Flyover Church by Brad Roth Book Review

About the Book:

The temptation to operate from a scarcity mindset is stronger than ever. The tensions unleashed over the past few years—which led to skepticism, breakdowns of trust, declining church attendance, and uncertainty around community ministry—continue to linger in and among our rural churches. Yet God’s loving, redemptive work is happening in all places, no matter how small or far-flung.

In Flyover Church, Brad Roth, the author of God’s Country, describes how rural ministry shares soul-deep commonalities with the church in every place. And he speaks a hopeful message into the distinct challenges—and promises—faced by rural communities. Tracing Jesus’ ministry and bountiful work among the small-town people and places in the gospel of Mark, this book offers a vision for ministry tailored to rural settings. Pastors and leaders everywhere will be encouraged to approach ministry from the reality of God’s abundance.

My Review:

When young people are leaving their small communities and moving to the city, are rural areas still important? In this era of mega-churches, are the small rural churches even still alive, still relevant?

Roth has a passion for the rural church. He has served in small communities and calls on his and other pastors' experiences to explore the importance of the rural church. He writes about the social interactions (you know everyone in the town) and about a slower pace of ministry. I really liked his section on Gelassenheit, the Anabaptist spiritual posture of yielding to God in all things, learning to do less for Christ rather than creating an impressive agenda of ministry events.

Roth writes of his insights in the context of the gospel of Mark. In addition to rural spirituality, he has some good general insights on topics like evangelism and deep listening. There is a resurgence of small community living as some are moving out of the urban pressure so this book is a timely one.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Brad Roth is a pastor in rural central Kansas. He grew up baling hay, tending sheep, and shearing Christmas trees on a farm in Illinois. He is a graduate of Augustana College, Harvard Divinity School, and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Brad has a heart for serving God and God’s people in rural communities. He’s passionate about sharing faith in word and deed, and living out God’s love in the community. He and his wife enjoy bicycling, tending a garden, and hanging with their sons.

You can find Brad at The Doxology Project.

Herald Press, 160 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)