The Pulpit and Porch

Higher Ministries
  • 4.8 (4)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The Pulpit & Porch is a podcast about real conversations at the intersection of faith, life, and leadership. Hosted by Tony Marr and Robert Kell, we invite you to pull up a chair, grab some sweet tea, and join us on the front porch, where stories are told, wisdom is shared, and no topic is off-limits. Each episode features honest dialogue with guests from all walks of life: entrepreneurs, pastors, artists, coaches, and everyday people making an impact. It’s about purpose. It’s about truth. It’s about learning to lead and live well. Always grounded in the Christian faith. Never stuck in a box.

  1. Sep 29

    Can You Really Be Honest With God? |Steven James — Pulpit & Porch Rewind

    What if we stopped trying to sound good when we pray? In this Pulpit & Porch Rewind, we sit down with author, storyteller, and longtime friend Steven James for a conversation about prayer, pain, vulnerability, and what it really means to know God. Steven is the author of A Heart Exposed, a collection of honest, raw prayers written over decades. But this conversation quickly becomes about much more than a book. Steven shares the story of the childhood burns that left him with permanent scars, and the surprising moment years later when those scars helped another child begin to heal. He talks about why our prayers can become stale, how we can develop a deeper “vocabulary” for prayer, and the difference between knowing about God and actually knowing God. They also talk about the masks we wear, the pressure to maintain an image, and what happens when we finally bring God our real questions, pain, joy, grief, doubt, and hope. This is an older conversation from the Pulpit & Porch archives, but the questions feel as relevant as ever: Can we really be completely honest with God? And what might happen if we were? In this episode: Honest and vulnerable prayerWhy our prayer life can become staleSteven's story of childhood scars and AlexStorytelling, imagination, and faithThe difference between knowing about God and knowing GodTaking off the masks we wearBringing doubt, grief, joy, and pain to GodWhat prayer reveals about usSteven James: A Heart Exposed

  2. Sep 22

    The Man Behind the Mayor with Neal Osborne

    What happens when you sit down with someone you've never met and simply start asking questions? In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, Tony Marr sits down with Neal Osborne, Vice Mayor of Bristol, Virginia, for a conversation that goes far beyond his public life. Neal has served on Bristol City Council since 2018 and has served as both mayor and vice mayor. He also works with United Way of Southwest Virginia and is a father to a teenage daughter. But this conversation isn't really about politics. It's about the person behind the public role. Neal shares about growing up in Bristol, surviving kidney failure as a young child, living with Type 1 diabetes, his relationship with his father, and how his father's battle with cancer and death in 2016 changed the direction of his life. We talk about community, leadership, fatherhood, faith, loss, public service, and the things that shape us long before anyone knows our name or our title. Most of all, this is a conversation about getting to know someone, not because we already know their story, but because we're willing to sit down and listen. Neal Osborne is Vice Mayor of Bristol, Virginia and works as Development Coordinator for United Way of Southwest Virginia.

  3. Sep 15

    The Life You Were Given: David Clark on Calling, Sacrifice & Faith

    What happens when the life you planned isn't the life God has planned for you? In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, Tony Marr sits down with retired pastor David Clark for a deeply personal conversation about calling, faith, ministry, sacrifice, family, leadership, retirement, and learning to trust the life you've been given. David originally planned to become a lawyer. At 20 years old, a Christian conference changed the direction of his life, and he entered vocational ministry. What followed was more than 50 years of preaching, leadership, relationships, church growth, struggle, humor, missions, and learning what it really means to follow a calling. David shares the difficult seasons of ministry, including depression after moving to Florida, moments when he wanted to quit, the personal cost ministry had on his family, the fear of disappointing church leaders, and the challenge of discovering who you are when the title you've carried for decades is suddenly gone. We also talk about his 22 years at Boones Creek Christian Church, why he believes pastors should genuinely love the people they serve, the importance of friendships within the church, his ministry in Haiti, retirement, and why he believes a calling doesn't retire. And near the end of the conversation, David is asked a simple question: Did you live the life you chose, or the life you were given? His answer says a lot about the story of his life. This is a conversation about following God's calling, trusting Him when the path changes, finding purpose in every season, and learning to look back at your life and see the story God was writing all along. Crawl Into My Story by David ClarkDavid's collection of humorous and meaningful stories from a lifetime of ministry and life. David's Haiti MinistryDavid and his wife support a ministry in Haiti serving children, families, education, and the church. Want to talk with David about calling or ministry?David invited listeners who are struggling with their calling or feeling discouraged in ministry to reach out to him directly. His contact information is shared during the episode.

