Cosby talks with Renee.

Rev. Dr. Kevin W. Cosby

Renee speaks with the Rev. Dr. Kevin W. Cosby, senior pastor of St. Stephen Church in Louisville , on the next Connections with Renee Shaw , airing Saturday, Oct. 6 at 3/2 p.m. CT on KET1 and Sunday, Oct. 14 at 11:30/10:30 a.m. CT on KET2.

Under Cosby's leadership, St. Stephen -- the largest black church in Kentucky -- has grown from 400 to 10,000 members, including a satellite church in southern Indiana. A native Louisvillian, he holds a bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University, a Master of Divinity degree from Louisville's Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He's the author of several books, including Get off Your But! Messages, Musings & Ministries to Empower the African-American Church and Who's Your Daddy: Life Lessons from the Prodigal Son .

In addition to pastoring at St. Stephen for the last 28 years, Cosby also serves as president of Simmons College of Kentucky , the oldest black college in the state. On the program, he traces the history, comeback and growth of Simmons College of Kentucky , and how the institution seeks to educate tomorrow ' s teachers, doctors and community leaders.

Cosby also discusses the role of black church es today as sites of activism for social and racial justice, whether black churches are morphing into businesses rather than houses of worship , and the popularity of mega-churches that often preach prosperity gospel.

Connections with Renee Shaw is a KET production, produced by Renee Shaw and Carolyn Gwinn.