Level Paths: Recent Episodes
Appalachian Ministry Institute
The Appalachian Ministry Institute of Tri-State Bible College affirms, encourages, and equips those engaged in Appalachian ministry to keep the glory of God in clear view (Isa. 40:3–5; Mk. 1:2–4; Lk. 3:4–6). Tri-State Bible College is located in central Appalachia in South Point, Ohio. The Level Paths podcast of the Appalachian Ministry Institute is hosted by Rex J. Howe, President of Tri-State Bible College, and Dr. J. Matt Shamblin, Appalachian Research Fellow at Tri-State Bible College.
Dr. Matt welcomes pastor Heath Bauer to discuss the difficulty of serving in Appalachia as opposed to his missionary seasons of service in China and Malaysia. Dr. Matt and pastor Heath offer encouragement to Appalachian pastors.
Dr. Matt and President Rex sit down with Angie Vanover, who serves as the Director of Children's Ministry at Rose Hill Baptist Church in Ashland, KY. Angie has many years of experience in leading dynamic approaches and administrative wisdom for Vacation Bible School in an Appalachian context. If you've ever had questions about out-of-the-box ideas, how to connect with parents, or the purpose that drives VBS, you'll want to get to know Angie!
Dr. David Wheeler joins Dr. Matt and President Rex on this episode of Level Paths. Dr. David is a faculty member in the Rawlings School of Divinity at Liberty University and is an Oak Ridge, TN native. He has over 40 years of ministry experience.
Dr. Matt Shamblin welcomes Dr. Mark Phillips, the VP of Academics at Tri-State Bible College and a member of the Reasons to Believe Scholar Community. Mark also brings his experience as an assistant pastor at FBC Proctorville to address changes in Appalachian evangelism.
Pastor Emeritus of Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, CA Phil Neighbors joins Dr. Matt and President Rex to tell the story of five generations of Christian ministry from Appalachia to California. The earliest revivals in America and Appalachia are reframed through their impact not only in the immediate historical moment but also in the generational and geographical spread they generated.
Dr. Matt and President Rex discuss the missionary mindset that captured the early church, drove the Christian pioneers that entered north central Appalachia between 1750–1850, and steps to recovering today in and for Appalachia.
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 on international missions and national disaster relief, and strengthened institutions of theological education.
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 and calling.
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.
Biblical illiteracy is an increasing problem in the America culture and church. Dr. Matt and Rex welcome Dr. Brian J. Vickers to discuss this problem in Appalachia.
Dr. Matt and Rex find revitalizing hope for declining churches in Appalachia in a conversation with Pastor Jason McClanahan.
Dr. Matt and Rex welcome Dr. Elijah Hixson (CSNTM) and Dr. Peter Gurry (Phoenix Seminary), who are co-editors of Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism. Join the conversation about journey of the Bible from original text through the copying process to translations and the unique experiences of encountering the Bible in Appalachian contexts, particularly the issue of KJV-Onlyism.
Dr. Matt Shamblin and Rex Howe host a conversation with Jason Lowe about pastoring and pastoral searching in Appalachia. Since 2013, Jason has served as the Associational Mission Strategist for the Pike Association of Southern Baptists, a network of Southern Baptist churches located in southeastern Kentucky. In this role, he consults with pastors and other church members on a regular basis. In addition to this role, he began serving as the Executive Pastor for First Baptist Church in Pikeville in 2015.
Dr. Matt and Rex discuss the importance is fellowship among those who are serving, shepherding, and stewarding in Christ’s mission. Along the way, they recap the 2022 Appalachian Ministry Conference at Tri-State Bible College.
Dr. Matt Shamblin and Rex Howe talk with Dr. Jeff Clark, Global Rural Researcher for the International Mission Board and Wheaton College’s Rural Matters Institute.
Matt and Rex welcome back Pastor Brad Brandt of Wheelersburg Baptist Church. Brad is a Certified Biblical Counselor with ACBC. In this episode, we discuss mental health in post-pandemic and how talking to ourselves and to God may be what we need.
