Rural Home Missionary Assn

What Rural Home Missionary Assn does

Rural Home Missionary Association (RHMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization founded in 1942 by Rev. C.J. Rediger and headquartered in Morton, Illinois. It plants and strengthens churches in U.S. communities of 5,000 people or fewer by recruiting, training, placing, and financially supporting missionary pastors who serve in least-reached rural areas. Its core programs include the accredited TACT (Town and Country Training) online courses, the TACLE short-form leadership modules, the annual Small-Town Pastors' Conference, the Rural Ministry Resource Library, the Snailing It women's ministry cohort, a pastoral job board, and dedicated funds (Rural Ministry, Conference Ministries, Longenecker, Rediger, Joyful Kids') that channel donor contributions to specific ministry uses.

Revenue is generated primarily through donations — recurring monthly gifts of $25-$150, one-time gifts, designated fund contributions, and donor-covered credit card processing fees — supplemented by conference registration ($130-$210 per attendee), TACT auditing fees ($150 per class) and TACLE module fees ($10 per module). Roughly 98% of missionary-designated donations flow directly to missionaries, with administrative overhead funded through the General Fund. Distribution is anchored by ~30+ missionary families stationed across the Midwest, West, South, Northeast, New England, and Great Plains, supported by a ~14-person home office.

The organization partners with Dallas Theological Seminary, Moody's network, The Master's University, the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, Small Town Summits, Desiring God, and Child Evangelism Fellowship for curriculum, conference programming, and field outreach. Key leadership includes Executive Director Adam Kipp, Associate Director Gary Roseboom, Director of Church Planting Kurt Busenitz, Director of Church Strengthening Aaron Yoder (joined 2024), Director of Partnership Ministries Eric Smalley, and Director of Communications Cara Kipp.

Name

Rural Home Missionary Assn

Legal name

Rural Home Missionary Association

Website

https://rhma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rural Home Missionary Association (RHMA), founded 1942 and based in Morton, Illinois, plants and strengthens churches in U.S. rural communities of 5,000 or fewer through missionary placement, accredited training (TACT, TACLE), annual conferences, and donor-funded pastoral support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Ministry and Church Planting Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Rural ministry services
• Church planting support
• Pastoral training programs
• Missionary support services
• Small-town church resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Morton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Contributions - Missionary Support: Individual and church donors contribute financially to support RHMA missionaries. Generally 98% of what is given for RHMA missionary support goes directly to that missionary. RHMA processes funds and provides missionaries with consistent paychecks and proper accounting. A tiered annual administrative fee is charged to missionaries based on their overall support level.
2. General Ministry Fund Donations: Donors contribute to the General Fund which supports RHMA's administrative staff and home office expenses. RHMA raises support through this fund to avoid burdening missionaries with overhead costs.
3. Specific Ministry Fund Donations: Donors can give to designated funds including: Rural Ministry Fund (home office operations), Conference Ministries Fund, TACT Fund, Longenecker Fund (missionary spiritual/professional growth), Rediger Fund (new church start-up and building assistance), and Joyful Kids' Conference Fund.
4. Conference Registration Fees: Revenue generated from the annual Small-Town Pastors' Conference and other events. Early bird registration: $130 (pastor), $170 (pastor + spouse), $70 (student), $110 (student + spouse). Regular registration: $150 (pastor), $210 (pastor + spouse), $90 (student), $150 (student + spouse).
5. TACT Program Tuition and Fees: TACT classes can be taken for credit (tuition set by the student's seminary) or audited for $150 per class. Spouse attendance at the Ministry Class Immersion Weekend is $40. Travel reimbursement up to $500 may be available for credit students.
6. TACLE Module Fees: TACLE modules are available for $10 via online video. Modules are delivered in the rhythm of regular leadership meetings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Rural Home Missionary Association (RHMA) plants and strengthens churches in rural U.S. communities of 5,000 people or fewer by placing missionary pastors, providing monthly pastoral coaching, delivering accredited rural ministry training (TACT) and leadership modules (TACLE), hosting the annual Small-Town Pastors' Conference, and maintaining a digital resource library for small-town pastors and churches.

