Inquiries from outside the UK

From time to time we receive inquiries from people engaging in rural evangelism in countries outside the UK. Some of these seek links with us. The purpose of this section is to explain the limitations that exist.

1. Financial and material support

Rural Sunrise has limited financial resources and we are legally bound to use these primarily for evangelism in rural areas of the UK. We are not a grant making charity. If the purpose in contacting us is in hope of gaining financial support then there is no need to go further.

Very occasionally we are able to give very limited support in educational, medical or agricultural equipment, but often the cost of getting these to developing countries is greater than sourcing them locally.

2. Rural UK is very different from most rural areas in the world

For the main part the rural areas of the UK are very beautiful places to live and relatively crime free. For this reason there has been a steady migration from towns and cities into the countryside. This has forced up property prices making it difficult for the children of indigenous people to afford to live in their own village.

Incomers tend to have several cars per family. Increased personal mobility has also marginalised the rural poor by reducing public transport. Often local shops and traditional businesses have been forced to close down because people can drive to supermarkets and businesses in nearby towns. The nature of village life in the UK has changed dramatically over the past 50 years. Most people in the rural areas now live in nice houses and are relatively affluent, well educated and sophisticated.

There are poor people in the UK rural areas and contemporary rural life makes it difficult for them. Schemes to create affordable housing in rural areas often run into problems because the general cost of living in the countryside is so high.

All this is in stark contrast to many parts of the world where the people in rural areas are relatively poor and under-resourced. In most parts of the world people migrate from the countryside into the cities!

3. Rural Churches in the UK

The vast majority of churches in rural areas have small congregations - typically less than 20 people at most services. It is rare to find a regular congregation larger than 50. The UK is a post-Christian society and churches are often seen to be old fashioned and out of touch with today's culture. Most are also challenged by the responsibility to maintain a very old building that is too large and often inappropriate for today's needs. UK culture and legal regulations make it almost impossible to walk away from that responsibility. In consequence most of our village churches are in survival mode.

4. What we can offer

Rural Sunrise can occasionally offer the services of an experienced staff member to lead Bible studies or training for pastors and evangelists outside the UK. We also offer similar support for people working with children. Where such a partnership is established with a poorer country (usually defined as part of the developing world) then travel to and from the country is paid from the UK. All arrangements for local hospitality and meetings remain the responsibility of those inviting us. Our staff members are used to staying in poor and remote locations in the homes of local people.

Visits outside the UK but within the developed world are undertaken on the basis that the inviting body pays all expenses and provides a voluntary donation towards our ministry according to means.

We can also offer fellowship through prayer. This website is not exclusively for the benefit of those in the UK and we welcome news of evangelism in rural areas beyond the UK which we can publish here to encourage prayer.

5. The dangers of paternalism and dependency

Often those in poorer parts of the world look with expectation to those in the west and north. While it is right that we should have genuine care for one another the perpetuation of paternalistic missionary attitudes is unhealthy and unhelpful. Having a culture of dependency can keep people poor.

Christians from the western world are not necessarily more spiritual or gifted than those elsewhere. God raises up leaders within his church throughout the world, and calls and equips people for ministry within his Church. Usually the best people to evangelise within any country are there own nationals.

Therefore, any help that we can offer is with a view to enabling local Christians in their ministry, and not doing it instead of them.