Comments on: Transforming Church in Rural America Book Giveaway!

By: Jason Wiedel

Jason Wiedel — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 21:32:46 +0000

I have been part of leadership of a small, rural church for many years. Figuring out our place in an extremely traditional community, reaching out to very religious people, and figuring out how to grow our ministry is always a challenge. Since so many church resources are geared to the urban or suburban church, I am always excited to see someone addressing the needs of the rural church.

By: Sam

Sam — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 20:16:29 +0000

I’m a young pastor in a rural church. I’m passionate about them, but wonder if the will exists to move forward. We are growing, but i wonder if Goda might be calling us to do something amazing….

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:23:26 +0000

I am an associate pastor in a rural setting and would like to know how to reachout to the people in this community. It think this book may help me.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:52:39 +0000

I am in a rural setting and would love to have this book. It would be a huge help to me.

By: jeremy

jeremy — Fri, 14 May 2010 13:12:18 +0000

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.

By: Chris Meirose

Chris Meirose — Fri, 14 May 2010 04:30:35 +0000

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!

By: Joel

Joel — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:32:02 +0000

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.

By: david jarrett

david jarrett — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:28:13 +0000

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

By: Wade

Wade — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:07:44 +0000

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? =)

By: Michael Deutsch

Michael Deutsch — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:54:44 +0000

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,

By: Jim Tomberlin

Jim Tomberlin — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:14:10 +0000

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

By: Jeff Gates

Jeff Gates — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:29:26 +0000

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.

By: Jim M.

Jim M. — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:20:18 +0000

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.

By: Cory West

Cory West — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:00:43 +0000

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!

By: Rick W.

Rick W. — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:58:47 +0000

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.

By: Bryan Hoover

Bryan Hoover — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:40:40 +0000

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

By: Kenny Rager

Kenny Rager — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:19:27 +0000

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.

By: Jim F.

Jim F. — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:02:18 +0000

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.

By: Steve Fogg

Steve Fogg — Thu, 13 May 2010 05:31:55 +0000

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!

By: Alonso

Alonso — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:48:47 +0000

Me parece un libro muy interesante, espero poder ganar uno.
Gracias!

@alonsito