Rural Explorations

With courage, commitment and tenacity, Chris Schuman followed God’s leading to establish Progress, B.C., as one of the first VM fields in Canada.

With courage, commitment and tenacity, Chris Schuman followed God’s leading to establish Progress, B.C., as one of the first VM fields in Canada.

Chris Schuman was undaunted by rural ministry as a single woman even when entrusted with the task of pioneering the ministry of Village Missions in Canada.

Makenzie examines the questions of “Who is our neighbor,” “What are their needs,” and “How can I love and serve them in a way that is meaningful to them?” and ties them in to the work of reaching First Nations People in rural Canada.

Staff writer Makenzie McNeill continues her series on The Misunderstood Missionfield of rural Canada by looking at Christianity in Canada. A Disclaimer Before I begin, let me provide a disclaimer. First, I am an outsider (i.e., not Canadian). Therefore, despite my research, I still lack the cultural and historical awareness that people who grow up

by Staff Writer Makenzie McNeill From April to October 2020, I uncovered many challenges that rural and remote communities experience across Canada. From food insecurity to alcohol and substance abuse, the small towns that dot this massive country’s landscape often deal with their struggles alone, mostly forgotten by an ever-increasing urbanized society. And in a

We continue our series, “Struggles in Small Town Canada,” highlighting problems faced in rural North America. Makenzie McNeill discusses the topic of poverty in rural Canada. A Univeral Problem Poverty has taken many forms over the centuries and across civilizations. What it looked like to be poor at one time period in one cultural context

We continue our series, “Struggles in Small Town Canada,” highlighting problems faced in rural North America. Makenzie McNeill discusses the topic of alcohol and substance abuse in rural Canada. A Common Struggle Humans have struggled against addiction to alcohol, drugs, or any other substance history. It still continues to affect millions around the world. Canada

We continue our series, “Struggles in Small Town Canada,” highlighting problems faced in rural North America. Makenzie McNeill discusses the topic of health and healthcare in rural Canada. The Problem of Healthcare in Rural Canada The state of health and access to quality healthcare in rural places is in rough shape, to say the least.

The communities of small town Canada are often viewed through rose-colored lenses as idyllic places immune from troubles. This nostalgic perspective of rural communities still lingers in many peoples’ minds. Whether it be reinforced by our culture or media, small towns are either idealized as sanitized and carefree, or overlooked as insignificant. Sometimes both. But