Rural Advancement

Jack Smart has worked for 34 years with an addiction help ministry called Teen Challenge. His life has been dedicated to helping those with addiction find faith in Jesus, from his time with teen challenge and beyond. Tune in today to hear thoughts on how to minister to this group on a local level!

If you want to get a hold of Jack Smart and hear more about the ministries he offers to those struggling with addiction in rural communities, you can reach out to him at 417-849-1160 or through his email: [email protected]

You can also visit livingfree.org or ruralfreedom.org to see addiction resources there!

As always, if you would like to reach out to the show with feedback and ideas, or to find encouragement, you can contact our host Joe Epley at [email protected]

Join us as Pastor Jon Baker shares his heartbeat for the lost through the lens of his own story, adding practical insights throughout that speak to outreach in a rural community!

As always, if you want to reach out to the show with feedback or ideas, or to find encouragement, contact our host Joe Epley at [email protected]

Join Pastor Jason Kindelberger as we talk about lessons applied to ministry from his work in law enforcement, the role of mentorship in shaping ministers, and his passion for apologetics!

As always, if you want to reach out to the show for encouragement, or with feedback and ideas, you can contact our host Joe Epley at [email protected]

Pastors Jeremy and Amanda Harris are co-pastoring in Kulm, ND. Join us as we discuss the challenges and blessings of their co-lead role and hear how they navigate areas like sabbatical and church hurt.

As always, if you want to reach out to the show with feedback and ideas, or for encouragement, reach out to our host Joe Epley at [email protected].

Join host Joe Epley as he walks through something praiseworthy, something challenging, and something to pray about for the rural church in the coming year!

As always, you can reach out to us at [email protected]

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 contact our host Joe Epley at [email protected]

To read about the story of pastor Josh’s church, click here.

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 can do so on Amazon here.

As always, if you want to reach out to the show for encouragement, or with feedback or ideas, you are welcome to email our host Joe Epley at [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

Referenced in today’s episode was the book The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society by Henri Nouwen, which you can view and purchase here.