I thought I would do better, but life sometimes interrupts, and can interrupt greatly. But it seems like everything is ok, and I am back and I have another book to review.
This is another non-fiction book, which I do not normally read. But I was interested in reading it because I am moving soon from a big city to a much smaller, rural town. I thought it would be interesting to see how the differences from big town churches to small town churches would affect a new pastor. It was a very interesting read, and it made me see that some small town churches are very different from a church in a larger town, but they do have some similarities.
Transforming Church in Rural America is written by Shannon O’Dell, the Pastor of Brand New Church Pastor O’Dell was a youth pastor at a church in Oklahoma City and was asked to become the Pastor of a small church in South Lead Hill, Arkansas. After much thought and persuasion, Pastor O’Dell moves his family and becomes the Pastor of Southside Baptist Church. The rest of the book describes the thoughts of rural churches by others in the big cities, and all his obstacles to increase Southside Baptist’s attendance.
I did enjoy this book, and found some parts of it surprising. I did not know that rural churches were looked on so unfavorably. I knew that perhaps small churches did not have as much money as larger churches to spend on the upkeep and events, but I thought decisions would be made a little easier because of the fewer attendees and committee members. From Pastor O’Dell’s descriptions, it seems like making decisions are much harder in small churches, and, even though members of the church say they do not mind it, they do not like change. At one point in the book, Pastor O’Dell describes the removal of some pews that was agreed upon by the members. Memorial plaques were on some of the pews and families were told they could remove the plaques and keep them. It turns out, even though they approved it, the families did not want the pews removed, because it would entail removing the plaques. This just seemed to me like the attendees of the church want something with their family name on it in the church so they can seem more “Christian-like” than others.
This book is a quick read and I enjoyed it. Pastor O’Dell had many trials in getting the church to where he thought it should be, and it makes me excited to wonder what to expect when I am ready to join a new church after my move.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