  4. Sep 8

    What Are You Hiding? The Cost of Success with Tyler Dickerhoof

    What if the very things that made you successful are also the things keeping you from the relationships, connection, and significance you really want? In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, Tony Marr sits down with leadership coach, speaker, entrepreneur, and author Tyler Dickerhoof for a conversation about leadership, insecurity, success, vulnerability, faith, relationships, and the things we hide. Tyler shares the deeply personal story of losing his three-year-old brother in a farming accident when he was just 14 years old, and how that experience shaped the way he approached life, work, achievement, and relationships. We talk about the difference between success and significance, why our greatest strengths can sometimes become our greatest weaknesses, and what happens when the walls we build to protect ourselves eventually keep other people out. This conversation goes far beyond leadership. It's about becoming honest about what's really driving us, and learning to lead, live, and connect without hiding. Connect with Tyler Dickerhoof: The Things We Hide — Tyler's Book Impact Driven Leader — Leadership Coaching, Community & Resources The Tyler Dickerhoof Podcast The Pulpit & Porch is a podcast about the stories beneath the stories. The experiences, people, struggles, faith, and moments that shape who we become. Subscribe, follow, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. #TylerDickerhoof #TheThingsWeHide #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #AuthenticLeadership #Success #Significance #Vulnerability #Faith #ThePulpitAndPorch

  5. Sep 1

    What Does It Really Mean to Serve? w/ Bryan Kimberlin

    What does it really mean to live a life of service? In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch Podcast, Tony Marr sits down with Bryan for a conversation about service, purpose, leadership, and the decision to dedicate your life to something bigger than yourself. Bryan shares his personal story and the experiences that shaped the way he sees service, responsibility, and leadership. We talk about what draws people toward a life of service, what it means to see yourself as a servant, and how those choices can become part of your identity. This isn't simply a conversation about what someone does for a living. It's a conversation about why we serve, what motivates us to keep showing up, and what happens when service becomes part of who we are. Along the way, Tony and Bryan explore questions about calling, sacrifice, responsibility, leadership, faith, and the kind of life worth building. What makes someone choose a life of service? And why do some people feel called to serve in the first place? That's the question at the heart of this conversation.

  6. Aug 25

    What Does It Actually Mean to Be a Man? w/ Anthony Curnutt

    What Does It Actually Mean to Be a Man? Our culture has given men plenty of answers: be strong, provide, lead, don't show weakness, never cry. But what if we've been asking the wrong question? Anthony Curnutt has spent years helping men wrestle with what it means to be a husband, father, leader, and follower of Jesus. In this conversation, we talk about masculinity, loneliness, fatherhood, vulnerability, failure, and why Anthony believes the heart of biblical masculinity isn't strength at all, it's servanthood. Anthony also shares the powerful story of the moment his father looked at him as a rebellious teenager and simply said, "Jesus died for you." Years later, that moment still shapes the man he became. This is a conversation about what it really means to become the kind of man your family, your friends, and your faith are calling you to be. Real Men Ministrieshttps://www.realmenministries.us Real Men Talk PodcastAvailable wherever you listen to podcasts. Framework for Biblical MasculinityAnthony's book is available on Amazon. Search "Framework for Biblical Masculinity" by Anthony Curnutt. Email: realmen@palaceofpraise.com #ThePulpitAndPorch #AnthonyCurnutt #BiblicalMasculinity #ChristianMen #MensMinistry #BiblicalManhood #ChristianFatherhood #ChristianLeadership #RealMenTalk #TonyMarr

