Retooling the Rural Church for the Twenty-First Century

Rural churches are standing at a crossroads. Long seen as stable anchors of their communities, they now face accelerating cultural change, declining influence, and a rapidly emerging post-Christian worldview--even in places once thought immune to such shifts. Retooling the Rural Church for the Twenty-First Century confronts this reality head-on. Rather than lamenting what has been lost, Glenn Daman and Jeff Clark issue a hopeful and urgent call for renewal. Grounded in theology and informed by decades of rural ministry and research, this book challenges pastors and leaders to rethink models of church life and ministry. It argues that survival will not come through preserving buildings, programs, or traditions but through reclaiming the church's missional identity. Offering both clear-eyed cultural analysis and practical guidance, this book equips rural churches to adapt, innovate, and reengage their communities with confidence--faithful to the gospel while courageously retooling for a new world.