Level Paths

Dr. Jacob Marshall joins TSBC President Rex Howe for a light-hearted conversation about Appalachian Christmas Eve traditions. Jacob serves as the Assistant Pastor of Visitation & Outreach at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Ona, WV.

Dr. Matt Shamblin is joined by Tri-State Bible College Vice President of Academics Dr. Mark Phillips. They consider trends of a declining Christian subculture in Appalachia and what that means for the church today.

What's the condition of Appalachian pastors' relationships? The Bible clearly tells us that there are specific relationships to which we are accountable. These relationships can be critical to a pastor's encouragement. Dr. Matt and Rex share challenges and takeaways for community among pastors in Appalachia.

Dr. Matt and President Rex revisit a topic from Season 1 Episodes 11 and 12: What is the state of the church in Appalachia in 2024? Featured guests include Pastor Jacob Marshall of Antioch Baptist Church in Ona, WV and Pastor Kenny Estep of Shawnee Hills Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Ohio. Listen and join the conversation about the trends and transformations happening in Appalachian churches today...

Pastor Keith Menshouse (Lifesong Church, Ashland, KY) and Pastor Bobby Thomas (Indian Creek Southern Baptist Church, Alma, WV) join Dr. Matt Shamblin and President Rex Howe to discuss the nuances of transitioning from effective church planter to faithful local church pastor. What does making the shift look like in an Appalachian context?

Pastor and church planter Jerry Williams of Red Stone Church in Elizabethton, TN joins Dr. Matt and Rex to discuss the missiology of church planting in Appalachia. Pastor Jerry also serves on the Board of Planting Appalachian Churches (PAC).

Marquita Riepenhoff joins Dr. Matt and Rex to introduce her integrated ministry of therapeutic horticulture, which she employs to blend biblical counseling and master gardening.

Dr. Dave Earley discusses his leadership journey with Dr. Matt and Rex and previews his keynote sessions at the upcoming Appalachian Ministry Conference. Dr. Earley is a pastor, professor, church planter, author, and founder of Dave Earley Ministries, which provides transformational resources for the church to change the world.

Dwayne Mills serves as the Executive Director of Appalachia Reach Out, which aims to be Christ’s love in action in Martin, Perry & Pulaski County, KY & Nicholas County, WV. Dwayne joins Dr. Matt and Rex to describe how ARO reaches out with hope to the residents of Appalachia.

Dr. Andi Clements and Tanner Clements of Uplift Appalachia join Dr. Matt and President Rex to reimagine and recover the church’s essential role in the addiction crisis of Appalachia by equipping the church for theologically informed and trauma informed ministry.

Dr. Brian Arnold joins Dr. Matt and Rex to discuss leadership in the pulpit ministry of the local church. Brian is the former President of Phoenix Seminary and now serves as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Paducah, KY.

Dr. Matt and Rex kickoff the opening episode of season four with special guest, Pastor Matt McClay. Matt serves as the Student Pastor at Lewis Memorial Baptist Church in Huntington, WV. After sharing his own background, Matt introduces his missiological approach to youth ministry in Appalachia.

Dr. Matt and President Rex welcome Dr. Mark Phillips back to Level Paths to learn how deconstructing faith takes shape in Appalachia.

Pastor and Professor Jacob Marshall joins President Rex to discuss Scripture and Spirit in Appalachia. They consider the biblical context of 2 Timothy 3 where the God-Spirited Scriptures play a central role for discipleship in difficult days.

Dr. Matt Shamblin and TSBC President Rex Howe consider the impact of expectations on ministry leaders and congregations in Appalachia. Unrealistic expectations anchored in the context of a past era distract leaders and congregations from the real ministry opportunities of today.

Dr. Matt and President Rex visit with Dr. John Sullivan. Dr. Sullivan is a native of Ansted, WV and is recognized for his 26 service as the Executive Director of the Florida Southern Baptist Convention and 68 total years in ministry. He has pastored churches from Arizona to Florida. Under his leadership, the FL SBC planted 2,500 new churches, baptized 779,391 individuals, made historical impacts o...

Dr. Matt and President Rex continue exploring how generational competition can transform into generational contribution to the great commission in Appalachia.

Dr. Matt and President Rex explore how generational competition can transform into generational contribution to the great commission in Appalachia.

Dr. Matt talks with two pastors, Dr. Paul Badgett (former pastor of FBC of Pikeville, KY and former SBC Regional Director of the eastern KY region) and Joshua Schmidt (current pastor of FBC of Grayson, KY), about the "glorious burden" of pastoral ministry in Appalachia. Starting with a recent article on exhaustion in the pastorate, Matt, Paul, and Josh frame out the scope of the pastoral burden an...

Dr. Matt and Rex discuss a controversial report on Appalachian Christianity from the year 1812, in which the Holy Spirit takes center stage.

President Rex and Dr. Matt welcome Pastor Heath Bauer from Unity Baptist Church in Ashland, KY.

President Rex and Dr. Matt return to the Level Paths podcast with Dr. and Pastor Kyle Boone. Kyle recently completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at Dallas Theological Seminary as part of the Rural & Small Town Pastors Cohort with a research emphasis in Discipleship Methods in Rural Youth Ministry. Kyle serves as the pastor of Hambden Congregational Church in NE Ohio.

Dr. Matt and President Rex welcome Dr. Keith Menshouse, who serves as a board member of Tri-State Bible College. Dr. Keith has several years of church planting experience, both in Appalachia and beyond.

Dr. Matt talks with Pastor Dean Fulks, Lead Pastor of Lifepoint Church and SEND Coordinator for the Ohio Valley. Pastor Dean is the keynote speaker for the Appalachian Ministry Conference at Tri-State Bible College on April 25, 2023.

President Rex and Dr. Matt welcome Dr. and Pastor Jeff VanGoethem to discuss the recent Asbury revival.