Churches in the Field A reflection on Churches servicing rural communities.
For many years the hub of the rural community has been the local church. It was a place of support, both spiritual and practical as well as a place of social interaction, networking, information gathering and of course spiritual connecting.With the improvements in transport, many small churches in rural settings have been closed down as denominations have reduced their responsibilities and expected people to travel to a central church in the next closest town. Unfortunately, many of the families who attended these smaller congregations have not travelled and now the empty shells of these churches are an indication of the spiritual barrenness of the rural community.
Have we economised at the expense of people’s spiritual needs, or even at the expense of someone’s eternity? Are these churches truly financially unviable to continue to operate,
or are we missing opportunities of blessing, ministry and service?
In some places, in some denominations they are still existent. They still function, minister, serve and bless the rural people that surround them.
Let’s see what we can glean from them, let’s see if we can evaluate their spiritual effectiveness and ignore the financial restraints.
The investigation will entail seeing some pictures, hearing from some of those ministering in those situations and hearing from some of those who have been ministered
to over the years.
The New England region has a rich Christian spiritual history. It is the ecclesiastical centre of both the Anglican and Catholic diocese’ and most denominations
are represented in the towns, particularly in the city of Armidale. Not all of these denominations have an interest in the rural communities, for most it is difficult enough to maintain their town based ministries and the rural folk are catered for within these situations. But some of the denominations have seen it as important to go to the rural people in a more locational way.This is an expression of their interpretation of the great commission, found in Matthew 28:19-20 “ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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