By Staff
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Rural pastors may be serving in smaller places, but the ministry they lead can have an outsized impact. While rural church pastors share many ministry delights and challenges with pastors in other contexts, certain aspects of rural church life make it unique.
A Lifeway Research study of pastors in small towns and rural areas identified unique features of ministry in those places. The Center for Rural Ministry at Grove City College, The Rural Home Missionary Association and the Rural Church Institute at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center sponsored the study.
“While national surveys of Protestant churches include rural churches, there has previously been very few national studies that focus on rural churches,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “These interviews with a probability sample of Protestant pastors provide an overview of ministry realities while also capturing what pastors find rewarding and difficult.”
Lifeway Research’s Rural Churches Today Insights Report digs deeper into the data to explore key stats and practical takeaways for ministry in rural areas, highlighting how rural pastors measure success, engage their communities, develop leaders, navigate ministry challenges and remain hopeful about the future of their churches.
Ministry and calling
Life in rural America has its charms and challenges. Those who pastor in small towns across the United States recognize the trials inherent to those areas but believe God is working in their congregations and communities.
Most rural church pastors are where they are, not specifically because it’s a small town, but because their church happens to be there. Almost 2 in 3 (63%) say they feel called to ministry to their specific church that happens to be in a small town or rural area. Around a quarter (24%) feel called to rural places. Fewer say they don’t sense a specific calling to ministry in that context (9%) or aren’t sure if they’re called in that way (5%).
Success and ministry impact
Small-town pastors say success in their context often involves churchgoers making specific applications of their faith. More than 9 in 10 say they consider it a ministry success when they see members showing care (98%), broken relationships healed (94%), members consistently present (94%), members stepping into leadership (93%) and new commitments to Jesus Christ (93%).
Most pastors, though perhaps not as many as would like, say they’re regularly experiencing each of these potential signs of success in their churches.
With these signs of success, it’s no wonder small-town pastors are optimistic. Almost 9 in 10 (88%) expect their church to be stronger in 10 years, including 53% who strongly agree.
“The future outlook of most rural pastors for their churches is more positive than past statistics might support. Clearly, pastors in rural areas are putting their confidence in God’s capabilities rather than widespread trends,” said McConnell.
In the past 12 months, the median rural congregation has seen five new commitments to Jesus Christ as Savior through their church.
“Change can happen more slowly in rural areas, but rural churches continue to be dedicated to reaching people in their communities with the gospel in hopes of lives being changed,” said McConnell. “New commitments to Jesus Christ reported by rural churches include both children of church members and people in the community who had not previously had faith.”
Challenges and financial limitations
Despite optimism and current successes, rural pastors still recognize issues confronting their ministries and congregations. Three in 5 (60%) say their church is currently challenged by developing and empowering lay leaders.
With this challenge, 65% of rural pastors say they spend time each month developing lay leaders’ skills and experience. Still, most (53%) say they often feel like the congregation looks to them to do most of the church’s work.
Beyond their congregational challenges, rural pastors say they face personal struggles within the ministry. Almost half (47%) say they are currently dealing with the weight of carrying other people’s pain. Around 2 in 5 are facing difficulty disengaging from work and ministry to relax and have fun (43%), exhaustion from over-commitment or overwork (40%), difficulty taking one day each week to get away from ministerial work and rest (39%) and feeling ineffective (38%). A quarter currently struggles with burnout (26%) and loneliness (26%).
Resources for ministry leaders in rural areas
To support ministry leaders in rural areas, Lifeway Research has released the Rural Churches Today Insights Report, offering a deep dive into the data alongside relevant insights for ministry from rural church leaders.
“I hope this report encourages ministry leaders to remain faithful as they serve their churches and communities,” said McConnell. “Rural pastors are not alone in the ministry challenges they face, and the work they do to bring the gospel to their communities each day matters.”
Alongside this report, Lifeway will be hosting a free webinar titled “The Future of Rural Churches: Challenges, Opportunities and Hope” on Thursday, October 29, at 1 p.m. CDT. In this webinar, Carol Pipes, Lifeway’s director of communications, will host a conversation with McConnell and Kyle Bueerman, rural specialist at the North American Mission Board. Together, they’ll explore the realities rural pastors face, the relational ministry strategies making the greatest impact and practical takeaways for strengthening churches and reaching communities for Christ.
To explore the complete findings, download the Rural Churches Today Insights Report from Lifeway Research. To register for “The Future of Rural Churches” webinar, visit Lifeway.com/webinars.
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In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, group curriculum, Christian music and media, Vacation Bible School and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit Lifeway.com.
