Rural Advancement

Join pastor Josh Lowrance as we discuss the topic of giving. In rural churches where resources are limited, Pastor Josh makes the case that priority should be given to missions, benevolence, and community outreach. He advocates that God will bless those who put people first in this way.   As always, if you want to reach out to the show with feedback or ideas, or for encouragement, you can con...

Join Pastor Greg Ledgerwood as he shares the story behind the book  Champions!: How to be God’s Champion in a Broken World . His story is rooted in the depths of personal tragedy, but also serves to catapult him into a greater understanding of the goodness of God. It’s an encouragement for any pastor walking through tough seasons.   If you want to purchase the book  Champions! you...

Join Pastor Jamie Austin as we discuss navigating change, creating opportunities for leaders in the local church, and staying encouraged through painful processes of revitalization.   As always, if you want to reach out to the show for encouragement or to give ideas or feedback, feel free to contact our host Joe Epley at Joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

Pastor Cody Cochran walks us through the highs and lows of longevity, why a pastor should or should not plant a church, and offers his unique take on creating a culture of family in his church. Tune in and check it out!   As always, if you want to reach out to the show with feedback and ideas, or for encouragement, please contact our host Joe Epley at joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

Join our host Joe Epley as we discuss how and why to be incarnational in your community this Christmas Season. Scripture, history, and present experience all point to the need to be tangible, present, and authentic in the lives of those around us.   As always, if you would like to connect with the show for encouragement, or to give feedback or ideas, please contact our host Joe Epley at josep...

Join our host Joe Epley as he discusses different ways to express gratitude for the church and community you find yourself serving in. Gratitude can be a powerful element towards helping people have longevity in the rural church.   As always, if you would like to reach out to the show to give feedback or ideas, as well as for encouragement, please contact our host Joe Epley at joseph.g.epley@...

Join pastors Chuck and Chris Griffin as we walk through the mindsets, marriage principles, and ministry practices that help us do ministry over a lifetime. Their story has ups and downs, and the lessons gleaned from each season are full of great nuggets for pastors who aspire to minister long term!   As always, if you want to reach out to the show with feedback or ideas, or for encouragement,...

Pastor Stan Formby shares a lifetime of lessons from pastoral ministry, including how to persevere when things grow and when they don’t grow. He also highlights his newest venture, Cowboy Church, and how God is using it to reach people in his rural context. Tune in!   As always, if you want to reach out to the show with feedback or ideas, or to find encouragement, contact our host Joe E...

Pastor Paul Drost talks us through his journey as a church planter, sharing insights on what success looks like, highlighting several great stories, and finally sharing wisdom he has picked up along the way on how to pour ourselves out for the sake of ministry.   As always, if you would like to reach out to the show for encouragement, or with feedback or ideas, please connect with our host Jo...

Join us for part 2 of an interview with author Allen Stanton. His book Reclaiming Rural: Building Thriving Rural Congregations is full of wisdom on how we approaching loving churches and the small communities they are a part of. Tune in to hear highlights from this incredible and timely resource.   If you would like to purchase the book, you can do so at this website here. The author also pro...

Join us for part 1 of an interview with author Allen Stanton. His book  Reclaiming Rural: Building Thriving Rural Congregations is full of wisdom on how we approaching loving churches and the small communities they are a part of. Tune in to hear highlights from this incredible and timely resource.   If you would like to purchase the book, you can do so at this website here. The author also pr...

Pastor Tony Searles shares about authenticity and how it has played out over his ministry career through multiple contexts across the rural northeast. He speaks about accepting people where they are at, and the commitment we should have as ministers to love people well.   As always, if you would like to reach out to the show for encouragement or feedback, reach out to Joe Epley at Joseph.g.ep...

Pastor Travis Barbee spent the first part of his career working on a ranch in Oklahoma while serving in the local church. As he stepped into pastoring, he found the Lord had taught him plenty about how to take care of his congregants through his years working with animals. Tune in to here these valuable insights!   As always, you can reach out to the show with feedback and ideas, or for encou...

Pastor Dennis Rivera shares about challenges for rural multi-ethnic churches, but also the solutions that he has seen work in these contexts. These solutions are applicable for the wider rural church!   As always, if you want to reach out with ideas or feedback, or just for encouragement, please contact our host Joe Epley at joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

Pastor Monte Reichenberg shares about seeing God show up through the work of their church in a local food bank. Today we can be encouraged and challenged by his example!   As always, if you want to reach out to the show for encouragement or with ideas and feedback, you can contact our host Joe Epley at joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

Pastor Jeff Blizzard walks us through his thoughts on vision casting, how to deal with families leaving the church, and his passion for leading others into the presence of the Lord. His insights are helpful to any pastor who wants to see long term health in their congregation.   As always, feel free to reach out to the show for encouragement, or with ideas and feedback, by contacting our host...

Pastor Scott shares on mindsets that have helped him achieve longevity in rural ministry. He covers practical areas like establishing a good deacon culture or how to handle families that leave, as well as his own personal moments with God that have kept him motivated when pastoral ministry gets tough. Also, pastor Scott Burr is a published author! His book on preparing for marriage is a great reso...

Pastor Charitie Sandoz shares her perspective on effective mentoring and peer to peer relationships as a single woman in ministry. She draws from scripture and her own experiences to give balanced perspective on how to walk with integrity.   As always, feel free to reach out to the show with encouragement, feedback, or ideas, by connecting with our host Joe Epley at joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

Join us for part 2 of our discussion with authors from the collaborative book, Church Out Here: Insights from Small-Town Churches . Today’s interview with Will Basham and Sam Byers talks about how the pastor themselves finds personal community, as well as how to have a healthy and tangible sense of community within a rural congregation.   As always, if you want to reach the show with en...

Pastors Jim Drake and Jason Cook were part of a collaboration of authors who lent their voices for  Church Out Here: Insights from Small-Town Churches . Today’s interview covers the rural church in decline answering the question of what to do for effective revitalization and how to care for a church facing the end of it’s journey.   As always, if you want to reach the show with en...

Beth Epley has spent the last seven years as a licensed minister of the Assemblies of God as well as the Executive Director of an economic development agency focused on investing in rural communities of southeastern Montana. Her unique blend of both vocational and marketplace ministry yields valuable lessons on community involvement, how to love your context, and the art of place-making.   As...

Pastor Jeff Kapelle has spent 35 years ministering in Tolna, ND. Join us today as he reflects on his tenure and how he has continued to minister successfully in his rural context.   If you ever want to contact pastor Jeff, he can be reached at Kapklan@gondtc.com.   If you want to reach out to the show for feedback, ideas, or encouragement, contact our host Joe Epley at joseph.g.epley@gma...

Pastor Paul Richardson joins us again to discuss concepts like sabbath, work/life balance, and the need to find sustainable rhythms for rural ministry.   As always, if you want to reach out to the show for encouragement, or ideas and feedback, contact our host Joe Epley at joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

Pastor Denny Curan recounts his ministry journey, sharing insights about how God has provided in a variety of ways. Tune in today to have your faith encouraged and challenged!   As always, if you want to reach out to the show with feedback, ideas, or for encouragement, contact our host Joe Epley at joseph.g.epley@gmail.com

Pastor Doug Clay serves as the superintendent of the Assemblies of God fellowship. Tune in today to hear how the rural church shaped his life and ministry, as well as the need for successful pastoral transition in the rural church.   To hear more about the legacy transition group, visit legacytransitiongroup.com   As always you can reach out to the show for encouragement, feedback, and i...