In my previous post, I addressed pastors, and today I'd like to share thoughts with churches involved in rural church planting. I'll offer four solutions to curb pastoral resignations, starting with one today and continuing with the rest next time.
Solution 1: Understand the Dynamics of Rural Areas
Churches in rural areas face unique challenges. People often stay for only two or three years before relocating to bigger towns for education, work, or other opportunities. This means the church loses multiple families each year, increasing the workload for the missionary pastor. I experienced this firsthand during my time as a missionary pastor, effectively pastoring three churches due to these dynamics.
 |
| Interacting with some congregants |
To support missionaries, church elders can identify members willing to spend time with them, partnering in evangelism and understanding their daily lives. This benefits both the pastor and the sending church. When visiting rural churches, sending churches should consider the local context, avoiding comparisons with urban churches. Rural areas have different population densities, industries, and educational institutions, which impact church growth.
Instead of assuming a lack of evangelistic efforts, ask the missionary about their outreach activities. If there are no efforts, that's a concern. However, if there's active involvement but gradual growth, exercise patience and encourage the missionary. Share stories of Adonirum Judson's patience and George Muller's faith, reminding them that church growth varies by location. Celebrate gradual growth, recognizing that the tens and twenties are just as important as the fifties and hundreds.
Join me next time on November 1st, 2024, as I share the remaining solutions.
No comments:
Post a Comment