God's country : faith, hope, and the future of the Rural Church

With the poetic force of Kathleen Norris and the pastoral warmth of Eugene Peterson, Kansas pastor Roth sets forth a vision for vibrant rural churches, for ministry in congregations that bear a profound sense of both loss and possibility, and for harvesting fruits of transformation and renewal. Rooted in stories from Scripture, his own ministry, and interviews with rural church leaders, Roth offers a sturdy theological and practical alternative to church-growth strategies that rely on success stories and flashy metrics. Reclaiming God's vision for the rural church, Roth writes, means learning how to praise, abide, watch, pray, grow, work the edges, die, befriend, and dream. In God's Country, rediscover the stunning abundance of God's presence in rural communities. Name the ways that the rural church testifies to God's glory and goodness. Learn to live and love and minister right where you are, no matter how small or unassuming it may seem. Winner of the Award of Merit, Christianity Today 2018 Book Awards, The Church / Pastoral Leadership category. Free downloadable study guide available here. Award of Merit, Christianity Today 2018 Book Awards, The Church/Pastoral Leadership category With the poetic force of Kathleen Norris and the pastoral warmth of Eugene Peterson, Kansas pastor Roth sets forth a vision for vibrant rural churches, for ministry in congregations that bear a profound sense of both loss and possibility, and for harvesting fruits of transformation and renewal. Rooted in stories from Scripture, his own ministry, and interviews with rural church leaders, Roth offers a sturdy theological and practical alternative to church-growth strategies that rely on success stories and flashy metrics. Reclaiming God's vision for the rural church, Roth writes, means learning how to praise, abide, watch, pray, grow, work the edges, die, befriend, and dream. In God's Country, rediscover the stunning abundance of God's presence in rural communities. Name the ways that the rural church testifies to God's glory and goodness. Learn to live and love and minister right where you are, no matter how small or unassuming it may seem. With The Poetic Force Of Kathleen Norris And The Pastoral Warmth Of Eugene Peterson, Kansas Pastor Roth Sets Forth A Vision For Vibrant Rural Churches. Rediscover The Stunning Abundance Of God's Presence In Rural Communities.--back Cover. Gather Up The Fagements: Reclaiming A Kingdom Vision For Trhe Rural Church -- Praise In Place: God Is Somewher -- Abide: Becoming The Dust Of The Eart -- Watch: Vida Painted On An Adobe Wall -- Pray: Learning To Pray With Chickens -- Grow: Wierding The Axes -- Work The Edges: Stepping Across The Barbed Wire -- Learn To Die: Congregational Ars Moriendi -- Befriend: On Not Being Useful -- Dream: Zion On The Migrash. Brad Roth ; Foreword By Leonard Sweet. Includes Bibliographical References.