You can check out the Christianity Now podcast at Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts! If you would like to connect with our host Joe Epley, you can reach out to the show at joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

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If you want either of their papers, feel free to email them at tinavonwald@gmail.com or jimvonwald@gmail.com

As always, if you want to reach out to the show for encouragement, or with feedback or ideas, contact our host Joe Epley at joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

The post Developing Rural Leaders, Co-Pastoring, and Succession Part 2 with Jim and Tina Von Wald appeared first on Rural Advancement.

If you want either of their papers, feel free to email them at tinavonwald@gmail.com or jimvonwald@gmail.com

As always, if you want to reach out to the show for encouragement, or with feedback or ideas, contact our host Joe Epley at joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

The post Developing Rural Leaders, Co-Pastoring, and Succession Part 1 with Jim and Tina Von Wald appeared first on Rural Advancement.

As always, feel free to reach out to our host Joe Epley for feedback, ideas, or encouragement, at joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

The post Sustainable Growth in A Missional Context appeared first on Rural Advancement.

If you ever want to get in contact with the show and ask questions or contribute ideas, you are welcome to reach out to our host at joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

The post Rural Advancement: Year in Review appeared first on Rural Advancement.

Review by Tina Von Wald

Overview

James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner set out to help organizations achieve the extraordinary by providing leadership practices that enhance and create positive work environments.  The authors described the five practices of exemplary leadership, five ways to make a difference and ten commitments of exemplary leadership.  They defined what people look for in their leaders and listed credibility as an essential ingredient. The second half of the book divided each of the five practices: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act and encourage the heart.

Kouzes and Posner stated, “The Leadership Challenge is about how leaders mobilize others to want to get extraordinary things done in organizations.  It’s about leadership that makes a positive difference in the workplace and creates the climate in which people turn challenging opportunities into remarkable successes.”[1]  The authors desired to cultivate self-motivation for the purpose of accomplishing great things through the organizations created reflective evaluations.  They emphasized that leaders improve the work environment by developing the employees for change, adaptability, prosperity and growth.  The authors believe,  “Our ongoing aspiration is that this book contributes to the revitalization of organizations, to the creation of new enterprises, to the renewal of healthy communities, and to greater respect and understanding in the world.”[2]  They hoped to bring a fresh perspective to creating healthy work environments.

Meaningful Material

In the final chapter of the book the Kouzes and Posner surmised that leadership happens through relationships that impact how a leader leads, “Leadership is about relationships, about credibility, about passion and conviction, and ultimately about what you do.  You don’t have to look up for leadership.  You don’t have to look out for leadership.  You only have to look inward.”[3]  The emphasis on encouraging others to speak into the leader’s life, doing life with others and learning from others demonstrates a similar model to the one that Christ illustrated while he lived on earth.

This book attests to leadership principles founded in the Truth.  The authors do not write from a Christian perspective, but their practices support behaviors and actions that Christ exemplified.  This reader identifies with the idea of leadership as relationship with others and self.  They contend that everyone who leads has a responsibility as a role model for those they interact with on a daily basis; “Everyone-and that literally means every person-is potentially a role model for someone, and this means that leadership must be everyone’s business.”[4]  The leader has responsibility to navigate through life making personal changes to leadership while also encouraging others to follow and become better leaders. In ministry, pastors have a call to bring health to the church through self-evaluation and development of people through relationships.

Significant Statement

At the end of the book the authors made a significant statement in regard to love.  “The best-kept secret of successful leaders is love; staying in love with leading, with the people who do the work, with what their organizations provide, and with those who honor the organization by using its products and services. Leadership is not an affair of the head.  Leadership is an affair of the heart.”[5]  This is a fresh perspective on leadership with a definite Christlike thrust.

This statement happens for the authors after they have studied leadership for a long time, and they determine that love is the key.  This love refers to passion for the job, the people, the values and furthering of the passion and love, which resembles the similar undertones to the message of the gospel.  The author’s revelation came through study, interviews and analyses.  Passion about where and what is led gives great value to the individual, or employees and the organization.