Product overview

RHMA offers a unified suite of ministry programs focused on planting and strengthening churches in rural America. The core offerings include TACT (Town and Country Training), an accredited educational program with online courses and immersion experiences; TACLE (Town and Country Leadership Education), 30-minute leadership modules for pastors; and the annual Small-Town Pastors' Conference featuring plenary sessions and specialized seminars. Supporting services include the Rural Ministry Resource Library with articles and templates, Women's Ministry with the Snailing It cohort for ministry wives, Missionary Coaching with pastoral support, and a Pastoral Openings job board connecting churches with candidates. Financial support is provided through dedicated funds including the Rural Ministry Fund, Conference Ministries Fund, Longenecker Fund, Rediger Fund, and Joyful Kids' Conference fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TACT (Town and Country Training) Accredited multi-week online rural ministry training program with live weekly video lectures, on-demand content, and immersion weekends in Morton, IL. Courses include Ministering in the Town and Country Church and Community, Pastoral Care in a Town and Country Context, Faith Communication in the Town and Country Context, Leading the Town and Country Church, and Seminar in Town and Country Ministry. Taken for credit through partner seminaries or audited for $150 per class.
• TACLE (Town and Country Leadership Education) Short 30-minute video leadership education modules designed for rural pastors to develop strong leaders within their congregations. Each module contains five sessions with a teaching video and guided discussion questions, available for $10 per module.
• Small-Town Pastors' Conference Annual 3-day flagship conference held in Morton, Illinois featuring 5 plenary sessions and more than 20 specialized seminars focused on small-town and rural ministry. Pastoral couples from over 27 states attend. Includes pastoral couple sessions and continuing education. Biennial sister conference held in Lancaster, PA and one-day regional events from Massachusetts to South Dakota.
• Rural Ministry Resource Library Digital library of articles, templates, and guides for those serving in small-town, small-church, and rural ministries. Content covers job descriptions, sermon preparation, conflict resolution, spiritual disciplines, sabbatical policies, and conference teaching recordings. Updated monthly.
• Women's Ministry (Snailing It Cohort) Year-long cohort and support network for ministry wives in rural ministry, providing five hope-filled opportunities to renew their strength in the Lord based on Isaiah 40:31. Includes soul care resources, prayer groups, resource sharing, and ongoing community support.
• Missionary Coaching and Pastoral Support Monthly pastoral coaching, spiritual support, educational cohorts, conference ministries, continuing education, and on-call crisis assistance such as pulpit supply and conflict mediation for missionary pastors serving in rural communities.
• Pastoral Openings (Job Board) Free job board on rhma.org connecting rural churches seeking pastors with ministry candidates. Listings span multiple states and denominational affiliations, including details on church affiliations, contact information, and job descriptions.
• Rural Ministry Fund Designated giving fund sustaining RHMA's home office operations to support small-town pastors nationwide through administration, care, training, and discipleship.
• Conference Ministries Fund Designated giving fund supporting RHMA's various conference ministries in Morton, Illinois and across the country, providing equipping, encouragement, and edification for small-town pastors and wives.
• Longenecker Fund Designated giving fund facilitating spiritual and professional growth of RHMA missionaries and families through grant disbursements for further education, seminars, conferences, retreats, and sabbaticals.
• Rediger Fund Financial assistance fund for new RHMA churches with start-up needs and existing RHMA churches with building and remodeling programs. Named in honor of founder C.J. Rediger.
• Joyful Kids' Conference Conference supporting the spiritual growth of missionary children from across the country, helping them grow in the Lord while their parents attend the pastors' conference.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of donated missionary support goes directly to missionaries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Small Town SummitsflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Small Town Summits is partnering with RHMA and Desiring God to co-host the 2026 Small Town Summits Conference in Newburyport, MA (Oct. 5-6, 2026). The conference focuses on enjoying Christ's person as the goal of gospel ministry. Registration is handled by Small Town Summits through Donorbox.
• Desiring GodflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Desiring God provides plenary speakers for the 2026 Small Town Summits Conference, spreading a banquet for New England Christians serving in small places. Breakout sessions and a plenary panel discussion are co-developed. The conference focuses on savoring Christ as the source of joy in ministry.
• Dallas Theological SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRHMA's TACT program can be taken for academic credit through partnering seminaries. Dallas Theological Seminary is specifically mentioned as where several RHMA missionaries (Jarod Walston - ThM, DMin; Ryan McGhee - ThM; Ron Luce; Kade Ludlam) studied. DMin specialization in rural pastoral ministry is offered.
• Moody Bible InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoody Bible Institute is mentioned as where RHMA missionaries (Jed Cary, Gabe Hilleson) first learned about rural ministry and RHMA. RHMA recommends its TACT program for continued education in rural ministry. Moody's D.C. campus is referenced for Ryan McGhee's studies.
• The Master's UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKade Ludlam earned his degree in Christian Ministries from The Master's University before joining RHMA's two-year pastoral residency program in Remsen, IA.
• Billy Graham Center at Wheaton CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJason McConnell, author of a resource article on discipling rural men, is Director of the Rural Church Institute at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. This represents a content and thought leadership partnership.
• Walk Thru the BibleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhil Tuttle (President & CEO of Walk Thru the Bible) authored a featured article in RHMA's Rural Ministry Resource Library on spiritual disciplines for small church pastors.
• Grace Church, Morton, IllinoiscoreOthersGrace Church (1325 E. Jefferson Street, Morton, IL 61550) hosts the annual Small-Town Pastors' Conference. This is a key venue partnership for RHMA's flagship annual event.
• USDA (Rural Definition Standard)minorOthersRHMA uses the USDA definition of rural (open country and less than 2,000 houses or 5,000 people) as its standard for defining rural places where it operates.
• Child Evangelism FellowshipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChild Evangelism Fellowship partners with local churches (mentioned in conference seminar context) to equip them to reach out to children and families, with the goal of establishing them in the local church for spiritual growth.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• North American Mission Board (NAMB): NAMB is the Southern Baptist Convention's church-planting and missions sending agency, running the Send Network. It operates at much greater scale and geographic breadth than RHMA but competes for the same rural church-planting and missionary-support donor dollars.
• The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA): C&MA is a denomination with a long history of domestic and international church planting, including in rural North America. Comparable in missionary sending model, fundraising structure, and reliance on accredited theological training.

