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Group Name: RURAL OUTREACH MINISTRY
Subject: Rural Outreach Ministry Development
Join us to discuss outreach ministry in rural areas!!!This meeting is a forum to
discuss the challenges of Rural OutreachMinistry. In rural areas, outreach can
be a challenge. To reach out tosomeone different (especially if they are of a
different ethnicity!) is ascary thing. My name is Deborah Hanson. I am the
pastor of Zion andBigwoods Lutheran Churches in Oslo, Minnesota. The
congregations I servehave called me to serve as their pastor, and to help them
and othercongregations do outreach to Hispanic neighbors. In this meeting, I
share some of theexperiences I have, and experiences I am aware of of asothers
also do outreach in their communities.I am finding that the outreach we do in
rural communities, and how fast weimplement portions of our plans, seems quite
different from what oneencounters in larger communities. In a larger community,
it is possible toset up an ethnic specific worshiping community separate from
everyone else,and funnel individuals into it. Interaction by members of the
sponsoringcongregation with those individuals is many times limited to Sundays,
orspecial meetings. In rural areas, one must begin with what in urban areasis
step number 2-working toward actual full acceptance and incorporation
ofindividuals different than us into both our congregations and community
activities. At His ascension, our Lord told us to 'go and do'...and to baptize.
For me, that means that each aspect of our lives as congregations and as
individual Christians has a facet of 'go and do' to it. Join us as we discuss
how to 'go and do' our Lord's work through Outreach Ministry development in
rural areas.
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