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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 A

Appalachian Ministry Institute

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    • Oct 29, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 36m AVG DURATION
    • 52 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Level Paths

    The State of the Church in Appalachia - 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 52:33


    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.

    From Planting to Pastoring in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2024 42:15


    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?

    Planting Appalachian Churches

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2024 34:48


    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).

    Counseling with the Soil of Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 26:30


    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.

    Leading Your Ministry Well in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 34:52


    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.

    Reaching Out with Hope in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 39:49


    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.

    Trauma Informed Ministry in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024 37:53


    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.

    Leading from the Pulpit in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 43:40


    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.

    Next Generation Ministry in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 25:25


    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.

    Deconstructing Faith in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2023 35:44


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

    Sufficiency of Scripture in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2023 38:53


    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.

    Unrealistic Expectations in Appalachian Ministry

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 34:59


    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.

    Legendary Leadership Rooted in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 36:13


    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 65 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.

    Nostalgia and Mission in Appalachia (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2023 46:29


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

    Nostalgia and Mission in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 37:12


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

    The Pastoral Burden in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2023 31:52


    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.

    Holy Spirit in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2023 44:26


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

    New in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2023 38:32


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

    Youth Ministry in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2023 28:14


    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.

    Church Planting in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023 32:15


    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.

    Appalachians on Mission: Pastor Dean Fulks

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2023 25:32


    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.

    Revival in Asbury

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2023 35:47


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

    Addressing the Perceptions of Appalachians

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2023 45:04


    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.

    Music in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 32:24


    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.

    Christmas in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2022 28:48


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

    The Nazarene Church in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2022 32:44


    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.

    Evangelism in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2022 41:31


    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.

    Adaptive Leadership in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2022 29:44


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

    When Ministry Hurts in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 34:12


    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 in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2022 30:58


    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.

    Hope for Churches in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2022 37:41


    Dr. Matt and Rex find revitalizing hope for declining churches in Appalachia in a conversation with Pastor Jason McClanahan.

    The Bible in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2022 40:24


    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.

    Pastoral Searches in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2022 31:39


    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.

    Ministry Together in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2022 33:07


    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.

    Rural Renaissance & Mission in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 35:08


    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.

    Mental Health in a Post-COVID Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2022 30:28


    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.

    Adoption in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2022 43:56


    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.

    Church Planting in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2022 30:54


    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.

    Strategic Planning for Level Paths in Appalachia

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2021 51:18


    Matt and Rex discuss the phases of strategic planning and implementation in an Appalachian setting.

    Prayer and Revival in the Rural Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2021 37:18


    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.

    State of the Church in Appalachia (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2021 57:01


    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.

    State of the Church in Appalachia (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 54:26


    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.

    Roots of Appalachian Christianity with Elder John Sparks

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2021 36:51


    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.

    Called to Shepherd & Love in Appalachia with Pastor Tommy Reed

    Play Episode Play 30 sec Highlight Play 30 sec Highlight Listen Later Sep 23, 2021 37:22


    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.

    Church Revitalization in Appalachia with Dr. Tom Cheyney (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 33:18


    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.

    Church Revitalization in Appalachia with Dr. Tom Cheyney (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2021 29:37


    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.

    Biblical Counseling in Appalachia with Pastor Brad Brandt

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2021 36:01


    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.

    C(R)T in Appalachia with Dr. Mark Phillips

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2021 33:57


    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.

    Affirming Persevering Ministry in Tough Times & Places: An Interview with Pastor Desmond Barrett

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 47:36


    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.

    Introducing Christian Ministry in Appalachia: Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2021 19:21


    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.

    Introducing Christian Ministry in Appalachia: Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 27:59


    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.

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