Rural America Missions

RAM is part of the U.S. Missions 

Department of Church Planting & Development.

   Rural America is much more than the breadbasket of our nation.  It is the very moral/ethical fiber that restrains our nation from going entirely morally bankrupt.  Revelation 3:2 declares, "Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die..."  Rural America Missions exists to do just that.  Our nations future is dependent upon it!

                                                    

The church in the front center of this photo may well reflect the spiritual condition of many of our rural churches.

 

The Vison for Rural America begins with the local church.

The vision for the local church must include a vision for Influence, Impact and Ingathering.

Influence:

Any attempt at bringing change to the moral and ethical fiber of a community without addressing the individuals spiritual needs will be short lived at best.  To be able to influence its community the local church must be energized by the Spirit of God.  Influence is all about message!  The desire for church growth must be tempered by our obedience and commitment to our Lord's message.  

When the church attempts to soften the message requiring true repentance and a life style change we lose the ability to bring influence to a society that is increasingly morally bankrupt.  As salt and light we must be known for our love for the sinner and our passionate desire for them to enjoy the benefits of righteous living.

Influence requires the use of all the media toolos available in the local community.

Impact:

When we speak of impact we are talking about the hands on ministry to a community that may include services in the park or neighborhoods but should not be limited to that concept.  Impact should include participation in community activities.  Among the most noteworthy that I have heard of recently is the efforts to strengthen our public schools by the Nebraska District.

Supt. Dwight Sandoz has lead his District in designing a program that serves the local school districts by providing materials and leadership training for the teachers.  This Impact not only brings encouragement to the teachers, but benefits the entire community.

Ingathering:

Influence and Impact will almost surely lead to ingathering.  I say 'almost' because our smaller rural communities are among the most difficult of places for ingathering to take place.  Often, attending a church which is not the traditional church for a given family brings serious persecution.  The willingness to suffer social rejection comes only after the messages influence and ministries impact has had a long incubation period.

Ingathering must be seen as the number added to the Kingdom rather than those added to the local church.





US Missions Resources

  • Church “Adopts” Military Chaplain


    Assemblies of God military chaplains go through extensive schooling and training to prepare for their duties. They are men and women of strong faith and great courage.

  • Cornell University Clears Chi Alpha

    The Chi Alpha group ministering to students at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, recently had its funding temporarily suspended by Cornell's Student Assembly Finance Commission (SAFC) while it investigated the forced resignation of one of the Chi Alpha student leaders.

  • Couple Wrap Up 39 Years of Prison Ministry

    A lot has changed in the 39 years since Lloyd and Nita Colbaugh began volunteering at the United States Medical Center, a federal prison hospital in Springfield, Missouri.

  • Surprise Home Makeover Results in Tears and Cheers

    Several years ago, Ed and Leah Bass purchased a home in Alvarado, Texas. It was a fixer-upper, but the couple was determined to turn the desperately needy house into their dream home. Step by step, they started to repair and rebuild the house. Last July, the couple went to pick out new paint colors and items for the house, dreaming of what was to be.

  • New Chi Alpha Scholarship Awarded by Regent

    Regent University School of Law recently announced that Leanne Watrous, a member of the University of Virginia Chi Alpha ministry, has been awarded the first Regent Law Chi Alpha Scholarship.