The Rural Pastor Podcast
Andy Addis & Mark Clifton
The Rural Pastor Podcast knows that isolation, low resources and vocational identity are three heavy weights hanging heavy on the rural church leader and we want to help you move from surviving to thriving. It is designed to be a kitchen table conversation between you and real-time practitioners who've done rural ministry for years. Our desire is to affirm the role that you play whether it's full-time part-time or somewhere in between, and to share with you a variety of resources that will make your life and ministry easier. -
Isolation & Loneliness in Ministry rural pastor loneliness, pastoral isolation, ministry burnout, lonely pastor support, isolated church leader, community for pastors, connect rural pastors
Burnout / Fatigue / Stress pastor burnout recovery, ministry fatigue, stressed pastor, overwhelmed pastor, emotional health for pastors, self-care for church leaders
Bivocational / Financial Struggles bivocational pastor support, pastors with day job, low income pastor, financial stress ministry, ministry with limited resources
Feeling stuck / stuck ministry stuck in ministry, stuck pastor season, ministry stuck point, no resources church, under-resourced church leadership
Renewal / Revival / Hope spiritual renewal for pastors, revival for rural churches, hope for exhausted pastor, renewing passion ministry, ministry refresh
Creative ideas / innovation creative ministry ideas, church innovation rural, fresh ministry strategies, creative outreach small church, novel ministry methods
Biblical / Theological Anchoring biblical solutions for pastors, theology for ministry, doctrine for church leaders, scriptural guidance for pastors, biblical leadership
Community / Connection / Engagement church leader community, peer support pastors, connecting rural churches, pastor network, ministry collaboration
Growth & Opportunity growth for small church, opportunities in rural church, expanding small church ministry, multiplying ministry in low resource areas
Wellbeing & Renewal spiritual, emotional, physical health pastors, rest and renewal ministry, balancing life & ministry, rejuvenation for church leaders
“how to avoid pastor burnout in small towns”
“encouragement for rural pastors feeling alone”
“ministry ideas for under-resourced churches”
“bivocational pastor encouragement podcast”
“renewal and hope for exhausted pastors”
“creative outreach for small town churches”
“biblical answers for struggling church leaders”
“theology for everyday ministry challenges”
“finding community as an isolated pastor”
“ways to reboot your pastoral passion”
“leading a church with hardly any resources”
“surviving small church ministry”
“how to pastor when you feel stuck”
“hope and revival in rural ministry”
“practical theology for rural pastors”
“support for stressed pastors”
“ministry ideas for weary church leader”
“renew your calling as pastor”
“pastoral care in rural contexts”
“how to grow a small church in rural area”
Isolation & Loneliness in Ministry rural pastor loneliness, pastoral isolation, ministry burnout, lonely pastor support, isolated church leader, community for pastors, connect rural pastors
Burnout / Fatigue / Stress pastor burnout recovery, ministry fatigue, stressed pastor, overwhelmed pastor, emotional health for pastors, self-care for church leaders
Bivocational / Financial Struggles bivocational pastor support, pastors with day job, low income pastor, financial stress ministry, ministry with limited resources
Feeling stuck / stuck ministry stuck in ministry, stuck pastor season, ministry stuck point, no resources church, under-resourced church leadership
Renewal / Revival / Hope spiritual renewal for pastors, revival for rural churches, hope for exhausted pastor, renewing passion ministry, ministry refresh
Creative ideas / innovation creative ministry ideas, church innovation rural, fresh ministry strategies, creative outreach small church, novel ministry methods
Biblical / Theological Anchoring biblical solutions for pastors, theology for ministry, doctrine for church leaders, scriptural guidance for pastors, biblical leadership
Community / Connection / Engagement church leader community, peer support pastors, connecting rural churches, pastor network, ministry collaboration
Growth & Opportunity growth for small church, opportunities in rural church, expanding small church ministry, multiplying ministry in low resource areas
Wellbeing & Renewal spiritual, emotional, physical health pastors, rest and renewal ministry, balancing life & ministry, rejuvenation for church leaders
“how to avoid pastor burnout in small towns”
“encouragement for rural pastors feeling alone”
“ministry ideas for under-resourced churches”
“bivocational pastor encouragement podcast”
“renewal and hope for exhausted pastors”
“creative outreach for small town churches”
“biblical answers for struggling church leaders”
“theology for everyday ministry challenges”
“finding community as an isolated pastor”
