Rural Ministry Matters!
Rural Ministry Conference April 2024
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
Main Speaker
Dr. John Adams, Executive Director of Village Missions
John has served with Village Missions since 1995--first as a Village Missionary in Butte Falls (OR) and Hauser (OR), then as Assistant Director, and now as Executive Director. He understands the joys and challenges of rural ministry and gives practical advice to those serving in small places.
John's two sessions will anchor the day of teaching and encouragement:
Session 1 Does God value Rural and Small Town Ministry?
Much of the focus of Christian ministry is on “strategic” cities. What value does God place on rural and small-town ministry? We will discover God’s enduring love for small places through the choices God made with Israel, where He sent Messiah, and the outreach of the early church.
Session 2 Think like a Missionary
We will consider culture shifts affecting rural and small-town communities and how a rural pastor can lead the way as a missionary to reach both long-term residents and newcomers.
Speaker
Paul Harkness, Child Discipleship Missionary with Awana
Paul Harkness has served as a Child Discipleship Missionary with Awana for 15 years in Nebraska, South Dakota, and parts of Wyoming and Minnesota. In that role, he shares the vision of child discipleship with churches and helps them with that ministry through training and walking alongside them as they start. Prior to that, he pastored rural churches for 20 years. He and his wife, Janet, live in Ord, Nebraska. They have four adult children, 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
Session - "Discipleship of the Least of These"
DESCRIPTION - Primary Factors that Can Change Your Church's Child Discipleship Ministry
Speaker
Johnny Walker, Rural Pastor
Johnny has years of experience in rural churches. He currently pastors at West First Chapel in McCook (NE).
As Johnny discusses how we can face our current church situation, he looks to 2 Peter and Matthew 28.
Speaker
Scott Downing, team member at Rural Compassion
Scott has served as pastor for 45 years, many of those years in rural towns. The smallest rural church Scott served was a town with a population of 325 with grocery shopping some 80 miles away. That’s rural. He and his wife, Janet, now work with Rural Compassion to encourage rural pastors.
Session: Presuppositions. Principles, and Practices for the Rural Church
There are five fundamental Presuppositions and four Practices that equip a rural and small church toward health and community engagement. Rather than a step-by-step manual, this workshop provides Principles that you work though as you apply them to your local church setting.
Conference Schedule
| 8:00-9:00am | REGISTRATION - Donuts and coffee |
| 9:00-9:15am | WORSHIP - |
| 9:15-10:00am |
SESSION 1 - Dr. John Adams A Biblical Foundation for Rural & Small-Town Ministry |
| 10:00-10:20am | BREAK - Coffee & snack |
| 10:20-11:05am |
SESSION 2 - Paul Harkness Discipleship of the Least of These |
| 11:05-11:15am | QUICK BREAK |
| 11:15-12:00pm |
SESSION 3 - Johnny Walker Reaching Men in Your Community |
| 12:00-1:00pm | LUNCH - BBQ Pork, Baked Beans, Coleslaw, Chips, Dessert, Coffee, Tea, Water |
| 1:00-1:15pm | WORSHIP - |
| 1:15-2:00pm |
SESSION 4 - Scott Downing Actions & Attitudes for Rural Church Leaders |
| 2:00-2:15pm | BREAK |
| 2:15-3:00pm |
SESSION 5 - Dr. John Adams Why A Missionary Mindset Matters |
| 3:00-3:20pm | BREAK - Cookies |
| 3:20-3:55 pm | PANEL DISCUSSION - |
| 3:55-4:00 pm | CLOSING REMARKS |
Conference Tickets
INDIVIDUAL
$50
Come enjoy a ministry conference specifically designed for pastors of small-town and rural churches. Get practical ideas and encouragement.
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