Rural Sunrise - Our ethos and values.

It is estimated that the combined resources of evangelistic agencies working in rural areas will not be able to reach more than 2% of the rural population.  Almost every village has a local church but relatively few are able and ready to engage in the task of evangelism. 

Not long before Rural Sunrise began in 1988 someone at a rural conference commented, "Too often rural Christians are standing staring at the place where yesterday's sun went down.  We need to realise a new day is dawning and turn to greet the sunrise".  Certainly hope does not seem to be a common characteristic of rural churches.  Sadly many are locked into a survival mode, hoping that the church will somehow keep going through their lifetime.  But it does not have to be that way.

When I did my management studies I was especially trained with regard to rescuing organisations and companies that were failing.  I felt then that many of the ways in which secular managers can bring new life to organisations could be applied to churches.  But that raises some interesting theological questions about renewal.  Could it be that sorting out the human side would set things right?  Are we not dependent upon the Holy Spirit?

Of course.  But the Bible reveals that God uses people for his purposes.  Most Christians believe that God has a unique plan for their life and how it fits with his purposes.

Each person is unique in the combination of personality and life experiences. When God calls us into discipleship he knows that unique quality. To this is added our gifts and abilities both natural and imparted by the Holy Spirit, as described in 1Corinthians 12. Of the gifts that Paul lists here he also states that there are different ways in which these are exercised and different degrees of exercise. To this mixture we can add the place in which a sovereign God has located that individual. He has been choosing, equipping, enabling and placing each of his children according to his purposes.

If this is true for each individual Christian then each local church is a unique mixture of unique Christians for unique purposes in God's plan. Understanding more about who we are and where are lies at the heart of the Rural Sunrise approach. It's not just about good methods; its also good theology.

We also believe that the local church is a significant part of the plan too.  The gospel is not just about how God restores our relationship with him; it is also about how God enables us to live in a right relationship with one another.  We are called to demonstrate the grace of God in behaviour and relationship.  Each church should be a clear sign of the kingdom of God.

Part of this is about interdependence.  As members of Christ's body not one of us is sufficient of ourselves.  We need one another and we need one another's gifts and ministries.  Respecting the diversity and valuing each member of the church is vital, for he put us all here for his purpose.  Every time we pray "Your will be done" we need to remember that.  Few rural churches would feel that they have sufficient resources to engage in mission as they would love to do.  We need to recognise and exploit our God-given complementarity.