Is God calling you to rural ministry?

When Jesus told the parable of the great banquet, He said the master sent his servants “into the highways and hedges”. That’s the overlooked places, the forgotten spaces - because the banquet hall will be filled.

Rural Britain is full of those highways and hedges. They are beautiful, but spiritually barren places. And the people living in those places matter deeply to God. Jesus is building His kingdom, not only in the centres of power, but in the quiet and often forgotten places where few expect it. We believe God is calling workers for this harvest!

Our three year Rural Project Residency aims to see new rural churches planted or existing rural churches revitalised - across Great Britain. Through our initiative, suitably qualified men will be recruited, resourced, relocated, readied and then released to lead a new gospel work. Our residency programme is intentional, and it is tailored to the rural context.

So what?

We are looking for godly and gifted men. Pre or post-seminary. We are looking for godly and gifted men, already highly regarded and serving faithfully in their local church, who sense a call to the kind of ministry that is often low-key, slow-growth and sacrificial.

Rural ministry is, in many ways, choosing to be a gospel nobody - for the glory of God. If that resonates with you, or with someone you know, we would love to hear from you.

We have 5 stages:

Recruitment, Resourcing, Relocating, Readying and, finally, your Release.

Step One: Recruitment

The first step is simple - apply. Use this simple form to begin the process of applying.

After an initial conversation, you may be invited to complete a straightforward application form and participate in two formal interviews: one with you and another involving your spouse - if you’re married. Successful applicants may (if appropriate) be connected to a host church - in an identified area of need. So first, apply!

Step Two: Resourcing

The resident must be able and willing to fundraise. The resident, the host church and The Rural Project will work together to raise the necessary funds for a three year salary - including employment costs. We are keen to recruit both bivocational (e.g. 0.5) and full-time residents.

We want to be generous - the 3yr salary will reflect a Main Scale Level 4 teacher’s salary (pro rata).  I’ll leave that for you to look up.

Once secure pledges are in place, and a start date is agreed, a contract of employment will be issued.

Step Three: Relocation

Residents must be willing to move into a mutually agreed rural community - an area of need reasonably close to their host church (if appropriate).

Step Four: Readying

Usually, the first year of the residency will be spent learning and praying, developing a vision and serving your host church (if appropriate): learning the rhythms, unique contextual challenges and the beauty of rural ministry. Sometimes, there is already a small group of people in an isolated area (no host church nearby) and the first year is spent learning together with evangelistic intentionality.

In year two, the focus shifts toward the future work - identifying where to plant/gather or revitalise, building a team, forming a strategy and connecting with partners who will support the new work.

Your training also continues throughout the three year residency. If you’re pre-seminary, you’ll study through Crosslands Seminary. If you’re post-seminary, you’ll journey with a rural cohort through a bespoke curriculum.

Throughout this readying stage, The Rural Project will give ongoing support - through a dedicated coach and through mentoring. For those in an isolated area, The Rural Project will also help provide a leadership community (accountability and support) until a plurality of leaders is cultivated and obtained.

Step Five: Your Release into a new work.

Before you are released to plant or revitalise, we facilitate an affirmation process. Remember Proverbs 11:14:

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. 

We want our affirmation process to give wise and timely counsel, enable greater clarity and result in increased confidence. This will supplement the guidance and counsel provided throughout the residency.

Rural Britain needs the gospel and God may be calling you to help bring it. If you sense that call, please take the first step. Pray, apply and come join us in bringing Christ to the highways and hedgerows of Great Britain.