“ways to reboot your pastoral passion”
“leading a church with hardly any resources”
“surviving small church ministry”
“how to pastor when you feel stuck”
“hope and revival in rural ministry”
“practical theology for rural pastors”
“support for stressed pastors”
“ministry ideas for weary church leader”
“renew your calling as pastor”
“pastoral care in rural contexts”
“how to grow a small church in rural area”
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 2, 2025 • 28min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 79 – Intergenerational Ministry
What would it be like to actually be the generation that declares the glory of God? We will never know, until we understand what a generation is in biblical language and terms. Listen in as Andy Addis and Danny Payne unpack the heart of intergenerational ministry, showing how older saints making space for young families […]
Sep 25, 2025 • 24min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 78 – Events and Outreach
You may think that your town doesn’t have much to offer, and maybe even question how much your church has to offer. But the truth is you have everything you need to make a difference if you use the resources that you have (and are) in Christ Jesus! In this episode of the Rural Pastor […]
Sep 18, 2025 • 32min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 77 – Glancing Vs Gazing
Join our discussion on the importance of the leader’s personal devotional life. Are you gazing into the scriptures and onto the face of your Savior, or are you merely giving Him a glance? Changing this can change everything! In this episode of the Rural Pastor Podcast, Andy Addis and Danny Payne share honest stories from […]
Sep 11, 2025 • 25min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 76 – Intercongregational Support
Rural Pastor Podcast host Andy Addis and leader of a multi site network of churches along with Danny Payne, Associational Mission Strategist ove4r more than 50 church bodies, discuss the benefits and obstacles of intercongregational work. Not giving up autonomy, but strengthening by working in ways that are better together, how can you and your […]
Sep 4, 2025 • 28min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 75 – Embracing the gift of retirees
Join Andy Addis and Danny Payne for a discussion on a gift God has given the rural church in older members. Retirees can be one of the greatest assets a church has, if we see them that way. Volunteering, serving and ownership all give older congregation members a purpose that can align with the vision […]
Aug 28, 2025 • 40min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 74 – Bridging the digital gap
Rural Pastor Podcast host Andy Addis welcomes Kevin Ferstl to the show for a discussion on bridging the digital gap. There are resources that the smallest congregation can use to give them the same audience space of any mega Church. And, they’re not too expensive, they’re not too hard, and it may be your next […]
Aug 22, 2025 • 28min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 73 – New Metrics For the Rural Church
The discussion tackles the loneliness in ministry, likening it to the struggles of the prophet Jeremiah. The hosts encourage a shift away from counting heads to valuing spiritual growth and community impact. They highlight innovative methods, like storytelling and a chronological Bible reading plan, to enhance engagement in rural settings. The focus is on fostering personal connections and celebrating incremental progress, positioning church leaders as proactive shapers of their ministry environment rather than mere reflectors of attendance.
Aug 14, 2025 • 38min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 72 – Canadian Highlights
Circuit Riding in the Great White North with Rev. Steve Bainbridge Join us for an inspiring conversation with Reverend Steve Bainbridge, a Canadian pastor faithfully serving through circuit riding ministry in the Great White North. With a heart for the gospel and a ministry approach that breaks the mold, Steve challenges us to think beyond […]
Jul 26, 2025 • 16min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 71 – Check your warning lights
This episode comes to you live from the Oregon Mission Coalition annual conference in Florence, Oregon. Rural replant pastor Shawn Snyder of Living Hope Church in Medford, Oregon, offers some healthy hints for recognizing when some of life and ministries warning lights come on your dashboard. https://www.livinghopemedford.org/our-team
Jun 19, 2025 • 22min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 69 – Revitalizing and Replanting Pt 1
Join Andy Addis and Dr. Kyle Bueermann for discussion on the differences between replanting and revitalizing, part one. The discussion is meant to move us in the direction of helping rural leaders know how and when to employ the right trajectory for your congregation. Check out additional resources and materials at churchreplanters.com
