Rural Home Missionary Association

"Let this be written for a future generation..." Psalm 102:18

Planting and Strengthening Churches in Small-Town America

Our vision tells what we do. Vision naturally springs from values. What follows is our general purpose — a two-part core vision that all who are a part of RHMA are together endeavoring to fulfill.

Because of our values, our vision is as follows:

RHMA endeavors to fulfill its mission of planting churches . . .

. . . through responding to the church planting initiatives of others. We respond, as able and as we deem wise, to those who initiate a contact to us asking for help with their new church.

. . . through church planting initiated by RHMA. There are a number of places in the United States and Canada that are void of vibrant, gospel-preaching, Bible-teaching churches. Sometimes this is true not just of a particular community but an entire region. We recognize that, from areas like these, no one may initiate a contact with us regarding the possibility of planting a church there. Much like foreign missions do, we identify these communities and regions, develop a strategy, and initiate church planting there.

. . . through coaching church planters and coaching developing churches in the process of being planted. We are personally involved in the day-to-day ministries of a number of small-town church planters and church plants, primarily those that are formally affiliated with us.

. . . through the partnering of team members, RHMA leadership staff, and short-term missions teams. We recognize that a network of people working together is crucial for success.

. . . through financial assistance. We have established The Rediger Fund, named after our founder, the purpose of which is to provide financial assistance for RHMA church plants. We have established The Longenecker Fund, named after a former director, the purpose of which is to help nurture the personal development of our staff — including our missionary church planters.

. . . through church planting seminars. We are anxious to help not only our own church-planting staff but other like-minded church planters as well. To this end, we host church planting seminars.

RHMA endeavors to fulfill its mission of strengthening churches . . .

. . . through missionary pastors and wives who are sent to churches in need of outside assistance. These pastors serve their churches and lead them toward becoming self-sustaining.

. . . through the partnering of team members, RHMA leadership staff, and short-term workers teams. We recognize that a network of people working together is crucial for success.

. . . through hosting conferences and seminars, speaking at conferences and seminars hosted by others, and teaching Bible college and seminary classes. All of these equipping ministries have a decidedly town and country ministry slant.

. . . through our media and website resources. These resources focus on the rural/small-town context.

. . . through being available to counsel and consult with pastors and church leaders who seek our assistance. As time allows and if we sense we can be of help, we are available on an informal basis to assist pastors and churches in need.

. . . through coaching and developing pastors and church leaders. We are personally involved in the day-to-day ministries of a number of small-town pastors and churches, primarily those that are formally affiliated with us.

. . . through financial assistance. We have established The Rediger Fund, named after our founder, the purpose of which is to provide financial assistance for churches affiliated with RHMA. We have established The Longenecker Fund, named after a former director, the purpose of which is to help nurture the personal development of our staff — including our missionary pastors.

. . . in small-town America

RHMA serves smaller towns — usually 5,000 or less in size, often much smaller.