L. Shannon Jung, et al., Rural Ministry: The Shape of Renewal to Come. Abingdon, 1998. Companion volumes: Jung and Poling-Goldenne, Discovering Hope Jung and Agria, Rural Congregational Studies Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This collection of articles is an inter-denominational effort by leaders of rural ministries, most of whom are associated with the
L. Shannon Jung and Mary A. Agria, Editors, Rural Congregational Studies: A Guide for Good Shepherds. Abingdon, 1997. Companion volumes: Jung and Poling-Goldenne, Discovering Hope Jung, Rural Ministry Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is a one-of-a-kind resource, designed primarily for seminary students, but still of value for non-seminary educated practitioners. Using a
L. Shannon Jung and David Poling-Goldenne, Editors, Discovering Hope: Building Vitality in Rural Congregations. Augsburg Fortress Press, 2001. Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary In this volume the authors describe the best practices of twenty-six carefully chosen effective rural congregations from among the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). It is very responsibly written.
Lawrence W. Farris, Dynamics of Small Town Ministry. Alban Institute, 2000. Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary It seems like most materials written on church development and evangelism are designed to help churches reach the more culturally-immersed population typical of suburban or urban settings. Most small towns, however, have some degree of distance from
Kevin Ruffcorn, Rural Evangelism: Catching the Vision. Augsburg Fortress Press, 1994. Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary Most materials written on church development and evangelism are designed to help churches reach the more culturally-immersed population typical of suburban or urban settings. Rural areas, however, have some degree of distance from current trends, and embody
Kent R. Hunter, The Lord’s Harvest and the Rural Church: A New Look at Ministry in the Agri-Culture. Beacon Hill Press, 1993. Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary This book is by Kent R Hunter, the famed “Church Doctor.” As such, it reflects the assumptions of the church growth movement and benefits from Hunter’s
Ron Klassen & John Koessler, No Little Places: The Untapped Potential of the Small Town Church. Baker, 1996. Referenced in: Small Church Leadership LifeandLeadership.com Summary Klassen and Koessler are seasoned veterans of small-town ministry. Warren Wiersbe, in the foreword, describes their book as “a heart-to-heart account of cross-cultural evangelism right here in the United States.
