By focusing on rural congregations, we believe that we will be able to support, empower and equip rural congregations and their leaders in a unique way. As a rural university, we at the University of the Ozarks care deeply about rural life and community, and believe we bring a unique perspective to this work.
Are you Rural?
The first step to attending the conference is to find out if you are rural.
Use this tool to find out if where you are located is considered rural.
Are you a leader in a rural congregation?
Then this is the place for you.
We ask that each congregation send two people to the conference to better share in the work and in communicating the ideas back in your hometown. We welcome pastors, staff, elder, and active congregation members at the conference.
Have you ever wanted to be part of a gathering where every single person lives and works in a rural area or small town? This is your place!
Hosted by the Town Square Collaborative, this event is designed to help your church:
- Embrace its role as an anchor institution in your community.
- Reclaim its identity in Jesus Christ.
- Focus on the unique opportunities and challenges of rural ministry.
To support these goals, we’re bringing together:
- Leaders from across the country who specialize in rural congregations.
- Non-profit partners who can help churches better engage with their neighbors.
- A space dedicated entirely to the rural areas and small towns you love.
If your heart is in rural ministry, this is where you belong!
The First Annual Rural Ideas Conference will be July 16-18, 2025, in Clarksville, AR on the campus of the University of the Ozarks. Once you reach campus, all your expenses will be paid through the generosity of the Lilly Endowment for Religion.
The Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative is generously supported by the Lilly Endowment.
Our Hope
Our hope is not that the conference will solve every problem or create innumerable opportunities for you.
We hope...
Your time at the University of the Ozarks will spark new conversations at home.
We hope...
That you will be able engage the resources we make available.
We hope...
That you will build relationships with other folks from churches that are similar to your own.
In doing these things, we believe you will be in a position to bring all your wisdom, tradition, and pride-of-place to your ministry in new ways, and use all these things to better enrich the lives of your neighbors.
This schedule is subject to change.
Wednesday, July 16:
- 10:30am-12:00pm: Registration/Meet & Mingle
- 12:00-2:00pm: Lunch
- 2:00-2:30pm: Welcome to Rural Ideas Conference 2025!
- 2:30-3:00pm: Topic 1: Ecclesiology by Rev. Phillip Blackburn
- 3:00-3:20pm: Break
- 3:20-3:50pm: Topic 2: Future of the Rural Church by Heather Kilbourne
- 3:50-4:05pm: Breakout Groups Overview
- 4:05-4:15pm: Move to Breakouts
- 4:15-5:30pm: Breakout 1
- 1: Communicate with Your Community by Kyla Cox Deckard
- 2: What if Jesus Meant it When He Said “Love Your Neighbor? by Heather Kilbourne
- 3: Empowering & Equipping Lay Leaders in the Rural Church by Catherine Neely
Burton - 4: Reclaiming Our Identity by Rev. Phillip Blackburn
- 5: Rural Church & Vocation by Allen Stanton
- 5:30-6:00pm: Free Time
- 6:00-7:00pm: Dinner
- 7:00-9:00pm: Games & Mingle
Thursday, July 17:
- 7:30-8:30am: Breakfast
- 8:30-9:00am: Morning Worship
- 9:00-9:15am: Welcome & Reflection
- 9:15-9:45am: Topic 3: Meaningful Community Collaborations by Kyla Cox Deckard
- 9:45-10:15am: Topic 4: Anchor Institutions by Rev. Phillip Blackburn
10:15-10:45am: Break - 10:45am-12:00pm: Breakout 2
- 1: Communicate with Your Community by Kyla Cox Deckard
- 2: What if Jesus Meant it When He Said “Love Your Neighbor? by Heather Kilbourne
- 3: Empowering & Equipping Lay Leaders in the Rural Church by Catherine Neely
Burton - 4: Reclaiming Our Identity by Rev. Phillip Blackburn
- 5: Rural Church & Vocation by Allen Stanton
- 12:00-1:00pm: Lunch
- 1:00-1:30pm: Topic 5
- 1:30-1:55pm: Midday Memos
- 1:55-2:15pm: Break/Move to Breakouts
- 2:15-3:35pm: Breakout 3
- 1: Allen & Rockefeller Institute
- 2: Keneshia & Innovative Poverty Solutions
- 3: Phil & Arkansas Community Actions
- 3:35-3:50pm: Break
- 3:50-5:10pm: Breakout 4
- 1: Allen & Rockefeller Institute
- 2: Keneshia & Innovative Poverty Solutions
- 3: Phil & Arkansas Community Actions
- 5:10-6:00pm: Free Time
- 6:00-7:00pm: Dinner
- 7:00-9:00pm: Johnson County Peach Festival (Bring cash!) or Games & Mingle
Friday, July 18:
- 7:30-8:30am: Breakfast
- 8:30-9:00am: Morning Worship
- 9:00-9:10am: Welcome & Reflection
- 9:10-9:40am: Topic 6: Wrapping Up
- 9:40-10:10am: Panelist Conversation
- 10:10-10:30am: Break
- 10:30-10:50am: Partner Agencies
- 10:50-11:00am: Move to Meet w/ Partner Agencies
- 11:00am-12:00pm: Partner Agencies Deep Dive
- 1: Rockefeller Institute
- 2: Innovative Poverty Solutions
- 3: Arkansas Community Actions
- 12:00-1:00pm: Lunch & Depart