2026 Conference Speakers
Main Speakers
Brad Roth
Opening Main Session
Dirty Hands / Praying Hands: Work and Faith in the Rural Church
Brad Roth is a pastor in rural central Kansas. He grew up baling hay, tending sheep, and shearing Christmas trees on a farm in Illinois. He is a graduate of Augustana College, Harvard Divinity School, and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Brad has a heart for serving God and God’s people.
Brad’s first book, “God’s Country: Faith, Hope, and the Future of the Rural Church” won an Award of Merit from Christianity Today.
He’s also the author of “The Hunger Inside: How the Meal Jesus Gave Transforms Lives” (Paraclete 2022), and “Flyover Church: How Jesus’ Ministry in Rural Places Is Good News Everywhere” (Herald 2024).
Brad is passionate about sharing faith in word and deed and living out God’s love in the community. He and his wife enjoy getting outside, gardening, and hanging out with their sons.
You can find Brad at DoxologyProject.com.
Ron Klassen
Closing Main Session
Ron is a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and Director Emeritus of the Rural Home Missionary Association (RHMA). He served as the Executive Director of RHMA from 1990-2023.
Prior to that, he served as the pastor of rural churches in Nebraska and Oklahoma. He received a BA from John Brown University, a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a DMin from Bethel Seminary. He has served as a guest professor or lecturer at a number of Bible colleges, universities, and seminaries. He has preached in churches all across the country, spoken at numerous pastors’ conferences, and is a frequent seminar leader.
He has written dozens of articles, including several for Leadership Journal. Ron is the author of “Maximize! Leveraging the Strengths of Your Small Church.” He has coauthored two books: “No Little Places: The Untapped Potential of the Small-Town Church” and “Leading Through Change: Shepherding the Town and Country Church in a New Era.” Ron has been married to Roxy since 1977. They have been blessed with three children, a daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and two granddaughters.
RILC Worship Leader
Naomi Sands
Naomi Sands serves as the Director of Worship Ministry for Alexandria Covenant Church. She has long had a passion for worship and has actively participated in worship ministry since childhood. The daughter of a Covenant pastor, Naomi grew up in Poplar, WI, experiencing and participating in ministry in their rural setting.