In this episode of Rural Pastors Talk, TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, and Josh MacClaren swap favorite vacation spots before pivoting to a needed conversation about rest for pastors. They discuss the common extremes: discouraged pastors who drift into laziness versus pastors who can’t shut ministry off. Then Josh lays out a biblical theology of rest from creation, the Sabbath, and the gospel, including the promised rest fulfilled in Christ and awaited in the new heavens and new earth. The guys talk ...

In this episode of Rural Pastors Talk, Joe Wagner and CJ Dematatis discuss why pulpit supply and guest preaching matter for both congregations and preachers, pushing back on the idea that rural ministry is a “training wheels” assignment. CJ reflects on early preaching lessons and shares key takeaways from the Charles Simeon Trust Chicago Course on Preaching: get the text right for the original audience, then faithfully connect it to Jesus and thoughtfully apply it to real people by knowing an...

In this episode of Rural Pastors Talk, TJ Freeman, Joe Wagner, and Josh MacClaren discuss how a church can become a “reverse witness” in its community when it’s known for something other than Christ. They argue that in small towns, reputation spreads fast and lasts for generations, so building genuine relationships with community leaders and neighbors matters for both practical needs (like zoning and securing a building) and gospel opportunities. Josh shares encouragement from his Chamber of ...

In this episode of Rural Pastors Talk, TJ Freeman, Josh MacClaren, and Joe Wagner swap memorable “worst hotel” stories to highlight how first impressions linger and why hospitality matters when guests visit a church. They discuss common rural-church hospitality pitfalls, like locked or unused front doors, unclear entrances, and assuming everyone already knows where to go. They also offer practical steps such as opening the main doors, using simple signage (especially for bathrooms and c...

In this episode of Rural Pastors Talk, TJ Freeman interviews Bryce Asberg, director of a pregnancy resource center in Hillsdale, Michigan, about why the pro-life issue matters deeply for rural churches. Bryce shares his background, his “boring” Christian testimony, and how his long-standing pro-life convictions led him into pregnancy center work. Together they discuss how abortion is now present in every community through telemedicine and mailed abortion pills, making discipleship and c...

In this episode of Rural Pastors Talk, Josh MacClaren, Joe Wagner, and first-time podcast guest Eric Grant swap small-town stories before diving into why churches in tiny towns matter and why church planters shouldn’t overlook them. Eric shares about planting Trinity Church in Antrim, Pennsylvania, a former coal town with about 30 weekly attendees, more hunting cabins than permanent homes, and the only other establishment being a bar across the street. The guys discuss how rural ministry keep...

In this episode of Rural Pastors Talk, TJ Freeman and pastors Joshua MacClaren and Joe Wagner discuss church music and whether “better music” can save a struggling rural ministry. After swapping childhood music memories, they talk about why music matters and how churches often treat it as the quick fix for low attendance or discontent members. They contrast different approaches, from full bands to YouTube backing tracks, and argue that singing is meant to encourage one another, not to p...

TJ got a chance to interview our friend, Sam Hahn, on why relationships between men in many churches, especially rural settings, can feel shallow. They get to chat about how pastors can help cultivate deeper, gospel-centered brotherhood. Drawing from Sam's doctoral ministry project, they discuss the need for safe, non-sexualized male intimacy, the biblical priority of men not being alone, and a practical approach for building vulnerability through guided story-sharing in small groups w...

Rural Pastors Talk is back! In this Season 6 premiere of the Rural Pastors Talk podcast, we’re asking: What ever happened to Rural Pastor’s Talk? This episode is gives us the opportunity to “un-rebrand.” And with it comes a renewed commitment to the health of the rural church. We talk honestly about why RPT rebranded, what we hoped to accomplish, why we’re changing back, and what we believe is at stake for pastors serving Christ faithfully in rural places. Beneath the humor and banter is a ...

Speaker: Sean Demars Summary: In this session, Sean Demars preaches from Hebrews Chapter 11 to underline the inescapable nature of affliction in gospel ministry. The sermon emphasizes the importance of shepherding through times of hardship. Through five key points, the speaker encourages expecting and understanding various afflictions, recognizing their fruits, leading well amid trials, and maintaining hope, dependence, love, and joy. The session highlights that affliction is an inheren...