Direct peers

• Acts 29: Acts 29 is a global church-planting network that plants and replants churches, with many members in small-town and underserved U.S. contexts. Comparable in mission, theological alignment, and audience but with a broader geographic and urban-suburban footprint than RHMA.
• Mission to North America (PCA MNA): PCA's church-planting arm focuses on church planting and church revitalization across North America, including rural contexts. Highly comparable in theological alignment (Reformed/evangelical), target audience (small-church pastors), and church-strengthening services.
• Church Multiplication Network: CMN catalyzes church multiplication movements across rural and small-town America through assessment, coaching, and resourcing. Directly comparable in mission (church planting), audience (small-town pastors), and rural specialization.
• Converge Worldwide: Converge (formerly Baptist General Conference) runs a church-planting network with a START module and rural/small-town church focus. Comparable in mission, audience (small-church and bivocational pastors), and credentialing/training infrastructure.
• Village Missions: Village Missions plants and strengthens churches in rural communities across North America using a near-identical missionary-pastor model to RHMA. Operates in towns of fewer than 1,500 people, making it the most directly comparable peer in mission, audience, and operating approach.

Others

• Greater Europe Mission: GEM is a missionary sending and church-planting organization with a similar theological/missional identity and member-supported fundraising model to RHMA. Operates internationally but uses comparable missionary raising structures and pastoral training programs.
• Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College: The Billy Graham Center houses a Rural Church Institute directed by Jason McConnell and produces rural ministry content referenced on RHMA's resource library. Comparable in audience focus and content mission but operates as an academic institute rather than a church-planting organization.

Emerging players

• Small Town Summits: Small Town Summits is a newer ministry equipping Christians in small places through conferences and content, co-hosting the 2026 Newburyport summit with RHMA. Directly comparable in niche (rural/small-town pastors), but smaller scale and more event-driven than RHMA's full-service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rural-home-missionary-assn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rural Home Missionary Assn