values before he completes his years of vocational ministry. His strategy is to maximize kingdom impact through church planting and ministry preparation so when he reaches 70, a pipeline of leadership will follow in his footsteps. These future ministers need places to run, so in the next eight years, Dozier developed a goal of launching church plants with an awareness toward rural America.

The First Assembly congregation in Great Bend caught the God’s direction and now dreams with Dozier’s contagious vision. He works to instill a kingdom mindset in his church, so most of the congregation became excited when God used them to impact not only the church plant in Ness City but the surrounding rural communities. The energy and excitement from the first church plant has provoked questions at First Assembly such as,

• How soon can we take that next step of faith and plant in another rural community?
• When and how can we raise up more churches and leaders?

The fact that Pastor Dwight is “62 and… needs to be 42” challenges this process. In the remaining time in this role, he desires to instill vision into the next generation with hope so they will prepare to step into the new leadership positions in future church plants. He encouraged conversations and developed classes for people exploring the call from Jr. High to adults.

Dozier constantly encourages this next generation of ministers and people currently considering church planting towards making long-term commitments. He often encourages them that long-term rural ministry provides many advantages, although not always apparent. How many other ministry situations have the unique opportunity to pastor a whole community in a long-term setting? Rural ministry includes the prospect of building close relationships with influential people. Dozier’s customary weekly coffee with the mayor of Great Bend exemplifies this possibility. He cites many advantages, plus the exceptional opportunity for people in the community to get to know, trust, and call you their pastor; a reliable figure whom they can confide.

Dozier attests that rural America remains a great setting, not just to start in ministry, but provide a place for ministry longevity. He suggests that young pastors raising families in rural communities with a wholesome environment, can establish strong values and vibrant vision. Age has not stopped this motivated leader from seeing rural America’s potential. This growing journey, a step-by-step process, uncovered a God-driven passion for church planting in rural America. The vision God gave Dozier and First Assembly sees a bright future of fresh awareness for the need of ministers in rural places, investing in the next generation, and developing a heart and a mindset to train new leaders to reach Rural America.

Reflective Engagement:

1. How can you invest in rural communities needing a church?
2. What vision has God birthed in you?
3. How can you accomplish God’s plans without regard of age or other limitations?
4. What steps do you need to take to prepare for God’s next miracle through you?
5. How could education open new doors in ministry?

The post Dwight Dozier Began Thinking About a Partnership For a Church Plant… appeared first on Rural Advancement.

By Hope Danzl

When young pastor, Paul Richardson, arrived at Licking Assembly of God at age 24, he said yes to God’s call giving his first years of ministry to serve a small town. Now, at age 34, Licking, Missouri has seen what can happen when a dedicated pastor gives his life to the call of God and passes this dedication to future leaders.

When Richardson moved to Licking ten years ago, the congregation averaged only 20 people, yet this young leader saw a desperate need for a vibrant, Pentecostal church in the community. Richardson believed God’s grace and his youthful energy could advance the church and reach the community.

Helping this intimate congregation of 20 people overcome obstacles required more than a strategy. It called for diligent and willing leadership that would “pour out” dedicated ministry, despite the small size of the community, the congregation and the challenges that would come.

Richardson commonly heard from people around him that Licking was too small of a location for such a young pastor. Their comments of concern resounded in his head—could he really make more impact and do bigger things at a bigger church? Despite his certainty of God’s call, Richardson asked himself multiple times, “Am I truly willing to pour out the best years of my life in one, little town with a population of 1,300?”

Over the last ten years, Richardson has continued to face this question, yet God has continued to remind him why he daily lays down his life to say yes to the call. As a result of God’s faithfulness and Richardson‘s dedication, the church has grown from 20 to 160 members. Licking Assembly and Richardson keep maintaining a mindset of “we can and we should grow,” rather than simply having a survival mindset.

Opportunities to spread Christ’s hope expanded as Licking AG experienced numerical growth. Partnership with the local community and Rural Compassion, facilitated hope and encouragement for the church, the community, and this rural pastor. This vital encouragement strengthened Richardson when he was tempted to “do all, be all” or to fall into the role of a “jack of all trades.”

