PODCAST · religion
Level Paths
by 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.
Episodes
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Prayer in the Life of the Church with Dr. Jeff VanGoethem
President Rex pops into the Level Paths recording room to interview his former pastor, Dr. Jeff VanGoethem. Pastor Jeff is the Pastor of Spiritual Development & Missions at East White Oak Bible Church in Carlock, IL. He has been an influential leader on prayer and offer 40 years of experience in...
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Student Ministry in Appalachia with Dr. Matt McClay
Dr. and Pastor Matt McClay talks with Dr. Matt about the state of youth ministry in Appalachia. Pastor Matt is the Student Pastor at Lewis Memorial Baptist Church, and he will lead "Faithful in Student Ministry" at the Appalachian Ministry Institute Conference on October 6, 2026. Pastor Matt's...
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Faithful Longevity in Ministry in Appalachia with Dr. David Lemming
Dr. and Pastor David Lemming has served as Senior Pastor Lewis Memorial Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia for over forty-four years. This year, he will be the Keynote Speaker at the 2026 Appalachian Ministry Institute Conference at Tri-State Bible College on October 6, 2026. The long…
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Biblically Rooted Discipleship in Appalachia with Will Basham
Dr. Matt meets with Pastor and Church Planter Will Basham of New Heights Baptist Church in Milton, WV. With God's grace, Pastor Will has created a culture of expository preaching, discipleship and leadership development, serious church membership, and mission through church planting. His church…
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Opportunities in Ministry with Dr. Desmond Barrett
Dr. Matt welcomes Dr. Desmond back to the Level Paths podcast to discuss opportunities in ministry. How does one evaluate potential ministry opportunities? How does leaving or returning to Appalachia impact this decision? How is God shaping your calling as you traverse seasons of challenge and...
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Ministry Success and Longevity in Appalachia with Pastor John Gowdy
Dr. Matt spends time with Pastor John Gowdy to discuss ministry success and longevity in Appalachia. Pastor John recently completed forty-five years of pastoral ministry at Temple Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Ohio. While Pastor John saw social and economic decline take hold of his town, he also...
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Preaching in Appalachia
Dr. Matt offers sage advice for preaching in an Appalachian context. In addition to guidance, he touches on some of the common errors Appalachian preachers commit in sermon preparation and delivery. Since a regular diet of the Scriptures is critical to spiritual maturity, principles of expository...
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Revitalization and Criticism in Appalachia
Dr. Matt explores the work of church revitalization and the criticisms the efforts encounter in Appalachia.
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Current Issues in Appalachia
Dr. Matt interviews Tri-State Bible College’s Vice President of Academics, Dr. Mark Phillips to discuss the rise of the “Somethings” - a new group identified in religious research. The episode imagines what ministering to the “Somethings” in Appalachia may look like.
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When Is It Time to Accept a New Calling
Dr. Matt Shamblin explores an important question that people in ministry face either in their own lives or as a colleague seeks advice and prayer. When is it time to accept a new calling?
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Fellowship among Pastors in Appalachia
Dr. Matt serves as the Appalachian Research Fellow at the Appalachian Ministry Institute at Tri-State Bible College. In this episode, Matt expresses the biblical and contextual principle for pastors to commit to fellowship with one another as a source of encouragement and endurance in ministry....
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NASCAR and Contextualizing Ministry in Appalachia
Dr. Matt illustrates the need for the contextualization of ministry in Appalachia through NASCAR's own Appalachian heritage and experience. Also, Dr. Matt gives an update about our 2026 Appalachian Ministry Conference!
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The Incarnation in Appalachia
Did Christ come into existence at his birth? Did he give up his deity when he became a human? No and no! Dr. Matt welcomes back President Rex for a special Christmas edition of the Level Paths podcast to focus on a little bit of the theology of the incarnation. Praise to the Son Eternal! Merry...
