What I Learned in “The Sticks”
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Sun, November 16, 2008
- Viewed 40
- (8) comments so far
3. They were all able to make the tough decisions. Perhaps this is a piggy-back on leadership… but all these leaders were able to make the tough decisions. Whether it be staffing, building, or vision issues, they were able to risk failure to seek reward.
4. They all felt ‘called’ to work in their small communities. Not one of these pastors looked at their small town or church as a stepping stone. No one (at least it seemed) was building a kingdom in a small town to get the chance to move to the city to make it in the ‘big times’.
5. They all gave God the credit for their ministry successes. As one guy said it: if it’s growing and people are being changed in the rural church, it’s GOTTA be God working!
Wherever you find yourself today, God can and will use you. But maybe these pastors will give you the extra incentive this week to hang in there and see what God has in store!
Have a great week!
Todd
Last week, I attended a very unique conference called, “The Sticks”. It was a gathering of rural church pastors… but not just any rural churches. These churches were medium to large size churches in small, rural towns. (Thus the name of the conference… most all of these churches were from ‘the sticks’!)
I listened to three or four of these ‘large church/small town pastors’, and had a few thoughts that I gathered from them. I think it gives some insight to why these guys are seeing some success in growing a church in less than optimal (and populated!) conditions:
1. They were all passionate about souls. You didn’t have to listen longer than a minute to these guys to see and hear their passion for souls. I oozed out of them. They saw each and every person in their town and county as someone who was important to Christ.
2. They were all exceptional leaders. Each talk, though not planned, centered around leadership. It seems that much of the success of each church was because they had a strong leader at the helm...
Comments
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Jeff Borden on Mon, November 17, 2008
Spot on, Todd…might I also add that it was a pleasure to meet you while “in the sticks.”
jb
Craig Lee on Mon, November 17, 2008
I pastor in a community of less than 45K in the Bible belt buckle of the Northeast GA mountains. I am sorry I couldn’t make the conference, but glad that someone finally did something for those of us out here in the Sticks of ministry. I love the Sticks, God called me to the Sticks.
Everything you noted Todd about these guys is right where we are. Our work is not done until we see every person in our community reached for Jesus.
Thanks for the update.
Craig
PS We will baptize our 50 person this year next Sunday! Yeah God!!!!!
Dan at RFD South on Mon, November 17, 2008
For those of us called to be here, we’re just sticking to The Sticks. But that does not mean we are sticks in the mud, except when the machinery bogs down. There are times when there are pricks in the sticks, but that is true in the urban log jams also. On occasions we get sticks in our eyes, really big ones, like logs, but that is when we are examining micro-sticks, like specks in the eyes of others. That happens in urbo-posts also. That’s about it for now. If you have the witness of the Word and the Spirit that you are where you should be, just stick to it!
Penny Fregeau on Mon, November 17, 2008
Our church has 500 people in a town of 680. How can we get on the mailing list for this conference for next year?
David Curtis on Mon, November 17, 2008
I checked out the website and it looks like a cool conference. The only comment that I would make is that for most of us in rural ministry a small city of 50,000 is not considered “the sticks”. I know that town size is all a matter of perspective and that some people are in a more remote location than I am.
If it were me I would have a hard time considering a town of over 5,000 as being “the sticks” but that is just me. Of course our two towns together which comprise about 4,500 are 130 miles from the nearest Wal-Mart, Starbucks, or Costco but that is just us.
I am thankful though that people are recognizing that ministries in a small rural area have unique challenges.
Travis Connick on Mon, November 17, 2008
When we say small towns, what are we talking about here, as far as population goes? I’d love to start a church in my home town of 425 people….does this conference have a website?
Peter Hamm on Tue, November 18, 2008
We’re in an area of about 25000 - 30000, and draw anywhere from 800 to 1000 on a weekend, and all those things are true. We feel called here, are passionate about the lost, etc.
The leadership in churches like this make for a pretty awesome work environment, and a pretty awesome church.
In short, if I didn’t work here… Oh, yeah, I’d go here!
random post on Tue, November 18, 2008
God’s church that I work at is in a town of 230 (or something) and we double that weekly. We were a nationally featured church (at another conference), and…. you know what.. We are not any more special than any other church.
We are called to make worshipers, not a name for ourselves.
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