1. Prayer - All 26 took prayer very seriously. They prayed for discernment to be able to see what God dreamed and desired of them.

2. Worship - All 26 parishes had spirited, genuine worship. None of them worshipped in the same manner, using a variety of expressions. Worship was a top priority.

3. Bible study - Each of these parishes offered Bible study for folks from the cradle to the grave. Their members were into the Word.

4. Evangelism - All 26 were inviting congregations. They saw their mission to invite others. Evangelism was a normal, natural part of their parish life. Folks were excited to share what was happening in their congregations and to talk about their faith.

5. Caring - All of these congregations were caring places, caring internally for each other and caring externally for the communities in which they were located. They demonstrated the love of Christ.

6. Shared leadership - These parishes intentionally asked members to take responsibility for ministry. They saw each member as a minister. One of the most common complaints by small town/rural congregations is that they do not have the resources for renewal. None of the above characteristics take money. Any small town/rural parish can begin to pray, study the Bible, etc. Our synod Small Town/Rural Team along with the Evangelism Team is currently exploring how together we might share the results of this study with the small town/rural congregations of the synod. I have been sharing this study with several of our parishes. A study book along with a video is available from Augsburg Fortress. It is entitled, "Discovering Hope." Give the synod office a call if you are interested in examining this study in your congregation.