Where the Rubber Meets the Road

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This week on Where the Rubber Meets the Road, Pastor Rile Baucom, Preacher Tony Baucom, Phillip Bowers, and Chris Tucker tackle a question every growing church wrestles with: how do you get people from the pew into actually serving? With an average of 280 in attendance but far fewer plugged in, the guys walk through what it really takes to move someone from sitting to serving — starting with prayer for God to send laborers, serving with real joy and enthusiasm instead of going through the motions, and helping people discover their purpose by asking what they love and what they’re genuinely good at (even if, as they joke, it’s definitely not singing for some of them). They talk candidly about the danger of rushing someone into a role before they’ve healed or found their calling, and what true partnership looks like — leading by example, having each other’s backs, and building trust instead of tearing each other down. It’s a practical, heart-driven conversation for anyone wondering how their church, or they themselves, can move from just showing up to truly serving.

If you’re wondering how to get more involved or need help finding your purpose in ministry, reach out through hopelesstohope.com or find the show on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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This week on Where the Rubber Meets the Road, Pastor Rile Baucom, Preacher Tony Baucom, Phillip Bowers, and Chris Tucker get real about serving in ministry  the mountaintops and the valleys, and everything in between. Drawing on Moses, Joseph, Hannah, Esther, and Paul, they talk about how it's usually the valley, not the mountain, where real growth happens. The guys share their own highs and lows: preaching a message that falls flat and hearing the devil whisper "you're a fool," pouring hours into a ministry only to see six people show up, watching people you've mentored walk away, and having to tell someone lovingly that a role just isn't their calling. They dig into the fundamentals that keep them steady you can't control people, lost people are going to do lost people things, ministry isn't measured by response, and you don't serve for a paycheck because the real payday is watching a life change. It's an honest, encouraging look at what it really costs, and what it's worth, to serve with a reminder that for every valley, there are two mountains.

If you're on the fence about getting plugged into ministry, or you're in a low season and need encouragement, reach out through hopelesstohope.com or find the show on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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This week on Where the Rubber Meets the Road, Pastor Rile Baucom, Preacher Tony Baucom, Phillip Bowers, and Chris Tucker sit down for an honest conversation on depression — a topic they admit they're only scratching the surface of, but one too important not to talk about. They share sobering statistics (one in ten adults, and two in ten young people ages 9 to 18, dealing with depression) and push back on the idea that it's something people can just "get over," pointing to biblical figures like David, Jeremiah, and Elijah who wrestled with the same darkness. Phillip opens up in a deeply personal way about watching his wife battle depression for over five years, the maze of doctors and dead ends they faced, and the doctor God placed in their path who finally gave them answers and hope. The guys talk about the real causes behind depression — hereditary factors, chemical imbalances, and the weight of a stressful life — and why reaching out for help, whether to a friend, a pastor, or a doctor, is never a sign of weakness. Their message for anyone in the middle of it: help is on the way, and it shall come to pass.

If you or someone you love is walking through depression, reach out through hopelesstohope.com or find the show on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok — every message can be kept confidential.

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What happens when God doesn't move on your timeline? This week, Pastor Rile Baucom, Preacher Tony Baucom, Phillip Bowers, and Chris Tucker continue their series on the "deadly D's" — following up on doubt and discouragement — by digging into delay. Drawing from the stories of Joseph, Abraham and Sarah, David, Jonah, and Lazarus, the guys unpack why God's delays are rarely denial — they're often development.

From personal stories about motorcycles, trucks, and impatient teenage decisions, to hard truths about finances, distraction, and staying dependent on God, this episode is a real, unfiltered look at why waiting on the Lord isn't wasted time. As Habakkuk 2:3 reminds us: the vision is for an appointed time — though it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come.

If you're in a season of waiting right now, this episode will encourage you to trust the process and trust the One holding the plan.

Got a topic you want covered? Reach out on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, or email us at [email protected].

