Rural Advancement

Join us today as host Joe Epley interviews Sam Rainer, rural pastor and author, on the topic of revitalization. In this interview Sam breaks down what it takes to build a revitalization culture, talks about the right attitudes and mindsets in relation to a rural church, and ultimately provides many helpful do’s and don’ts of the revitalization process. As always, if you would like to r...

Join our host Joe Epley as we dive into another rural resource. The Church Revitalization Checklist by Sam Rainer is an incredibly practical guide to the ins and outs of bringing a congregation back to health. On today’s episode, Joe flips through the pages covering topics of culture, practical ministry insights, and impactful statements centering on this theme of revitalization. Join us nex...

Join Pastor Dave Phillips as he recounts his journey through multiple rural church settings, highlighting the importance of hospitality, practical thoughts on doing addiction ministry well, and what to do when tough times come. His wisdom and experience speak very well to the issues rural pastors face today! As always, if you would like to reach out to the show with ideas or feedback, or to find e...

Join our host Joe Epley as we dive into the resource  Recognizing Rural Ministry: Moving From Anecdotal Assumptions to Data Derived Opportunities  by Carl P. Greene. This book makes a compelling case for looking at an older demographic of people as a source for real rural growth, instead of focusing on a less dependable “next generation” that may or may not be present in your small tow...

Join Pastor Sheldon McGorman as we talk about what to do when a large part of the population of the small town you pastor is made up of transient workers. His insights on hospitality, community engagement, and salvation are encouraging. He also speaks about days off, the importance of preaching schedules, and how to plant as a rural church.   As always, if you would like to reach out to the s...

Join our host Joe Epley as we dive into a resource written 300 years after the resurrection of Jesus! In the recorded Homilies of John Chrysostom, bishop of one of the largest cities of the time, are insights and admonitions that speak indisputably to the presence and importance of the rural church in his day. These insights are still speaking to the rural church of today as well! As always, if yo...

Join us this week as we talk to Pastor Drew Becker about his time as a church planter, and best practices related to it. He also covers the power of prayer and fasting, as well as the dynamics of church boards, and how to navigate them!   As  always, if you would like to reach out to the show for encouragement, or to give ideas or feedback, please contact our host Joe Epley at Joseph.g.epley@...

This week, join our host Joe Epley as he pulls insights from the book  Ordinary Faithfulness by Olivia Meade. She talks of the importance of worship, discipleship, and mission in the mundane and ordinary places we live. She really emphasizes the importance of finding God in our everyday lives. As always, if you would like to reach out to the show for encouragement, or with feedback or ideas, you a...

Join us this week on Rural Advancement as we interview Pastor Jonathan McDaniel! Tune in as he shares insights on the importance of persistence, what it takes to see God’s potential in people, and the importance of allowing the community to use the church facilities!   As always, if you would like to reach out to the show with ideas or feedback, or to find encouragement, contact our hos...

Join us this week on the podcast as discuss another resource. The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker talks about the importance of putting intentional thought into our “get togethers”. Often times, getting together and having fellowship can be the life blood of a rural church, and our host Joe Epley walks through his favorite parts of the book on this weeks episode. If you would like to...

Stephen Schaible has spent his entire ministry career pastoring or helping others pastor. His heart is to love people and build relationships with them. Tune in to this conversation today to be encouraged in living pastorally and relationally! As always, if you would like to reach out to the show for encouragement, or to give feedback or ideas, contact our host Joe Epley at joseph.g.epley@gmail.co...

Join us this week as host Joe Epley dives into Stephen Witmer’s book A Big Gospel in Small Places . Together, we’ll explore standout insights on the beauty and complexity of small-town life, rethink what true fruitfulness in ministry looks like, and wrestle with the compelling question: “Should someone pastor a small town?” It’s an encouraging, thoughtful conversation you won’t want to miss. You c...

Join us this week for an interview with Pastor Winston Titus, who grew up in, and eventually pastored in, the state of North Dakota. Pastor Winston talks about his insights from growing rural, pastoring rural, and eventually helping others to pastor in rural places as well. He has a heart that loves the towns and churches he has served and has a deep passion for resilience in ministry.   As a...

