Rural Pastors Talk is back!

In this Season 6 premiere of the Rural Pastors Talk podcast, we’re asking: What ever happened to Rural Pastor’s Talk?

This episode is gives us the opportunity to “un-rebrand.” And with it comes a renewed commitment to the health of the rural church. We talk honestly about why RPT rebranded, what we hoped to accomplish, why we’re changing back, and what we believe is at stake for pastors serving Christ faithfully in rural places. Beneath the humor and banter is a clear conviction: the rural church is not a stepping stone, a training ground, or God’s penalty box. As long as Christ’s people live in rural communities, Jesus intends a vibrant, healthy, multiplying church to be there.

This episode of Rural Pastors Talk is for rural pastors, small-church leaders, bivocational ministers, elders, and anyone who cares about the long-term strength of churches in rural America. We pray this episode helps encouage as you pursue faithfulness in your small, country church.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Why Rural Pastors Talk is back
• Why we rebranded—and why we’re changing back again
• Why healthy rural churches matter for the advance of Christ’s Kingdom
• A practical book recommendation rural pastors can actually use
• A quote from John Wesley to keep us from being too fleshly
• Plus some banter—including the important question you’ll have to tune in to hear!

Book recommendation for rural pastors:
📘 What’s Best Next by Matt Perman
A theologically grounded vision for productivity that roots joyful, effective work in the doctrine of justification and love for others.

Quote featured in this episode:
“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.” — John Wesley

If you’re serving in rural ministry, leading a small church, or laboring faithfully in a place that feels overlooked, this episode sets the tone for Season 6 and reminds us why the rural church is worth giving our lives to.

👉 Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a rural pastor who needs encouragement. Your support helps strengthen healthy rural churches for the glory of Christ.

Speaker: Sean Demars

Summary: In this session, Sean Demars preaches from Hebrews Chapter 11 to underline the inescapable nature of affliction in gospel ministry. The sermon emphasizes the importance of shepherding through times of hardship. Through five key points, the speaker encourages expecting and understanding various afflictions, recognizing their fruits, leading well amid trials, and maintaining hope, dependence, love, and joy. The session highlights that affliction is an inherent part of ministry, intended to shape more effective and humble leaders. Biblical references and personal anecdotes bolster the message, ultimately guiding shepherds to anticipate justice and find profound growth through their sufferings.

Connect with us:

• Website: brainerdinstitute.com
• Email: contact@brainerdinstitute.com
• Facebook: Brainerd Facebook

Speaker: Raphael Mnkandhla

Summary: In this session from the Brainerd Conference, Raphael Mnkandhla focuses on Romans chapter 10, highlighting Paul's dedication to preaching to the Jews despite them being largely resistant to the gospel. The core message is about the Kingdom of God advancing in forgotten places such as rural areas and small towns, which often feel overlooked in evangelism. Through the lens of Romans 10, the speaker discusses the importance of heartfelt compassion, prayer, and perseverance in spreading the gospel. Citing personal experiences and historical examples, the session underscores that genuine transformation through Christ compels believers to desire and work for the salvation of others. The speaker encourages attendees to stay committed to their callings, maintain hope, and continue sharing the gospel with passion in their respective communities.

Connect with us:

• Website: brainerdinstitute.com
• Email: contact@brainerdinstitute.com
• Facebook: Brainerd Facebook

Speaker: Mike Miosi

Summary: In this session from the Brainerd Conference, Mike Miosi emphasizes the importance of adhering to God's design for shepherding His church, especially in rural contexts. He shares personal experiences, including church planting and pastoring, and underscores the significance of scriptural alignment in church leadership. The session explores the Trinitarian nature of God's work in the church, the biblical foundation of shepherding, and the need for a plurality of elders. Practical advice is provided on discipling men and aligning church structure with biblical patterns, with a call to use scripture as the ultimate guide.

Connect with us:

• Website: brainerdinstitute.com
• Email: contact@brainerdinstitute.com
• Facebook: Brainerd Facebook

Speaker: Sean Demars

Summary: In this morning sermon at the Brainerd Conference, Sean Demars highlights the unique advantages of congregational singing, particularly within small churches. Demars explores the dichotomy between artistically and logically inclined Christians, referencing Exodus 15 to illustrate how God appreciates both prose and poetry, logic and beauty. He interprets the Song of Moses as a vital tool for teaching the importance of congregational singing, emphasizing that singing is both a duty and a privilege for God's people. Singing engages the whole person and should be done in response to God's grace, together as a community, and in a way that bears witness to our faith. Demars underscores the necessity for leaders to set an example in worship, encourages singing truth about God, and advocates for covering the full spectrum of God's attributes in worship. He concludes by connecting the Song of Moses to the Song of the Lamb in Revelation, emphasizing the eternal nature of our worship.

Connect with us:

• Website: brainerdinstitute.com
• Email: contact@brainerdinstitute.com
• Facebook: Brainerd Facebook

Speaker: Sean Demars

Summary: In this Brainerd Conference session, Sean shares his journey of church revitalization at Sixth Avenue Community Church. Initially confident and equipped with years of ministry experience, he faced numerous challenges, from financial struggles to dealing with members' heretical beliefs and personal betrayals. Through these hardships, he discovered the profound lesson that true pastoral strength is found in embracing weakness, as highlighted in Second Corinthians 12. The session emphasizes the importance of relying on God's strength rather than personal abilities, urging pastors to be transparent with their faults and to trust in God's grace even amidst adversities.

Connect with us:

• Website: brainerdinstitute.com
• Email: contact@brainerdinstitute.com
• Facebook: Brainerd Facebook

Speaker: Raphael Mnkandhla

Summary: In this session from the Brainerd Institute Conference, Raphael, drawing from his experiences in both large cities and a struggling rural church, passionately discusses the resilience required in pastoral ministry. Moving from Dallas to a near-abandoned church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining an upward vision amid overwhelming circumstances. Anchoring his insights in Psalm 123, he stresses the power of hope, the importance of church history, and the necessity of a steadfast, faith-filled outlook. The speaker also shares inspiring historical examples of steadfast faith, encouraging pastors to rely on God’s sovereignty in their ministries.

Connect with us:

• Website: brainerdinstitute.com
• Email: contact@brainerdinstitute.com
• Facebook: Brainerd Facebook

Speaker: Mike Miosi

Summary: In this session from the Brainerd Conference, Mike Miosi, director of Spread of Grace Ministries, shares his journey and passion for training pastors in remote villages to study, believe, and preach the Bible. He recounts his own transformative experience with expository preaching as a teenager and emphasizes its significance in revealing God's intent through Scripture. Mike outlines the roots, definition, and importance of expositional preaching, stressing its role in protecting sound doctrine and equipping the church. He concludes by illustrating how to practically implement this preaching style, highlighting its ability to encourage and grow congregations.

Connect with us:

• Website: brainerdinstitute.com
• Email: contact@brainerdinstitute.com
• Facebook: Brainerd Facebook