This author believes that out of the culture of the post-industrial era a new rural and Christian community could arise, from which a new authentic rural culture could be regenerated. This then is the call - to return to a model of apostolic times when the church formed strong local entities that nurtured the people to reach out to a hostile environment. The challenge is to find an appropriate way of communicating "the Gospel" to this new culture - even as it forms. And so the future mission of the rural church is "stretched between a great vision of the past and a new vision not yet fully formed." Midwives are needed to help a new church emerge.
The question in my mind is whether or not the existing churches can become this or if we need new churches to do this, especially in rural areas. But who wants to be a church planter in rural areas?
Even as a called pastor it has been very difficult to break into the community. I am and always will be viewed as an outsider. I can't imagine what a church planter would experience.
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