Transforming Church in Rural America

[John Dobbs]

Although we all admire the preachers for the large and exciting churches around the world, most of us will never wear their shoes. Most preachers will find themselves in a church with less than 100 in attendance, wearing many hats, struggling to help the church grow, and wondering if this is the dream to which God has really called us. Many of those churches will be located in rural areas of the country in towns and communities that are relatively small. Is there such a thing as building a growing, dynamic, and vibrant church with so many challenges? Apparently, there is. And Shannon O’Dell has not only lived it, he has written a book about it.

O’Dell, Pastor of Brand New Church (a relatively new name for a Southern Baptist church in the rural countryside near Harrison, Arkansas) chronicles his move from a mega church in Oklahoma City to the barely surviving Southside Baptist with 11 people in the choir and 26 people in the congregation. The only technology employed by the church was two microphones and a tape recorder. Things did not stay the same, though, as the passionate and driven O’Dell began to pursue a vision for a great church.

There are so many great stories in this book that illustrate life in a small rural church and the many ‘sacred cows’ that exist. I love the dear sister who was unsure about having a coffee maker in the fellowship room with the word “Bunn” on it. There were also many long committee meetings about where to place a certain breaker box, a disagreement about a new volleyball court because it would have to be built over some dirt that had been donated in someone’s memory, and a reluctance to build adequate bathrooms because they would block a few stained glass panels. Those of us who have been in church business meetings are very familiar with these types of discussions.

Not so humorous are the growing pains O’Dell experienced as he learned some difficult lessons of church leadership. One of those is one I have learned more than once (or I suppose haven’t learned!) is that not everyone who agrees with you to your face is being truthful. And some of those who proclaim to be your friend, are really your enemy if you tread on sacred ground. O’Dell writes:

I began to realize that they hired me thinking they wanted change, but they really didn’t. They wanted to be engaged to change and stay married to their traditions…. I began to realize that many struggling rural churches don’t want a real pastor to lead them; they just want a pacifier to nurse them through the years….Everyone likes change – except when it makes things different.

The chapter on Sacred Cows and Slaughtering of the Status Quo should be read by every new minister going into the field. In fact, this would be a great book to give a new minister. It is full of the stuff you never learn in Bible College or Seminary. But I think it’s a book that people other than ministers need to read. Everyone who is in a position of leadership or desires to see the church roar ahead into our contemporary time should read this book. I hate to give away the end of the story, but I will say that O’Dell’s Brand New Church is today a multi-campus church with an international satellite outreach that uses the greatest of today’s technology to reach into rural areas around the world. To find out how he got there, you’ll have to read.

I want to say that the chapter called Leadership: Resisting the Urge to Settle is the meat of this book. The rest is the story and tons of great observation, but this chapter is the richest and most valuable in my opinion.

In an attempt at balance, I will say that I did not agree with everything in the book. You may, of course, disagree with my disagreements. But just a few of them to note:

- I think O’Dell emphasized his calling to the country church a little too strongly – and intimated that every pastor should have that same certainty. While I do not accuse him of stretching the truth at all, I think most of us struggle to clearly know exactly what God wants us to do. I’m more of the mind that we should be faithful in all we do. I am not of the opinion that God has one place he wants us to be, and if we aren’t there we are not following our calling.

- My understanding of church structure is different than O’Dell, although I think his understanding is common in the Baptist (and perhaps other) denomination. He does recognize and address the dangers of having one Pastor leading the church. But I think the New Testament clearly teaches that the elders of the church feed and lead, and that there is no reference to one Pastor doing all the leading. He is clear that he is THE leader of BNC and is a bishop over the multi-sites. I would reject this as a Biblical structure.

Shannon O’Dell is not the typical young postmodern mega church teacher today. Although I’ve never met him, I have the impression after reading his book that he is a bit kooky. Not loony kooky, but lovable kooky. You know the sort, the ones who come up with the off-the-wall ideas that no one thinks will work – but then they do. I mean, this is the only church growth / evangelism book I’ve ever read that suggests (not once but twice) that it is important that the church smells good when people come in. I love that! He isn’t afraid to tear down a wall or chase his dreams. I would guess that when he leads a planning meeting everyone buckles their seatbelts because they never know where he’s going next. I mean, anyone who would link up satellite via a decked out red hummer so he could reach the world has to be quite a dreamer don’t you think?

If you want to recharge your faith and get back to dreaming about where your church can go … and what God can do … I believe you ought to read this book. I’m glad I did.

Transforming Church in Rural America by Shannon O’Dell was released through New Leaf Press in March of 2010. Win a free copy of Transforming Church in Rural America! Leave a comment and sign up here. One in every 10 comments will win.

Thanks for reading! And Thanks to New Leaf Books for letting me be a part of the blog tour. You can read other reviews of O’Dell’s book HERE. I purposefully didn’t read any others before I wrote mine. They are all probably much better quality!

John

[Bill Bowman]

I just returned from Remmel, Arkansas just outside of Newport. For many years this farming community made up the church which met in a small building. As the older people died away, the church dwindled down to some 30 people. You would call it near dead.

