Small church buildings dotting the countryside are home to ministries that often struggle with limited attendance, no money, and little expectat... read full description
reviews
Jul 17, 2010
Shannon Odell has experienced much success in the pastorate. That success came with a price, however. This book chronicles the trials, struggles, heartaches, and the joys of finding success in rural ministry.
Odell writes in an engaging manner, and it is easy to enjoy the book.
The positive things that I must note is that Odell did not seek to model his church after any particular place. He sought what was best for them. He admits to mistakes. He also was painfully honest about More...
Odell writes in an engaging manner, and it is easy to enjoy the book.
The positive things that I must note is that Odell did not seek to model his church after any particular place. He sought what was best for them. He admits to mistakes. He also was painfully honest about More...
Oct 16, 2010
Brenda
rated it: 
was anxious to receive and read this book. I have lived all my life in rural America. I have always attended tiny community churches so I was anxious to read Mr. Odell's ideas on how to grow a rural church.
It only took me reading this book for a few pages to realize that while Mr. O'Dell has some good ideas, some of the ways that he gets his ideas across really didn't appeal to me. One thing in particular he mentioned on page 24 was aging out of youth ministry, I really didn't un More...
It only took me reading this book for a few pages to realize that while Mr. O'Dell has some good ideas, some of the ways that he gets his ideas across really didn't appeal to me. One thing in particular he mentioned on page 24 was aging out of youth ministry, I really didn't un More...
Oct 15, 2010
Lenore
rated it: 
As I have said before I live in a very small rural town. Now it is quiet around here. But that also means there in not a large influx of people moving to our area. This is great for having a small community that you tend to know most people. But it is not good for growth of the economy or community. Especially for the growth of our church.
You know in your church you talk about how to bring in new members. How to reach out to others in your community. How to grow. Well take t More...
You know in your church you talk about how to bring in new members. How to reach out to others in your community. How to grow. Well take t More...
Aug 25, 2010
Evan
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Transforming Church in Rural America (TCiRA) hit a topic that I haven't really seen approached before. The rural church. I've been working in rural churches for over 10 years, and their is usually a stigma in the ministry world that smaller towns mean unsuccessful ministry or ineffective pastors. This book challenged me personally, as I've always have had the thought in my mind that I've finally have arrived in ministry when I make it to the suburbs. Shannon's speaks to the fact that God has cal
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May 31, 2010
Eric
rated it:
I first met Shannon O’Dell at The Sticks Conference a year and a half ago in Ohio. I thought he was one of the coolest rednecks I’d ever met. And I heard his story of Brand New Church and how God was doing something unbelievable in rural America… He was moving powerfully in small towns and growing the church in rural areas. The dude knows what he’s talking about… and I got his book on Saturday and couldn’t put it down… literally! I kept it with me until I finished it. It may be one of More...
Oct 15, 2010
Elisabeth
rated it: 
Transforming Church in Rural America by Shannon O'Dell is a great book for a pastor or leader who wants to grow their church. Who doesn't want this?
I found this book informational mostly because I really don't know anything about the inner workings of a church. I could also clearly see some of the things he referred to being problems in my own church. I chuckle each time I leave my own sanctuary with its dedicated pews and brass plaques on everything from the Chandeliers to the st More...
I found this book informational mostly because I really don't know anything about the inner workings of a church. I could also clearly see some of the things he referred to being problems in my own church. I chuckle each time I leave my own sanctuary with its dedicated pews and brass plaques on everything from the Chandeliers to the st More...
May 14, 2011
Renae
rated it:
"I'm becoming more and more convinced that leadership in the rural church has little to do with what happens on the stage and everything to do with what happens on the stage of life in the public arena, because in rural America, there really is very little that's private. Everybody knows your wife, everybody knows your kids, everybody knows your junk, and everybody knows your marriage.
"That's why I'm convinced that leadership must begin in the home...a functional family is th More...
"That's why I'm convinced that leadership must begin in the home...a functional family is th More...
Jun 08, 2010
Jason
rated it:
I did not know how I would feel about this book before reading it.
I don't really come from a rural church and never have but there are some great insights found in these pages. I would so far as to say that any aspiring pastor should skim through this book. There is a ton of wisdom contained in simplicity in this book.
I don't really come from a rural church and never have but there are some great insights found in these pages. I would so far as to say that any aspiring pastor should skim through this book. There is a ton of wisdom contained in simplicity in this book.
Oct 17, 2010
At first I have to admit that I was thrown off because of things I had previously heard...but once I doublechecked all sources and just really set my heart to reading the book. It's a really good book. The pastor makes some wonderful points!!
Nov 21, 2011
Patrick
rated it:
This book started well and had a few good "nuggets" of wisdom near the end, but the author lost me in the middle as he chased several tangents that didn't seem to fit the overall model he set out for. At times, I felt like I was reading portions of his Sunday sermons instead of a book on rural leadership.
Sep 30, 2010
Ken
rated it:
Not completely "transferable" but lots to consider. Many basic principles that any rural church pastor can do and any rural church can do beginning with the question of our personal commitment to Christ. Good read!
Aug 06, 2011
I thought it was an encouraging telling of the growth at their Church. Did not find much practical help for our rural church
Aug 06, 2011
Luke
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Encouragement and vision for those of us in rural ministry, and that is good. Other parts are not so helpful.
Jun 04, 2010
Mark
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I need to write a better review of this - but that'll have to wait until after my vacation. For now, it doesn't have a lot of "new" stuff in it, but it puts a bunch of really good church leadership stuff into a rural context & challenges pastors/leaders not to settle for survival mode.
I liked it a lot, even though my community is rural/suburban rather than pure rural.
I liked it a lot, even though my community is rural/suburban rather than pure rural.
Nov 11, 2011
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