Critique of Content

The books strength offers practical steps for leadership growth, providing substantial research to support the listed practices.  “The Leadership Challenge is evidence-based.  Analyzing thousands of case studies and millions of survey responses resulted in The Five Practices framework.”[6]  In putting these steps into practice a leader can do so with confidence that these practices come out of much research and development in work environments.

Written from a secular perspective, the book does not acknowledge these principles as biblical thus indicates a weakness.  One example of a biblical perspective but a lack of recognition of Truth (Phil. 2:3), “Perhaps the very best advice for all aspiring leaders is to remain humble and unassuming-to always remain open to learning more about yourself and the world around you.”[7]  Identified throughout the New Testament, Jesus exemplified humility.

The book set out to research and provide leadership principles a leader can refer to as they continue on their leadership journey.  “Think of the book as a field guide to take along on your leadership journey.  Think of it as a manual you can consult when you want advice and counsel on how to make things happen and move forward.”[8]  The layout of the material makes for easy reference and suggested practices.  Kouzes and Posner succeed in achieving their goal in writing this book.

Recommendation

This book offers practical suggestions for enhancing leadership, with proven steps to take at the end of each practice.  The Leadership Challenge can provide a fresh perspective to leaders desiring self-improvement or looking for action steps to take for betterment.  This material works those at entry level leadership positions up to the highest levels of leadership.

Conclusion

The Leadership Challenge demonstrates the importance of leadership practices through research and interviews with leaders from diverse walks of life by including practical steps to implementing practices proven successful in leadership.  The material provides real world practices to reference as you lead, no matter what level of leadership.

[1]James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, The Leadership Challenge (New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,

2017), xi.

[2]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, xiv.

[3]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 295.

[4]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 298.

[5]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 313.

[6]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, xii.

[7]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 308.

[8]Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, xiii.

The post The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations Book Critique appeared first on Rural Advancement.

By Jim Von Wald

The transitioning of pastoral leadership in rural churches created challenges and opportunities for the pastor and the congregation.  Reducing the complications experienced during leadership change can increase the church’s effectiveness related to the missio Dei or mission of God.  Christopher Wright, in The Mission of God, wrote, “The whole Bible renders to us the story of God’s mission through God’s people in their engagement with God’s world for the sake of the whole of God’s creation.”[1]  Successful leadership transition impacts all areas of the church’s engagement with the world around it.  A clear theological purpose to mentor leaders into and through pastoral leadership transition set in place the guardrails to follow God’s purpose to change the world in which it operates.  The training, mentoring, and multiplication of leaders without these guardrails could follow culture and tradition’s norms rather than biblical truth.

The study explored options discovered during interviews and literature.  It detailed how they can undergird rural pastors and churches through transition. The project launched to uncover best practices for ministerial succession or transition in rural churches, and a summary with suggested best practices will conclude the project.

The research used a qualitative methodology described and defined by Dr. Paul Alexander, President of Trinity Bible College.[2]  Prepared questions guided the semi-formal interviews with rural pastors and denomination leaders that produced findings.  Mixed methods of research through pertinent literature to pastoral transition, interviews, bylaw, and policy reviews support the thesis’ development.  The project scope initially considered only Minnesota Assembly of God rural churches, then expanded to additional relevant options outside of Minnesota and the Assemblies of God.  Clarity of definition necessitated defining terms like rural, transition, and succession.

A primary research purpose arose from the number of rural pastors approaching retirement age in the Assemblies of God denomination.  The transitional vacancies have reached a critical juncture as replacements do not appear readily available.  The anticipated transitions from those retirements do not include changes occurring in pastoral leadership due to other reasons which exacerbate the vacancy issue. An added passion for this project resulted from necessary personal decisions in my clerical role.  My spouse and family have invested 20 years planting and establishing a rural Minnesota Assembly of God church.  We find ourselves in a season where planning for transition described our current ministry journey.  Bird and Vanderbloemen stated, “every pastor is an interim pastor,” therefore, understanding pastoral transition connected desired leadership qualities and personal motivation to support other pastors in the process. [3]

This project initially launched from the challenge of finding resources or literature to guide rural pastors or churches through transition or succession. In contrast, many studies address the process and the consequences of change and succession in urban and suburban settings or large church environs.  Lack of transition resources for the rural areas communicates a sense of disregard and lack of value for the rural church.

