The Rural Project aims to promote evangelism, church revitalisation and planting in rural areas.

The project, which was set up as part of the FIEC’s ‘Pray for One Hundred’ initiative, has just held its first conference in Bakewell, Derbyshire. The conference attracted 70 attendees from different denominations and backgrounds.

The main speaker was John Hindley who shared timely material from his new book Weakness Our Strength. John left ministry in Manchester to pastor a church in rural Norfolk. ‘The first year we grew from 12 members – to ten,’ he joked, reminding those attending of the real challenges of rural ministry.

Although individual villages and towns may be small, 10.6million live in Britain’s rural areas. A panel of leaders discussed how evangelical churches can reach these communities. Attendees then formed breakout groups to share the challenges and encouragements in their home churches.

‘I sat near a couple who moved to a small Baptist church in a village of 800 people 48 years ago, to share the gospel there,’ shares Toby Martin of Grace Church Boroughbridge ‘As we sang, I thought of praising Jesus alongside these faithful warriors in eternity!’

The Rural Project is planning to run an online learning group this term, using the Crosslands Rural Ministry module. It is also hoping to support the first ‘Rural Resident’ next year, who will be trained and funded to lead a rural church revitalisation or plant.