Resources for Smaller/Rural/Small Town Churches

Resources Index | Smaller Churches Network

Look for the asterisk (*) beside books we especially recommend.

Articles on this topic.  Also see a list of articles on smaller churches published in Leadership Journal

Links to organizations on this topic

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Topics

• Small Churches

• Rural/Small Town Churches

Small Churches           

*Bierly, Steve R. Help for the Small-Church Pastor: Unlocking the Potential of Your Congregation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995 (144 pp.).

*____________. How to Thrive as a Small-Church Pastor: A Guide to Spiritual and Emotional Well-Being. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998 (160 pp.)

Brown, Carolyn C. Developing Christian Education in the Smaller Church. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1982 (96 pp.).

Burt, Steven E. Activating Leadership in the Small Church: Clergy and Laity Working Together. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1988 (144 pp.).

*___________, and Hazel A. Roper. The Little Church that Could: Raising Small Church Esteem. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 2000 (128 pp.).  (Originally published as Raising Small Church Esteem by The Alban Institute, 1992). 

Callahan, Kennon L. Small, Strong Congregations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2000.

Carroll, Jackson W., ed. Small Churches Are Beautiful. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1977 (174 pp.).

Chromey, Rick. Children's Ministry Guide for Smaller Churches. Loveland, Col.: Group Books, 1995.

____________. Youth Ministry in Small Churches. Loveland, Col.: Group Books, 1990 (168 pp.).

Coote, Robert B., ed. Mustard-Seed Churches: Ministries in Small Churches. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1990 (192 pp.).

*Crandall, Ronald K. Turnaround Strategies for the Small Church. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995 (176 pp.).

Cronin, Deborah K. O for a Dozen Tongues to Sing: Music Ministry With Small Choirs. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996 (80 pp.).

*Dudley, Carl S. Making the Small Church Effective. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1978 (192 pp.).

___________. Unique Dynamics of the Small Church. Washington, D.C.: The Alban Institute, 1977 (21 pp.).

___________, and Douglas Alan Walrath. Developing Your Small Church's Potential. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1988 (96 pp.).

Foltz, Nancy T. Caring for the Small Church: Insights from Women in Ministry. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1994 (67pp.).

*___________, ed. Religious Education in the Small Membership Church. Birmingham, Ala.: Religious Education Press, 1990 (234 pp.).

Griggs, Donald L., and Judy McKay Walther. Christian Education in the Small Church. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1988 (112 pp.).

Johnston, Jon, and Bill M. Sullivan, eds. The Smaller Church in a Super Church Era. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1983 (152 pp.).

Kinsey, Jim; Carolyn Egolf, and Steve Clapp.  New Vitality for the Small Church Kit.  Fort Wayne, IN: New Life Ministries, 2000 (order from 1-800-774-3360 or www.NewLifeMinistries-NLM.org/products/order_frame.htm). 

Longenecker, Harold. Growing Leaders by Design : How to Use Biblical Principles for Leadership Development (The Country Shepherds Workshop Series). Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1995 (160 pp.).

Madsen, Paul O. The Small Church—Valid, Vital, Victorious. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1975 (126 pp.).

Mann, Alice. The In-Between Church: Navigating Size Transitions in Congregations. Bethesda, Md.: The Alban Institute, 1998.

Massa, Michael W., et. al. Ministry Resources: Planning Helps in Ten Program Areas for Congregations with Small Membership. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1986 (147 pp.).

McCarty, Doran. Leading the Small Church. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1991 (175 pp.).

Pappas, Anthony. Entering the World of the Small Church. Revised and expanded ed. Bethesda, Md.: The Alban Institute, (Dec.) 2000 (original edition - 1988).

______________. Money, Motivation, and Mission in the Small Church. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1989 (125 pp.).

Pappas, Anthony, and Scott Planting. Mission: The Small Church Reaches Out. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1993 (137 pp.).

Ray, David R. The Big Small Church Book. New York: The Pilgrim Press, 1992 (256 pp.).

___________. Small Churches Are the Right Size. New York: The Pilgrim Press, 1982 (206 pp.).

*Schaller, Lyle E. The Small Church Is Different! Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1982 (192 pp.).

