Church guide

one of 313 dairy operations in Minnesota to fold in 2018, a 10 percent drop. A human portrait

Portrait of local life

After checking out this short piece, please comment on how things look in your locale. What signs do you see of an “education desert” where you are? If not, why not? (Apologies to my former students who might get flashback to questions from classes — hope it’s not too traumatic!)

A proposal to engage rural people in environmental stewardship

“At precisely 6 a.m., with the sun just emerging, he stiffened, raised his head, shook his wattles, opened his beak and let out a low, hoarse crow. (“Discreet,” Maurice’s lawyer characterized it in a court pleading.)” — a quote from:

One type of rural ministry is outdoor ministry.

Karl Vatters is an advocate for small churches and those who minister in and with through them

https://www.facebook.com/182397535998/photos/a.10150360061935999/10157046805110999?type=3&sfns=mo

This is a hopeful column about a small town

“Religious Americans in the future will likely be faced with fewer options for places of worship, and likely less convenient ones, which could accelerate the decline in membership even more.” - A different perspective on “church closings.”

Urban and rural have similar problems, just played in different keys. Maybe similar ways forward?

David Brooks has identified and cheers on a nation of “weavers,” community builders. Here he describes weaving in rural places

Contains description of economic situation in farm-based rural communities:

We in Appalachia join our fellow Americans in asking: Who will encourage our best selves?

Thanks to Sam Chamelin for finding this:

Automation in agriculture goes to another level

ULS TCCI and Wartburg CTL are in conversation about collaborating to meet rural ministry education needs. Would you please take a two-minute survey?

“With fewer farms, there are fewer foreclosures than in the 1980s. But watching your neighbor’s farm and possessions being auctioned off is no more pleasant today than it was 30 years ago.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/dairy-farming-is-dying-after-40-years-im-out/2018/12/21/79cd63e4-0314-11e9-b6a9-0aa5c2fcc9e4_story.html