All AG churches have value and are needed to accomplish the AG’s mission. Therefore, it is important that the AG not view existing churches as second class or missionally inferior to church plants, but value existing churches for the strengths they have; these strengths often come only through longevity and credibility in a community. Every church that pursues God’s mission has value in His Kingdom and should have value in the AG.[4]

Often, rural pastors have access to fewer professional development opportunities in transition and succession areas from a rural practitioner’s view.  In The Catalyst Leader, Brad Lomenick argues, “…culture is pushing into positions of influence people who are unequipped for the task they’ve been given.”[5]  Scott Schuler, an author and successful business owner stated, “I have never been offered or found leadership mentoring in any of the rural communities I’ve lived, and certainly not from a biblical worldview perspective.”[6]  Providing pastoral mentoring in a rural culture encourages developing young pastors and leaders from within the church.

As a rural pastor, I have learned the importance of planning organically occurring transitions and leading the church I pastor through such changes.  This research motivated me before exiting my current pastorate; I will mentor a future leader who understands the community, the church culture, and the rural ministry dynamics.  Further, I will seek to guide the leadership team and church body through a healthy transition process.  The combination of experience and this study creates a resource with options to undergird rural pastors in guiding their churches through transition.  The ultimate goal establishes an environment where the church can accelerate movement forward into the future God has for it.

Across the United States, the increasing age of rural pastors creates a sense of urgency, and many retirements loom.  Denominational resistance, a traditional view on transition, and lack of planning by the exiting pastors have contributed to the lack of rural transition resources. Historical bylaws, governance, and possibly a lack of forward-thinking have created barriers in many churches during transitional periods.  As an ancillary consequence, these factors also instilled unintended consequences for the rural church, a shortage of replacement pastors.  Pastors planning and praying for direction and programs to develop the next leader for the church from existing church members will help alleviate some of the shortages.

As a recommendation to overcome the emergent needs, pastors may consider the implications and the applications in this project.  Ruch described a pastor’s responsibility to develop the next leader of a church facing transition.  He argued, “The preparation process for success is a much longer runway than selection and handoff.  Years of guidance and training could position churches for a better future with prepared leaders.  If facilitation of these leaders is not addressed, in the future, churches will have pastors partially prepared.” [7]  Increasing the church’s ministry’s effectiveness and the Missio Dei may require a new pastoral transition model for the rural church.

Rural churches would benefit from well-developed transition plans and discussions among their leadership regarding transitions.  Each of the interviewees reported, the need for change involved a written, developed, and discussed transition plan.  Mullins suggested, “If you’ve been in ministry for a while, you have learned some lessons and insights along the way! Don’t underestimate the value of preserving them for others.”  Mullins shared that writing is not only for experts but for men and women willing to preserve their wisdom for future generations, for those who will lead the church into the future.[8]  Encouragement for pastoral leaders facing transition begins with a written plan, with clear steps that provide direction and clear communication that minimizes confusion or anxiety for the transitioning church.

A recommendation for further research could include the district offices’ creating templates and training processes regarding transition for leaders to institute before leaving a church.  Research may also consist of studying and developing a program for pastors, encouraging them to create future leaders from within a church for succession.  Any method may review working within traditional bylaw structure as those interviewed in this research accomplished or engage the district’s intentional interim pastors’ recommendation.  Another area of research could provide instruction and direction on changing bylaws to accommodate transition or succession.

My life’s investment into a rural church and community has brought hope and optimism about the church raising the next leader in the transition process.  I look forward with joy to the next season of ministry; a season where I prepare the next pastor to sit in my chair; a season to prepare the congregation for the continuity of God’s mission without disruption.  I trust some of the processes described and presented within this thesis will become an example and provide an option for other churches engaged in succession or transition.  My prayer for rural pastors concerned about their church’s response to change; be encouraged, begin to plan, and pray for options to utilize and implement during your transition; God will guide you each step of the way.

