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Transforming Church in Rural America Book Giveaway!
Pastor Shannon O’Dell wrote Transforming Church in Rural America to offer churches of all sizes the strategies and Biblical guidance that turned a church of just 31 into a dynamic multi-campus church of several thousand.
Shannon supplements the book with videos and offers free resources for rural churches at www.nlpg.com/bnc.
We are giving away 100 copies of Transforming Church in Rural America. Want one for yourself? Your pastor? Your home church? New Leaf Publishing Group will randomly choose 100 people who do ALL of the following:
(NOTICE: The book giveaway has reached the 100 mark. If you didn’t make the first 100 entrants, you can purchase Shannon O’Dell’s book HERE.)
- Leave a comment on this post about your rural church experience or perception.
- Fill out this form —- http://bit.ly/cUY3bZ.
- Tweet about it: Revolution 4 rural churches! Read Transforming Church in Rural America by @shannonodell #TCiRA
Visit 
I’ve pastored a couple of churches in rural settings. It is always a challenge. One big one for me was the small size of the groups. Trying to meet young people’s social and spiritual needs in small churches is challenging. Both churches had a lack of multiple families of young people. In one of my churches it led over time led to a lack of momentum due to people choosing to drive longer distances to churches that could better meet the needs of their children.
Lack of population around the church limits its long term growth.
I’m a part of a team trying to do this here in Oak Ridge, TN. I’d love to read this and share it with my team. Lots of religion here in East TN, but a lot less Jesus.
I’m the pastor of a small SBC church in rural south Alabama. If this book isn’t for someone like me, then I wouldn’t know who its for. Thanks for the opportunity to win a free copy. Fingers crossed.
Rurarl church is a challenge. I’d love to read this insights of this book for our own church and for my brother-in-laws church in Opp, AL.
I am currently a pastor in rural Western, KY. Specifically Salem, KY. We are a town of 750 people. I’ve been here for 3 & a half years.
Props to all who are trying to be faithful in the face of unhealthy attachments to traditions. And Chris Hill–how the heck are you!?!
I’m on staff at a rural church in Texas and know how much of a challenge it is to make even small changes at times. I’d love to read about O’Dell’s experience in leading transformation.
This seems like a great book for those of us living in small communities. I look forward to learning more about it so I can take ACTION.
I think this would be a great book to read. I serve in New England and there are very few cities.
Rural church can be challenging because of expectations. However, some of the personalities create a close knit group. Our church would love this book!
I would love to see what Shannon has to say about rural churches with the move of boomers back into the cities.
Craig: As you know this is a tremendous book. I am sincerely hoping that all 100 copies will be scooped up right away. Rural churches and pastors must read this book.
Where was this book ten years ago? I was pastoring a church in a rural Amish community, different culture, different life style that what I was used to. Can’t wait to read this book for some valuable insight about the rural church.
We’re in the planting stages of a church just outside of Savannah, GA. It’s been a big adjustment coming from the suburbs of Nashville and learning how to apply strategies to a very different demographic.
This book would be great. Doing church in Montana and working on how we can better expand and see God do great things in our area is right where we’re at.
I have just taken the pastorate of a small rural (semi-rural?) church just outside our town. This sounds like just the help we could use to get things moving again!
I am currently serving a two-point charge in Indiana. My experience in the rural church has been fantastic. I think the rural church is set up to make a significant impact in today’s world because most churches are located in rural parts of the country.
My experience has been that people tend to look down on the rural church because it is not (typically) as large as churches in big cities. But the simple truth is that the overwhelming majority of churches in the United States meet every Sunday with less than 100 people in worship, and, again, it’s a safe bet that most of those are in rural parts of the country.
I have been standing on this soapbox for years about church plants needing to target small towns. Everybody seems to want to target Charlotte are Orlando and become the next Furtick or Hodges. So they go to a metropolitan area and struggle. Meanwhile small town America is ripe for new churches. And their chances of planting an impacting, life giving church are higher. Plus, we need to do it for America.
I’m looking forward to reading this book. I’ve been pastoring solo in a small town for about a year now and can use all the help I can get!