My first cousin
and other family members,and retired Communications Professor at Harding University at Searcy decided to let the Spirit guide them. Today the church is about 150. People coming from all directions. It has had an amazing growth. Especially with drug-related people. Love and care dominate the church. It had to build a much larger building to accommodate the people.

The preacher asked the church to come next Sunday in their work clothes. They are going to Newport to mow lawns, paint houses, etc. They want to assist people in turning to Christ. So they are willing to "wash feet."

Last year in the March Issue of Christian Chronicle is a center fold story of this church. Lou Butterfield is the preacher.

Bill Bowman

[James Nored]

John, great review. You really make me want to read this book. I'm not a rural kind of guy; I'm a suburban kind of guy. But the challenges of leadership are much the same wherever you go--resistance to change, sacred cows, concentrating on non-essentials, etc.

I do think that we often struggle with leadership. The New Testament speaks of the gift of leadership (Rom. 12:8), and references leaders (Lk. 19:47; Acts 15:22; Heb. 13:7; 13:17; 24). Of course, without calling them leaders, there were numerous leaders such as Timothy, Philip the evangelist, Aquilla and Priscilla who appear all over the NT, Dorcas, the apostle. But we don't want to empower anyone as a leader--which means that we do not know how to follow or submit to anyone.

I'm not sure that most of our churches want leadership. Our decision-making is geared towards consensus, democratic vote, and pastoral concerns--which lends itself towards doing nothing that upsets the flock==which leads to a lack of evangelism, a lack of doing things differently, a lack of change in methodology.

Just as in a marriage, leadership in a church should not be taken or forced. But it can be asked for, granted, given, empowered. We need more of this.

Lynn Anderson makes this point in his book They Smell Like Sheep. God raised up leaders all throughout the Old Testament, and then, according to some, God decided to go to a committee. It sounds like the challenges of committees and business meetings is well chronicled in the book. It should be interesting reading. Thanks for the review--you are good at doing this!

[John Dobbs]

Thanks for sharing that Bill. It does go to show that with some determination, faith,and the help of God small rural churches can make a big difference.

Bill Bowman said:

I just returned from Remmel, Arkansas just outside of Newport. For many years this farming community made up the church which met in a small building. As the older people died away, the church dwindled down to some 30 people. You would call it near dead....

[James Nored]

Bill, what a great story of a church that really turned things around. And I love getting out and serving on Sunday! Thanks for sharing.

[John Dobbs]

Thanks James! Appreciate the thoughts and the encouragement.

James Nored said:

John, great review. You really make me want to read this book. I'm not a rural kind of guy; I'm a suburban kind of guy. But the challenges of leadership are much the same wherever you go--resistance to change, sacred cows, concentrating on non-essentials, etc....

[Donna Raef]

I can hardly wait to read this book! I'm 50, grew up on a dairy farm, been to church my whole life. My husband and I have been married for 26 years and have worked with youth for over 20 years. We've studied and experienced the frustration of "church" on our youth. Our 23 year old daughter still loves the Lord but has no interest in "traditional" church because of experiences with the "saints"! We've lived in a rural community for over 20 years and attend a small church with 13 members and no regular pastor. "Student preachers", from a Bible college 20 miles away, come to preach on Sun. morn. A couple of them also work with our youth on Wed. and Sun. eve. We have around 20 youth and these aren't your common church attending kids. They're broken young people. So, besides looking forward to some Godly humor, I look forward to just knowing someone else out there has progressed on in these times. And, by the way, the comment about the smell as you enter the church is so applicable to some little old churches. Our church's restrooms haven't been vented properly and are located near the front doors. Need I say more?! Thanks again for informing us of a great sounding book! We may just have to go visit the church in Harrison one day!

[James Nored]

Donna, I'm glad that you found John's review here helpful. We want to be a resource for all of those that are seeking to reach out. Obviously, if we can retain and impact our own youth, this will be helpful in all of these efforts. I am concerned that we are losing a generation of young people. Thank you for helping contribute to the discussion!
Donna Raef said:

I can hardly wait to read this book! I'm 50, grew up on a dairy farm, been to church my whole life. My husband and I have been married for 26 years and have worked with youth for over 20 years. We've studied and experienced the frustration of "church" on our youth. Our 23 year old daughter still loves the Lord but has no interest in "traditional" church because of experiences with the "saints"! We've lived in a rural community for over 20 years and attend a small church with 13 members and no regular pastor. "Student preachers", from a Bible college 20 miles away, come to preach on Sun. morn. A couple of them also work with our youth on Wed. and Sun. eve. We have around 20 youth and these aren't your common church attending kids. They're broken young people. So, besides looking forward to some Godly humor, I look forward to just knowing someone else out there has progressed on in these times. And, by the way, the comment about the smell as you enter the church is so applicable to some little old churches. Our church's restrooms haven't been vented properly and are located near the front doors. Need I say more?! Thanks again for informing us of a great sounding book! We may just have to go visit the church in Harrison one day!