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Rediscovering Hope: Encouragement for Rural Ministry
Cultivate a rural ministry of hope and discipleship.
About this Course
This course was designed to equip you with a leadership approach designed with rural contexts in mind.
What you’ll learn:
If you live and serve in a rural community, you know that your challenges are different from those in urban or suburban contexts.
And all too often, ministry resources that have been created for urban and suburban churches just don’t make sense in rural congregations.
Yet rural communities can be places of vibrant hope, relationship, and discipleship—especially when you are equipped with a leadership approach that has been specifically designed with rural contexts in mind.
Enter Rediscovering Hope.
Are you ready to step into your rural ministry with a newfound sense of hope and commitment? Scroll down to take a peek inside and get a free sample of what you’ll learn!
Modules
Welcome
Get oriented to the course, download the interactive handbook, and access the group to chat with others!
The Nature of Hope
In this module, you will
- Learn about the nature of hope, what hinders it and what releases it.
- Experience hope by practicing it.
Pray in Hope
In this module, you will
- Experience hope through practicing prayer.
- Be inspired by the ways Jesus modeled prayer.
Worship in Hope
In this module, you will
- Learn how worship that is highly valued, contextual, flexible and creative leads to building hope and creating community.
Share in Hope
In this module, you will
- Consider ways to cultivate hope through building community.
Serving as Jesus Served: Sharing Hope
In this module, you will
- Develop a desire to share the hope of Jesus with others.
- Consider your unique giftedness in sharing this hope.
Leadership: Leaning Into Hope
In this module, you will
- Learn that leaders are followers of Jesus.
- Learn about leadership where one sometimes takes the lead and at other times follows the lead of someone else.
- Learn some characteristics of effective leadership.
Conclusion
Find out your next steps as you complete the course and how to stay connected with your group. You'll also be able to submit feedback about your course.
One-time purchase
$55
With Faith+Lead Membership
$0*
Get a free public display license to use for group study.
$0*
*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95 per month
- Modules:
8 Modules
- Format:
Self-Paced, On-Demand
- Access:
Lifetime Access
Get to Know Your Instructors
Keith Zeh
Chair of the ELCA Congregational Renewal Team
From Pastor Keith Zeh’s baptism at the age of 12 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Holy Spirit has been stirring in his life. He has been in many different roles over the course of his ministry career. Zeh started as an Associate Pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church in Bemidji, Minnesota, and later became the Senior Pastor for that congregation. He served as an ELCA Mission Director for five synods in the Dakotas and Northern Minnesota, participating in the ELCA Small Town and Rural Team and leading as the Chair of the ELCA Congregational Renewal Team. He was also the ELCA Director for Evangelical Mission in Eastern North Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota synods.
Ready to Enroll?
Enroll in this on-demand course today or unlock free access to this and all Faith+Lead’s on-demand courses, plus more with a Faith+Lead Membership.
Enroll in this on-demand course
$55
One-time purchase
- Access to this on-demand course
- Access the leaders guide for group study
- Access the course workbook for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access to 40+ on-demand courses
- Access every live and recorded workshop
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Access this on-demand course
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*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.99 per month
- Access to this on-demand course
- Access to all 40+ on-demand courses
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access all leaders guides for group study
- Access all course workbooks for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
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What to Expect with a Faith+Lead Academy Course
You’ll get a transformative learning experience that combines trustworthy theological teaching with spiritual practices, interactive elements, and a supportive online community.
Know
Expand your theological toolkit with fresh insights for today’s ministry landscape. Connect timeless wisdom with practical frameworks for navigating change.
Be
Do
Practice skills to lead confidently in your ministry context. Take actionable steps to invite your community into God’s unfolding story.
Every Academy course is designed to
Help your growth in one of these core areas:
Develop a Christ-centered identity, grounded in theology, scripture, and spiritual practice, that empowers community members to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Tell the story of Jesus and invite neighbors into Jesus’ way of life and love through words and actions they can recognize.
Listen deeply, name God’s presence in the midst of everyday life, and form life-giving relationships across all dimensions of diversity—both within and beyond the church.
Through mutual relationships with the neighbors among whom you’re hosted, join in acts of compassion, justice, and reconciliation as a witness to the ministry of Jesus—especially in places of suffering and despair.
Harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, fundraising, entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect when I take an Academy course?
Academy courses consist of 6-10 lessons or modules, each walking you through the “know, be, do” learning framework. You’ll learn some new information with instructor videos and other resources (know). You’ll engage in a spiritual practice that will help you develop your faith around the topic (be). Then, you’ll be asked to apply what you’ve learned through activities completed online or in the “real world” (do).
How long will it take me to complete a course?
Each module is designed to take 15-45 minutes. Some learners complete the course in as little as one day. Some do a module a day or even a module a week. We suggest allowing some time between modules to process what you are learning, but not so much time that you lose momentum.
What resources are available if I’m a group leader?
Each course includes a flexible leader’s guide with multiple pathways for group facilitation. You’ll find thought-provoking discussion questions and practical activities that connect faith with daily life, designed to work with whatever preparation time you have available. These resources equip you to foster meaningful discipleship experiences that meet your community where they are.
What do I need to know about the free private online social group?
The private online group allows you to connect with others. Because our courses don’t have a required start or stop date, you will encounter others in different places in the course and even in different courses altogether. This is by design. Feel free to interact as much or as little as you like.
What should I do if I have questions or problems with my registration?
Reach out via email to faithlead@luthersem.edu with your question and we’ll get back to you with a response within two business days.
What if I have a suggestion or request for a course topic?
The best way to connect with us is to complete this form with your suggestion. We always want to hear your feedback. You may also include it in the comments section of the course evaluation.
Don’t see your question addressed?
Email us at faithlead@luthersem.edu for more information. We’ll be delighted to connect!
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