Community partnerships are crucial to small-town ministry.

In the rural setting, it is impossible for ministry leaders to stand alone. Often the corps officer is responsible for a variety of roles including public relations, employee relations, volunteer co-ordinator, kettle co-ordinator … It can be a busy, isolated life. That’s why sharing resources with other denominations is key to the success of small-town ministry. Necessity is the mother of invention, and in the rural setting we are constantly challenged to find new and innovative ways of working together.

The following are examples of cross-denominational support the Army received in my previous appointment as corps officer in Kirkland Lake, Ont.:

• the Baptist minister helped set up our sound system and loaned us equipment such as a projection screen
• many members of our women’s ministries belonged to another denomination or didn’t attend church at all
• several churches regularly provided baskets for their congregations to donate non-perishable items to the Army food bank
• five churches and numerous community groups vied to win the coveted “No Bell Prize” for kettles every year
• a local minister swapped vehicles with me for a day so that I could use his van to drive kids to camp-a nine-hour round trip!

Just before I left Kirkland Lake, four denominations began pooling their resources to run a youth ministry under the direction of Faith Mission. This non-denominational group rotates its meetings at the four participating churches, with an open invitation to all pastors. It makes for a high level of interdenominational acceptance among the young people as they focus on the body of Christ rather than on denominational issues.

Whenever there is rivalry between the churches, the whole body of Christ loses out. People look at us and ask, “Why bother? They can’t even agree among themselves.” Because of our visibility in the community as Salvationists, we are in a great position to foster, cement or encourage co-operation as we call on other congregations to help with our kettle campaigns, Red Shield blitzes or sending kids to camp.

Although rural ministry has its challenges, they are offset by the blessing of living in a close community where people support each other. Where else can you run into the mayor, the fire chief and other municipal leaders just by grocery shopping or picking up your mail? It doesn’t take long for people to get to know you, especially if you become involved in community affairs, or you are the only food bank for 50 kilometres. There is no anonymity in a small town, but that can be a good thing.

I remember once losing my purse on the way home from vacation. My bank card, cheques, money and identification were all in it. I only had to drive two hours back down the road to retrieve it-but I was out of gas! When I walked into the local bank, the teller recognized me. When I told her my story, she allowed me to make a withdrawal so that I could retrieve my purse, which, amazingly enough, was still there. Try doing that in the big city!

The life of a rural pastor is challenging and diversified, but I thrive on it. In rural ministries, everything comes down to growing relationships-with community leaders, business executives, lay leaders and other clergy. A public thank-you at an annual volunteer appreciation dinner can go a long way toward building these relationships. As The Salvation Army, we need to humbly and sincerely say to our community partners: “Thanks, we couldn’t have done it without you.”

by Captain Bonita Hebert
Corps Officer, Église communautaire de l’Outaouais, Gatineau, Quebec

Reprinted from Salvationist, May 2007

Photo: Cpt Bonita Hebert, former corps officer, Kirkland Lake CC, and Mjrs Eric and Donna Bond, divisional leaders, Ont. N Div, present the "No Bell Prize" to the Kirkland Lake Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police Auxiliary Force at the 2006 annual volunteer appreciation dinner