Rusty Water Towers is a podcast in search of Faith and Hope in Rural Life and Ministry. Each episode includes a guest sharing stories and experiences of their rural life. My hope is that this podcasts reveals the creative potential latent in rural life. We launch September 21st, 2022!
- by Jonathan M LeMaster-SmithIn which I get so excited to celebrate country music and 500 plays that I forget that I already covered Hank Williams, but it still works. Also, I confess to things about Randy Travis and Pop Country icons. Our playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qnPKxunKlRsAvqUD6hqdY?si=c2ec849a7df442e9 Our bookshelf : https://jlemaster-smith.com/bookshelf/ Our Social Media: Facebook and […]
- by Jonathan M LeMaster-SmithThis week's episode takes us very close to my churches. Johnny and I talk about the experiences of a new pastor in rural ministry and all his twists and turns. There's also some John Wesley, fried bologna, and a biscuit on the way out the door. Johnny Norton is a […]
- by Jonathan M LeMaster-SmithThis week we get into nineties country, whether my guest, Amber Laffey has the magic touch, meat lockers, Budweiser horses and more. Amber Laffey is an LLP (hopefully soon to be commissioned as a Deacon) in the Dakotas Conference of the UMC and serves a congregation of about 40 people […]
- by Jonathan M LeMaster-SmithThis episode is an exploration of three Christmas songs, six holiday traditions, and, apparently, ambulance sirens. We explore mistletoe, kissing balls, Christmas caroling, Christmas boogering, fruitcake, and holiday treat bags. We also see Dr. J realizing he would much rather host than provide commentary. Also, we learn that Dr. J […]
- by Jonathan M LeMaster-SmithThis episode almost becomes a food podcast as we talk about the life and hope in rural spaces and how every community has to have a festival. We speak to the realities of traveling speakers, learning to use a bobcat, and how church buildings really are assets in the community. […]
- by Jonathan M LeMaster-SmithThis episode is two people talking about barbecue, chairs, death, life, and so much more. There's even a part where we talk about the difference between hamburgers and cheeseburgers in the rural Carolinas. Allen Stanton is the Executive Director of the Turner Center for Rural Vitality at the University of […]
- by Jonathan M LeMaster-SmithIn this episode, Shannon LeMaster-Smith, the multi-talented writer and singer of our theme song (who also happens to be my wife) joins me on the podcast as we travel down the highway to visit family for Thanksgiving. We talk about life, ministry, music, and much more. You'll here us and […]
- by Jonathan M LeMaster-SmithThere's so much talk about here, including issues with Uranium, small churches raising more money than big churches, and whether or not the bar from "Boot Scootin' Boogie" and "Neon Moon" are the same moon. Britt Terry is an English professor at the University of South Carolina; she funded her […]
- by Jonathan M LeMaster-SmithThis week we talk to a pastor who has lived all over the country in all sorts of churches. We talk about Kenny Rogers, rural hospitals, and the reality of evangelism that's just inviting people to church…any church. Philmont is Pastor of West Valley Community Church, is a PhD Precandidate […]
- by Jonathan M LeMaster-SmithThis week, there's a lot of music. I think we talk about Tanya Tucker, Helen Reddy, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Bonny Raitt, Brandy Carlile (and the rest of the The Highwomen). But really, it's, as always, all about the stories, connections, and the hope we find, even in paperwork season. […]
Jonathan LeMaster-Smith 