By Zach Jensen,
Church memberships across the nation — especially in rural areas — are struggling. Winneshiek County’s population has dropped by an average of about 100 people each year over the past decade, and fewer families financially supporting country churches often makes it more difficult for rural parishes to attract permanent pastors.
But the congregations of Big Canoe and Highland Churches, just south and north of Highlandville, may have found a way to overcome some of those challenges — by using a drone and video to introduce itself on the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s website — it’s the first time such marketing tools have been used in the northeast Iowa synod. The video introduced parishioners from both congregations, described activities and toured both churches as well as their grounds.
And it seemed to do the trick.
Rev. Matthew Becker was installed Sunday, Oct. 6 at Big Canoe
“I looked at probably 75 profiles, and out of all of them, Big Canoe and Highland was the only one with a video,” said Becker said. “After watching the video, I thought, ‘Wow, these people seem like the kind of people I’ve been serving.’ I immediately sensed a connection with the people talking in the video. I can’t explain it beyond just a sense of these are people I think I could serve, and they seem like they might be open to my pastoral ministry.”
Becker’s interest in the pair of generational parishes came just in the nick of time, too. After nearly four years of having an open call, congregation members were concerned their call might never be answered.
Big Canoe Call Committee Chair Tammy Nordheim said the church councils had considered either consolidating into one congregation or possibly closing their doors for good.
“I think that when the pastoral candidates see parishes that have gone a long time without a permanent pastor, they start to wonder ‘What’s wrong there?’ and ‘How’s their financial stability?’” said Highland Call Committee Chair Steve Langland. “It’s a whole conglomerate of things.”
Full article available in the October 10 Decorah Leader.
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