A typical stereotype of rural America often involves a Norman Rockwell-esque images of families gathered for high school football, church and Sunday dinners. Unfortunately, rural America--while beautiful--is often more economically depressed. Being rural does not indicate a close knit society without problems.

Geared toward pastors and lay ministers, Transforming Church In Rural America by Shannon O'Dell discusses dwindling church attendance in rural churches and presents Brand New Church's experience with breaking down barriers caused by stereo-types. Called out of youth ministry at a mega-church in order to become senior pastor of a rural Arkansas church, O'Dell is brutally honest when he discusses the problems facing pastors in rural America. The book uses his experience growing a small church of 30 some members in Arkansas to transform it to a multi-campus, cutting edge ministry complete with an internet ministry. Stressing leadership, a willingness to think outside the box, and providing several video teaching clips, O'Dell drums into the reader that having a vision is of utmost importance.

O'Dell made a very important, and impressive, point early on. Stop focusing on growing your congregation and instead focus on growing your congregants. Too many pastors and church leaders are caught up in the numbers game. If you develop your people, growth will come.

While geared toward rural church pastors, O'Dells focus on vision and leadership makes this a great book for pastors and lay ministers from churches of all sizes.

Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program in exchange for an unbiased review.