Course Dates:
August 22 – September 30, 2022
Pre-requisites for this class are IFDC910 & IFDC920
Need the password? Contact us

This class takes a drive down the backroads of our rural communities, exploring cultural, social, economic, and spiritual realities present in rural communities. Special attention is given to the need to explore the needs of the community and how student’s rural ministries can help. This course involves a weekly practice of observing and evaluating, as well as resources for how a church might best connect with these needs.
Students are required to have the following book for this class:
- Rural People and Communities in the 21st Century: Resilience and Transformation (2nd edition), by David L. Brown & Kai A. Schafft
- The Forgotten Church: Why Rural Ministry Matters for Every Church in America, by Glenn Daman
*Using the Amazon Affiliate link further supports our ministry. Thank you!
This course is eligible for 3.0 CEU.
Quick Info:
Number of weeks: 6
Price: $125
CEUs: 3.0
Required books?: Yes
Live video session?: No
Part of a certification or series of courses?: Yes (IFD Certification in Rural Ministry)
Pre-requisites for this class are IFDC910 & IFDC920
Need the password? Contact us
About the Instructor
Jonathan LeMaster-Smith lives with his wife, Shannon, in Hildebran, North Carolina (District 12 of the Hunger Games movies). He holds a PhD in Christian Education and Congregational Studies from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary with a focus on Rural Ministry and Methodist Studies. His work includes presentations on Dolly Parton, articles on ditch lilies, and musings about the genius of mayonnaise.