The Mountain Spirit

August 2024, Christian Appalachian Project turns 60 years old We are celebrating our anniversary with a special season of the podcast. Join us as we kick off season four with CAP's president and CEO, Guy Adams. Throughout his early adult life, Guy discovered the Appalachian heritage of his family and began to feel God equipping him for work in philanthropy, making a difference for people in need....

Our guest today is Pastor Chris Kimbro, lead pastor of King's River Worship Center and director of Community Bridge. Originally from Kentucky, Chris moved to West Viriginia, where he would become a pastor and start a family. Now Chris and his church have been transforming the lives of people in need in their community.  King's River Worship Center website Community Bridge website

Our guest is Jared Arnett, Pastor of Teaching and Leadership at New Beginnings Fellowship Church. Jared is a lifelong Appalachian who lives in the region by choice. He has been involved in several initiatives and has rarely had a job that existed prior to him stepping into it. Listen to Jared as he shares his journey as a leader in Appalachia, constantly creating new possibilities in the region. ...

Michaela Fisher grew up in Appalachia, attending camp at CAP's Camp Shawnee, and cultivating a deep commitment to serving others. Now, she helps children and families in need as a mental health counselor with CAP's Family Life Counseling Services. Join us on this special episode as Michaela articulates the stigma surrounding mental health in Appalachia and how she is working to break the cycle of...

On today's episode of The Mountain Spirit, we hear from Lauren McCoart, Director of  Prestonsburg Tourism in Prestonsburg, KY. Lauren is a lifelong Appalachian with a desire to expose others to the rich beauty of her region. Learn more about the attractions in Prestonsburg, KY and the larger Appalachian region.  Prestonsburg Tourism. Pikeville Tourism. Paintsville Tourism.  

Today's episode of The Mountain Spirit podcast features Elmer Whitaker, President/CEO of Whitaker Bank. Elmer talks with us about his family's legacy and how he is equipping leaders in Appalachia through Leadership Kentucky. Learn more about Leadership Kentucky here . 

Today's guest is Nicky Stacy. Nicky works at the Hazel Green Food Project in Hazel Green, KY. The Hazel Green Food Project serves countless participants who come to their facility from the immediate and surrounding counties. Listen to Nicky's stories of hope as she explains why she is here to serve. 

On this final episode of Season Two, our guest is Octavia Sexton, an Appalachian writer and storyteller. Octavia is an educator and advocate for preserving Appalachian culture, who challenges stereotypes of what it means to be Appalachian. Learn more about Octavia on her website. Also read about Octavia in The Mountain Spirit Magazine.   

This week's episode of The Mountain Spirit podcast features Chrysta Ghent from the East Kentucky Science Center and Varia Planetarium. Chrysta shares how her love of science propels her to provide science education to people in Appalachia. Join us in discovering the wonder of science taking place at this hidden gem in Eastern Kentucky.  Visit the East Kentucky Science Center and Varia Planetarium...

Our guest this week is Ethan Forhetz, Vice President of Public Engagement with Convey of Hope. Convoy of Hope is a faith-based organization based in Springfield, MO, dedicated to feeding children, helping communities through outreach, and offering disaster relief services. Learn about the impact that Convoy of Hope is having on the world as they strive to do the next kind thing for people in need....

Today's guest is April Points, a Philanthropy Support Specialist with Christian Appalachian Project. April grew up in Harlan County hearing about the hardships of natural disaster, and jumped at the opportunity to help people in need when floods affected Eastern Kentucky in 2022. Volunteering with her church, April served her Appalachian neighbors in need. Volunteering led April to find even more...

Today's guest is J.D. Bussell, principal of Rockcastle County High School in Mount Vernon, KY. J.D. was born and raised in Rockcastle County where he would eventually settle down to teach chemistry at Rockcastle County High School. Located in one of our primary service areas, the school partners with CAP to address poverty and food insecurity in the area. Now as principal of Rockcastle County High...

Season two of The Mountain Spirit begins with John Oliva, a mechanical engineer who also serves as an ambassador for Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). John helps recruit students from around the country to attend our annual WorkFest/YouthFest (an alternative Spring break program). Each Spring, John travels to Appalachia with these students and works to ensure that Eastern Kentucky homes are saf...

