2025 Appalachian Ministry Conference: Evangelism in Appalachia
Gathering at Tri-State Bible College each year in April for the Appalachian Ministry Conference has become an experience that ministry leaders from our region look forward to. It is an opportunity for us to spend a full day together in effective fellowship for the gospel and God’s glory to the people in north central Appalachia. Our theme for our 4th annual conference is Evangelism in Appalachia.
Plenary Speaker, Storyteller, and Music
We welcome Dr. David Wheeler as our Plenary Speaker! David is the author of The Great Commission to Worship: Biblical Principles for Worship-Based Evangelism and Evangelism Is . . .: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence. David brings to us his years of pastoral experience in Texas and Tennessee and in the classroom as a faculty member at Liberty University. Pastor Phil Neighbors has deep roots in Appalachia going back generations into the revival movements that shaped the entire region. The ripples of those revival movements stretched from Phil’s family in Kentucky all the way to the church planting movement he’s been a part of for decades in Bakersfield, CA. Pastor Phil joins us as our Appalachian Storyteller at the 2025 Conference, and he will lead a Breakout Session called “Migration As Mission.” Chosen Road is back! We love these guys! Chosen Road has become part of our family at TSBC, and we look forward to worshiping with them again on April 29th! If you haven’t stayed up with how God has been using the ministry of music, be sure to check out their website and follow them on social media.
Twelve Breakout Sessions Focused on Evangelism in Appalachia
God has graced us with an incredibly gifted lineup for the 2025 Breakouts at the Appalachian Ministry Conference! Thank you, Lord! The TSBC Appalachian Ministry Institute believes that it is time to renew our efforts to reach the people of Appalachia with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Morning Breakouts
- Not Interested: Evangelizing Those Who Are Indifferent to the Gospel — Dr. Jay Moon with Asbury Theological Seminary
- Church Planting in Appalachia — Josh Perry with Redemption Church in Huntington, WV
- Church Cooperation for Evangelism in Appalachia — Dr. Jacob Marshall with Antioch Baptist Church in Ona, WV
- Migration As Mission— Phil Neighbors with Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, CA
- A Missional Approach to Appalachian Evangelism — Dr. Yakubu Jakada with Tri-State Bible College
- Planning for Appalachian Evangelism in Your Church — Rex J. Howe with Tri-State Bible College
Afternoon Breakouts
- Leading Evangelistic Small Groups — Dr. Matt Shamblin with the TSBC Appalachian Ministry Institute
- Dynamic Evangelism — Dr. David Wheeler with Liberty University
- Camp in the Discipleship Experience of Appalachian Youth — Scott and Pam Bruns with Scioto Hills Christian Camp & Retreat Center
- Reaching Appalachians When You’re Not an Appalachian — Heath & Amber Bauer with Unity Baptist Church
- The Evangelistic Sermon in the Worship of the Local Church — Jeff Canterbury with First Baptist Church of Ceredo, WV
- Apologetics in Appalachian Evangelism — Dr. Mark Phillips with Tri-State Bible College
Schedule Updates
Each year, we ask you for feedback, we assess it, and we implement the changes that we can make to improve your experience. You’ll notice that the schedule is slightly shorter this year, allowing the conference to end at 4:00 PM instead of 5:00 PM. We pray this is a blessing to your full schedules and continues to provide you with the encouragement and equipping that we all value at the Appalachian Ministry Conference.
Sponsorship Opportunities
The Appalachian Ministry Institute at Tri-State Bible College depends on the support of sponsors to make the annual conference affordable to Christian leaders. We plan for $20,000–$24,000 in expenses each year to offer access to a specialized conference that truly fits and equips in Appalachia. Revenue from registrations only account for a little over $3,000. For this reason, we ask you to consider sponsoring the 2025 Appalachian Ministry Conference. Various opportunities and levels of sponsorship are available! Find our explanation page for sponsors in this PDF or in the images below. Reach out to President Rex Howe at [email protected] for inquiries about sponsorship or donations for the 2025 AMC.
