Level Paths

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.

The Appalachian people often encounter prejudices in their lived experiences. Stereotypes in popular culture at large cast a shadow. Dr. Matt and Rex show that America’s “contemporary ancestors” have long contributed to and continue to enhance the value of God’s people and God’s world.

Rex and Dr. Matt talk with Jonathan Buckner, founding member of the bluegrass gospel band Chosen Road, about the history, meaning, and hope of music in Appalachia.

Dr. Matt and Rex close out 2022 with a conversation about Christmas traditions in Appalachia. Happy Advent and Christmas to all! Come Lord Jesus!

Dr. Matt Shamblin, TSBC Appalachian Research Fellow, and Dr. Mark Phillips, TSBC VP of Academics, talk with Dr. Desmond Barrett, Pastor of Summit Church of the Nazarene in Boyd County, KY about the history and impact of the Nazarene Church in Appalachia.

Dr. Matt and Pres. Rex explore evangelism in Acts 4-5 with a view toward contextualizing evangelism in Appalachia. Evangelism methods and resources are discussed.

Dr. Matt and Rex talk shop on Christian leadership and how the religious landscape of a contemporary Appalachian context requires adaptive leaders.

Dr. Matt and Rex talk about the painful realities of ministry as contextualized in Appalachia and explore why there's hope to press on toward Christ.