Dirtroads Circuit Riders Podcast: Recent Episodes
Steve McVey, Michael Houle, and Doug Routledge
The Circuit Riders Podcast is an honest rambling discussion between three leaders in the rural American church. Steve McVey heads Dirtroads Network, transforming rural America by planting and revitalizing life-giving churches in small towns and communities. Michael Houle leads Vineyard Small Town USA. Healthy Vineyard churches in every town and city. Doug Routledge founded Crossroads Farm in 1999 with his wife Dawn. Working alongside Rural Remote churches to provide an outsourced, Cooperative Youth Ministry that really works! CRF! Loving the Rural teen.
The Riders tackle the tough conversation that you need to have when members of your church leave. On the same note, what conversations should you have when receiving transfers from other churches in your community.
In this episode, the Riders take on the subject of turf wars. More so, the tough conversations and situations that happen when Churches and ministries no longer are about the Kingdom’s business.
The Circuit Riders are back on the trail for another amazing season. This season the Riders are going to take you along different topics and the difficult conversations and situations. that come with them.
The Circuit Riders would like to thank their partners for their interest in assisting rural leaders…Dirt Roads Network - www.dirtroadsnetwork.comRich Roast Coffee - www.richroastcoffee.comThink Orange - thinkorange.com Contact leighann@crossroadsfarm.orgVineyard Small Town USA - www.multiplyvineyard.org/smalltownusaCrossroads Farm - www.crossroadsfarm.org If you are interested in having one of the riders speak at your church or event, contact us at circuitriderspodcast@gmail.com
In this Season 3 finally, the guys bring it full circle. We have moved our church from a “just need to survive” mentality, to a “just need to serve” mentality. We have looked at our community and their needs. Now, how do we do it.?
You have left Egypt, now what? The Circuit Riders discuss ways to engage and serve your community in new ways.
In this episode, the Riders talk about the trap of remembering the romance of the past and trying to apply it to the present.
This is part 2 of the 2 part series., The Circuit Riders finish their talk about forward thinking and thoughts on what to expect in the next 5 years.
This is part 1 of a 2 part series, where the Circuit Riders talk about forward thinking and thoughts on what to expect in the next 5 years.
Having a strong prayer life is essential to a healthy congregation and pastor. The Circuit Riders give some practical steps that you can take today while leading with your hands up.
Season 3 is finally here and the Circuit Riders start with “Assessing The Mess”. In this episode, the Riders discuss coming back from the pandemic whirlwind and assessing where your congregation is.
In this season finale episode, the Riders talk about the importance of finding the ‘peacemaker’ in your community.
This week the Circuit Riders talk about the importance of becoming engaged in your community and where to begin. Listen as they give reasons why it should be a top priority and examples to get you started.
This week the Circuit Riders talk about the importance of becoming an expert in your community and where to begin. Listen as they give reasons why it should be a top priority and examples to get you started.
In this episode, the Circuit Riders talk about what is discipleship and what roll does the rural pastor play in it.
In this episode the Circuit Riders talk about comparison and how it can take your eyes off of what God truly has for you.
Join the Circuit Riders as they continue to redefine pastoral roles in a rural missions field. This week, listen as they discuss the weight and importance of speaking with a Biblical voice and leading your congregations with grace and conviction.
The Riders follow-up on their interview with Dr. Jeff Clark by defining the difference between a missionary and a pastor. Listen as they begin to discuss the shift in responsibility, role, and mindset of being a missionary to rural communities
The Riders continue their conversation with Dr. Jeff Clark and ask the question, "Is your church a river or a lake?” The focus of the discussion is to rethink the local congregation as a place which collects people as opposed to a place which sends. Listen to the final episode of the 3 part series.
The Riders continue their conversation with Dr. Jeff Clark to discuss what it means to be a rural missionary. They will explore the struggles of being called to rural America and grasping the culture as an outsider. Listen to part 2 of this 3 part series.
The Circuit Riders discuss their takes on a past interview with Dr. Jeff Clark, a Pastor and rural research leader. Dr. Clark shares how rural pastors are missionaries in a rural missions field. Listen in as he examines how rural America has become more of a mission field in the past 40 years.
In this episode, Doug interviews special guest, Katrina, about bringing families and churches together to influence students' faith with a special opportunity offered by Orange. Listen as they discuss influencing those who influence the next generation."
"...Treat them as if they never left." - Abraham Lincoln. Those timely words serve as a good reminder as we navigate a season of dissension and distraction. The Riders talk about the pastor's heart at a time of forgiveness.
When everyone is trying to tell you what is trending or what you should be doing in your town, but nothing relates. The Riders talk about what to do when nothing trends in your small town church.
In this episode the boys talk about the rural towns that they are called to and stories about what kept them there for all these years.
This week the boys talk about when they first knew they landed in rural small town U.S.A. Listen to what they have learned since and how to win over the small town you have been called to as an outsider.
What does true cooperation and shared vision really look like? Listen to the Riders as they talk more about their vision and what it takes to come together in Rural America?
The boys take a pause to reflect on why they love to be out on the trail: the joys and loves of being a small town pastor in rural America.
Listen this week as the Riders talk about what to do when you are out on the trail with a storm rolling in and a snake spooks your horse. This is not your typical self-care talk.
When you feel like you just want to throw in the towel and walk away. Listen to the boys as they talk about grit and why you need it to build a long and successful homestead.
What do you do when your expectations don't line up with your vision? Building a ranch takes time and hard work. In this episode the boys will look discuss what it takes to build a homestead.
In this episode the riders talk about the mutually shared vision that brought them together in the first place. What if we acted more like the body and less like disjointed body parts. Join us as the boys talk about a hub focus, mutually shared ministry concept that might just win back the west.
The riders take a deeper look at divisions pressing in on pastors. Today they specifically ride down the trail of a new reality in the church. Put on your boots. It’s pretty likely the boys will step in it. This may get deep.
- The riders take an immediate look at divisions pressing in on pastors. Today they specifically ride down the trail of political dissension in the church. Put on your boots. It’s pretty likely the boys will step in it. This may get deep.
As leaders who have been in the saddle for a while, it is easy to imagine the fatigue some rural pastors are facing. Today the riders tackle long roads, dangerous traps and burn out which accompanies these tough days. That call is what beckoned us to venture into the west. Perhaps you’d like to invite some of your church leaders to saddle up for the podcast?
In response to the social distance, isolation, and fear, rural leaders have a tough job in regathering the herd. Today the fellas engage in a few worthwhile considerations as your church moves toward whatever is supposed to come next. Get ready to be motivated and encouraged. God didn’t interrupt us in order to have us return to the “old normal.” The fellas wonder what God is directing towards.
The Riders entertain the reality of the herd being scattered over the last several months. There are a few concerns over this reality. What is your congregation’s mindset? How many have drifted too far away? Today’s conversation centers around our scattered people.
Where do we put our feed down these days? With a politically divided country, a deadly virus that half don't believe, limited resources and a culture that may not love quick change, the riders want to discuss your next steps.
The Circuit Riders Podcast is an honest rambling discussion between three leaders in the rural American church. Steve McVey heads Dirtroads Network, transforming rural America by planting and revitalizing life-giving churches in small towns and communities. Michael Houle leads Vineyard Small Town USA. Healthy Vineyard churches in every town and city. Doug Routledge founded Crossroads Farm in 1999 with his wife Dawn. Working alongside Rural Remote churches to provide an outsourced, Cooperative Youth Ministry that really works! CRF! Loving the Rural teen.