The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary has reached more than 1,200 churches and trained about 6,000 pastors and lay leaders in the first year of a nationwide initiative aimed at supporting rural congregations in the United States, according to a recent report by AG News.
The effort, known as the Rural Church Ministry Partnership, is funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. and focuses on equipping churches in towns of 10,000 or fewer residents with resources, training and connections tailored to their context. The initiative has engaged congregations across 31 states in its first year.
According to AG News, the partnership brings together denominational leaders, educational institutions and ministry organizations to develop training opportunities, internships and a centralized resource hub designed to address challenges commonly faced by rural pastors and churches.
Keith Jones, director for the Rural Grant Partnership, said the initiative seeks to strengthen the role of churches within their communities.
“AGTS wants to see healthy, vibrant churches equipped to be resource centers within their communities, providing an anchor of real hope and assistance,” Jones said.
Partners in the initiative include the Assemblies of God USA, Rural Compassion, Trinity Bible College & Graduate School and Rural Advancement, along with 13 regional Assemblies of God network partners that help connect local churches with available resources.
The partnership aims to reach 6,040 churches by the end of 2029. The first year’s engagement represents roughly 20% of that target, according to the report.
Christopher L. Coble, vice president for religion at Lilly Endowment, said the initiative addresses gaps in support for rural congregations.
“Rural and small-town congregations play critical roles in supporting the vitality of their local communities,” Coble said. “Yet many resources available to support congregations do not adequately address the particular challenges faced by churches in rural settings.
“Our hope is that these grants will provide much-needed resources and support to rural and small-town churches to help them address their challenges and enhance and extend the many ways they serve their communities.”
The update on rural ministry efforts comes as the Assemblies of God USA reports broader growth trends in recent decades.
According to its 2024 Annual Church Ministries Report, average church worship attendance increased 6.2% compared to 2023. The number of adherents in the United States has more than doubled since 1975, rising from 1.2 million to more than 3 million.
The denomination has also become more diverse. Churches identified as primarily ethnic minority or immigrant congregations grew from 2,260 in 1989 to 5,081 in 2024 and now account for about 40% of all Assemblies of God congregations in the United States.
