One year with Rural Missions: A reflection
This week marks one year since I began working with Rural Missions. Looking back, I’m struck by how much has happened in such a short time, not just in projects and events, but in the quiet ways God has been at work in people and places.
When I first started, I knew Rural Missions was about coming alongside churches and communities, listening deeply, and helping people step into what God was already doing. But I don’t think I fully grasped the beauty and the challenge of rural mission until I experienced it myself.
Over this past year, I’ve learned that mission in rural places is rarely flashy or fast. It looks like walking the long road with people, building trust, praying faithfully, and celebrating the small but significant moments where God’s kingdom breaks through, whether that’s a conversation over a cup of tea, a prayer walk, or a church discovering fresh hope and vision for its future.
I’ve also been reminded again and again that rural places matter deeply to God. They’re not overlooked corners of the map, but places where His presence dwells, where His people live and serve, and where His Spirit is moving in ways that often surprise us.
Personally, this year has stretched me and shaped me. I’ve had to learn to slow down, to listen more than I speak, and to trust God’s timing rather than my own. And in the process, I’ve found myself falling more in love with both the rural church and the God who never stops working and doing things that surprise us.
As I step into my second year, I’m excited and a little humbled by all that’s still to come. I know there will be more challenges, but also more opportunities to see God’s love at work through His church into communities right across this country.
A Challenge for You
If there’s one thing this year has taught me, it’s that mission, more often than not, begins in the ordinary. So, here’s my invitation: take a fresh look at your own community this week. Where might God already be at work, quietly and patiently, in the overlooked places? Who could you encourage, listen to, or pray for as a way of joining Him in that work?
Rural mission isn’t just for “mission workers”; it’s something we’re all invited into, wherever we live. My prayer is that you’ll catch a glimpse of God’s heart for your place and be willing to take a small step to join Him there.
