Your Voice

Six challenges to rural church revitalization

By Rob Paul
www.robpaul.net

There are several challenges to rural church revitalization. Each of them can and must be overcome for the rural church to experience revitalization.

1. Resilience

Rural churches can be slow to die. Members may not recognize or be willing to admit that something needs to change. And it may take the pastor several years to convince them.

2. Chaplaincy mindset

This is the idea that the best thing a pastor can do for a struggling rural church is to love them while they die. But I am convinced that God has a more noble purpose for his church than this.

3. Location

Rural churches are by definition located in the country. No one just drives by. But the address of a rural church is not an accident. God has placed the church in its location for a reason. God has also placed the members of the church in the body according to his design, and he has placed the people around the church for a reason. Don’t underestimate the potential. Don’t underestimate the power of the gospel!

4. Population shifts

A generation ago, the homes within three miles of the church building were owner occupied, single-family dwellings. Some farmed the land around their homes. Others worked in the nearest towns. The families of the community had lots of children and much in common. But those children went off to college and never came back. The jobs in town moved away too.

5. Cultural context

Because of the population shift the cultural context has changed. The people around the church do not look like the people inside of the church. They don’t act like the people inside of the church. They don’t think like the people inside of the church. Churches in this setting must learn to think like cross-cultural missionaries because that’s what they are.

6. The church name

Today’s new churches have cool names. Life Church. Mosaic Church. Vertical Church. Summit Church. On the other hand, many rural churches have ancient names (Antioch, Mount Moriah) that may sound confusing to people who are not already part of the church culture. I am not suggesting these names need to change but they can present a challenge.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Rob Paul is a church revitalization strategist with more than three decades of experience serving established Southern Baptist churches in pastoral ministry. This article is adapted from the second in a series of blog posts addressing revitalization in the rural church. Read the full list of rural church revitalization challenges at robpaul.net/ten-challenges-to-rural-church-revitalization/.

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Christ in the center

Recently our leadership team developed a Shocco tag line — “The Christ-Centered Gathering Place.” 

We were trying to simplify our message into a few short words to fill in the gap for those who have never heard of us. Ultimately our tag line came from a discussion surrounding what the word Shocco actually means. 

According to legend, the word Shocco is a Native American term meaning “the gathering place.” Rooted in our name “Shocco” and rooted in our desire to reflect Christ,  this simple statement summarizes who we are. 

We provide a great facilitiy with recreation, lodging, meeting space, food, amenities and many other services, but in all we do we aspire to be a reflection of Christ. 

This summer thousands of people will visit our campus. My prayer is that they see not just an amazing facility but a reflection of Christ through each of us. 

I am also reminded this doesn’t just apply to Shocco or my job here as director. It is life. As a Christian, Christ-
centered should be our personal tag line.

What is your tag line?

—Russell Klinner

EDITOR’S NOTE: Russell Klinner is executive director of Shocco Springs Conference Center.

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Letters to the Editor

A partial or full television fast is a great challenge. I highly recommend it. I’ve been fasting from network television for many years. When I am in other places and am exposed to television commercials, shows, movies, etc., I am relieved that those influences are not constantly infiltrating my home.

Leigh Pritchett
Pell City, Ala.

I loved your recent fast on 24-hour (cable) news — see “My Rashionale” editorial from page 3 of the Jan. 31, 2019, issue. 

My wife, Linette, and I have realized the negative impact of all the “If it bleeds, it leads” negativity and conflict on our lives. 

I have been listening to many history books and podcasts lately. Can you imagine if the Vietnam War, the Cuban missile crisis, Watergate or the potential nuclear crisis during Reagan’s era had been 24-hour news? 

Lee Wright
Montgomery, Ala. 

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It’s an exciting time to learn about the Great Commission.

Heather Keller
WMU missions consultant for Acteens

Leading is both explaining and interpreting the vision and equipping and empowering the organization to pursue the vision with passion.

Gary Fenton
Senior advancement officer at Samford University and retired pastor

We honor our military heroes who have served our country and many who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. May God bless and protect those who are serving on active duty now. 

Larry Felkins
Associational mission strategist Chilton Baptist Association

Churches are busy during the summer. What a wonderful time to share our faith at VBS and other summer events at your church.

David Miller
Associational mission strategist, Walker Baptist Association

There has to be a way to serve all of humanity without killing humanity.

Alveda King
Pro-life activist and author

God has a plan for us in our mature years to keep using us for His glory. … Senior adults have lessons they can offer the younger adults.

God can use you to mentor and/or disciple others who are younger in their Christian walk. So adjust, adapt and be flexible with how God uses you. He gives the gifts and does not expect us to do what we can’t do. 

Randy Hagan
Associational missionary, Coosa River Baptist Association

Many evangelicals were raised to think about other religions through one lens: Satan’s handiwork. This line of thinking might resonate in the warm confines of our churches’ echo chambers, but it is totally useless in the public square. It provides absolutely zero guidance for how to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven,” as Christ says in the Gospel of Matthew. 

Kevin Singer
Co-director, Neighborly Faith

The book “Disciple Her: Using the Word, Work, & Wonder of God to Invest in Women” by Kandi Gallaty is helpful in discipling anyone but is directed toward women. Gallaty walks you through all the steps in leading a 3–5 member discipleship group. It is insightful to see a plan that begins only using Scripture and a journal, not relying on purchasing any other curriculum to complete. It has built-in leadership development and costs nothing but time, energy and commitment. If your church had one woman read and use this content, you could see an impact in your church.

Donna Wright
Mobile, Alabama

Lord, teach me to listen, search for — even hunger for — opportunities to purposefully love unselfishly, simply because I love You. May Your love be my default as I learn to sound more like You. 

Rhonda Rhea
Author “Messy to Meaningful: Lessons from the Junk Drawer”

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From the Twitterverse

@RobertAtCCC

“Jesus said, Go and make disciples … not make converts to your own thoughts and opinions!”
@myutmost #MakeDisciples

@jeremydmorton

Being a believer/pastor often requires that we swim against the modern, secular tide. It is difficult. But it would be even more difficult if we gave up our biblical conviction. John 16:33

@edstetzer

God does not bless an ungodly means to accomplish a godly end.

@sPeytonHill

The huge debt compiled from attending some colleges, even excellent Christian universities, negatively impacts the ability to send international missionaries even if they want to go. I’m not sure pastors [and] disciplers discuss this enough with high school students [and] their parents.

@dsethbrown

Journalism is our process. But our real product is trust. I believe that’s our role in Southern Baptist life …

@Rgallaty

There is a difference between a quiet time with God and an unhurried quiet time with God. I have to remind myself that the goal is not to journal, pray and finish a Bible reading plan. The goal is to know God more.

@trillianewbell 

For every racist, evil statement I read or receive, I think of the countless loving and neighborly ones I experience. It doesn’t erase or negate the other, but it does remind me that the Lord can and is working. There’s work to do and God is not done.

@DrPaulChitwood

The missions fields of the world are populated with ladies who first heard the Holy Spirit’s call to the nations in their church’s Acteens ministry. @IMB_SBC celebrates this [50-year] anniversary with
@NationalWMU

@rayortlund

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10). What a promise in Christ! This will get us through a scrape or two!