A small red and white church surrounded by grassy and mountainous plains. Photo by Annie Spratt for Unsplash
The Center for Rural Ministry at Grove City College aims to connect college, church and community through student-led missions and intentional community engagement.
The speaker, Charlie Cotherman, executive director of the Center for Rural Ministry (CRM) and pastor, emphasizes the importance of rural ministry and how the center addresses it through student involvement at Grove City College.
Cotherman also talks about the value of raising awareness of rural ministry and serving communities that may lack the resources of urban areas but have unique needs and strengths.
What is rural ministry?
Charlie Cotherman: Rural ministry is hard to define because "rural" means different things to different people. Generally, it refers to smaller places, often with populations under 25,000. It’s about serving communities that might lack urban resources but have unique needs and strengths.
Can you tell me about what you do at the Center for Rural Ministry and its mission?
The Center for Rural Ministry aims to connect college, church and community. We ask how we can use our resources for the common good, especially for local pastors and their congregations, while learning from them. It’s a two-way street.
We get students involved in local churches through programs like Plowshare, which connects students to local rural churches. As a small Christian liberal arts college in a rural place, we have some resources that the surrounding community doesn’t have.
So, we ask ourselves, “How can we harness those resources for the common good of its surrounding areas, especially pastors in their congregations?” We want to ensure we’re intentional about learning about our community; it’s a two-way street where we think we have some things to give and we also have some things to learn, and one of our goals is to make sure we can do that as a college.
A rural road with a farming field on one side and a small white home at the other. Photo by the Center for Rural Ministry Website
How long has the Center for Rural Ministry been operating at Grove City College?
This is our sixth year. We transitioned from the Project for Rural Ministry to the Center for Rural Ministry this year, with the college administration and private donors' support, aiming to become a permanent fixture in the region.
How can your initiative benefit pastors in rural areas compared to urban settings?
Pastoring can be lonelier in rural areas due to fewer nearby churches. We connect pastors through peer relationships outside their denominations, allowing them to share stories and learn together.
We provide resources through an annual conference with speakers on various aspects of ministry. Pastors especially value interactions with students, who bring fresh energy and ideas through programs like student-led missions and internships.
How do these student-led missions encourage students to engage with the community, and how do they benefit both students and pastors?
These missions broaden students' perspectives on what healthy ministry can look like, challenging their preconceptions that only large churches can be healthy. For pastors, these interactions bring fresh energy and ideas. Our YouTube page has videos on student missions and internships that illustrate these benefits well.
What are the long-term goals and aspirations for your project?
We envision helping churches and pastors in our region thrive and flourish. We want Grove City College to be more attuned to community needs. We also hope to inspire other Christian liberal arts colleges in similar rural contexts to adopt similar initiatives, creating a broader movement.
How can other colleges and universities encourage students to engage with their local communities and churches?
It doesn’t require much money — just a few thousand dollars can support summer internships or programs like Plowshare. Creativity and a modest investment can go a long way in facilitating student involvement in local churches.
How do these projects contribute to students' personal and academic development?
Applying classroom ideas in real-world contexts helps students understand the practical aspects of their learning. It exposes them to diverse church settings, fostering a deeper appreciation for different ministry models. We realize a lot of students we’re working with are not going to be pastors. But, we hope they become engaged lay leaders, which is crucial for the future of the church. There’s a way in which just applying the ideas you learn in class to real-world situations is enormous.
How can students be encouraged to become leaders in the Church?
Consistent engagement with a local church during college is key. Programs like Plowshare, which involve regular church attendance, help set the foundation for lifelong involvement and leadership in the Church.
Students gathered in prayer with a Rural Ministry member. Photo by the Center for Rural Ministry Website
How can colleges, universities, churches and pastors work together to improve rural ministry and spread its importance?
One of the things we try to do as part of our mission is to amplify the voices of rural pastors. You can't actually appreciate something you don't know about.
Sometimes, it’s simply raising a flag and saying, "Hey, there's something cool happening here. Pay attention."
We do that through blogs, videos and conferences to highlight and celebrate the work in rural ministries.
How can readers who want to get involved in rural ministry reach you?
They can email us at [email protected]. Our blog, YouTube page and social media channels are also great ways to stay updated on our work.
Sofia is an up-and-coming writer who is interested in psychology and making the world a better place. She is passionate about service and finding the beauty and the glory of God in everything.
