On this episode of Sunspots, Kathy Lee Cornell interview Rev. Philip Blackburn about his work with the Town Square Collaborative, a program at the University of the Ozarks that supports rural congregations, pastors, and communities. Blackburn shares his journey from urban ministry to focusing on rural churches, highlighting the isolation these congregations often feel and the lack of tailored resources for them. Funded through multiple Lilly Endowment grants, the Collaborative provides training, support, and community for rural leaders, emphasizing flexibility, local context, and empowering ruling elders who often fill pastoral roles. They stress that rural churches, though small and under-resourced, are vital community anchors with unique potential to address justice issues like healthcare, food insecurity, and social services. The conversation celebrates creative, small-scale ministries, encourages partnerships with larger churches and nonprofits, and points toward ongoing efforts like the Rural Ideas Conference to build networks, share resources, and strengthen rural ministry.Find the Town Square Collaborative website at: https://townsquareco.org

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