Many pastors find themselves encumbered taking on the routine responsibilities of the whole church, but Richardson intentionally gave others the opportunity to minister. When individuals, couples, and families come to him in need of practical, or spiritual assistance he often directed them to resources that provided them with better solutions than what Richardson could offer.

“Pastors often embrace a savior complex that says they need to do it all. Yes, we must work hard and go above and beyond. Sometimes the answer is, ‘I’m not the best solution, but let me connect you with someone in the church or community who is.’”

When pastors take on the role of a director of resources, they increase their ability to dedicate more time to pastoral leadership. For Pastor Paul, raising up local leaders became a time investment that sent four individuals out from the church to lead ministry in other places over the last eight years.

When raising people for ministry, Richardson looks for a willingness and eagerness to serve, character founded in integrity, and a disposition of readiness to become “poured out” for Jesus. It’s easy to get sucked into the allure of ministry, of standing on a platform and receiving acknowledgement for one’s hard work, but Richardson asked potential ministers in his church questions such as:

• Are you willing, and even eager, to serve without recognition?
• Can you be faithful wherever the Lord places you and find contentment there?
• Are you able to find your contentment rooted in Jesus alone?

“If you’re not willing to be ‘poured out’ where you are, you won’t be willing to be ‘poured out’ where you’re going.”

God often rewards faithfulness in small things with opportunities to serve in greater things. Jesus told his disciples, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10 NIV). Richardson’s strategy of training leaders to be content in the “unseen” areas of ministry became foundational to developing impact in the “seen” areas of ministry.

During intentional training periods, Richardson provides his disciples access to the nuts and bolts of pastoral work. He also gives them a view into the everyday world of pastoring a church. He invites young leaders to share in the problems he faces and to experience the process of debating how to make the right decision for forward movement, without the responsibility resting on their shoulders.

Richardson adopted a philosophy of loosely holding onto these young leaders. He says, “Jesus gave ‘the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers’ to the church (Eph. 4:11), expecting the Lord would direct them.” Realizing God gives the gift of each disciple for a season that does not last forever, Richardson rejoices when the Lord moves them somewhere else to bless others.

As a mentor to these future pastors, he accepts the responsibility to discover ways to strengthen each one in areas of weakness. Richardson encourages spiritual and practical disciplines. His mentoring gives opportunities to develop new strengths, so that when leading their own churches in the future, they will already have experience and discipline in their lives.

Richardson wished that he had realized ten years ago that being a rural pastor is a call not a drive. A calling roots pastors in the place God has asked them to serve even when the drive dies out and desires to chase something different arise. If pastors understand that God called them to a place, they can find their identity “in Christ,” rather than relying on the drive of personal motivation. Richardson’s grounding during the hard and frustrating days reaffirmed his faith in his calling that God asked him to minister in this place and to this people.

What can happen when pastors pour out the best of their lives in a small town? The decade of faithful ministry Richardson gave to Licking, Missouri created kingdom impact beyond the limits of this small community. Four pastoral leaders have launched into ministry in other rural churches. God called all believers to give every year, as the the best of their life. Indeed, Christ requires nothing less of every believer (Mark 8:34). For Richardson, the answer to the question, “Will you pour yourself out?” is, and will continue to be a responding “yes.”

If you are interested with connecting with Pastor Paul Richardson and Licking Assembly of God in Licking, Missouri, you can visit their website at https://lickingag.com/.

Reflective Engagement:

1. How much of Your life would you be willing to lay down if the LORD asked for all of you?
2. What does it mean for you to “pour yourself out?”
3. Is your assignment a calling or a drive?
4. Who are you discipling?
5. Are you giving them an example of faithfulness in the little things?

• Are they willing, and even eager, to serve without recognition?
• Can they be faithful wherever the Lord places them and find contentment there?
• Are they able to find their contentment rooted in Jesus alone?

6. Have you discovered ways to strengthen them in areas of weakness by encouraging spiritual and practical disciplines so they can lead their own church?

The post Poured Out appeared first on Rural Advancement.