Rural ministry: Not just any church
Over the last several weeks I’ve had multiple conversations about either church revitalization or church planting in rural areas. Some of the comments I’ve heard sound something like this:
“We need a strong conservative presence in this growing liberal town.”
”There is not a Reformed, traditional, Presbyterian church within miles.”
“We need a young Reformed pastor to revitalize our church.”
”Our community is no longer what it used to be. Many have moved away leaving a very different type of town. There is little to no hope for revitalization or planting a healthy church.”
If we are going to plant healthy churches in rural and small towns, or revitalize churches which are dying, we need a teaching and practice that are true and faithful to the gospel of Jesus. We need to foster a gospel culture that sees our communities, not as an enemy, but as opportunity to see our towns flourish. Not only do we need to pray for and strive for a gospel culture in these towns, but to raise up leadership that will perpetuate this culture. Here are some thoughts on what is needed:
Not just a Reformed church.
Orthodoxy is simply right doctrine. Orthopraxy (right practice) should flow from right doctrine. As we get nearer and nearer the teaching of Jesus, the more like Jesus our thoughts, words, and deeds ought to become (Colossians 1:9-10). Unfortunately we often lose sight of right doctrine by focusing on the rightness of it and fall prey to a heart filled with contempt, fear, defensiveness, and isolationism. Though we may claim right orthodoxy, a subtle drift can turn it into false orthodoxy by a betrayal of grace-filled and merciful practice. As a pastor, I have certainly fallen prey to it many times.
My wife and I attended a church where this false orthodoxy was palpable. All of the vital pieces of worship were in place: A call to worship the triune God. Check; worship in God-honoring praise. Check; confession of sin and a strong assurance of forgiveness of that sin. Check; a prayer for the people of the church, the government of our city, state, nation and world. Check; a scripture-filled sermon. Check; the sacraments rightly explained and performed. Check; a benediction from God’s Word to the people. Check. Yet the culture of the church was frigid and unwelcoming. We sensed an “us-verses-them” isolationism from the evil world out there rather than a “seek the welfare of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7) heart. The tenor of the church was not conducive to bringing your vulnerability and sins and finding forgiveness but rather a dress up, straighten up, and fly right rigidity. “Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore; Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity, love, and power,” was sung but certainly not felt.
Small towns and rural places are full of churches that produce this kind of ingrown culture. What we need are churches with a gospel culture where people feel relieved when they enter the doors of the church. Burdens should be lifted. A new step should lead them back into their world with a new song and fresh hope for themselves and confidence to speak it to others.
Cultivating leadership from within.
There is a shortage of good doctrinally sound and gospel-driven pastors to fill the pulpits and shepherd well the people in our communities. We need to be raising up men with these characteristics from the communities which we serve. I believe that they are there, we just need to look for them and encourage them. Often it in is high school or college that young men start thinking about the possibility of a lifetime of ministry. We can start early, by gathering young men together in studies or cohorts to help them explore their gifts and to see if God is calling them to pastoral ministry. I was in college when the Lord began developing my heart for ministry. A church and pastor took an interest in me and helped me think through ministry. We need to cultivate now the next generation from our own ministry areas. Through NxtGen Pastors (www.ngpastors.com) and the Wisconsin network of PCA churches, the presbytery in that state currently has 30 young men in their pipeline for potential church planting. It can and is being done!
Many of our rural towns are changing their ethnic demographic and we are bemoaning the change rather than seeing the opportunity for leadership development. Yes . . . Christians are bemoaning the change. It is an anti-Gospel and anti-Christ sentiment. We ought to see with new eyes and pray to the Lord of the harvest for opportunity to be coming alongside these towns. We should have been doing it decades ago.
Being kingdom-minded.
Often, we are tribe-oriented rather than kingdom-minded. What I mean is that we often do not look at the bigger picture of what God is doing outside our own denominational box. I am mentoring a young Baptist pastor. He is exploring the Scriptures as he begins seminary. Am I more concerned with him becoming Presbyterian or a faithful pastor who serves his people well? Yes, I have strong biblical convictions that lead me to be Presbyterian, but some of those convictions have been debated for centuries (paedo-baptism primarily) and are not crystal clear. My hope is that this young man will be used in the kingdom of God for His glory and the benefit of many, many others. I fear that the churches tendency toward tribalism stunts a healthy mission overlooking what God is doing in His larger kingdom.
Continuing in prayer.
I am far too independently-minded and self-made to not rely on prayer. The Lord goes before us to accomplish His good purposes. I need to be in prayer so that I am gospel-minded, Christ-oriented, and kingdom of God focused. We need to be in prayer if we are going to see God at work to raise up Godly leadership and healthy churches in small communities and rural places.