IGNITING A MOVEMENT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WITH JARED ARNETT

Eastern Kentucky, a region often painted with broad stereotypes, is seeing a powerful movement rooted in faith, community, and transformation. The podcast "Together for the Mountains" kicks off its series exploring how "faith comes alive in the heart of the mountains," highlighting God's work through everyday people saying "yes" to His call. This isn't just a podcast; it's described as a "front porch conversation about faith in action, community transformation and the kind of love that steps outside the church walls to make a difference". 

Each episode will share real stories, connect with local leaders, and explore how everyone can play a part in something bigger than themselves.

Leading this initiative is Jared Arnett, a man deeply passionate about seeing real change in Eastern Kentucky. Jared's goal is to bring people together – churches, leaders, and everyday folks – to say yes to what God is doing in the region.

Deep Roots in the Mountains

Jared's connection to Eastern Kentucky is personal and lifelong. He was born and raised in Salyersville, Kentucky, and found his way to Pikeville after high school, attending what is now the University of Pikeville. He met his wife Bethany there and has remained in Pikeville for nearly 25 years since starting college. While acknowledging he could have ended up elsewhere, Jared feels called to stay. He sees that you can "go on mission in your own community," and God has provided opportunities for him to do just that. This longevity in one place is seen as a gift, allowing him to be known and to deeply know the community, making a significant difference.

Jared recognizes that Eastern Kentucky, while part of the broader Appalachian stretch, faces misconceptions. People often take one negative component and apply it broadly to the entire place. While some stereotypes hold elements of truth, they are not the whole story. Visitors from outside the area are often surprised by the reality. There are pockets of real opportunity, incredible people doing incredible things, and a group of believers called to this place. The region has a strong emphasis on families and deep connections, where relatives often live close by, a beautiful aspect that fosters investment in one another. The simplicity of life here, sometimes viewed negatively, is also seen as a positive, offering a slower pace and contentment.

From Political Initiative to Faith Movement

Jared's path to leading Together for the Mountains involved a significant transition. About five years prior, in 2020, he stepped down as the executive director of SOAR (Shaping Our Appalachian Region), a political initiative focused on community and economic development. He served there for about six years, gaining valuable experience and being part of a team that achieved significant economic outcomes, including bringing remote work and connecting people to jobs, contributing to the region's economic shift post-coal.

Although SOAR wasn't a faith-based organization, Jared felt he was doing full-time ministry from a place of faith. However, after getting the organization to a solid place, he felt God calling him to transition. He missed the deeper, personal connections and felt God wanted him to focus more on ministry and walking with Him. Leaving SOAR was a leap of faith, stepping away from security and a potential long-term legacy. When asked where he was going, he didn't know, which was difficult for others to understand, and even for him at times.

Amidst questioning this step, Jared found profound confirmation. Cleaning out his SOAR office on his last day, he found a card his wife Bethany had given him six years prior when he started. Inside, beside the verse Ephesians 2:10, she had written, "God's prepared you for this and this he's preparing you for what's next". Ephesians 2:10, which says "we're God's masterpiece created in Christ Jesus to do good things he prepared in advance for us to do," had been a foundational verse for Faith Life Ministries, a non-profit he co-founded in Pikeville. Finding this card was a moment of profound trust for Jared, surrendering his plans to God's.

Shortly after leaving SOAR, Jared was contacted by Southland Christian Church, which had been exploring launching a campus in the Pikeville area. Jared had previously met with their missions team while at SOAR to discuss poverty and community in Appalachia. This connection, initially thought to be a one-off, eventually led to conversations with Lee Webb and Nate Head from Southland. Jared had long felt that his roles in ministry and economic development would somehow come together. Through months of prayer and discernment, Southland proposed partnering with Jared to start something called Together for the Mountains. 

The name resonated deeply with Jared, who had been passionate about seeing God receive more credit for the work happening in the region.

