Posts

Vicki Gatchell Feb 21, 2024

Disciplemaking in America’s Rural Churches

If you are a rural church pastor, you may be wonder, “Can my church successfully grow generations of disciplemakers?”  The question is understandable. Often, disciplemaking strategies are geared toward churches in urban settings where diversity and population density are significant factors in planning. While conversations regarding the urban church are vital, the rural church faces its own unique challenges (and some advantages) in making disciples.  The term “rural church” does not simply apply to properties hewn from the edges of Midwest corn fields. It refers to churches situated in any community with fewer than 2,500 persons. One in seven Americans…

Vicki Gatchell Apr 23, 2020

Thank You Jesus, for Thursday

Written during Holy Week 2020 Tomorrow we remember Jesus’ crucifixion, the pain He suffered, and the blood He shed to free us from our sin. It’s the holiest of days on the Christian calendar, a day to remember Jesus love-sacrifice on our behalf. But what about today? What is it that makes today “Maundy Thursday,” or “Holy Thursday” depending on your tradition? Thursday was a day that Jesus bore excruciating pain. This pain was emotional pain. On Thursday, during the celebration of the Jewish Passover, with full knowledge of all that was about to happen to Him, Jesus got up from…

Vicki Gatchell Mar 8, 2020

Worthy

It’s International Women’s Day – I don’t know the origins of the day or what it’s entirely about, but I know a lot of women worth celebrating.   “A woman of noble character, who can find?  She is more precious than I can describe.” She is a craftsman and an artist, making the world a more beautiful place. Without compensation, she leaves her corporate job to rescue women and children entrapped by abuse and violence. She provides shelter and food for the homeless, and tells them of their worth. She actively raises funds to support this good work. She raises funds wherever she…

Vicki Gatchell Feb 29, 2020

When God Writes Your Story

On this, the anniversary of a significant decision in my life, I remember the goodness of God. And I am ever so thankful for His call on my life. I continue to pray that He will guide me in every step. From 2015: I first felt God calling me into ministry several years ago.  My mom had passed away suddenly, and I had been in shock and dealing with grief.  When a person grieves, she asks a lot of questions of God, even if she knows the answers or knows her questions aren’t meant to be answered. God can handle…

Vicki Gatchell Jul 14, 2019

Burn the Ships

This weekend marks 8 years since my mother passed away on July 12, 2011, and as with any major life event, the anniversary brings a time of reflection and assessment. It’s been quite a ride: highest highs and lowest lows. My time of paralyzing loss was followed by new normals, daily adjustments, and new vision. Surrender to God and His best good led me to take a giant step away from my career in physical therapy and to seek His direction as He began calling me to ministry. At first the call came faintly, here, there, a whisper, “love them,”…

Vicki Gatchell Jan 3, 2019

What I Want from 2019

I’m grateful for the reset button that comes naturally every January 1st. Here are some of my goals for the new year.

Vicki Gatchell Aug 20, 2018

A Simple Man and a Timeless Truth

A Simple Man and a Timeless Truth I’ll never forget the day Grandpa taught me how to use the drill press. I was a girl of about 11 spending a warm summer day at Grandma & Grandpa’s, just down the road on our family farm. Grandpa was doing some carpentry in the garage when he offered to teach me the use of the machine.  I wasn’t sure about the press at first, but I loved the soft whir of the motor and the twisty shavings that piled up around the project, so I let Grandpa become my mentor. First I…

Vicki Gatchell Jul 22, 2018

Rain can be Beautiful

Mom ran across the kitchen floor, arms and fingers stretched out in front of her aimed at the sky, “Rain!” “Beautiful Rain!” Rain is beautiful to a farmer. Nothing grows without it. Mom’s sweetcorn depended on spring showers, and we hadn’t seen it for a month.  The sweet kernels we sold at our roadside market would be underdeveloped and tasteless without it.   Because its sale provided school clothes and shoes for my older brother and me, sweetcorn was essential to our family. Of the many memories I hold of growing up a farmer’s daughter, some of the most emotional…

Vicki Gatchell Mar 9, 2018

God’s Spirit

God’s Spirit: It has long been clear to me that mankind is so much more than the world might have us believe. We are created with a spirit that images God (Genesis 1:26), and in fact, if we follow Jesus Christ we have His Spirit living within us (2 Timothy 1:14). This fact is never more real to me than 1. Occasions like last night when 600 men, women, and children came together to worship on a weekday evening and God’s Spirit was present, moving, and glorified… and 2. Encounters like I had today. I was working with an 87-year-old…

Vicki Gatchell Feb 1, 2018

A Theology of Brokenness

A friend was on a road trip with her son a few days ago when they passed this church, and her son Bo said, “Someday when I grow up, I want to fix broken churches.”  It was a strangely odd, yet telling comment that tugged at my friend’s heart (and mine when I heard it).  If only we could fix broken churches.  If only we could fix broken people.  If only we could fix our broken selves. Bo’s comment took me back to a few months ago night when I had the privilege of speaking (way too much–I’m sorry!) about…

Vicki Gatchell Jun 27, 2017

What I Really Want to Say…

Have you ever had something you wanted to say, but your words got in the way?