What Gives Us Hope for the Rural Church? With Andy Barnes

What is giving rural church leaders hope right now? In this episode of the Rural Renewal Podcast, Chris and Kathleen sit down with Andy Barnes for a conversation about what he is seeing and hearing across rural churches and communities. Together, they explore the stories we sometimes miss when challenges become the dominant narrative and the creative, faithful ways rural churches are loving their neighbors, serving their communities, and joining in with what God is already doing.  Andy also offers encouragement for pastors who are tired or wondering whether their faithful presence is really making a difference, and shares what gives him hope as he looks toward the future of the rural church.  This conversation offers a glimpse into the heart behind Here for Good: paying attention to what God is already doing right where we are and discovering how we might join in. 

For many rural churches, the building is one of the most significant resources they have and sometimes one of their greatest challenges. But what might change if we began to see our facilities not simply as something to maintain, but as something entrusted to us for the sake of our communities?  In this episode of the Rural Renewal Podcast, Kathleen and Chris sit down with Josh Lilly, Senior Pastor of Crossroads Community Church in Michigan, for a conversation about faithful stewardship, creative ministry, and looking at the resources we already have with fresh eyes. Josh shares how Crossroads is finding creative ways to use its facilities to serve its community, build relationships, and create opportunities for ministry. Along the way, he talks candidly about the challenges and surprises that come with opening a church building to new possibilities, how leaders can discern which partnerships fit the church’s mission, and why meaningful community impact doesn’t require a large or impressive facility. Upcoming Webinar on August 24th, 2026:  Faithful Stewardship: Creative Ways to Use Your Church Building for Ministry and Mission https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_h0fvupOLQeSMQlJQLpxh7w 

What does faithful leadership look like when crisis hits your church or community?  In this episode of the Rural Renewal Podcast, Chris and Kathleen Blackey welcome back John Crowder, author of Anchor Point. Drawing from his experience serving the community of West, Texas following the 2013 fertilizer plant explosion, John shares practical wisdom for navigating crisis, caring for yourself as a leader, responding to criticism, and helping communities move from immediate relief toward long-term recovery. Whether you're facing a crisis today or preparing for one tomorrow, this conversation offers timely encouragement and guidance. 

If you’ve ever felt like your ministry is unseen, slow, or harder than you expected—you’re not alone.  In this episode of the Rural Renewal Podcast, Sam Peters shares wisdom from The Heart of a Small Town Pastor, offering encouragement for leaders who are in it for the long haul. From building meaningful relationships to leading with patience and protecting your family, this conversation is a reminder that God is at work in the ordinary, everyday faithfulness of pastoral life. 

A healthy church isn’t just a tight-knit group of friends. It’s a place where all kinds of relationships can flourish. In this conversation, David Blackwell shares how insights from Dunbar’s Number invite rural church leaders to rethink size and connection, and how prioritizing weak, bridging relationships can help rural churches break down cliques, welcome outsiders, and embody the Gospel in place. Listeners will hear both a challenge and a roadmap for building more robust relational ecosystems that reflect the breadth of God’s community.Guest Info (title, bio, headshot, where to find them): David has served as the senior pastor of Florence-Carlton Community Church in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana for 19 years, and is passionate about helping develop church leaders and pastors for outwardly-focused, community-oriented ministry in small town and rural settings.Related Resources:The Church and Dunbar’s Number - https://seedbed.com/the-church-and-dunbars-number/Rural Churches Need More Weak Relationships - https://wheatonbillygraham.com/rural-churches-need-more-weak-relationships-by-carl-greene/Email us: [email protected]

Do movies actually reflect real-life ministry? Or do they miss the quiet tensions, complexities, and grace that leaders carry every day? In this episode of Rural Renewal, we take a different approach by reflecting on Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Beneath the mystery, the film raises questions about faith, leadership, public trust, and human frailty in close-knit communities. Whether you’ve seen the movie or not, this conversation invites you to think about how stories shape our understanding of church, calling, and renewal where life and faith intersect.

What if faithfulness in rural ministry isn’t about moving faster—but about listening longer?In this episode of the Rural Renewal Podcast, we hear from PJ and Melanie, two co-pastors planting a church in southwestern Virginia who have learned to let prayer, patience, and presence set the pace. They share honestly about discerning God’s leading, choosing slowness in a culture that rewards speed, and remaining open to change—even when it’s uncomfortable or costly. Their story is a reminder that deep roots are formed through intentional prayer, trust in God’s timing, and the courage to adapt for the sake of the people God has placed before us.

What happens when a rural church leans fully into the gifts of its landscape and the passions of its people? In this episode, we sit down with Clint and Steph Pearsall to explore how their congregation is building community through simple, heartfelt hospitality—from their wildly successful Hunters Dinner that gathers neighbors across generations, to creative outreach like inviting a local game warden to Vacation Bible School to spark kids’ curiosity and connection to the outdoors. Join us for a conversation full of laughter, storytelling, and fresh hope for ministry in the everyday rhythms of rural life.

In this episode of the Rural Renewal Podcast, we talk with Nanc Bourne and Malcolm Fowler about how a simple nudge from God grew into monthly community dinners that meet a real need in their rural town. What began with a few faithful people has become a lay-led ministry that’s strengthening relationships, feeding neighbors, and renewing the church’s mission.Their story shows how small steps—led by ordinary church members, not just pastors—can bear real fruit. If you’re longing to see your community thrive, this conversation offers hope and practical inspiration for what God can spark right where you are.

What happens when a heart for missions meets the quiet rhythms of rural life? In this episode of the Rural Renewal Podcast, we sit down with Tim Schwartz, a Pennsylvania pastor whose calling to short-term mission work has led him into all kinds of disaster relief efforts across the country. Tim shares how serving in places of crisis has reshaped his understanding of ministry and the local church.Now serving in a rural setting, Tim opens up about adjusting to small-town life—and how simple acts, like gathering with men for breakfast every week, have become spaces for real connection and transformation.Tim Schwartz lives in Cogan Station, PA with his wife, Jenn, and three children. He pastors Hepburn Baptist Church and works as the North Central PA Geographic Pastoral Servant for ABCOPAD.  He received his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at James Madison University and his Master of Divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Throughout his last 25 years of ministry, Tim has pastored churches, worked as an interim minister, and facilitated numerous mission trips in disaster recovery. Tim is an avid Philadelphia sports fan, well-experienced youth sports coach, cancer survivor, and enjoys chatting with people over lunch or coffee.Email us: [email protected]