While rural communities close church doors in their droves, one group have found a way to rebuild a supportive non-denominational church — without walls.
Southland Ecumenical Rural Chaplaincy Charitable Trust chairman Richard Johnson said he had a vision more than three years ago to rebuild the rural Christian community by offering a chaplaincy network.
"People have said, ‘How good is it the church is coming to us?’ "
Farmers were busy people and some found it difficult to regularly attend church and that only became more difficult when a nearby church closed, he said.
"Many in our rural communities are people of faith, but the 24/7 pressure of farming meant church attendance can be difficult," he said.
Initial contact was made with farmers, farming groups, city and rural church leaders and other chaplaincy organisations.
"It was clear that there was a real need for rural chaplaincy, as our farming communities are often under great stress, as shown by high levels of mental health challenges and suicides."
Southland farms had also become multicultural.
An information day was held at Winton in 2023 to launch the concept and a call for expressions of interest in pastoral support.
"The response was much bigger than expected."
The first group of volunteer chaplains were mainly ex-farmers who were familiar with the demands of the industry. The non-denomination aspect of the new service appealed to farmers, Mr Johnson said.
Seven chaplains have been commissioned into the role with more to come once their training was complete. They would be a listening ear, he said.
"Chaplaincy has been well described as the ‘ministry of presence’ — with no demands, no expectations; to walk alongside, to hear the pain and joys.
"One of the great strengths of a chaplain’s role is that we can simply ‘be there’."
Mr Johnson said the ministry was still in its early days where it was important to develop trust and integrity within the communities.
"We are just taking it carefully, not run before we can walk."
The Southland Rural Support Trust had been very supportive of the chaplaincy service because it was unable to offer the spiritual support aspect through its service, he said.
"They said to me, ‘this is important, because sometimes we’re asked to do prayers or blessings’.
"People say, ‘will you please pray for me or bless my land ... we don’t do it. However, you can contact my colleagues at the Rural Chaplaincy Network, and they can come and do that for you’.
"So we have a very strong connection with them and they have the confidence we’re not some sort of fly-by-night organisation."
