In this episode, Sean Morgan sits down with Josh Rhodes and Tim Haring to discuss the succession journey at Chestnut Ridge Church. After 40 years of ministry, founding pastor Tim reflects on preparing the church for life beyond his leadership, while Josh shares how their long-term relationship and shared heartbeat for reaching people made the transition possible. Together, they explore humility, outside counsel, and the intentional communication strategies that helped their church navigate succession with unity and hope for the future.

Welcome to Episode 142 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

EPISODE LINKS

Chestnut Ridge Church

When God Walked Alone, by Tim Haring

sean@theascentleader.org

theascentleader.org

If you’re a leader approaching a succession or transition, or maybe you’re a few years in and beginning to see how complex transitions leadership is… go to The Art of Pastoral Succession and check out my course in partnership with Carey Nieuwhof. 

Are you in Transition or have one on the horizon? Check out our cohorts and get connected with us at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ 

WHO IS JOSH RHODES?

Josh is the Senior Pastor at Chestnut Ridge Church in Morgantown, West Virginia. He grew up as a pastor’s kid in the northern panhandle town of Weirton and has always loved his home state — especially the pepperoni rolls, state parks, and WVU Mountaineer sports. He married his high school sweetheart, Hillary, and together they have four children — Sephora, Levi, Pierce, and Micah — and have been a licensed foster family since 2021. Since 2007, Josh has served in full-time ministry at Chestnut Ridge Church and LCBC Church in Pennsylvania, leading in student, college, and adult ministries. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Ministry from Lancaster Bible College in 2005 and a Master of Theology from Biblical Theological Seminary in 2014. He also completed the Ridge ordination program and was affirmed as an ordained elder and pastor in September 2020. After a multi-year succession plan, Founding Pastor Tim Haring passed the senior pastor baton to Josh on September 29, 2024. Today, Pastor Tim and Josh enjoy serving alongside one another in this new season at The Ridge.

WHO IS TIM HARING

Tim Haring is the Founding Pastor of Chestnut Ridge Church and served as its Senior Pastor for 40 years before passing on his responsibilities to Pastor Josh Rhodes. During the 40 years of ministry, Chestnut Ridge Church eventually became the largest church in the state of West Virginia and has helped plant four additional churches in the state. Tim has a Pastoral Studies Degree, Greek Emphasis, from Moody Bible Institute and a Business Degree from the West Virginia University. He has been married for 37 years and has five children and three grandchildren. Tim is currently serving in a part time capacity at the church. He is also coaching other pastors, writing his second book and speaking at conferences.



SPONSORS & PARTNERS

Thanks to our sponsor: OneHope: OneHope’s mission is to reach every child and youth in the world with God’s Word through the global church. In 35 years of ministry OneHope has reached more than 2 billion young people with the Gospel. Learn how you and your church can get involved by visiting onehope.net/learnmore/.