Rural Ministry In Review: Challenges, Changes, And The Need For Commitment
By Alex Eppstein - Posted at The Heidelblog: As believers, we know the Lord’s promises. We know that he has promised to build his church. We know that he has promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it ( Matt 16:18 ). But if we are being honest, we must admit that there can be times when it is hard to trust those promises. When our churches or the churches around us are struggling, confidence can be elusive. This is a challenge for many of us, who (like me) are serving in rural and small-town congregations. Nearly nine years into my tenure, I am all too familiar with tales of congregational decline and (in some cases) death. Seemingly, that trend is only accelerating. Within the past year, a neighboring Presbyterian church held its final worship service, while another is on the brink of closure. Another nearby Presbyterian church went more than three years with an interim pastor, while still another has been vacant for almost two years. Meanwhile, our small presby...
