The Rural Think Tank

This message was given at Victory Baptist in Clinton, IN on the benchmarks of a gospel advancing ministry. The focal passage is from Romans 10:8-13

In light of some of the free speech issues that seem to be arising on major social media platforms, this episode looks at some of alternatives that have arisen in the last couple years. We address the opportunities that might be presented for expansion of the Kingdom. We look at the positives and negatives of each platform as an alternative to the major existing social media monopolies. 

Some of the resources mentioned:

Parler: http://Parler.com

This episode looks at some foundational issues in training parents to keep their kids safe online. 

Some of the resources mentioned:

This episode talks about what resources are available to churches to enable them to continue streaming church services as they start to physically re-open. 

Some resources mentioned: 

This episode discusses things that churches can do to become a vital part of their community as restrictions begin to lift in our communities. 

New Book resources:

This episode discusses some things that we are going to need to consider in the church as our communities begin to recover from the Covid-19 crisis.  

New Book resources:

This episode talks about what has happened at the Rural Thinktank during the last month. Where were we? What new resources are both here, and on the way. It also begins the discussion of things that churches should start to discuss in the Post Covid-19 world. 

New Book resources:

This episode goes into why this new training resource from Rural Think Tank is called "Near Miss". 

I go through what that term means in the safety industry, and how we as parents have often had "Near Misses" with our children and not even realized the danger we unknowingly introduced. I talk about the mindset required as a vigilant parent. 

This episode is announcing the new training and tools from Rural Think Tank called Near Miss: An IT Professional Speaks Out on Keeping Kids Safe Online.  There are going to be live and online options for hosting this training with parents in your community. 

Content Warning - This episode is not kid - friendly as it discusses the realities of keeping children safe on line. 

This is a message on Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 given 1/26/30 at Bloomingdale Friends Church in Bloomingdale, Illinois. 

If you have thoughts/input/questions, go to ruralthinktank.com and hit the contact button or go to anchor.fm/ruralthinktank and leave a voice message.

Video available on Facebook at:

This podcast episode looks at the evolution of large youth events, and what that looks like over the last 5-10 years. 

Some events have remained, some have evolved. 

Some of the Things I mention in the episode:

This episode talks about my experience at a Operation Christmas Child processing center in Chicago and the lessons learned there that can translate to local community ministry efforts. 

Things I mention in this episode:

This episode was recorded prior to episode 25, a prequel if you will. (If you have not listened to episode 25, you need to) This episode drills down on the need for churches to align their technology and social media outreaches to see them as a combination of tools that all are designed to extend the message of your church as opposed to individual "siloed" ministry efforts. 

Things i mention in this episode:

This episode contains information localized to the US/North America, due to laws that are present here. 

There may be content that you might disagree with in this episode, but please hear me out and listen. This Episode was recorded in mid-December 2019, before the last round of church/synagogue violence in the US. The discussions that I call for that need to take place in your congregation are even more timely now. 

Things I mention in this Episode:

This is a message given at Bainbridge Christian Church in Bainbridge, Indiana on 12/29/2019. 

Focal Passage:

I John 1:1-10

The Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Walking in the Light

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Things I Mention in the Message:

Johnny Morris - Cabela’s/Bass Pro - Working together to make a difference.

This is a bonus episode about IT in the local small/rural church. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

I often refer to myself and the ministry I provide in my area as being a "Community Missionary". It's not an idea that is new or novel. I am sure that there are a lot of people like me all over rural areas that are doing some of the same things in my community that I do. The way I read the Bible in Matthew 28, It would be a great thing if every small community had it's own "Community Missionaries".

Links to things I mention in this episode:

This episode looks at some thoughts on how Church Security has changed in recent years. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

This episode looks at some of the things you encounter in rural ministry that they do not teach you about in college or seminary. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

This episode talks about two new economic trends in rural america that we need to pay attention to as we serve our communities. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

This episode talks about the need to keep safe the data and identity information that is commonly used within a church. Specifically, steps that can be taken in a Rural/Small Church environment to keep the data from the wrong hands. Small churches can be big targets.

