On a late spring day in 2022, Rev. Brad Davis was riding along the twisting roads of McDowell County, West Virginia. 

Davis was soon to start his current job pastoring five United Methodist churches here, and was getting a tour from his predecessor. As they drove, Davis’ colleague advised him that the challenges he would encounter in the southern coalfields were akin to its topography.

“You’ve got an uphill climb, a challenge here, as far…