  7. Aug 18

    Why You No Longer Know What's True w/ Terry Mattingly

    Who decides what becomes news? Why does it feel like half the country is living in a completely different reality than the other half? And what if the greatest influence on your faith isn't your church... but your phone? In this episode of The Pulpit & Porch, Tony Marr sits down with veteran religion journalist Terry Mattingly, founder of GetReligion, creator of Rational Sheep, syndicated columnist, professor, and one of America's foremost voices on journalism and religion. Together, they explore how the modern media landscape has changed, why objective journalism is disappearing, how algorithms quietly shape our beliefs, and why Christians need to become more discerning consumers of media. This conversation goes far beyond politics. It's about attention, discipleship, truth, and learning to recognize the stories that are quietly shaping our lives. Whether you're interested in journalism, culture, media, faith, technology, or simply understanding why our society feels so divided, this is a conversation you won't soon forget. Why journalism has fundamentally changedThe collapse of objective newsHow social media algorithms shape what you believeWhat Terry calls "Religion Ghosts" and why they matterWhy Hollywood tells stories the Church can't ignoreSmartphones and screen cultureThe future of journalismHow Christians can become wiser media consumersWhy truth requires humilityTerry's unforgettable stories interviewing Mother Teresa, Bono, Denzel Washington, and more If this conversation encourages you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who values thoughtful conversations about faith and culture. CONNECT WITH TERRY Rational Sheep: https://tmattingly.substack.com tmatt.net

  8. Aug 11

    Most People Get Grace Completely Wrong w/ David Mullins

    What if you've believed the wrong thing about God's love your entire life? For years, Pastor David Mullins has preached about grace, but in this conversation, he shares why grace isn't something we earn, deserve, or achieve. It's something we spend a lifetime discovering. In this deeply thoughtful episode of The Pulpit & Porch, Tony Marr sits down with David Mullins, Senior Pastor of Colonial Heights Christian Church in Kingsport, Tennessee, to explore the quiet story behind a life in ministry. Together they discuss growing up in rural Indiana, the influence of family, the unexpected death of David's brother Rich Mullins, serving Native American communities, leadership, church transitions, calling, and why so many Christians still struggle to believe they are loved by God. Rather than focusing on ministry accomplishments, this conversation uncovers the deeper story of grace that has shaped David's entire life. Whether you're a pastor, church leader, someone wrestling with faith, or simply wondering if God could really love someone like you, this conversation is for you. In this episode: • Growing up in rural Indiana and the family that shaped David's faith • The influence of his parents, Bruce Montgomery, and Rich Mullins • The professor who told him he would never last in ministry • Following God's calling into Native American ministry • Leadership, church transitions, and difficult decisions • Why grace became the defining message of his life • What David believes breaks God's heart today • The one thing he hopes every person understands about God's love. If this conversation encouraged you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Connect with David Mullins Colonial Heights Christian Church Website:https://www.chcckpt.org Watch sermons:https://www.youtube.com/@ColonialHeightsChristianChurch

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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Pulpit & Porch is a podcast about real conversations at the intersection of faith, life, and leadership. Hosted by Tony Marr and Robert Kell, we invite you to pull up a chair, grab some sweet tea, and join us on the front porch, where stories are told, wisdom is shared, and no topic is off-limits. Each episode features honest dialogue with guests from all walks of life: entrepreneurs, pastors, artists, coaches, and everyday people making an impact. It’s about purpose. It’s about truth. It’s about learning to lead and live well. Always grounded in the Christian faith. Never stuck in a box.

Information

  • Creator
    Higher Ministries
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    178
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Higher Ministries
  • Show Website
    The Pulpit and Porch

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