*____________. The Small Membership Church: Scenarios for Tomorrow. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994 (142 pp.).

Schirer, Marshal E., and Mary Anne Forehand. Cooperative Ministry: Hope for Small Churches. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1984 (94 pp.).

Sims, Rose. New Life for Dying Churches! It Can Happen Anywhere. Trilby, Fla.: New Life Church Growth Ministries, 1992.

Wagley, Laurence A. Preaching with the Small Congregation. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989 (140 pp.).

Walrath, Douglas Alan. Making It Work : Effective Administration in the Small Church (Small Church in Action). Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1994 (94 pp.).

___________________, ed. New Possibilities for Small Churches. New York: The Pilgrim Press, 1983 (101 pp.).

Williams, Gene.  In the Shadow of the Steeple: The Vital Role of the Smaller Church in a Megachurch World.  Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 2005 (120 pp.).

Willimon, William H., and Robert L. Wilson. Preaching and Worship in the Small Church. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1980 (126 pp.).

Zunkel, C. Wayne. Growing the Small Church: A Guide for Church Leaders. Elgin: David C. Cook Publishing Co., 1982 (109 pp.).

Rural/Small Town Churches

Andrews, David, ed. Ministry in the Small Church. Kansas City: Sheed & Ward, 1988 (120 pp.).

Berkley, James. "What I Learned about Rurban Ministry," Leadership 3(1): 72-75.

Byers, David M., and Bernard Quinn. New Directions for the Rural Church: Case Studies in Area Ministry. New York: Paulist Press, 1978 (186 pp.).

Exman, Gary W. Get Ready . . . Get Set . . . Grow! Church Growth for Town and Country Congregations. Lima, Ohio: CSS, 1987.

Farris, Lawrence W. Dynamics of Small Town Ministry. Bethesda, Md.: The Alban Institute, 2000.

Goreham, Gary. The Rural Church in America: A Century of Writings: A Bibliography. New York: Garland Publishing, 1990 (272 pp.).

Hassinger, Edward W., John S. Holik, and J. Kenneth Benson. The Rural Church: Learning from Three Decades of Change. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1988 (189 pp.).

Hazelton, Paul N. Seven Steps to Revitalizing the Small-Town Church. Kansas City, Mo.: Nazarene Publishing House, 1994 (112 pp.).

*Hunter, Kent R. The Lord's Harvest and the Rural Church: A New Look at Ministry in the Agri-Culture. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1993 (144 pp.).

James, Gilbert, and Robert G. Wickens. The Town and Country Church: A Topical Bibliography. Wilmore, Ky.: Dept. of Church in Society, Asbury Theological Seminary, 1968 (137 pp.).

Jung, L. Shannon, et. al. Rural Ministry: The Shape of Renewal to Come. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998.

______________, and Mary A. Agria. Rural Congregational Studies: A Guide for Good Shepherds. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997 (153 pp.).

*Klassen, Ron, and John Koessler. No Little Places: The Untapped Potential of the Small-Town Church. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1996 (126 pp.).

Lonenecker, Harold. Building Town and Country Churches. Rev. ed. Chicago: Moody Press, 1973 (122 pp.).

Poling-Goldene, David & L. Shannon Jung.  Discovering Hope: Building Vitality in Rural Congregations. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2001.  Also see accompanying video, Discovering Hope: Stories of Hope in Rural Congregations.

Quinn, Bernard. The Changing Context of Town & Country Ministry. Washington: Glenmary Research Center, 1970 (39 pp.).

____________. The Small Rural Parish. Washington, D.C.: Glenmary Research Center, 1980 (118 pp.).

Rother, Kathleen, and Carol Ann Gosse. National Catholic Rural Life Conference Idea Book for Small Town Churches. Washington, D.C.: Glenmary Research Center, 1976 (121 pp.).

*Ruffcorn, Kevin E. Rural Evangelism: Catching the Vision. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1994 (128 pp.).

Smith, Rockwell C. Rural Ministry and the Changing Community. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1971 (206 pp.).

Surrey, Peter J. The Small Town Church. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1981 (128 pp.).

*Vetters, Ken. "Evangelism in a Small Town," Leadership 5(2): 74-78.

Also, check out this site on the World Wide Web: Western Institute for Small Church Health

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