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
Dan Mason
Assistant Director, US
Dan was raised in a church affiliated with Village Missions and served by Village Missionary Jerry Kennedy. As a teen, Danny felt led to serve and preach the Word in rural North America.
Dan and his wife Amber were accepted into Village Missions in 2006.
They completed a pastoral residency in Washington. Their first field was the small town of Unity, in eastern Oregon. After 3.5 years there, they moved to Pacific City, Oregon — a small fishing and agricultural town on the coast. They served in Pacific City for nearly 15 years. Dan also served the county as a chaplain for the sheriff’s office.
In 2026, Dan became the Assistant Director of Village Missions.
DR Speaker
Richard Hayes
District Rep, Southwest
Both Richard and Ellen grew up in Christian homes and came to faith in Christ at an early age. Richard felt called to the ministry as a young boy and took the step of preparing for ministry. Richard and Ellen met and were married while serving a church in La Puente, California. After serving in inner city and transitional communities in the Los Angeles area, Richard pastored a church in a mountain area north of Los Angeles. This is where they were first introduced to Stonecroft Ministries and Village Missions. When it came time to make a transition, they felt led to Village Missions and have served with VM for the past twenty years.
Richard and Ellen Hayes have served in pastoral ministry for just over 30 years, the past 20 years with Village Missions. They served on Village Missions fields in Bangor, California; Edgewood, Washington; Foothills/Spokane, Washington; and most recently, Raymond, California. Richard has also taught at Moody Bible Institute, Spokane campus and Distance Learning and other institutions. Richard holds Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Talbot School of Theology/Biola University.
Richard has a heart for training up the next generation of Village Missionary pastors and is committed to encouraging and equipping those serving the Lord vocationally. In 2017 the Hayes took on the role of District Representatives for the Southwest District.
Richard and Ellen have been married for over 30 years and have three daughters.
Evangelistic Champion
Joe Levesque
Pastor Elk Creek Community Bible Church
Joe was introduced to Village Missions at Moody Bible Institute. In 1995 he was reintroduced to VM by close friends who were District Representatives.
Before that Joe pastored a small church in a rural community in California for 14 years. He married Ana, and after they had children, they chose to move out of that community. Joe's dear friends met me at an event and asked, "What's wrong with being a part of Village Missions?" I definitely knew the call of God at that moment.
Twenty years later -- in 2015 -- Joe and Ana joined Village Missions.
They've found that the Lord will guide you in the right way, sometimes by setting up obstacles to redirect your path. He was very patient with them as he waited for them to be involved in Village Missions!
Joe and Ana currently serve in a small community in Northern California called Elk Creek.
Conference Schedule
| 8:30-9:00am | REGISTRATION - Coffee |
| 9:00-9:20am |
OPENING Prayer, Welcome, Worship |
| 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 |
Panel Discussion Action Groups |
| 2:30-2:45pm | Closing Remarks - Evaluations |
| 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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