Rural Ministry Matters!
Rural Ministry Conference
Rural ministry brings both challenges and joys. If you’ve been feeling some of those challenges or wondering how to navigate them, this conference is for you! You will hear from veterans in rural ministry and glean wisdom and encouragement from other pastors and ministry leaders.
This conference is hosted by Village Missions as part of our goal to help country churches thrive.
Quick Details
Conference Speakers
Admin Speaker
Jon Hansen
Director of Missionary Development, US
Jon Hansen and his wife, Debbie, have served with Village Missions since 1996. During their first 14 years, they served churches in rural Nebraska and Kansas before becoming District Representatives for the Mountain Central District, where Jon encouraged and supported missionaries across seven states and recruited future rural ministry leaders.
In 2020, Jon and Debbie moved to Oregon, where Jon served as Assistant Director of Village Missions. In 2026, he transitioned into his current role as Director of Missionary Development. He oversees Village Missions’ On-Ramp programs at several Bible colleges and directs the Contenders Discipleship Initiative, helping prepare and develop the next generation of rural ministry leaders.
Jon’s passion for rural ministry began in childhood, growing up as the son of a rural pastor. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Grace College of the Bible and becoming certified to teach K-12 music, Jon initially pursued teaching and lay ministry before sensing God’s call to full-time ministry.
Jon and Debbie served on four Village Missions fields in Nebraska and Kansas, where Jon developed a particular passion for mentoring and equipping others for ministry. As a District Representative, he helped establish mentorship and training opportunities for students preparing for rural ministry. These efforts eventually led to the placement of several missionary pastors in full-time rural church leadership.
Jon brings nearly three decades of experience in rural ministry, missionary support, leadership development, and training future rural church leaders to his ministry with Village Missions.
DR Speaker
Sean Carney
District Rep, High Plains
Continually being encouraged to pursue ministry, Sean and Jani were mentored to consider Village Missions full-time. In 2005, after completing an apprentice program through their local Village Missions church in Washington state, they were sent to their first VM field in rural South Dakota. While they loved serving their first field and the families in the church and community, they requested a closer field to family to help out with aging parents and relocated back to Washington state. They have found serving with VM rewarding and continue to reach the lost for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sean and Jani previously had vocational careers and served on church boards. Becoming Village Missionaries has helped to round out their experience for their church body. It is a joy for them to come alongside their local church family and community and share their love for God, His Word and how it can directly impact their lives and families. Combining their backgrounds in Bible classes, agriculture, finance and technology with their passions for family, ministry and restoring the soul fuels their calling with VM.
In 2019, Sean and Jani were asked to become District Representatives; they now joyfully serve the High Plains District.
Evangelistic Champion
Tim Wyrick
Pastor, New Hope Community Church
Tim and Fern were drawn to Village Missions by their twin pillars of ministry: Preach the Word and love the people; and second, Earn the right to be heard. The concept of working alongside the people to earn the right to preach resonated with the young couple.
This philosophy of ministry reflected the hearts of the rural people Tim and Fern had grown up with and were working for on their ranches. With a desire to serve the rural people we love and a ministry that seemed to understand, the Wyricks joined Village Missions in 2001.
Tim and Fern pastored in Ridgway, MT for 13 years. Now they've been serving in Springview, NE, since 2014. They continue to believe that the right to preach on Sunday is earned as they love and serve the people Monday through Saturday.
Conference Schedule
| 8:30-9:00am | REGISTRATION - Coffee |
| 9:00-9:20am | Opening |
| 9:20-10:15am | SESSION 1 |
| 10:15-10:30am | BREAK |
| 10:30-11:30am | SESSION 2 |
| 11:30am-12:45pm | Lunch |
| 12:45-1:30pm | SESSION 3 |
| 1:30-1:45pm | BREAK |
| 1:45-2:30pm | Groups of 3 - Discussions |
| 2:30-2:45pm | Closing |
| 2:45 pm | Depart |
Conference Tickets
INDIVIDUAL
$25
Come enjoy a ministry conference specifically designed for pastors of small-town and rural churches. Get practical ideas and encouragement.
Includes
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