How to Understand the Rural Mind-set
Stephen McMullin
New life in any amount beats decline and death hands down.
—Stephen McMullin
If you're a rural pastor, as I am, you have probably read books that claim to address the needs of the small, rural congregation, only to discover that to many authors, small means a church of less than two hundred and rural means a town of less than ten thousand. You've probably heard exciting news about churches adding thousands of members every year, too.
Where does this leave the pastor of a church of forty in a community of five hundred? What does church growth mean in such a congregation?
More than eight years ago, I was called to a two-church pastorate; the smaller church had a membership of twenty-one, the larger a membership of sixty-two. On my first Sunday in the smaller church, I preached to seventeen people: two men, twelve women, and three children. About sixty attended regularly in the larger church during my first year, but sixteen months after my arrival, more than twenty of them left after a lengthy dispute. A lot of people in both churches seemed discouraged.
I cannot tell you that in eight years the churches have been transformed into thousand-member congregations; we are still small, rural churches. The smaller church has 24 members now; the larger church has grown to 99 members. But my experience has convinced me that there are principles that will help the small, rural church grow and have a vital ministry.
Growth hindrances
Only in the past few years have I begun to understand some of the dynamics of the rural church, and I've made some positive discoveries in the process. Let's consider some of the things most important in these churches.
Traditions. Some traditions are beneficial, and others severely hinder the church's ministry, ...
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