|
North America is rapidly becoming... THE MOST IGNORED MISSION FIELD IN THE WORLD.From small villages in the northeast to small farm towns scattered across the central plains to isolated logging communities out west... North America is the only continent where Christianity is not growing. Yet these seemingly forgotten people are often only a few hours from urban and suburban centers where many churches are thriving. We can reach them without crossing an ocean and usually without learning another language. FOR EVERY CHURCH THAT IS OPENED IN NORTH AMERICA
NEARLY 3 CHURCHES CLOSE EACH YEAR.Hundreds of years of mission service focused on foreign fields has produced a great harvest of souls and sadly, a declining church in North America...
In 1900...27 churches for every 10,000 peopleIn 1990...12 churches for every 10,000 people "WITHOUT VILLAGE MISSIONS OUR CHURCH WOULDN'T BE HERE. WE WERE READY TO SELL THE PEWS AND DEMOLISH THE BUILDING." A LEGACY OF SERVICE...FOCUSED ON RURAL PEOPLE.Village Missions began meeting the spiritual needs of rural communities in Canada and the United States in 1948. We were founded by Reverend Walter Duff, along with Helen Duff Baugh and Mary Clark, the founders of Stonecroft Ministries. Village Missions' earliest mandate was, "PREACH THE WORD AND LOVE THE PEOPLE."
And that's what we still do every day... Village Missions is non-denominational. We focus our ministry efforts where there is no evangelical church or where it is in danger of ceasing. MINISTERING FOR 60 YEARS IN SMALL TOWNS IS NO SMALL THING. • More than 1,000 rural communities • Tens of thousands have made decisions to follow Christ • Hundreds of church leaders, pastors, and international missionaries trace their roots back to country churches served by Village Missions. VILLAGE MISSIONS SERVES MORE THAN 230 COMMUNITIES TODAY.
THERE ARE VAST MULTITUDES OF AMERICANS WHO WILL LIVE AND DIE IN NORTH AMERICA WITHOUT EVER HEARING THE GOSPEL. RURAL CHURCHES CLOSE FOR PAINFUL REASONS PROBLEM: Cannot afford to support a full-time pastor. RESPONSE: Village Missions provides financial support. PROBLEM: Unable to find a pastor for their rural community. RESPONSE: Village Missions finds and places pastors. PROBLEM: Cannot provide the spiritual guidance and emotional support needed to keep a pastor long term. RESPONSE: Village Missions provides regional leadership to help pastors and their local church boards achieve long-term ministry. ON THE WORST DAY OF A PERSON'S LIFE, HE OR SHE OFTEN TURNS TO THE CHURCH FOR HELP. WE MUST BE SURE THE CHURCH IS THERE FOR THEM ON THAT DAY...AND ALL THE DAYS TO FOLLOW.EVERY RURAL COMMUNITY NEEDS A CHURCHPeople need a place to worship and a pastor they can call their own...even when they don't attend regularly. A place they can find spiritual help they can trust when hard times come.
Even the smallest church building reminds folks that God is still represented in their midst. A local pastor and church members can provide an authentic voice of hope and love for those without Christ VILLAGE MISSIONS BRINGS THE HOPE OF SALVATION TO PLACES WHERE THERE MIGHT OTHERWISE BE NO GOSPEL MESSAGE!
|