Samford University Center for Congregational Resources

Rural Areas and Small Town Ministries Initiative

At the beginning of the Rural Areas and Small Town Ministries Initiative, we want to ask pastors all around Alabama a question that lingers at the back of their minds…

Is this ministry worth it?

Anthem Film

It’s Worth It

The film will explore the heart of pastoral ministry in the rural South, capturing the joys and challenges of shepherding small-town congregations. Through interviews with up to 12 pastors across Alabama— four pastors from each North, Central, & South Alabama— the documentary will highlight the resilience, faithfulness, and adaptability required to lead churches in these settings. We will examine how pastors engage in bi-vocational ministry, cultivate deep community relationships, and address the struggles of declining congregations and shifting demographics.

Beyond telling their stories, the film’s goal will be to encourage pastors who may be questioning the impact of their work. Rural pastors often face isolation, dwindling attendance, and financial hardships, but their role reflects the idea of "every member ministry". Just as every believer is called to serve within their church - every community should have a vibrant expression of faith and the presence of Christ.

By showing how these pastors equip their congregations to live out the Gospel, the film will emphasize that their work is not measured in numbers but in transformed lives and strengthened communities. In weaving these stories together, the documentary will encourage pastors while also inspiring others to recognize the lasting value of rural ministry.

The film will stand as a testament to the role these pastors play in ensuring that every community, no matter its size, remains a place where faith thrives and the love of Christ is made known.

Resource Library

Specific Encouragements

As a companion to the anthem film on pastoral ministry in the rural South, we can create a Rural Pastor Resource Library, a collection of 10 video messages from featured pastors designed to offer encouragement, wisdom, and practical insights to others serving in similar contexts. These videos serve as a response to the challenges highlighted in the film, providing an evergreen resource that rural and small-town pastors can turn to for guidance and renewed inspiration.

Purpose and Impact

Many rural pastors struggle with isolation, financial strain, and the sense that their work is not making a difference. This resource library will address these concerns by offering targeted encouragements from fellow pastors who understand their experiences firsthand. Each video will focus on a specific area of ministry, delivering practical advice, personal testimonies, and Biblical encouragement in a concise and accessible format. These videos can be used in pastoral training programs, small group discussions, or as personal encouragement for pastors facing similar struggles.

Potential Topics

We’ll choose nine topics from these samples:

  1. Faithfulness Over Fame– Why ministry success isn’t measured by attendance but by faithfulness to God’s calling.

  2. Encouragement in Isolation– Finding spiritual and emotional support when serving in remote areas.

  3. Discipleship in a Small Church– How to foster deep, life-changing discipleship in an intimate setting.

  4. Shepherding Through Decline– Ministering with hope even when attendance and resources are shrinking.

  5. Raising Up Lay Leaders– Equipping and empowering congregation members to share in the ministry.

  6. Revitalizing Worship in Small Congregations– Making worship meaningful, even with limited musicians and resources.

  7. The Power of Pastoral Presence– Why simply showing up in people’s lives matters deeply in a rural setting.

  8. Dealing with Financial Constraints– Practical advice on navigating church budgets and personal financial challenges.

  9. Preaching to an Intergenerational Church– Communicating the Gospel across age groups in a small-town setting.

  10. Remembering Your Calling– A reminder of why you started and how God continues to work through you.

Implementation

Each video will be 2-3 minutes long, featuring authentic, unscripted encouragement from a pastor or ministry leader.

The videos can be housed on an accessible online platform on Samford’s website for easy sharing.

By creating this resource, we’re able extend the impact of these interviews beyond one film— and offer real tools of encouragement to rural pastors who need it.

References

We spoke with a dozen families throughout the Hope Heals communities and wove their experiences into a unified story about healing through gathering. This is a good reference for the Anthem film.

This is the intro film to a large pastor’s conference. We used a technique with a projector background to make the pastor’s feel like they’re in different locations, but actually they’re in the same room. This is a good reference for the Pastor’s Resource Library.

Budget Options

Tier I

DELIVERABLES

  • “It’s Worth It” Anthem Film

  • Pastoral Resource Library (10x films)

PRODUCTION

  • We’ll host 3 days of interviews with 12 pastors, ideally 4 from North, 4 from Central, and 4 from South Alabama.

BUDGET • $80K

Tier II

DELIVERABLES

  • “It’s Worth It” Anthem Film

  • Pastoral Resource Library (10x films)

PRODUCTION

  • We still host 3 days of interviews with 12 pastors.

  • At Tier I, we’re not able to visit the pastors and film with them in their hometowns. With Tier II, we’re able to add production days to travel and capture b-roll footage with each of the interviewed pastors. Although we can still make great videos with Tier I, this expanded approach gives Cedar the opportunity to truly walk with each pastor and ultimately create a stronger film. We understand adding two additional weeks of filming might be unreasonable for the budget, but wanted to include the option!

BUDGET • $125K

Thoughts?

Email
kevin@cedarcreative.net

Phone
‭(205) 901-8453‬