A healthy church isn’t just a tight-knit group of friends. It’s a place where all kinds of relationships can flourish. In this conversation, David Blackwell shares how insights from Dunbar’s Number invite rural church leaders to rethink size and connection, and how prioritizing weak, bridging relationships can help rural churches break down cliques, welcome outsiders, and embody the Gospel in place. Listeners will hear both a challenge and a roadmap for building more robust relational ecosystems that reflect the breadth of God’s community.

Guest Info (title, bio, headshot, where to find them):

David has served as the senior pastor of Florence-Carlton Community Church in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana for 19 years, and is passionate about helping develop church leaders and pastors for outwardly-focused, community-oriented ministry in small town and rural settings.

Related Resources:

The Church and Dunbar’s Number - https://seedbed.com/the-church-and-dunbars-number/

Rural Churches Need More Weak Relationships - https://wheatonbillygraham.com/rural-churches-need-more-weak-relationships-by-carl-greene/

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podcasts@freshexpressions.com

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