In your denomination or network of churches, how many churches were planted in rural areas in the past five years? What portion of the budget is devoted to enriching rural churches compared to, say, student ministry? In my observation, there are more sound urban churches preaching the gospel and being planted than rural ones. From students to children, most ministries focus on reaching urban populations.
There should also be a desire to see the gospel spread in rural areas.
When talking about rural churches and ministry, I mean churches in communities that you can only reach on dirty or dusty roads; areas that are remote and most often off the electricity or tapped water grids. Many churches desire to see the gospel spread. But there should also be a desire to see it spread in rural areas. Under the three headings below I will highlight the opportunities peculiar to rural ministry, suggesting how we can take advantage of them for Christ.
1. Religion Is Rife
Secularism is ripening in the urban areas of Zimbabwe. But in rural areas, African Traditional Religions (ATR) are still flourishing. In both contexts there exists the danger of syncretism, as well as fertile gospel soil. I know of a church within 10kms of an ATR shrine in Matobo. This shrine receives pilgrimages year-round, for rituals and other ceremonies. Therefore the church nearby is a beacon of light to those living in darkness. Given more resources, such churches may reach more religious pilgrims with the gospel.
Rural ministries will provide us with many platforms to engage others who are ‘in every way…very religious.’
Though not in a village or rural setting, Paul addressed misguided religiosity in Athens (Acts 17:22-34). While Athenian shrines were concentrated in the city, in Zimbabwe most shrines are in rural areas. A greater commitment to rural ministries will provide us with many platforms to engage others who are “in every way…very religious” (Acts 17:22). Like Paul, we’ll be able to preach “the God who made the world and everything in it” (Acts 17:24). Only this God needs nothing (Acts 17:25), nor does he dwell in temples or shrines (Acts 17:24). Yet he can be found and known (Acts 17:27).
Such opportunities are quite peculiar to rural areas, where churches and plants can reach out to those visiting shrines and engage with them. If your church is passionate about the gospel then it must consider how the gospel relates to the rural worldviews and the particular windows that are open there.
2. Africans Are Moving to Cities
One major factor that influences migration is the pursuit of better living and working conditions. So people migrate from remote rural areas to cities for jobs, and education, among other things. Migration occurs both within the continent and into the West.
Rural churches have a glowing opportunity to reach those who will influence African Christianity in the near future.
Simultaneously, we know that Christianity’s centre of gravity is moving southwards to Africa and the developing world. Therefore more missionaries, gospel workers, and theologians will come from Africa. As it stands today, the majority of African people still live in rural areas, even as many are migrating to urban areas and foreign countries. This means that rural churches and ministries have a glowing opportunity to reach those who will influence African Christianity in the near future.
Consider a man who was well-discipled in his rural church. When he joins a church on his university campus or city church, he’ll be well equipped to serve there. Furthermore, unlike so many people who’re dazzled by the seemingly bright lights of secularism on campus, this man will be grounded in the gospel. As the benefactor of a robust rural ministry in his village, Christians will be both a blessing to their local urban churches and guarded against the shallow but alluring glitz of secularism.
3. Many Urban Churches Are Well-Stocked
In rural churches, you may find one trained pastor serving many local churches, moving among them. These pastors train church elders to care for church members. So there’s a great need for trained church leaders in rural areas. There is a glaring disparity in the distribution of trained pastors, between rural and urban areas. I know of local urban churches with at least three elders in possession of a theological degree or seminary training. Urban congregants have the privilege of hearing expositions every week, from a variety of well-trained preachers and teachers. Urban churches also attract more trained people, who join other ministries such children’s or student ministry, and the list goes on.
It would benefit the church at large to spread trained theologians between urban and rural churches.
It would benefit the church at large to spread trained theologians between urban and rural churches. Those trained in seminaries and Bible colleges should go out and disciple others (2 Timothy 2:20). Rural churches need trained theologians as much as urban churches. Such trained leaders will help in spreading the gospel where it is also needed.
Three Approaches to Rural Ministry
I recognise that most people migrate from rural areas to urban areas on the account of better living conditions. And I also acknowledge that rural churches are not as financially well-resourced as urban churches. If we consider the opportunities to spread the gospel in rural areas, the obstacle of living conditions and also financial support may be faced well. Here are a few ways to support rural churches and the spread of the gospel across Africa.
1. African Churches Must Consider Missions
The first option is when urban churches consider the missions model. Just as Western churches sent and still send many missionaries all over the world, African churches in cities can do likewise. They can extend their commitment to theological training to sending the trained into rural areas. These people should go with financial support of local urban churches, especially when we consider the relative lack in rural settings.
If urban churches are willing to fund social concerns and student ministry, they should also consider rural ministry. When urban churches do this, they honour those who labour there (1 Timothy 5:17).
2. Christian Business People Can Support Ministry
The second option is when Christian business people employ trained theological people to work in their companies and spare them time for ministry. This is a bi-vocational model, which is being explored by many in the West; and needs to be contextualised for rural Africa. How Paul lived and ministered was not too different from this.
3. Local Churches Should Raise Money
Finally, churches can run businesses to raise money. For many years, trained theologians have benefited by running schools owned by churches, working as administrators, chaplains, and teachers. In rural areas, there are abundant resources in agriculture and mining. Imagine if churches in Africa owned farms in the way that early churches in New Zealand did.
These three options will help spread the gospel in rural areas, exploring the opportunities provided. Urban churches can enter into partnership with those interested in rural ministry and see the gospel spread (Philippians 1:5). As urban churches, our desire to see the gospel spread across Africa will be seen in part in the extent that we support rural ministries and church planting.
