A One-Day Summit for Small Town Pastors

What church does your town need? 

One in five Americans—about 60 million people—live in rural, small places.

But  the challenges—financial decline, population loss, fatherlessness, drug abuse, and more—facing small places only rarely gain national attention. 

Small places are not all bad. Johnny Cash questions if Jesus was left behind "in our little own home town"—because it's only there that Sunday is still sacred, family is still first, and helping others is still a priority. Small places can be wonderful! They can be like going back to the good ‘ol days! 

But that's not the whole story. Many folks in small places feel forgotten & isolated. Some set out to isolate themselves, moving away from the big city for the open space. But others feel stuck—unable to find the job they want or the opportunities they need & unwilling to leave family & friends in need to go elsewhere. Nearly all have faced the wreckage left behind by drug abuse. 

Since starting Trinity Grace Church six years ago, we have become increasingly aware of the opportunities and obstacles small places like Athens, Tennessee face. These questions have challenged us: What church does our town need? What kind of pastor does our town need?

We are not experts! We have much to learn! 

Trinity Grace Church hosted a one-day Summit on April 3, 2025 to consider together what faithful pastoral ministry could look like in small places.

SUMMIT DETAILS

• Guest Speakers include:

  • Stephen Witmer, small town pastor and author of A Big Gospel in Small Places

  • Bob Kauflin, pastor, worship leader, and Director of Sovereign Grace Music

  • Steve Teter, pastor of Living Faith Church (Franklin, WV)

  • Walt Alexander, pastor of Trinity Grace Church (Athens, TN)