Auto techs change oil while chaplains change lives
PIKEVILLE, Ky. (KT) -- Oil isn't the only thing being changed at auto service centers in central Appalachia. Lives are, too. Chaplains serve alongside work crews at Fast Change Lube & Oil centers in the mountains of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Matt Hinson, regional director of operations for Marketplace Chaplains USA, ...
Appalachian pastor’s 54 years of ‘enduring ministry’
PIPPA PASSES, Ky. (BP) -- At a time when the tenures of most pastors is measured in single digits, Lawrence Baldridge is an anomaly, having served Caney Baptist Church in the heart of Appalachia for 54 years. "It's been an interesting journey," the 81-year-old pastor said, recounting stories from his years ministering daily to communities in Kentucky's mountain region. "Ministry here, I think, is more personal. The people are real. If they like you, they will tell you. If they don't like you, they will tell you. You have to earn their respect, ...
