Last week, I announced a contest where I was giving away 4 copies of Shannon O’Dell’s book, Transforming Church in Rural America. The first two winners are both Wesleyan pastors. Josh Rhone pastors Mt. Union Wesleyan Church in Pennsylvania and blogs over at www.joshrhone.com. Tim Kirkpatrick serves as the Discipleship/Small Groups Pastor at Foster St. Wesleyan Church in Asheboro, NC. You can check out Tim’s blog here. I’ve got 2 more copies to give away so leave a comment on this post to tell me why this book would be beneficial to you and you could win a copy! The winners will be announced Friday!
I NEED this book because I’m smack dab right in the middle of fields of grain, cattle yards, with a view of the mountains. The Greeley AREA is roughly 100,000 people, but even at this size, we’re a rural town. People don’t even realize it but we are.
Also, I should get this book because you NEED to give one to someone east of the Mississippi. C’mon dude.
Ok, EE. Since you’ve been a faithful reader and supporter I will go ahead and get you a copy. I’m such a push over.
Hello?! I’m moving to rural Shippensburg, PA to be the lead pastor at our Wesleyan church there! Such a book would be terrific!!
You got it brother! I am so excited for you guys. I am ready to hear what God does in Shippensburg!
Would really like to get my hands on this book. Living in Goshen, IN. I’m a Youth pastor at a local church. I dont want to beg like EE but… nothing says rural like having amish neighbors and driving through horse manure to get to work, just sayin! Show some love for your friend in the Hoosier state.
You had me at Amish neighbors and horse manure.
Congrats to Josh Rhone and Tim Kirkpatrick.
Surprising (at least to me) is that Mt. Union Wesleyan Church is not more than ten minutes away from where i live.
Well here’s the deal, I’ve been pastoring the same rural church for 19 years. Sometimes I think I should write a book but then I realize that I still have so much yet to learn. Every twist and turn brings a new challenge. Some things work and some things don’t. The trick is to keep trying until you find the right combination that opens the lock to an open door. Then change can begin to happen. Pastoring a rural church can be a ministerial rollercoaster, with both its ups and downs but hanging on for the ride is a key. I’d love to hear what the writer of of this book has to say.