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
Dec 15, 2022 • 30min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 18 – The Great Expectations of Christmas
Join Andy Addis and Mark Clifton for a discussion of the often misunderstood and misapplied Great Expectations of Christmas Services in ministry! Spurgeon Quote: “Suppose a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion, full-grown king of beasts! There he is in the cage, and here […]
Nov 17, 2022 • 31min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 17 – Multisite Has Pandemic Advantages
Join Pastors Andy Addis and Mark Clifton for a discussion on preparing for whatever comes next. We can’t do ministry alone, and the recent pandemic has taught us valuable lessons on how to thrive in the coming “Whatever.” Tips for preparing for anything: • Commit to good and bad • Laser focus on who you […]
Nov 3, 2022 • 36min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 16 – Multiplication Over Addition
It’s not enough to survive in ministry. You can thrive! When a local pastor and ministry take their eyes off of themselves and their issues and places them up to the Lord and the Kingdom, that’s the beginning of real change! Join Pastors Andy Addis and Mark Clifton for a discussion on becoming a multiplying […]
Oct 13, 2022 • 33min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 15 – Learning From Losses
In this episode, we face the reality that if we do anything worth doing, part of the process will be failing. When that happens, you can either learn from it or keep failing. Join Andy Addis and Mark Clifton to get a handle on being able to fail well! How to fail well: • […]
Oct 6, 2022 • 33min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 14 – Buildings Matter in Rurality
If you pastor in a rural place, you may not be valuing your building (or lack thereof) the way your community does. Join Andy Addis and Mark Clifton for a discussion on facilities and their use in the ministry of the church. Thanks to https:// exeter.anglican.org/resources/church-buildings/wider-use-church-buildings for helping us with this discussion Building should: • […]
Sep 15, 2022 • 25min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 13 – A Kingdom Focus Redefines Wins
There is no scarcity of resources in the Kingdom of God. We are more effective and less stressed when we learn to live and lead with an open hand. Join Andy Addis and Mark Clifton for a frank discussion about being a church amongst the entire body of Christ! And, enjoy access to the […]
Sep 8, 2022 • 25min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 12- Partnerships Are Essential
There is a truth: Christianity is a team sport. As you do ministry, do not do it alone. You need to start investing in relationships, resources and opportunities now. Join Andy Addis and Mark Clifton as they reveal the value of operating outside yourself in real ministry partnerships.
Sep 1, 2022 • 29min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 11 – DNA Trumps Personality
The need for a pastor to establish a strong and healthy culture outside of their personality is paramount. Join Andy Addis and Mark Clifton as they explore how to keep from fostering dependency on the pastor as you disciple, develop and deploy.
Aug 18, 2022 • 25min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 10- Using Video In Rurality
If video works for farmers, video can work anywhere! But, please know that video ministry is not THE way, or the best way… it’s just A way to do ministry in hard to reach places. Don’t be deterred by cost, tradition and don’t say no for other people. Instead, explore the possibilities of what might […]
Aug 11, 2022 • 25min
The Rural Pastor Podcast – Episode 9 – Sometimes Leaders Lead By Stepping Down
Stepping down doesn’t mean stepping out… it’s raising others up to use their strengths when you have reached your limit. No pastor is a super human. We all have our limits and if we recognize them we can actually take our church further!