CAP's Operation Sharing program partners with over 1,300 nonprofit organizations, community-based agencies, churches, and schools across all 13 Appalachian states, as well two Ozark states, Missouri and Arkansas, to collect and deliver donated goods to 1.5 million people. One of the partners is New St. Hurricane Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. On today's episode we hear from the pastor of New St....

Join us today for a conversation with Rev. Dwayne Mills. Rev. Mills is the executive director of Appalachia Reach Out (ARO) in Martin County, KY. You heard from Rev. Mills earlier this season on one of our show promotional episodes. That teaser was so well received that we brought him back for a full episode. In this episode, Rev. Mills shares God's radical call on his life. When he answered God's...

As the world moves forward from tragic events, the people who are victims don't have that same luxury. Meet Brenda. She is a survivor of the July 2022 floods. She lives in Eastern Kentucky with her granddaughter, trying to piece her life back together following a series of tragedies. Brenda's home is the 100th house repaired by CAP after the floods. Listen to Brenda's story and learn what it means...

Today is Giving Tuesday. On this Global Day of Giving, your gift gets MATCHED up to $75,000, thanks to a generous group of CAP friends. It is because of generous doners that CAP is able to help in times of disaster and make sure homes are safe, warm, and dry. On this week's bonus episode, we revisit a conversation with CAP's Bryan Byrd and Melissa Eckenrode from the University of Scranton, followi...

On this episode of The Mountain Spirit, join us for a conversation with Mike Halligan, CEO of God's Pantry Food Bank. As we enter this holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, where many people will gather with their own loved ones, Mike reminds us how critical food insecurity is in the community and spotlights policies and programs that are making a difference.  SHOW NOTES: God's Pantry Food...

On this episode of The Mountain Spirit, join us for a conversation with Chris Green, director of t he Loyal Jones Appalachian Center at Berea College; Associate Professor of Appalachian Studies; and Chair of the Appalachian Studies Department. Chris shares some history of Appalachia and what people get wrong when they think about the region. He invites you in to hear his story and welcomes you to...

On this episode of The Mountain Spirit, join us for a conversation with Anita Seals, vice president of human services with Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). D iscover what advice she carries to this day from CAP's founder, and how a childhood experience shaped her 40+ years of service.   Join us each week for more stories of faith, service, and compassion.  SHOW NOTES National Domestic Violence...

The fire started before Christmas and destroyed the second floor of the Burden family's home. CAP stepped in to help this family of 10 have a safe, warm, and dry home again. Shelia Burden shares about the fire and how it has impacted her family in this week's teaser of The Mountain Spirit.   Learn more about how CAP helped this family in need: Watch the Burden family story here: https://bit.ly/YTO...

Dwayne Mills is executive director of Appalachia Reach Out, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the people of Martin County in the eastern Kentucky mountains. He was recently honored by CAP as a Champion of Appalachia. In this teaser, he shares his passion for Appalachia and his commitment to change the narrative about his hometown. Inez, the county seat, became the face of poverty following the visi...

In this second teaser, our host Tina Bryson introduces MEI-Total Elevator Solutions, a company based in Minnesota that annually sends groups to serve with Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). MEI has been serving with CAP sends May 2019. Listen to some of their volunteers share what makes serving in Appalachia so special as they build hope and transform lives in the region. Stay tuned for weekly t...

In this second teaser, our host Tina Bryson introduces Christian Appalachian Project's (CAP) Hunger Walk. Learn how CAP fights hunger and feeds hope in Appalachia. Students from Lexington Christian Academy explain how their faith leads them to fight hunger and feed hope in Appalachia. Stay tuned for weekly teasers until the launch of our show in November.  Also, follow Christian Appalachian Projec...

The Mountain Spirit: A Podcast of Christian Appalachian Project will be launching this fall. Show host Tina Bryson introduces the podcast and invites all to subscribe to the show where you get your podcasts. Also, follow Christian Appalachian Project on social media for giveaways and show promotion.  Twitter: @chrisappproj Facebook: Facebook Instagram: @chrisappproj LinkedIn: Christian Appalachian...