Faiths of Appalachia: Hidden Stories of People Searching for Truth

Janice was your average LDS mom, house wife, and neighbor. Her whole life was shaped around the activities of her local Latter Day Saints churches, until at 47, she walked away. She stopped going to the church…this conversation explores her journey. To learn more about the LDS church click here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?... To hear more about people who have left the church you can check out: https://www.4mormon.org/ex-...

Urantia is not a philosophy that many have heard of yet for George Thornbury it has been his life for the past 50 years. In this episode, you hear from George about Urantia, its origins, the importance of its practice, and how he navigates this for a life of faithful service to others. To learn more or read the Urantia book please click here: https://www.urantia.org/ “Funding has been provided by Kentucky Humanities and the Nationa...

Rev. Judy Yunker is now a retired Episcopal priest, yet for first the 52 years of her religious life, she was a Roman Catholic Nun who started a religious community in Eastern Kentucky. For many years she taught and was even a Roman Catholic missionary teacher in South America. In this time, as a female, God was calling her to the priesthood… To learn more about the monastery that Judy helped found in Martin Kentucky, click here (M...

Daxon Caudill is born and raised in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky yet Christianity never connected to him especially after a family tragedy. Tibetan Buddhism however led him to a place of inner peace, tranquility, and a life of service to others. Now he is a social worker helping people find their center and using meditation and other spiritual practices for therapeutic support. To learn more about Buddhism and a famous teacher...

Jessica Hall was your average teenager in Eastern Kentucky when addiction ripped her life apart. She ended up homeless and near death, until God moved dramatically in her life. This is a conversation with Jessica Hall. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, please click: https://www.arccenters.com/ This podcast was filmed at Hemphill Community Center which is home to the Black Sheep Bakery in Lecther County, found out ...

Darrell Riffe deals daily with the complexities of foster care while also he deals with the complexities of living with no religious labels. His faith is closer to a horror movie than it is going to an altar and crying out for Jesus. Darrell shares his personal story of life without a label. “Funding has been provided by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Any views, findings, conclusions, or re...

Abuse, Incest, and a Rocky Irish Monastery...Join Dr. Sumer Bingham, a practical theologian who specializes in the impact of incest on a person's God image. She shares from her research and her life's journey as she wrestles with God. For more about Dr. Sumer Bingham, check out her her presentation about child sexual abuse and theology at    • Knowing God in the Aftermath of Childhood ...   “Funding has been provided by Kentucky Hu...

Bobby Preston is a young and ambitious man who wants to be an author and has a big joyous personality. He struggles with some obstacles, mainly he lives at a nursing home, battles with mental health ups and downs, and has some physical disabilities. Hear his faith story “Funding has been provided by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expresse...

Devin shares about his life with mental illness and the complications that it creates for faith and church. Devin is brilliant but struggles deeply and this has robbed his life of many opportunities yet he pushes on and hopes to share Light in the world. If you would like help with Bi-Polar Disorder click here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-s... “Funding has been provided by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for ...

Join Wali Ghayur as he talks about being a young immigrant Muslim in Eastern Kentucky and how he seeks to live out his faith as a young scholar in college. To see the mosque in Eastern Kentucky that supports area Muslims, click here:   / islamic-center-of-eastern-kentucky-icek-10...   “Funding has been provided by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommend...

Austin Greer is your average young adult searching for peace yet it was stunning when he found it at Hindu temple as he gazed at a deity. Join him as he shares of his journey toward finding peace in the Hare Krishna tradition today. To learn more about the Temple in Appalachia that changed Austin's life click here: https://www.newvrindaban.com/ “Funding has been provided by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Hum...

Pastor Debby Bailey is the first woman ordained in her denomination. She is a pioneer for female clergy in the mountains and now has dedicated her life to help the hungry and addicted. Her life is about transformation. You can find out more about her church at https://www.gracefellowshippikevillek... “Funding has been provided by Kentucky Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Any views, findings, conclusio...

Join Elder Nathan Little who shares about his fascination and love for the Old Regular Baptist faith. Although almost exclusively a faith tradition for senior citizens, Nathan believes this way of religious practice must be maintained or Appalachia will lose some of its distinctive flavor. To hear some singing of the Old Regular Baptist Church, click here: https://oldregularbaptist.com/songs/ “Funding has been provided by Kentucky ...

Rev. Brad Davis, is an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church and he proudly serves in Welch WV. He is the founder of the New Society (  / hollergospel  ) He is an unashamed proud Appalachian man who seeks to make Christ known in ways that lift up justice and challenge oppression. To learn more about Appalachian Liberation Theology please click here: https://appalachianchronicle.com/2016... “Funding has been provided by Ken...

Chaplain Grey Smith works at the Southeast State Correctional Complex as a chaplain and his journey is unique as he is the only Russian Orthodox deacon in Eastern Kentucky. He shares about his faith journey and how grief plays a large part in our lives and how God speaks to us. To learn more about Russian Orthodoxy in Appalachia click here: https://stmarysbluefield.org/ “Funding has been provided by Kentucky Humanities and the Nati...