Family Life Special Feature: Charlie Cotherman - Center for Rural Ministry - 1/03/25

Options and Opportunities for Smaller Churches "Inspiration for Congregations" from Family Life News   The Center for Rural Ministry which connects congregations and church leaders in a four-state region will be launching a new effort in 2025. After several years of creating networking groups for pastors in small and midsized churches, the Center will reach out to congregations which do not have an ordained pastor in place. Those lay pastors, elders and other leaders can also benefit from supportive connections and mutual idea sharing. The Center's director Rev. Charlie Cotherman gives Family Life News an overview of rural and small-town ministry: Uniquenesses of "doing church" in smaller places How attitudes and public presentations shape the vitality of a congregation What is unique -- and challenging -- for pastors in small towns and rural areas How the Center for Rural Ministry offers support, resources and ideas for churches of varying sizes This podcast combines two interviews, one which we aired in November and the follow-up we aired here at the start of 2025. This Family Life News podcast can be downloaded and shared. Congregational leadership groups may wish to listen together, and discuss ideas for enhancing the local mission and ministry of their home church. -------------- The Rev. Charlie Cotherman is a local pastor and a faculty member at Grove City College, a Christian university in western Pennsylvania. Details and reports from the Center for Rural Ministry can be found at www.ruralministry.org.