Strip Mine Jesus: Hope for the Rural Church, Small Towns, and Overlooked Places

Jesus Hasn't Given Up on Small, Exploited, and Overlooked Places--and Neither Should We

Many young people entering ministry and starting careers believe success requires them to leave their communities. After all, the fastest-growing congregations, the highest-profile ministries, and the best opportunities are in big cities or their wealthy suburbs, aren't they?

But Jesus didn't ignore the small, the exploited, or the overlooked places, and neither should his followers. 

In this reflective yet eminently applicable book, pastor Charles E. Cotherman, executive director of the Center for Rural Ministry, challenges our assumptions through stories that showcase the power and beauty of a faithful presence in seemingly insignificant places. Drawing on his lifetime of experience in rural communities and churches, Cotherman demonstrates the outsized impact we can have when we have the courage to stay, root where we're planted, and serve God with joy. 

This book is for two kinds of readers:
● Those weighing whether to stay--seminary students, young ministry candidates, and anyone wrestling with whether faithfulness requires leaving their small community for greater opportunity elsewhere
● Those who have already stayed--pastors, church planters, and laypeople already serving in rural, small town, or post-industrial communities who need theological grounding and practical encouragement to root deeper and persevere longer

Whether your community is rural or in the rust belt, whether you're surrounded by endless corn or abandoned mining operations, Jesus still sees you and has a plan for your life and ministry. Discover how you can make a difference right where you are--starting now. 

Charles E. Cotherman (PhD, University of Virginia) is executive director of the Center for Rural Ministry and serves as a member of the Brookings-AEI Commission on US Rural Prosperity. Additionally, Charlie is an assistant professor of biblical and theological studies at Grove City College and cofounder and pastor of Oil City Vineyard Church in Oil City, Pennsylvania. He is the author of To Think Christianly and a contributing coeditor of Sent to Flourish.