Rural Church Renewal
Rural pastors helping rural churches think biblically about the local church.
Episodes
Speaker: Sean Demars
Summary: In this morning sermon at the Brainerd Conference, Sean Demars highlights the unique advantages of congregational singing, particularly within small churches. Demars explores the dichotomy between artistically and logically inclined Christians, referencing Exodus 15 to illustrate how God appreciates both prose and poetry, logic and beauty. He interprets the Song of Moses as a vital tool for te...
Speaker: Sean Demars
Summary: In this Brainerd Conference session, Sean shares his journey of church revitalization at Sixth Avenue Community Church. Initially confident and equipped with years of ministry experience, he faced numerous challenges, from financial struggles to dealing with members' heretical beliefs and personal betrayals. Through these hardships, he discovered the profound lesson that true pastoral str...
Speaker: Raphael Mnkandhla
Summary: In this session from the Brainerd Institute Conference, Raphael, drawing from his experiences in both large cities and a struggling rural church, passionately discusses the resilience required in pastoral ministry. Moving from Dallas to a near-abandoned church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining an upward vision amid overwhelming circumstances. Anch...
Speaker: Mike Miosi
Summary: In this session from the Brainerd Conference, Mike Miosi, director of Spread of Grace Ministries, shares his journey and passion for training pastors in remote villages to study, believe, and preach the Bible. He recounts his own transformative experience with expository preaching as a teenager and emphasizes its significance in revealing God's intent through Scripture. Mike outlines the r...
Speaker: TJ Freeman
Summary: In this first session from the Brainerd Institute conference, TJ Freeman, discusses his journey from planting a church in warm, busy Southwest Florida to returning to rural Pennsylvania and feeling isolated. He shares how his initial depression and sense of being 'benched' transformed through a deeper understanding of God's plan for creation. The speaker emphasizes the significan...
Hosts: TJ Freeman and Sean Demars
Summary: In this special crossover episode, TJ Freeman and Sean Demars discuss the complexities and rewards of rural ministry. They examine the role of the Brainerd Institute in supporting rural pastors and churches in underserved areas. They also explore questions around effective leadership, the importance of community, and how to maintain spiritual health in isolated regions. The episod...
Hosts: TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, and Josh MacClaren
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, Pastor TJ Freeman addresses the challenge of disengaged congregations. Sharing personal experiences from his ministry in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, TJ offers practical advice for pastors on making sermons more engaging and accessible. He emphasizes understanding both the biblical text and the congregation's needs, providi...
Hosts: TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, and Josh MacClaren
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, TJ Freeman discusses the heavy burden and opposition faced by church leaders, especially in small, rural congregations. Sharing personal experiences from his ministry in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, TJ offers practical advice on enhancing leadership culture through unhurried prayer, relational intimacy, and strategic decision-ma...
Hosts: TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, and Josh MacClaren
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, TJ Freeman emphasizes the role of church governing documents like bylaws, church covenants, and statements of faith in maintaining a healthy church. From personal stories about his own challenges in rural ministry, TJ shares practical advice on how to review, respect, and progressively update these documents for the benefit ...
Hosts: TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, and Josh MacClaren
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, host TJ Freeman welcomes Anthony Caiola to discuss the integration of counseling and discipleship within the church. They explore the importance of viewing counseling as part of disciple-making and share practical ways to equip church members for these responsibilities. Anthony emphasizes the necessity of pastors being emoti...
Hosts: TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, and Josh MacClaren
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, TJ addresses the frustrations of pastoring a church that resists leadership. He shares insights on staying committed, loving the congregation, and shepherding them willingly. Drawing from Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations' and biblical passages, TJ emphasizes the importance of humility, patience, and enduri...
Hosts: TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, and Josh MacClaren
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, TJ, Joe, and Josh discuss the impactful role of grace stories, or testimonies, in highlighting God's work within every church member. They emphasize the importance of guiding new converts to share clear and focused testimonies that spotlight Christ's transforming power. The conversation touches on the challenges an...
Hosts: TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, and Josh MacClaren
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, hosts TJ, Joe, and Josh discuss the challenges of implementing change in rural churches. They highlight the importance of patience, understanding congregation dynamics, and pacing oneself. The episode offers personal anecdotes demonstrating how rushing changes can lead to resistance and emphasizes the value of building trust...
Hosts: TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, and Josh MacClaren
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, pastors TJ, Joe, and Josh discuss the urgent need for church planting and revitalization in rural areas, despite the challenges faced by struggling churches. They emphasize that God's mission includes bringing His glory to every corner, including remote places. They share personal experiences and scriptural insights to ...
Hosts: TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, and Josh MacClaren
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, TJ, Joe, and Josh discuss the significance of deeply held convictions in driving church growth and health, rather than just following plans or models from large churches. They emphasize the importance of being motivated by biblical convictions and genuine love for Jesus and the congregation. Their conversation includes the p...
Host: TJ Freeman
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, TJ Freeman addresses the challenge of low congregation engagement in rural churches and the misconception that ministry work is solely the pastor's responsibility. He emphasizes the importance of equipping church members for ministry, as outlined in Ephesians 4, and discusses how to shift the consumeristic mindset prevalent in many congregations. TJ di...
Host: TJ Freeman
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, TJ Freeman, a rural pastor, discusses the importance of praying before Sunday sermons. Whether you are the one preaching or not, taking time to pray for the ministry of the word in your church can make a significant impact. TJ shares his experience of arriving at a church where a group of elderly women regularly prayed for the service and its attendees, ins...
Host: TJ Freeman
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, Pastor TJ Freeman discusses the importance of recognizing who your church is accountable for. He shares his experience at Christ Church in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, and emphasizes the need for healthy rural churches to glorify God. TJ explains that churches are responsible for two groups: their congregation and the local lost population. He offers practical ...
Host: TJ Freeman
Summary: In this episode of Rural Church Renewal, host TJ Freeman interviews his dear friend, Sam Hahn, about his experiences with ministry burnout and feeling abandoned by God. Sam, a former pastor who transitioned to missionary work in West Africa, shares his deeply personal story of struggling with depression, the loss of his father, and the difficulties of adapting to a new country and ministry role. T...
Hosts: TJ Freeman & Josh MacClaren
Summary: In this episode, Pastor TJ Freeman and Pastor Joshua MacClaren, discuss the challenges and rewards of rural ministry, focusing on the importance of cultivating partnerships. They share personal experiences about feeling isolated and the steps taken to connect with other like-minded pastors and organizations. The conversation covers how partnerships can enhance ministry effect...
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