Empowering congregations to develop Christ-centered leaders for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
The Rural and Small-Town Initiative comes alongside congregations to identify their God-given gifts, raise up Christ-centered leaders, and serve their communities with lasting impact. We provide assessments, training, resources, and grants — meeting each congregation where it is.
Our three areas of focus
Youth
Investing in the next generation of leaders
- Tools that help youth identify their skills, talents, and interests
- Pathways to discover and grow in their calling
Congregation
Discerning & deploying congregational gifts
- Harrison Assessments to place people in roles where they succeed
- Discern gifts and how they can serve the community
Community
Serving neighbors with lasting impact
- Discern local needs and respond faithfully
- Micro-grants to launch and sustain community projects
Youth Engagement Resources
90-Day Action Plan
Equipping youth to serve
Youth Strength Snapshot
Notice how God shaped you to serve in the way of Jesus
Pathways to Serve Map
From youth strengths to real roles in congregation and community
Leader Notes
After your conversation with a young person, capture next steps and how to walk with them
Sermon Bank
Sermon Bank Resource now available! The Rural and Small-Town Initiative has developed a resource for congregations to use in the event of a pastoral absence or vacancy, to aid congregations who want to offer Sabbath Rest for their pastor but do not have funding for pulpit supply when they are away, to use if there is an unexpected illness or other emergency that causes the planned speaker’s absence, and a variety of other reasons. The sermon bank includes sermons by Church of the Brethren pastors from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and uses the Revised Common Lectionary as the basis of its layout. The Rural and Small-Town Initiative hopes that congregations find this tool as a useful and valuable tool that helps support their ministries. This sermon bank will continue to be updated periodically, so please check back for updates.
Basin & Towel Podcast
Conversations on rural & small-town ministry