Who We Are
Our History & Purpose
RHMA began in 1942 when Rev. C. J. Rediger, seeing rural America spiritually neglected during World War II, left his pastorate to start Bible studies, Sunday Schools, and Vacation Bible Schools with his wife. Recognizing the need for a permanent effort, they founded the Rural Home Missionary Association that November in Morton, Illinois. Closed churches were reopened, new ones were planted, and the work spread from the Midwest across the country. Over the years, RHMA has impacted many communities, yet the need remains great as thousands of small towns still lack an evangelical church.
RHMA’s purpose is to plant and strengthen churches in small-town America—generally communities of 5,000 people or fewer—by equipping believers to serve effectively as God builds His church. Rather than duplicating urban church-planting efforts, RHMA focuses on the diverse and often overlooked non-urban regions across the country.
Following biblical principles, RHMA enters communities to evangelize, disciple new believers, train them to use their spiritual gifts, and form congregations that grow into self-sustaining local churches. A similar approach is used to strengthen existing small-town churches, often helping them with a “re-start.”
RHMA also supports small-town ministries through conferences, workshops, counseling, resources, and training for pastors serving in rural and town-country settings.
Our Core
“Let this be written for a future generation…” Psalm 102:18
“Let this be written for a future generation…” Psalm 102:18
Our values are beliefs that tell why we do what we do. They are rooted in our history and will significantly influence our future. They guide our thinking, planning, and decision making, and are the driving force behind virtually every aspect of our ministry. The values we have put into writing are selective. These are our “Core Values.” Some are peculiar to RHMA — distinguishing us from other ministries. Accompanying our values are examples and illustrations of how each might be lived out in a small-town context.
The Bible is the source from which our ministry should be derived (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Healthy relationships among ministry leaders is a key to healthy churches (Hebrews 10:24-25)
The local church is the God-ordained means for lasting spiritual influence in a community (Matthew 16:18)
Even the most isolated contexts are not limiting to God (Matthew 9:35-36; Colossians 1:1-14)
Therefore, we will strive to not allow ourselves to think that places with limited resources — people, finances, buildings — limit what God can do.
Therefore, we are committed to helping churches achieve self-sustaining status even in remote places.
Ongoing prayer is our most fundamental demonstration of dependence upon God (Psalm 127:1; Luke 11:5-13; 18:1-5)
Interdependence recognizes our personal inadequacies and our need to work together to fulfill the Great Commission (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Acts 20:27-28; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; 12:1-31)
Every community should have a vibrant, Bible-teaching, gospel-preaching church (Zechariah 4:10a; Acts 1:8; Luke 15:4-7)
Therefore, we will endeavor to plant a healthy church in rural and small-town communities where there is none.
Therefore, we will endeavor to strengthen churches that already exist in rural communities and small towns.
God deserves the best we have to offer (Colossians 3:23)
“Let this be written for a future generation…” Psalm 102:18
Planting and Strengthening Churches in Small-Town America
Our vision tells what we do. Vision naturally springs from values. What follows is our two-part core vision that all who are a part of RHMA are together endeavoring to fulfill.
Because of our values, our vision is as follows:
RHMA plants small-town churches . . .
. . . through responding to the church planting initiatives of others. We respond, as able and as we deem wise, to those who initiate a contact to us asking for help with their new church.
. . . through RHMA’s initiatives. Recognizing there are places that are void of vibrant, gospel-preaching, Bible-teaching churches, and further recognizing that no one from some of these communities is likely to initiate a church plant there, RHMA will — just as foreign missions do — identify towns in need of a church plant and seek to establish churches there.
RHMA strengthens small-town churches . . .
. . . through missionary pastors who are sent to churches in need of outside assistance. The goal of these pastors is to lead their churches to self-sustaining status.
. . . through an extensive conference and seminar ministry. All of these equipping ministries are tailored to those who are serving in town and country settings.
. . . through training those who are or will soon be serving in town and country areas. Many students are attending schools that offer academic credit for these classes.
. . . through our media and website resources. Many of our resources focus on the town and country context.
. . . through being available to counsel and consult with pastors and church leaders who seek our assistance. As time allows and if we sense we can be of help, we are available on an informal basis to assist pastors and churches in need.