Join our host Joe Epley as we look at the book  Fresh Expressions of the Rural Church by Michael Beck and Tyler Kleeberger. This book is an accessible guide to revitalization, full of practical tips, good culture, and real time examples that equip a pastor and their team in a healthy way.   As always, if you would like to reach out to the show with feedback or ideas, or for encouragement, con...

Join host Joe Epley as we talk about a slight shift in the direction of the podcast. Our goal is to continue to provide great content, great interviews, and great resources, but to move to a format that works better for our host even as life gets crowded! Stay tuned to hear some new episodes in just a few weeks!   As always, if you would like to reach out to the show with feedback or ideas, o...

Join our host Joe Epley as he shares brief thoughts on the Summer, highlighting the need to take advantage of God’s “interruptions” to our normal rhythms in order to sense His direction for our lives. This episode will mark the beginning of our summer break, and we will return with regular episodes in September.   As always, if you would like to reach out to the show for enc...

Randy McPherson is a Christian businessman, an ordained minister, and grew up in a ministry household. He has found his calling in stewarding God’s resources as well as caring for and coming alongside pastors as they do the work of vocational ministry. Tune in today for his insights.   As always, if you would like to reach out to the show for encouragement, or to give ideas or feedback,...

Join host Joe Epley as he takes some of the principles of church health found in the works of pastor and author Karl Vaters and shares how they have applied in his life. Join him as he speaks of the struggles of measuring success apart from numbers.   You can check out Karl Vaters works at www.karlvaters.com   As always, if you would like to reach out to the show for encouragement, or wi...

Join us as we have a discussion with Pastor and Author Karl Vaters. In the second part of this episode, we will discuss how to measure success in the church apart from numbers, how to create healthy churches, and how we as leaders can focus on discipleship in the midst of doing church. Pastor Karl’s books, articles, and other resources can be accessed at his website here . As always, if you...

Join us as we have a discussion with Pastor and Author Karl Vaters. Over the next two weeks, we will discuss how to measure success in the church apart from numbers, how to create healthy churches, and how we as leaders can focus on discipleship in the midst of doing church. Pastor Karl’s books, articles, and other resources can be accessed at his website here . As always, if you would like...

Join us for a two part conversation with Dr. Joe Girdler. Dr. Joe is a published author, current superintendent of the Assemblies of God of Kentucky, and has a lengthy career in ministry. In part 1, we discussed Dr. Joe’s story, some practical ways in which small town pastors can set the atmosphere on a Sunday morning, and how to encourage conversations about the Holy Spirit. In part two we...

Join us for a two part conversation with Dr. Joe Girdler. Dr. Joe is a published author, current superintendent of the Assemblies of God of Kentucky, and has a lengthy career in ministry. In part 1, we will discuss Dr. Joe’s story, some practical ways in which small town pastors can set the atmosphere on a Sunday morning, and how to encourage conversations about the Holy Spirit. Part two wil...

Join us this week as we talk rural ministry with Josh Ziefle, Campus Pastor at Northwest University and host of the podcast, Christianity Now, which looks at modern issues facing the contemporary church. We will be discussing challenges, misconceptions, and best practices centered around the rural church.   You can check out the Christianity Now podcast at Apple Podcast or wherever you listen...

Join us for  the second of a two part conversation with Pastor Steve McVey, the founder of the Dirt Roads Network. In the first episode Pastor Steve talked about revitalization through the lens of his time as pastor in Lamont, Kansas. This week, we will dive into the resource that is the Dirt Roads Network and talk about the future of the rural church.   You can find more info on the DRN at w...

Join us for a two part conversation with Pastor Steve McVey, the founder of the Dirt Roads Network. In this first episode Pastor Steve talks about revitalization through the lens of his time as pastor in Lamont, Kansas. His story is a great encouragement for all those facing difficult church contexts. Next week, we will dive into the resource that is the Dirt Roads Network and talk about the futur...