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Author | Coach

Gerad Strong

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Get Gerad Strong’s NEw book: “The Forgotten Field”

Author & Coach

Gerad Strong

Gerad Strong is the former Lead Pastor of Bethel Church in Rapid City, South Dakota. He led the church from one location to seven in two years. Additionally, he served his local community as Head Chaplain and Deputy with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Today, he is the Rural Team Lead for the Church Multiplication Network and serves Northplace Church, overseeing campuses, church planting, and Water Tower—the rural pastors network. Gerad and his wife Melanie have two children. They live in Fate, Texas 

Gerad strong’s new book:

The Forgotten Field

“Fly-over country” 

That’s the term many sociologists and pundits use to describe small-town America, but Jesus has a different term: “mission field.” In the past few decades, rural areas and small towns have been squeezed by a number of powerful factors: young people moving from farms to cities, a staggering rise in drug abuse, shuttered shops along Main Streets, abandoned churches, and further isolation caused by the pandemic. Today, however, the exodus is being reversed as more people seek peace, simplicity, and security outside urban areas. Now is the time to invest our hearts and our resources in this forgotten mission field. 

In this book, Gerad Strong shares the wisdom he gained by launching a multisite church strategy in his area of South Dakota. The process hasn’t been easy, but God has blessed the effort to make disciples in what seems, to many at least, “the remotest parts of the earth.” If you’re a church leader in a rural setting, this book will inspire, direct, and challenge you to believe God for greater things. 

Endorsements

Gerad Strong’s 

“The Forgotten Field”

“I love it when authors are proven practitioners in the subjects they write about. Gerad has demonstrated that you can use multisite models to reach and transform rural communities. I am excited to see a spiritual awakening in rural America . . . maybe, just maybe, out of The Forgotten Field can come springs of revival to impact our nation!”

Doug Clay

General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God 
Springfield, Missouri

This resource is a rich collection of information about multisite in a rural context that is enhanced by the author’s own struggles and successes.

Dr. Bryan Jarrett

Lead Pastor of Northplace Church
Director of The Water Tower Network

As Gerad walks us through their story of multiplication in a rural context, he gives us a front row seat to the faith-igniting truths and practical applications that are necessary to transform communities. 

Dr. Jeffery Portmann

Director, Church Multiplication Network—AG US

 Through tenacious and insightful experience, Gerad Strong shows you where treasure resides in the rural community. 

Dr. Alan Bixler

Lead Pastor of Crosswalk Community Church
Founder and President of The Global Consultant

Gerad Strong’s story and insights will ignite God-given dreams and provide a clear strategy for your ministry and leadership. From renewal to succession to rural multisite and leadership development, Gerad’s book touches on each of your goals and dreams.

Scott Wilson

Global Pastor, Oaks Church
Author of Impact: Releasing the Power of Influence
Red Oak, Texas

Coaching And consulting

Gerad Strong’s personal experience, education, and national engagement can bring value to your situation. Gerad has a unique ability to help leaders contextualize principles to their context and is available for coaching and consulting in the areas of church planting, church revitalization, church succession, multisite development, and leadership.

“I truly believe that God sent me an incredible gift the day I met Gerad Strong. We sensed God was calling us as a church to plant in a rural community near us through multisite. Through strategic coaching Gerad put us in a position to succeed. He helped me as the Lead Pastor in working with everything from building needs, to community engagement, to mentoring our campus pastor. I often recall the words of encouragement and prophetic prayer Gerad spoke over my life which led us to multiply as a church.”

Sheldon McGorman

Lead Pastor WCAG
Watford City, North Dakota