Rural churches have always been more than buildings, they have been the spiritual, social, and relational heart of their communities. Yet today, many rural congregations find themselves asking hard questions about sustainability, relevance, and mission in changing contexts.

This FREE interactive training, based on Fresh Expressions of the Rural Church, invites pastors and lay leaders to rediscover the extraordinary potential already present in rural places and to learn practical ways to cultivate new Christian communities alongside existing congregations. Click here to RSVP.

Click here to download the training flyer.
Click here to learn more about Michael Beck. 

Together we will explore:

• A fresh theology of place rooted in the gifts, rhythms, and relationships of rural life
• How to move beyond a survival mindset toward missional imagination and local renewal
• Practical models for starting Fresh Expressions that fit farming communities, small towns,
  and rural networks
• How inherited churches and new faith communities can thrive together in a blended
  ecology
• Real stories from rural contexts across the U.S. where new Christian communities are
  already bearing fruit

This training is not about importing urban or suburban models into rural contexts. It is about listening deeply to the land and the people, recognizing the assets already present, and cultivating
new forms of church that grow organically out of rural life.

Participants will leave with:

• A clear framework for contextual mission in rural settings
• Practical next steps for their own congregation or ministry context
• Tools for discerning, experimenting, and nurturing new forms of Christian community
• Renewed hope for the future of rural churches and the communities they serve

Rural places are not forgotten spaces. They are seedbeds of possibility. This training helps leaders
learn to tend that soil with faith, creativity, and courage.

Zoom Link: 

SW MN SYNOD ELCA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Fresh Expressions of the Rural Church
Time: Mar 5, 2026 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5076373904?omn=87597450315 

Meeting ID: 507 637 3904