In this episode of Rural Pastors Talk, TJ Freeman, Josh MacClaren, and Joe Wagner swap memorable “worst hotel” stories to highlight how first impressions linger and why hospitality matters when guests visit a church.

They discuss common rural-church hospitality pitfalls, like locked or unused front doors, unclear entrances, and assuming everyone already knows where to go. They also offer practical steps such as opening the main doors, using simple signage (especially for bathrooms and classrooms), keeping entryways clean, and providing coffee and refreshments.

The guys talk through greeting strategies from the parking lot to the door, caution against “greeting fatigue” and calling visitors out from the pulpit, and encourage equipping members (including teens) for welcoming roles.

In this episode of Rural Pastors Talk, TJ Freeman interviews Bryce Asberg, director of a pregnancy resource center in Hillsdale, Michigan, about why the pro-life issue matters deeply for rural churches.

Bryce shares his background, his “boring” Christian testimony, and how his long-standing pro-life convictions led him into pregnancy center work. Together they discuss how abortion is now present in every community through telemedicine and mailed abortion pills, making discipleship and clear, compassionate biblical teaching more urgent than ever.

Bryce argues abortion is ultimately about God’s glory and authority as Creator, and he encourages pastors to strengthen local discipleship while partnering with pregnancy centers through prayer, people, and financial support. They also explore how centers can serve as “emergency room” ministries and wisely connect clients to the local church.

Contact Bryce to learn more at bryce@helpinghandsprc.org.

In this episode of Rural Pastors Talk, Josh MacClaren, Joe Wagner, and first-time podcast guest Eric Grant swap small-town stories before diving into why churches in tiny towns matter and why church planters shouldn’t overlook them. Eric shares about planting Trinity Church in Antrim, Pennsylvania, a former coal town with about 30 weekly attendees, more hunting cabins than permanent homes, and the only other establishment being a bar across the street. The guys discuss how rural ministry keeps relationships intimate, why the “what and why” of ministry stay the same while the “how” shifts by context, and why shorter sermons can serve unchurched listeners without compromising substance. Eric recommends Martin Lloyd-Jones’s Preaching and Preachers and closes with a Steven Whitmer quote from A Big Gospel in Small Places.