Read the Academic Article

Works Cited

Alexander, Paul. Trinity Bible College and Graduate School, Immersion Experience, Little Rock, AR, March 2019.

Drost, Paul “Church Planting: A Strategic Method for Increasing Missional Effectiveness in the Assemblies of God.” A project submitted to the Doctor of Ministry Committee in candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Ministry, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest, 2015.

Lomenick Brad, The Catalyst Leader, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2013.

Mullins, Tom, Passing the Leadership Baton: A Winning Transition Plan for Your Ministry, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015.

Ruch, Nathaniel. Preparing the Receiver of the Baton in the Succession Narrative, Doctoral Dissertation, Minneapolis, MN: Copyright @ 2018 Nathaniel Ruch.

Schuler, Scott. “Rural Church Multiplication/Church Planting and Revitalization” Interview, Immersion Experience, Trinity Graduate School, Foley, MN, October 2001.

Wright, Christopher J.H. The Mission of God. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2006.

Vanderbloemen, William and Warren Bird. Next: Pastoral Succession That Works, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014.

[1] Christopher J.H. Wright, The Mission of God, (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2006), p 51.

[2] Paul Alexander, Trinity Bible College and Graduate School, Immersion Experience, Little Rock, AR, March 2019.

[3] William Vanderbloemen and Warren Bird, Next: Pastoral Succession That Works, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014), 9.

[4] Paul Drost, “Church Planting: A Strategic Method for Increasing Missional Effectiveness in the Assemblies of God.” A project submitted to the Doctor of Ministry Committee in candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Ministry, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, (Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest, 2015), p 134.

[5] Brad Lomenick, The Catalyst Leader, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2013), xxvii.

[6] Scott Schuler, “Rural Church Multiplication/Church Planting and Revitalization” (Interview, Immersion Experience, Trinity Graduate School, Foley, MN, October 2018).

[7] Nathaniel Ruch, Preparing the Receiver of the Baton in the Succession Narrative, Doctoral Dissertation, Minneapolis, MN: 2018 Nathaniel Ruch, 129.

[8] Mullins, Passing the Leadership Baton: A Winning Transition Plan for Your Ministry, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2015,148.

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Written by Dwight D. Dozier

This study researched the feasibility of church planting and ministry investment in rural areas in light of depopulation and its corresponding economic and social impact. Some church planters concluded that small town ministry offered little investment return and that efforts should focus on urban and suburban areas.

Population decline in rural America impacted communities beyond fewer people living there. With a declining population, communities experienced economic downturns, increased substance abuse and addictions, higher crime rates and mental illness, and fewer amenities and restricted access to essential services. These realities cried out for spiritual solutions. However, in the circumstances begging for healthy churches, churches have closed or declined into irrelevance.

In America, the evangelical church demonstrated indifference toward rural ministry, which created a challenging environment to recruit pastoral leaders and financial investors. This study pointed to evidence of opportunity and success models in small towns, making a case for human and financial resource investment.

Statistical analysis, literature analysis, personal interviews, and two case studies demonstrated the potential success and supported this position. While the literature analysis will be broad and general, the statistical analysis and case studies will focus on rural Assemblies of God in Kansas.

Church planting draws the attention of ministry investors; contrariwise, few wish to discuss revitalization. However, church revitalization plays an essential role in restoring spiritual vitality to rural communities. Bringing a dying church into a healthy trajectory requires a strategy and leaders committed to change.

Revitalization occurs when the power of Pentecost aligns with the purpose of Pentecost within the life of a church; when the mission of God emanates through the church into the community. The revitalization process in any context starts with an honest assessment, including facilities, music, ministries, and approachability. An honest assessment of approachability can prove painful.

It remains beyond this paper’s scope to suggest detailed strategies, yet a church willing to adapt can find an abundance of resources, successful models, and people ready to help. A willing church can experience new life, but a church that exists for itself will cease to exist.

Read the Academic Article

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“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?

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