Links to things I mention in this episode:

This episode talks about changing media consumption habits and how they affect the ways that we present the message of the Gospel through our ministries. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

This episode talks about the need to keep safe the data and identity information that is commonly used within a church. Specifically, steps that can be taken in a Rural/Small Church environment to keep the data from the wrong hands. Small churches can be big targets. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

Why do you do what you do in your church? It's a hard question to answer sometimes. Other times, the answer is clear - "Because that's the way we've ALWAYS done it". This episode discusses streamlining both worship services and ministry programming. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

This podcast episode looks at various training options available in Rural and Small Church Ministry that don't break the ministry budget. These are options that were not available to us even 5-10 years ago. We are going to look at ways that these resources can equip both you and the ministry leaders in your church  for not a lot of money. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

This podcast episode looks at the "graying" of our rural and small congregations (Episodes 3 and 6 are also related here). I discuss changing the perspective of how you do ministry when you have a predominately senior adult congregation. We look at not what seniors can't do, but what they can  do. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

What are you doing in your church and community to empower those gifted with creative talents to use those gifts for the kingdom? We will look at the hows and why of utilizing "creatives" in your community for eternal good. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

This episode is all about reaching out into your community to make an impact. This includes ways to intentionally as a church to target both children and adults to hear the message and hope of Christ because the church is outside the building. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

This message was given 9/15/2019 at Bloomingdale Christian Church 

Links to things I mention in this message (or the ads):

How do we use Social Media in Rural Ministry? This episode discusses tips and thoughts in using various social media platforms in rural ministry.

Links to things I mention in this episode:

The day that the last episode aired, news broke of another high profile pastor ending his own life, Jarrid Wilson. He was an outspoken advocate of the mental health for ministry professionals.  This episode expands on the content of episode 7, in light of current events. 

God has a purpose for you. Your friends, family, and congregation all love you.  Depression is a clinical disease. Get the help you need for it. It is not a sign of weakness or a "scarlet letter". We live in a fallen world, and God is going to use you, despite all you face. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

Taking care of yourself. This is probably one of the last things on the priority list of most ministry workers, yet it is vital. An unhealthy leader cannot take a ministry to a place of health. Many of us serve near the edge of the cliff called burnout. This episode has some tips to help back away from that cliff. 

You need this! 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

The Led Zeppelin classic "When the levee breaks" tells the story of a disaster causing people in a smaller town leaving for work elsewhere. There are other implications that this song brings for Rural Ministry in today's society. 

You don't want to miss this episode!

Links to things I mention in this episode:

In this episode we are looking at how we can learn from the last 20 years or so of the histories of IBM and HP. They have made some strategy decisions over the years that helped them either grow larger or leaner. Which is the right choice for your ministry and community ?

Links to things I mention in this episode:

In this episode we are going to look at how a "game changing" idea from Dare2Share (see link below) can shift how we equip our congregation to reach the community around us with the Gospel. The question is: Are you the Quarterback or the Coach? The answer changed the way I approached ministry beginning several years ago. We will also look at how local sports can be an avenue to integrate with our community. 

Links to things I mention in this episode:

This is an unscheduled Bonus episode this week that is a little longer form than the typical episode. 

This is because it is packed with two topics that deeply affect rural ministry - Demographics and the "Rural Brain Drain". 

I also throw out a "What If" scenario for rural communities to combat the talent drain that is occurring. There are also ministry implications to this. 

You will not want to miss this!

Links to things I mention in this episode:

In this episode, I talk about how technology has made the world smaller, making it easier to get the message of Christ across the world in ways that we never would have imagined 20 (or even 10) years ago

I also shared ways that small churches can make a global impact. 

Also in the podcast, the links I mention are:

The Rural Think Tank - http://ruralthinktank.com

 Rural Youth Ministry 2nd Edition Book at Amazon - http://bit.do/rym2