Matt and Rex invite you to a conversation with Rachel Kinder (MissionWV), Dale Suttles (Sunrise Children's Services), and Dr. Kevin Bloomfield (Necco) to consider the biblical call upon the local churches of the Appalachian region for participation in adoption and foster care.
Matt and Rex sit with three experienced church planters in Appalachia. Chris Priestly, Jason Johnson, and Bobby Thomas pass on their wisdom and encouragement for those serving in Christ's commission by planting churches in Appalachia.
Matt and Rex discuss the phases of strategic planning and implementation in an Appalachian setting.
Dr. and Pastor Jeff VanGoethem traces the history of American revival movements and the impact of prayer to those movements. Matt, Rex, and Jeff consider what God’s burden is today.
Pastors David Lemming and Tim Yates of Lewis Memorial Baptist Church in Huntington, WV engage with Matt and Rex about the condition of the church and pastoral ministry and leadership through COVID-19.
Pastors Ryan Navy of River Valley Church, Jacob Marshall of Antioch Baptist Church, and Kenny Estep of Shawnee Hills Baptist Church engage with Matt and Rex about the condition of the church in Appalachia and pastoral ministry through COVID-19.
Matt and Rex interview Elder John Sparks, author of The Roots of Appalachian Christianity: The Life & Legacy of Shubal Stearns to discover more about the history of the Church and religious experience and practice in the region.
Tommy Reed who pastors Fitzpatrick Baptist Church in Prestonsburg, KY joins Matt and Rex to dissect the call of God on the life of an Appalachian pastor burdened to love a congregation and a neighborhood that includes the Islamic Center of East KY.
In this two part interview, TSBC's President Rex Howe and Appalachian Research Fellow Dr. Matt Shamblin welcome Dr. Tom Cheyney to Level Paths, where they discuss key principles and identify contextual challenges to church revitalization in the Appalachian region.
In this two part interview, TSBC's President Rex Howe and Appalachian Research Fellow Dr. Matt Shamblin welcome Dr. Tom Cheyney to Level Paths, where they discuss key principles and identify contextual challenges to church revitalization in the Appalachian region.
Matt & Rex welcome Pastor Brad Brandt. Pastor Brad loves teaching the word of God so that people will love and live for Jesus. He received biblical training from Cedarville University (B.A.), Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary (MDiv Pastoral Studies, ThM Old Testament Studies), and Grace Seminary (DMin). Brad is a certified biblical counselor and Fellow with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). He has pastored Wheelersburg Baptist Church since 1987.
Dr. Mark Phillips, Professor of Christian Apologetics and Philosophy at Tri-State Bible College, join Matt and Rex for an introductory conversation about Critical (Race) Theory in Appalachia.
Dr. J. Matt Shamblin and Rex J. Howe interview Dr. Desmond Barrett, the lead pastor at Summit Church of the Nazarene in Ashland, KY. The Barrett Family came to Summit Nazarene as the pastoral family in January of 2019 after serving in the Virginia and Kentucky Districts. Pastor Desmond is a graduate of Nazarene Bible College with a Bachelor of Ministry degree and Trevecca Nazarene University with a Master of Organizational Leadership and Doctor of Education in Leadership and Professional Practice. Pastor Desmond and Julie have four children and are passionate about living the mission of Christ and seeing His Kingdom built locally and around the world. The Barrett's have been married since 2000.
Tri-State Bible College (TSBC) Appalachian Research Fellow Dr. J. Matt Shamblin and TSBC President Rex J. Howe introduce the financial tension facing those serving in Appalachian ministry and explain the aim of the Level Paths podcast.
Tri-State Bible College Appalachian Research Fellow, Dr. J. Matt Shamblin, and TSBC President, Rex J. Howe, continue to introduce Christian ministry in Appalachia through a brief history of the church in the region and by sharing their own Christian experiences as "preacher boys" in central Appalachia.
Dr. J. Matt Shamblin and Rex Howe of the Tri-State Bible College Appalachian Ministry Institute begin to unpack "Appalachia" and the nature of Christian ministry in the region. Matt and Rex discuss the history of Christian ministry in Appalachia, some of the spiritual perils unique to Appalachia, and the level paths giving a clear view to God's glory in Appalachia.