Rural Church Institute
Our Approach
Rural Evangelism Cohorts
Rural Church Evangelism Cohorts, offered through the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center’s Church Evangelism Institute are designed to help pastors and leaders in small-town and rural settings cultivate a culture of evangelism within their congregations. These cohorts provide structured, peer-based learning environments where ministry leaders can grow together, share experiences, and implement practical strategies for reaching their communities with the gospel.
Key Challenges
The Rural Church Evangelism Cohorts recognize that many rural churches face unique evangelistic challenges:
Geographic Isolation & Distance
Rural communities are often spread out, with long travel times between homes and churches. This makes gathering people consistently for worship or outreach events more difficult.
Tight-Knit, Traditional Cultures
Many rural areas are deeply rooted in tradition and may be skeptical of outsiders or new ideas. Evangelists must earn trust slowly through relationships and community involvement before sharing the gospel.
Economic Hardship & Poverty
Farming families and small-town residents often face financial struggles, seasonal employment, or limited job opportunities. This can create stress that overshadows spiritual engagement and makes sustaining ministry programs challenging.
Limited Resources & Infrastructure
Rural churches tend to be small, with fewer volunteers, financial support, and access to technology. This restricts their ability to run youth programs, outreach events, or digital ministries.
Pastoral Loneliness & Burnout
Rural pastors often serve multiple roles (preacher, counselor, community leader) with little support. Isolation and heavy workloads can lead to burnout, weakening the effectiveness of evangelism.
Generational Gaps & Youth Migration
ounger generations frequently leave rural areas for education or jobs in cities. This creates aging congregations and fewer young families to engage in church life
Strategic Response
Evangelism in rural communities requires patience, cultural sensitivity, and relational ministry. Unlike urban outreach, which often relies on large events or diverse networks, rural evangelism thrives when pastors and lay leaders embed themselves in the community, build trust over time, and adapt to local rhythms of life.
The cohorts aim to equip pastors to lead their congregations into becoming “conversion communities”—churches where evangelism is not just a program but a way of life, and where disciples are actively engaged in sharing Christ with neighbors.
Structure and Approach
Each cohort typically brings together a group of lead pastors for a season of intentional training and coaching. Through regular gatherings—either in person or online—participants explore biblical foundations of evangelism, learn practical tools for engaging the unchurched, and receive guidance on leading cultural change within their congregations. The cohort model emphasizes peer learning and accountability, allowing pastors to encourage one another while implementing new practices in their local contexts.
Outcomes and Impact
Hundreds of pastors across the country have already participated in evangelism cohorts, and many reported significant shifts in their church culture. Congregations that once struggled to reach outsiders are now seeing members equipped and motivated to share their faith. For rural churches, this means renewed vitality and a stronger witness in communities that often lack robust gospel presence. The cohorts are not about quick fixes but about long-term transformation, helping rural churches thrive as centers of evangelistic mission.
Our next round of Rural Evangelism Cohorts will begin in September 2026.
Rural Research
The Rural Church Institute (RCI) collaborates with leading institutions to address the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural ministry. Through partnerships with organizations such as Lifeway Research, RCI engages in studies on pastoral health and well-being, outreach and evangelism, leadership development, and community engagement—providing pastors with insights and tools to strengthen their ministries.
RCI also works alongside academic and research centers including the Center for Rural Engagement at Indiana University, AmeriSpeak at the University of Chicago, and the Center for Rural Strategies. Together, they conduct cutting-edge demographic and sociological research to uncover spiritual motivators within rural communities across America. This research provides data and mapping on critical issues such as community and mental health, economics and employment, housing and homelessness, leadership, and education—equipping rural leaders with a deeper understanding of the contexts in which they serve.
In addition, RCI partners with rural ministry organizations such as the Rural Home Missionary Association and the Center for Rural Ministry at Grove City College. These collaborations ensure that research findings are not only analyzed but also contextualized into practical resources that empower pastors, congregations, and communities to flourish. By bridging academic research with grassroots ministry, RCI helps rural churches thrive as vital centers of gospel witness and community renewal.
Rural Ministry Leadership Resources
We believe your spiritual gifts and talents should be developed for greater impact. The Rural Church Institute, in collaboration with its strategic partners, is committed to equipping rural pastors and congregations with practical tools for effective ministry. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by rural communities—such as geographic isolation, limited resources, and shifting demographics—the Institute develops leadership resources that are both accessible and contextually relevant.
Publications and Writings
Articles and blogs that address pressing issues in rural ministry, including community engagement, pastoral care, and sustainable church growth.
Sponsored books authored by leading experts in rural ministry, offering deep insights and case studies from real-world experiences.
Training and Development
Workshops and seminars designed to strengthen pastoral leadership skills, focusing on practical topics such as preaching, discipleship, and rural church administration.
Online courses and webinars that make training available to pastors regardless of location, ensuring accessibility for even the most remote congregations.
Collaborative Partnerships
Strategic alliances with denominational leaders, theological educators, and rural ministry practitioners to ensure resources are grounded in both scholarship and lived experience.
Networking opportunities that connect pastors with peers across regions, fostering mutual encouragement and shared learning.
Through these resources, the Rural Church Institute seeks to:
- Empower pastors (especially bi-vocational and co-vocational pastors) to lead with confidence and creativity in rural contexts.
- Strengthen congregations by providing them with tools for spiritual growth and community outreach.
- Amplify the voices of rural ministry leaders, ensuring their experiences and insights shape the broader conversation about the future of the church.
Rural Ministry Advocacy
The Rural Church Institute champions the cause of rural ministry by engaging universities, colleges, seminaries, and national ministry organizations. Through research partnerships, guest lectures, and collaborative initiatives, the Institute raises awareness of the unique opportunities and challenges facing rural congregations. It advocates for the inclusion of rural ministry in academic curricula, encourages theological institutions to prioritize rural leadership development, and works with denominational and international partners to ensure rural voices are represented in broader ministry conversations.
In its advocacy, the Institute also highlights the pressing realities rural communities face—such as rural poverty, substance abuse, limited access to healthcare, and mental health concerns. By bringing these issues to the forefront, the Institute ensures that academic and ministry leaders understand the broader social context in which rural churches serve. This holistic approach not only strengthens the visibility of rural ministry but also equips leaders to respond with compassion, creativity, and practical solutions that foster healthier communities.
Beyond serving rural ministry organizations and denominational bodies, the Rural Church Institute extends its influence by engaging national evangelism networks and academic forums. It raises the profile of rural ministry at gatherings such as the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association and Houghton University’s Conference on Rural Poverty, ensuring that the unique realities of small-town and countryside congregations are part of broader conversations about mission and outreach. By positioning rural ministry within these national platforms, the Institute not only amplifies rural voices but also fosters collaboration across diverse ministry contexts, bridging the gap between local challenges and global evangelistic strategies.