Sam's new East of England rural mission focus
A decade after moving to Norfolk as a minister, Sam Abramian developed a heart for rural mission and is now set to take on a new challenge in a role supporting those who serve in rural communities across the county.
Sam Abramian has recently been appointed as the
Director for the East of England at
Rural Ministries (RM), growing network of rural churches, pioneers and practitioners that exists to support those called to live and serve in rural communities across the UK.
Sam and his family live in rural West Norfolk and have been part of the RM network for some time. For Sam, the appointment feels like a natural fit. He first moved to Norfolk in 2013 to become the minister at Union Church Hunstanton, having previously served as an associate minister at a church in Surrey.
“Moving to coastal Norfolk was an eye-opener, and we soon realised we loved being in a rural area,” Sam said. “The contrast was striking. In the urban context there was less connection, more busyness, more resources and more choice, while in the rural context there was more space, more time for people and a naturally better pace of life. Being part of a smaller community means you can get to know an entire place and genuinely live community life, which is amazing.”
In 2020, Sam transitioned into pioneering and missional listening, a journey he describes as deeply formative. “It’s been a time of growth, with a strong sense of God deconstructing us on a personal level and then rebuilding us in terms of who we could be and how we live that out,” he said. In 2024, he became a part-time chaplain at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. He continues this work alongside his new RM role, “I really value both roles and feel fortunate to be part of two fantastic teams,” said Sam.
Sam’s connection with Rural Ministries has been growing over the years: “I first connected with RM through Simon Mattholie (former RM CEO) years ago at a leadership conference. We met people there who were working in rural contexts and speaking the same language, with challenges very similar to our own. RM just made sense. Later, as we moved further into missional listening, RM felt like home, and we really settled into their network.”
This role is about supporting, connecting, and encouraging rural mission leaders across the East of the UK. Already well established in West Norfolk, Sam is taking time to make connections across the county: “Right now, I’m focusing on understanding what God is doing in rural areas in the region and developing opportunities for leaders to share ideas, stories, and encouragement.
“As I step into this new role, I bring a heart for helping established churches explore pioneering ways of sharing the gospel and discipling others, alongside a desire to encourage those who don’t quite fit traditional ministry roles to find space where they can flourish as the people God created them to be,” said Sam.
“Rural Ministries works with churches, practitioners, and pioneers in rural contexts, so I’d be really glad to connect with anyone serving or exploring mission in a rural setting. If the idea of rethinking mission and reimagining church resonates with you, I’d love to start a conversation.”
If you would like to get in touch with Sam, you can contact him at sam@ruralministries.org.uk
or visit www.ruralministries.org.uk
Pictured are Jon Timms & Jo Allen, joint CEOs of RM, with Sam Abramian