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This week on Where the Rubber Meets the Road, Pastor Rile Baucom, Preacher Tony Baucom, Phillip Bowers, and Chris Tucker dig into a struggle nearly everyone faces but few talk about openly: doubt. They break down what doubt actually means in Hebrew and Greek (a wavering, a divided mind) and make an important distinction — doubt isn't the opposite of faith, unbelief is. The guys get honest about their own doubts, from Tony questioning whether he was equipped for the ministry, to Rile doubting a bold step of faith around a church building fund that God provided for in a way none of them expected. They trace how doubt often starts small — a distraction that leads to discouragement, then delay, then disappointment — and talk candidly about doubting your salvation, doubting your calling, and doubting decisions in marriage, work, and church life. The conversation lands on a simple charge: doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith, and don't let doubt defeat you.

If doubt is something you're wrestling with, reach out through hopelesstohope.com or find the show on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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This week on Where the Rubber Meets the Road, Pastor Rob Baucom sits down with Preacher Tony Baucom, Phillip Bowers, and Chris Tucker for the show's first-ever video episode to talk about something every single person listening has felt: discouragement. From Adam and Cain to Moses, David, Elijah, John the Baptist, and the woman with the issue of blood, the guys walk through Scripture to show that discouragement doesn't skip anyone — not even the strongest men and women of faith — and that left unchecked, it can spiral into disappointment, isolation, and worse. They get real about how men especially tend to bottle things up instead of reaching out, and they unpack a simple but powerful roadmap for climbing out: realize where you're at, rest, refocus, release what's weighing you down, and remember how good God has been. This is an honest, from-the-heart conversation for anyone stuck in a hard chapter right now — with a reminder that a hard chapter is never the whole book.

If you or someone you know is struggling with discouragement, you can reach out privately through hopelesstohope.com or find the show on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Scripture: Genesis 41:1–46
Key Verse: Genesis 41:16 – “It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

In this episode of Where the Rubber Meets the Road, Joseph is remembered at last and called to interpret Pharaoh’s troubling dreams. From the prison to the palace, God elevates Joseph in a single day—reminding us that promotion comes from the Lord.

Key Takeaways:

• God’s timing brings sudden change
• Joseph’s humility before Pharaoh
• The power of divine wisdom in crisis
• Promotion is always in God’s hands

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 Facebook Covenant Church Monroe, NC 

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Scripture: Genesis 40:1–23
Key Verse: Genesis 40:8 – “Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.”

In this episode of Where the Rubber Meets the Road, Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker while in prison. Though forgotten by men, Joseph shows us that God’s gifts and callings remain active no matter the setting.

Key Takeaways:

• God’s gifts work in every season
• Joseph’s faith points to God as the source of wisdom
• The importance of using your gifts, even when overlooked
• God’s timing is greater than man’s memory

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 www.covenantbcmonroe.com

 Facebook Covenant Church Monroe, NC 

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Scripture: Genesis 39:21–23
Key Verse: Genesis 39:23 – “...the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.”

In this episode of Where the Rubber Meets the Road, Joseph is unjustly imprisoned, but God’s favor does not leave him. Even behind bars, Joseph prospers because the Lord is with him. Discover how God can use the darkest seasons to shape us for His greater plan.

Key Takeaways:

• God’s favor follows Joseph into prison
• Faithfulness in trials leads to promotion
• The Lord’s presence makes the difference
• Purpose is not bound by circumstances

www.HopelesstoHope.com

 www.covenantbcmonroe.com

 Facebook Covenant Church Monroe, NC 

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Scripture: Genesis 39:7–20
Key Verse: Genesis 39:9 – “...how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

In this episode of Where the Rubber Meets the Road, Joseph faces temptation from Potiphar’s wife. His integrity costs him his freedom, yet he chooses faithfulness over compromise. Learn how standing firm in temptation honors God, even when it leads to trials.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognizing and fleeing temptation
• The cost of integrity in a corrupt world
• Choosing God’s approval over man’s
• Trusting God when obedience brings hardship

www.HopelesstoHope.com

 www.covenantbcmonroe.com

 Facebook Covenant Church Monroe, NC 

Support the show

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