On September 5, 1882, thousands of workers marched through the streets of New York City. Men, women, and even children demanded safer working conditions, shorter hours, and fair wages. They were, as the expression goes, sick and tired of being sick and tired. At that time, many Americans worked twelve-hour days, six days a week, often in unsafe factories or crowded mines, conditions that most of us would struggle to understand, let alone be willing to work in. This would later be seen as the first Labor Day…

The moment I knew we’d broken through came at the most unlikely time. We were sitting on a deck, dripping wet from zip-lining into a pond, when my wife casually asked the residents, “So what have you learned this week?” Without missing a beat, one of the residents—a future rural pastor—gave the answer that made my heart leap: “Scripture is one unified story.” He said it with the confidence of someone who had just discovered a treasure that had been hiding in plain sight all along…

I remember sitting in college and seminary classes diligently preparing for ministry. In the process of my preparation, I would think about the various ways and places the Lord could lead. Would the flock the Lord entrusts to me love me and see that I love them? Would I pastor a small church or a large church? Where would I be and would I be there for a long time? I think that those questions go through every young man’s mind while preparing for ministry…

When my wife and I first moved to central PA and began looking for houses, I discovered something frustrating. The local real estate agents in my rural town were complacent. A handful of agents handled most of the listings, and when you called, they seemed almost inconvenienced to show a property. The competition was minimal. People didn’t know better, so they settled. And the agents got lazy. That changed when a young team of realtors opened an office and disrupted everything. They brought innovation, marketing, fresh systems, and most importantly, drive. Overnight, the market changed…

Finding a new pastor isn’t easy. And the longer it takes to find “the guy,” the harder it gets on the church. Pastoral transition is one of the most dangerous and discouraging seasons in the life of a congregation. If you’re in the middle of it, you already know the challenge. But you might be overlooking one of the most important tools at your disposal: the job description. If your church is like most rural congregations, you don’t have an HR department. You’ve got a committee, and you’re on it! Lucky you…

My aunt greeted me at the cookout. It was late spring. She gave me a hug and asked about my plans for the summer. As I spoke her eyes grew wider till she interrupted me with force, putting her hands on my shoulders: “You have PTSD.” I tried to process her words. PTSD? But I haven’t been on a combat mission; I’m in ministry! My aunt could see that I was emotionally numb, and she was right about that. She was working at that time as a full-bird colonel at the Pentagon and she knew her stuff. I didn’t…

Rural people can be hard to lead. That’s just the truth. Rural people are survivors. They know how to get by on very little, without relying on anyone else. Self-sufficiency isn’t just a value, but a way of life. That mindset doesn’t just disappear when they walk through the church doors. If you’re a rural pastor you might be confused by the contradictory behavior of your church members…

Pastoring a small, rural church can often feel like an uphill battle every step of the way. The challenges are real: limited resources, dwindling attendance, financial strain, and the emotional toll of shepherding a congregation where deep-rooted traditions sometimes resist change. Though these challenges aren’t exclusive to rural churches, they are ones we commonly face. In a small, rural church, it’s easy to feel insignificant, under-appreciated, and even isolated…

This proverb is certainly profitable for all Christians, but I’m not sure any Christian understands it as well as a farmer does. If you’re a pastor in a rural context, you might just have a member or two that can tell you all about working his land. It is the type of work that requires physical labor, intense planning, and endless perseverance. If you know a farmer, you should consider sitting down and asking him what he thinks of this proverb.

Pastoral ministry is difficult! We face challenges every week that test our resolve, our patience, and our knowledge. In particular, I believe this to be the case for pastors ministering in rural contexts. Such pastors tend to struggle both with lack of resources and lack of hands to do the work of ministry. In times of need, I’ve found the pastoral epistles (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus) to be a precious treasure.

Chaplin’s story is one out of so many that teach us of the importance of ministry education. Why would a comfortable pastor drag his family up the Kennebec River into rural Maine? Because the prize is worth the challenge. May we be resolved to serve into the challenges we face as those pastoring in rural communities. May we be resolved to encourage the education of rural pastors and the reviving work of ministry in overlooked communities.

You’ve heard it before, or perhaps, like me, you’ve said it: “Join us for a picnic after the service for food, fun, and fellowship.” It’s a catchy phrase, and “fellowship” fits nicely as the third “F,” but what do we really mean when we talk about fellowship? For many, the word has become synonymous with simply being together as Christians. I grew up in a church that had a “fellowship hall,” and that’s where you’d find the donuts before the service. But is that all fellowship is? Donuts in the fellowship hall?

Pastors face many challenges in ministry. Perhaps this is why nearly half of the pastors surveyed in 2022 stated they had seriously considered leaving the ministry over that year (Barna Group). These challenges can be even more significant in rural ministry due to a significant lack of community and resources. As I have faced personal challenges in ministry, I have found hope in reorienting myself around a more biblical understanding of my call to pastoral ministry…

In the movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the infamous Grinch is given the title of ‘Holiday Cheermeister’ by the townsfolk of Whoville. The Grinch was certainly an unexpected candidate, since the title was typically given to someone who embodied the Christmas spirit well. This calls into question: how does one embody the Christmas spirit? Perhaps you first think of ‘Buddy the Elf’ who famously said in Elf, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” While this is a great method…

It’s easy to look down on small places. We live in a culture that for generations has believed “bigger is better.” I am certainly not immune to that sentiment. During my seminary days, I was planning and preparing to plant an urban church after graduation. Thankfully, God had different plans. I ended up taking a job at a country church in Ohio, and it turned out to be a massive blessing. Since that time, I have never left the rural context. Over the years I have learned some lessons, often through my own mistakes…

To my shame, I did not read the Narnia books until this year. Thanks to my son, we are working on our second time through the series (this time, in the correct order, publication not chronological). Now that I have, though, I hear references everywhere. I was listening to two different podcasts recently that, to transition from the introduction to the actual topic, said, “Further up and further in!” taken from The Last Battle. When my son and I read The Voyage of the Dawn Treader recently…

If you have ever purchased furniture from Ikea, you will know the joys of assembling it after arriving home. With eager anticipation, you carry the box into the living room, grab your knife, and begin to open the box. Pulling the pieces from the box and removing the plastic wrap and styrofoam, you find the instruction manual calling your name. At this point, you have the decision to make: Do I follow the instructions or use my man-knowledge and assemble the furniture based on the picture on the front of the box? If you are like me, it’s wiser to swallow your pride and start at step 1. Discipleship can feel like buying furniture from Ikea…

Some people know how to cook without recipes. My mother-in-law is one of those people. She has a feel for the right ingredients and the right amount of those ingredients to make delicious, mouth-watering, stomach-satisfying meals every single time. When it comes to discipleship, some have a feel for it, while others of us need a recipe to follow. In my previous article, I argued for pastors’ need to personally disciple those within their church. But two questions remain: whom do you disciple, and how do you disciple? In this article, we will focus on the who…

In the fall of 2023, our family moved to a very rural area for my husband to pastor a small congregation. At the time, we had two small children. We didn’t know anyone within several hours’ distance. There was a gas station and Dollar General in our town, but not much else to be noted. Since moving here, I’ve found myself saying: “Life would be so much easier if family was nearby.”, “There is so little for our family in this area.” 

As a pastor and father, I often find myself navigating questions that require clear and biblically sound answers. While some inquiries prompt a hesitant, “Let me get back to you,” others are met with well-prepared responses. Questions like “Who made you?” or “What is sin?” have clear doctrinal answers thanks to the catechism we practice in our home. This ancient method of catechesis—rooted in question-and-answer memorization—is a staple in our family worship. Although my son is only five and my daughter two…