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How Ministry Has Changed in Appalachia Since COVID - Part 2
After examining evidence-based studies about societal changes following the pandemic, Dr. Matt shifts his focus to the workplace and work relationships, faith and practice, and to the way people view life. Some researchers have called this the time of "The Great Detachment." People's priorities...
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How Has Ministry Changed in Appalachia Since COVID - Part 1
Dr. Matt revisits COVID-19. The pandemic increased the speed at which some societal trends had been moving, such as declining mental health and skepticism about the credibility of institutions and authority. It also had the effect of strengthening and expanding the church's resolve toward…
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Discouragement in Appalachia
Dr. Matt explores discouragement in Appalachian ministry through the biblical narrative about the prophet Elijah. He highlights the importance of finding encouragement in the presence of God, in the company of fellow believers, and receiving an endurance from God that never, never gives up.
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Patterns of Change in Appalachian Churches
Dr. Jacob Marshall joins Dr. Matt Shamblin to discuss patterns of change in Appalachian churches. Evidence of a past legacy of faith exists here; however, churches are encountering barriers today that are hindering them from experiencing God's blessing. Listen to learn about the patterns Dr....
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Why Change Matters in a Church in Appalachia
Is the mission of the church to perpetuate Appalachian tradition or to make disciples of all nations? Dr. Matt kicks off the sixth season of the Level Paths podcast by exploring Why Change Matters in a Church, especially churches that exist in an Appalachian context.
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Difficulty Serving in Appalachia
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.
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VBS in Appalachia
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...
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Cultivating an Evangelistic Church Culture in Appalachia
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.
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Changes in Appalachian Evangelism
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.
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Ripples of Revival from Appalachia with Pastor Phil Neighbors
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...
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Missionary Mindset in Appalachia
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.
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Christmas Eve in 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.
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Decline of Christian Subculture in Appalachia
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.
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Community Among Pastors in Appalachia
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...
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The State of the Church in Appalachia - 2024
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...
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From Planting to Pastoring in Appalachia
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...
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Planting Appalachian Churches
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).
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Counseling with the Soil of Appalachia
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.
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Leading Your Ministry Well in Appalachia
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...
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Reaching Out with Hope in Appalachia
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.
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Trauma Informed Ministry in 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.
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Leading from the Pulpit in Appalachia
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.
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Next Generation Ministry in Appalachia
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.
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Deconstructing Faith in Appalachia
Dr. Matt and President Rex welcome Dr. Mark Phillips back to Level Paths to learn how deconstructing faith takes shape in Appalachia.
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Sufficiency of Scripture 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.
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Unrealistic Expectations in Appalachian Ministry
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.
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Legendary Leadership Rooted in Appalachia
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...
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Nostalgia and Mission in Appalachia (Part 2)
Dr. Matt and President Rex continue exploring how generational competition can transform into generational contribution to the great commission in Appalachia.
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Nostalgia and Mission in Appalachia
Dr. Matt and President Rex explore how generational competition can transform into generational contribution to the great commission in Appalachia.
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The Pastoral Burden 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...
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Holy Spirit in Appalachia
Dr. Matt and Rex discuss a controversial report on Appalachian Christianity from the year 1812, in which the Holy Spirit takes center stage.
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New in Appalachia
President Rex and Dr. Matt welcome Pastor Heath Bauer from Unity Baptist Church in Ashland, KY.
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Youth Ministry in Appalachia
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...
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Church Planting in Appalachia
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.
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Appalachians on Mission: Pastor Dean Fulks
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.
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Revival in Asbury
President Rex and Dr. Matt welcome Dr. and Pastor Jeff VanGoethem to discuss the recent Asbury revival.
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Addressing the Perceptions of Appalachians
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.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
HOSTED BY
Appalachian Ministry Institute
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Level Paths have?
Level Paths currently has 79 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Level Paths about?
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...
How often does Level Paths release new episodes?
Level Paths has 79 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Level Paths?
You can listen to Level Paths on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Level Paths?
Level Paths is created and hosted by Appalachian Ministry Institute.
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