We spent the first 6 years of our ministry in our nation’s capital and loved it. From education and jobs, to commerce and even Christianity, the capital is the hub for most everything in the country. Since the nation opened in 1990, churches have been planted across the country, but we began to see that most of the efforts had focused on larger cities and the need for believers in those cities to reach out to the countryside was huge. Out of the 24 towns and villages where we currently live, only half have a church presence of any kind. We began to feel a burden for seeing churches planted in these areas and in 2013, our family moved to a small town in the northern part of the country. We have since learned first-hand some of the challenges involved in rural ministry.
Lack of good roads makes traveling anywhere outside of major cities difficult. We recently visited a village 70 miles northwest of us, and it took 10 hours of driving through mountains and half-frozen rivers to get there! These conditions drastically affect the availability of food and other basic supplies. Add to that the day-to-day stresses of hauling water from the lake and lighting fires as the only source of heat and just surviving can feel like an all-consuming task.
Countryside ministry can also be extremely isolating, especially in a land of perpetual winter. Not only are we foreigners, but we are part of a very small community of believers, putting us constantly at odds with the worldview of our friends and neighbors.
Rural areas, especially in unreached countries like ours, are spiritual strongholds with very little exposure to Christianity. These are dark places where daily spiritual warfare can be seen and heard, and it weighs heavy on our hearts as we try to reach them with the light of the gospel. Time, intentional relationships, and building of trust are essential before hearts even begin to open to the message we’re sharing. These worldviews have been held for centuries and it just takes time for people here to wrap their minds around the truth of God’s Word.Time, intentional relationships, and building of trust are essential before hearts even begin to open to the message we’re sharing. Click To Tweet
Although there are many challenges to ministry in the countryside, the blessings far outweigh the cost. Hearts are turning from idols to serve the living God. Believers are growing in their faith and learning to serve. There is still much to be done, but there are believers stepping up to fill the need. God recently called a family from our church in the capital to plant a church in a nearby village. A young man from our youth group just started his first semester of Bible college and feels called to plant a church in another local village. God is working, and we are simply blessed to be a part of it. When all is said and done, the inconveniences pale in comparison to sharing eternity with local brothers and sisters in Christ.