I serve in a rural church, in North Carolina, that has been successful so far. However, we are plateauing in attendance. God has called our church to expand to other rural areas surrounding us. We are always looking for methods to carry out the vision.
I’m stoked about this book. I appreciate you offering to this book to folks like us.
I’m passionate about the small church. I’ve begun a blog at http://drmattperry.blogspot.com called “Leading a Small Kingdom Outpost.” Grateful that God has placed me in this context.
I’ve pastored a small rural church just outside of Lexington, KY for almost seven years.
I am the campus pastor for CrossPoint church in North Central Kansas. We are based in a city of about 40,000 but continue to expand into towns as small a couple hundred. I would love to get some more insight on Rural church transformation
I’ve been to several rual churches. The ones I visited always seemed content to ’stay where they are’ No change, nothing new. They were great places but they had trouble reaching anyone new.
There is a lot to be learned in this area.
My previous church was a rural church in Virginia. It was very challenging to work in an environment where there was so little to do for youth. I am the lead pastor now of a small church in Durham, NC. We are growing but even though we are near a large city, we have the “community” church mindset. I would love to read this book.
I been tracking Shannon for a while…look like a great book. Very interested in the rural multi-site…the new circuit rider!
I have never been involved in a rural church but I love the idea of planting in the context of where you are at. I also love looking at how different styles of churches do things.
I say that anything short of sin should be pursued.
In my opinion, rural church is not only about location, but about mindset. The church building we are in now started out “rural”. Literally the only thing within a mile of it were poppies. Today we are surrounded by condos and are in the middle of two small towns. However, there is a rural mindset within all of us. There’s a feeling that we will never get beyond the 80-120 that we see from one week to the next…and that’s ok because that’s who we are.
I would LOVE to see us break out of this and have been praying and obeying the best I can as the pastor here for the last 5 and a half years.
This book sounds like an excellent and encouraging resource.
A rural church for me is one that feels like home. A home where i know i wont be lied to and manipulated for money. Giving to the church is very important i just cant stand mainstream churchs like (name deleted by moderator).
Moderator’s note: Brian, we are glad you feel at home in smaller churches but we don’t like taking shots at other churches on this blog.
I’ve been involved in leading the youth work of a large suburban church surrounded by a number of smaller rural churches. I’m interested in the difference between the two and how I can better work with youth leaders from those churches.
I pastored a small rural church in Alabama and was surprised in many ways by the problems that arose, but later realized, through wise council, that this was the status quo for many small churches. I’m now in the very early stages of planting a church, and though it’s in the city, many of the same attitudes are still here (it’s still Alabama) and I feel that this would help me connect with other churches and leaders near me.
I have served in rural setting for a large percentage of my ministry. Currently I pastor a church plant in what I would call rural North Georgia. The biggest challenge is a very religious culture, but very much a Godless culture. Other struggles include, limited resourses, limited contacts, difficult momentum building opps, and sometimes small minded people. After serving in a mega church situation in the South Atlanta area I must say I love rural church.
For the past 7 years we have ministered to students in Carroll County, MD. Before moving here, I group up in suburbia since birth and knew nothing of dairy farmers, 4H and FFA. Rural Taneytown, MD is a low income area was quite a bit of drug use. God has blessed us immensely to be able to reach out to skaters and fringe kids alike.
I’m serving FBC in Ruidoso, New Mexico, a frontier state. Our community is 10K, a resort feel, but very rural in demographic and mentality. Our state is 90% lost. Any book that will help us reach them will be appreciated.
Looks like an interesting read. I’m a youth pastor situated in a rural section of northern, NJ (well, as rural as NJ gets). We’re located in a bedroom community to many who work in the city…THE city (NYC) and so people move in and out every 2-4 years. Plus we have many who live in this rural area for life. Creates an interesting ministry dynamic. I’m curious how this book will be able to speak to some of the things we deal with…looking forward to reading it.
I would love to get this book for my Pastors. We recently went to a seminar on building the church…and I think this would help build on that!
Me parece un libro muy interesante, espero poder ganar uno.
Gracias!
@alonsito
I’ve read the book and it really is a great book.