A Movement to Encourage and Equip

Together for the Mountains officially came alive around the time of its first Summit in September or October of 2022. The initiative is about bringing Christ-followers, churches, and organizations together to leave Eastern Kentucky better than they found it, hoping to see the region transformed by Jesus. The core idea is to acknowledge what God is already doing through people and partners in the mountains and "throw fuel to the fire and acknowledge him acknowledge them encourage them and equip them".

The movement aims to unite believers across geographies, denominations, and sectors, focusing on the unity found in Christ. They create space for people serving outside the walls of the church, helping neighbors experience Jesus. This involves two main goals: encouraging believers by sharing stories of God's work, and equipping them with training and guidance to increase their impact. The early church's practice of sending Barnabas to encourage believers is cited as inspiration.

The first Together for the Mountains Summit was a powerful moment, described by Jared and others as "amazing". Seeing ministry leaders and church partners gathered together felt like something only God could have orchestrated. The summit was a launching point for many, including the podcast host, affirming their call to plant churches and minister in Eastern Kentucky. It was a place where people felt encouraged, inspired, and saw a new vision coming to life.

Seeing God's Hand at Work

Drawing inspiration from the story of Nehemiah, Jared feels a heart to see God accomplish transformation in Eastern Kentucky that no political initiative or government program has been able to achieve. Just as Nehemiah called the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with every family taking a part, Together for the Mountains believes that the body of Christ works through everyone contributing. The hope is not in the organization itself, but in acknowledging what God is already doing through His people. This aligns with the belief that every believer is in full-time ministry, whether they are a coach, teacher, entrepreneur, or work in any other role. God wants to work in and through them to bless those around them.

The work includes supporting various ministries and partners throughout the region, focusing on relational, tangible efforts. For those in the trenches of ministry, the Summit serves as a place to "come up for air," share challenges, find renewed passion, and feel part of a family.

Eastern Kentucky is a "churched place," yet many people are not engaged in a local body of believers and may have had negative experiences with the church. Together for the Mountains seeks to serve everyone in the region so they can experience Jesus not just as truth or good news, but as being good news, healing, feeding, guiding, and giving purpose. The goal is to help people open their eyes to the good news of Jesus Christ, where true hope is anchored, not in economics, politics, or power.

Words of Encouragement from Jared

To the Church Leader: Thank you for serving. Be a vision caster for your congregation, helping each person find their purpose in their mission field. Don't feel pressured by metrics or discouraged by numbers; pour into and send the people you have. Equip them each Sunday to do ministry.

To the Community/Workplace Leader: You are in full-time ministry. You have a mission field right in front of you. See your job as an opportunity to serve and steward your gifts, bringing light into your workplace. Be there for colleagues who are lonely, left out, or going through hard times. Your circumstances don't have to change for you to do God's work today; watch for where God is working and follow Him.

To the Person in the Mountains: There is hope here. It's possible to live a good life here, contrary to the misconception that one must leave. Thank you for serving in this place. Hope exists not just spiritually but also in entrepreneurial and community efforts.

Together for the Mountains is more than just a name for a movement; it's a prayer: "God bring your people together for the mountains," referring not just to the physical landscape, but to the people God loves deeply. The movement believes that the church, the followers of Jesus in the region, is God's vehicle for people to truly know and understand His love. Their prayer, echoing Paul, is for God to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine. Their hope is to see such transformation that even the greatest skeptics will acknowledge that God was leading and changing people. The call is to "Go Outside," referencing Hebrews 13:12-13, stepping outside the comfortable walls to bear the disgrace Jesus bore.

The journey is described as an "awesome adventure," full of moments where only God could have orchestrated the path. It's a reminder to remember God's faithfulness in the past to fuel future leaps of faith. Together, they are saying "yes," showing up, and believing that God is on the move for the mountains.

To learn more about Together for the Mountains, you can visit their website, watch their YouTube channel, or subscribe to their podcast.