Rural Ministry: The Shape of the Renewal to Come by Jung, Shannon et al - 1998

The authors of this book bring a sense of urgency to their study of all aspects of rural ministry. Shannon Jung and others name the primary issues faced by Protestant and Catholic leaders. Pastors, for example, must deal with the graying of the rural population, the closing of schools, hospitals, and factories, the corporate buyout of farms, and the changing face of poverty in rural areas.

In addition to telling the story of the rural Church, the authors offer a vision for the future. For example, they speak of parishes working in cooperation and collaborative ministries.