Show Notes: Planting Churches in the Desert Places

In this episode, I reflect on a year spent with Remi & Aurelie Marat, a French couple gaining experience in rural Irish ministry before returning to plant a church in Chateau Thierry, France. Their time together challenged my assumptions about rural church planting, and even changed the terms I use!

Instead of viewing these areas as simply “rural,” Remi offered the metaphor of the “desert” places of scarcity, testing, and surprising spiritual encounter. I explore what it means to plant churches in these overlooked, under-resourced contexts, drawing from biblical imagery, personal stories, and honest reflections on the challenges of sustainability, loneliness, cultural misunderstanding, and long-term vision.

To learn more about or support the Marat family:👉 wesupportmission.org/the-marat-family

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