Rural ministry can feel isolating—but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Recorded live at a Rural Summit in Palatka, Florida, this episode features leaders from the North American Mission Board Replant Team discussing the most common challenges rural pastors face—and how partnership can provide real solutions. With insights from Kathy Addis, JimBo Stewart, and Matthew MacNaughton, this conversation will encourage you to rethink how collaboration can strengthen your church and your calling.

What does healthy worship look like in a rural church? In this episode, Dr. Kyle Bueermann joins us to unpack the tension between live and recorded worship and how rural churches can thrive regardless of resources. We offer practical tools to evaluate your worship ministry with three key markers: solid, simple, and singable. Whether you’re leading with a full band or a single volunteer, this conversation will help you build a worship culture that engages your church and honors the Lord.

What’s it really like to serve in rural ministry? In this special episode recorded at the Salina Rural Summit, pastors and leaders from across the country share the best and hardest parts of leading in small and remote churches. From isolation and limited resources to deep relationships and lasting impact, this episode gives a raw, encouraging look at rural church life. If you’re a rural pastor, bivocational leader, or serving a small church, this conversation will remind you—you’re not alone.

What would it be like to actually be the generation that declares the glory of God? We will never know, until we understand what a generation is in biblical language and terms. Listen in as Andy Addis and Danny Payne unpack the heart of intergenerational ministry, showing how older saints making space for young families and intentional mentorship can help the next generation see the church as their own. From fish fries to mission trips, they paint a picture of what it looks like when every age serves side by side as one family of faith. You’ll be encouraged to rethink ministry not as “youth over there” and “seniors over here,” but as the beautiful pile of generations learning, serving, and worshiping together as one family of faith.

You may think that your town doesn’t have much to offer, and maybe even question how much your church has to offer. But the truth is you have everything you need to make a difference if you use the resources that you have (and are) in Christ Jesus! In this episode of the Rural Pastor Podcast, Andy Addis and Danny Payne dive into the power of creative community events as a way for rural churches to make a lasting gospel impact. They unpack the reality that most small churches don’t have huge budgets or resources, but that doesn’t limit the mission—because what matters most is showing up with what God has already given you. From handing out water bottles at a football game to opening your building for graduations, serving your city with simple projects, or hosting a community meal, these everyday acts of hospitality open doors and change perceptions. With encouraging stories, helpful statistics, and a reminder that even one small touch can sow eternal seeds, this conversation equips you to stop focusing on what you can’t do and start embracing what you can, right where God has planted you.

Join our discussion on the importance of the leader’s personal devotional life. Are you gazing into the scriptures and onto the face of your Savior, or are you merely giving Him a glance? Changing this can change everything! In this episode of the Rural Pastor Podcast, Andy Addis and Danny Payne share honest stories from marriage, ministry, and daily life. We explore why shallow “glances” leave us empty, while intentional “gazing” in Scripture and prayer brings depth, joy, and transformation.

Drawing from scripture, research, and real-life experiences, we challenge pastors and church leaders to resist the trap of professional Bible reading and instead pursue personal Bible dwelling. If you’ve ever felt rushed, distracted, or disconnected in your walk with Christ, this conversation will help you slow down, savor, and be renewed.

Rural Pastor Podcast host Andy Addis and leader of a multi site network of churches along with Danny Payne, Associational Mission Strategist ove4r more than 50 church bodies, discuss the benefits and obstacles of intercongregational work. Not giving up autonomy, but strengthening by working in ways that are better together, how can you and your church move the kingdom forward by utilizing the strengths of friends and Christian brothers and sisters down the street and across town. We’ll have to give up our tribalism, territorialism, and terriblism but it may well be worth the sacrifice!

Join Andy Addis and Danny Payne for a discussion on a gift God has given the rural church in older members. Retirees can be one of the greatest assets a church has, if we see them that way. Volunteering, serving and ownership all give older congregation members a purpose that can align with the vision of the church. Don’t miss out on one of the greatest gifts God has given you, and don’t write off one of the most important assets in your Church workforce!

Rural Pastor Podcast host Andy Addis welcomes Kevin Ferstl to the show for a discussion on bridging the digital gap. There are resources that the smallest congregation can use to give them the same audience space of any mega Church. And, they’re not too expensive, they’re not too hard, and it may be your next step in reaching your mission field. Whether you love digital options, are scared to jump in, or even hate tech… listen, close, because maybe one of your “next” moves just over that digital gap.

Join North American Mission Board director of rural strategies Andy Addis and Associational Mission Strategist Danny Payne for discussion on the need to change our metrics. In rural America, where the average church is 67 people or less, we need to quit asking the question, “How many you running?” There are better ways to gauge church health and better ways to celebrate the success God has given you in the Kingdom. Listen and be ready to start counting things differently!