If you are a Pastor or Leader in a rural church Shannon speaks so into what you are facing. One character trait of Shannon’s that stood out for me was his obedience to God to the call on his life even when on the surface ‘better’ job offers were coming in.
I interviewed Shannon from a church communications perspective and asked him about his online campus He said it totally changed the way his church thinks. He also told me what his best marketing tool was. It’s totally biblical too! http://bit.ly/97ciAF
Thanks for being a rural breaker Shannon!
I am a pastor in the middle of the peanut country of rural SW Va. There are 400 that live in the village I Pastor in and 600 total in the zip code.
I’m currently the pastor of a church in rural America. I live in Hartford Kentucky and I pastor a church of about 230. God is really doing some great things. We are praying to be a church that is “Growing, Going, and Glorifying”. This book sounds great…thanks for letting me know about it.
I am currently in the rural town of Social Circle, GA. I pastor The Avenue church and we are apart of the LifeChurch.tv Network. It has been a great ride so far. We launch in September 2010. when the town is small everybody knows everybody whih can be bad but, it can be really good when starting a church. We hang out with community leader and in the schools and have had a great response! I love it! Pray for us http://www.TheAvenueChurch.tv
I work with mostly rural churches…first, I’m thankful someone heard the call to go and be a shepherd in these communities. Second, I pray they are able to transition well to reach the next generation. Looking forward to reading this and using some principles from it in helping local rural church pastors.
Craig, I grew up in a small town and I’m planning return to do ministry in the same area. While I grew up in a very narrow, dogmatic experience, I would say there’s an openness that’s rarely been there before (I know I’ve never experienced it there). I look forward to the challenges of going back to my roots and this would be a beneficial tool. Thanks!
I believe that I could gain some valuable insights from Shannon. Our church is not strictly rural but faces many of the same problems and dynamics. Thanks for the tools available thru the book.
Stoked to find this resource. Beginning to help 2 groups of believers in small towns and wanting to help us stay on mission and not just serve the church.
In 2008 I predicted “A revitalization of rural churches will occur as multiple campuses spread across the neglected back roads of the nation.” It is the new frontier. Shannon O’Dell is leading the way!
Jim Tomberlin
MultiSiteGuy
As a pastor in a declining economic community of 5,000, adhering to tradition is so important and living in the glorious past are tough to crack. So, I would be very interested in reading Shannon’s book to gain greater insight. Blessings,
I led worship, bi-vocationally, at a church of 1,500 for several years. Last year I was asked to lead worship at a church of 50 in a community of 700.
I had several misconceptions about the rural church where I still serve, but coming from a larger church I was surprised by all of the similarities.
People are people. God loves us all and wants desperately to work in our lives. For many, God will grab them at a large church, but we are finding that many are wanting to experience the “family” that a small, rural church can bring. With technology today we are able to do almost anything we desire production-wise and one thing I have to say is that the rural church members are INCREDIBLY faithful. They serve, give and invite more than any church I have been in before. Maybe it is due to the accountability, maybe the small town values…who knows.
We now have 175 regularly and Easter we had over 225 people…anybody else have a 1/3 of their town’s population attend church? =)
As bro Mark Combs, I live in the same wesat kentucky county. but my church is in Calvert city KY, fourriverschurch.com I run big screen at the lake campus. we are part of lifechurch. if anyone in the area needs any info on attending you can email me jughead1118@msn.com
I am in lay leadership at a rurban church. We have farmers and small town people but are close to big cities and have big city expectations for a small town church. It is challenging to find the balance between making small town relationships and meeting city expectations.
I pastor a small church in a small town in Southern Minnesota. I love where I am at and what I am doing. It is everything I never wanted, but thankfully God knew better and has placed me here and has blessed my ministry here. I pray desperately that we can continue to expand Christ’s influence and fame in our great community!
I was in a band that played some rural churches in southern indiana and illinois and had some great experiences of churches wanting to reach out to young people. Including family I have in that area, I’ve been struck by the humility and accessibility of rural churches in my experience.
I am in a rural setting and would love to have this book. It would be a huge help to me.