The Missions Podcast
Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford
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The Missions Podcast answers hard questions about theology, missions, and practice to help goers think and thinkers go. We are conservative, evangelical, and gospel-centered.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International, a missions agency with a force of about 1,000 workers serving across 70 countries with a focus on evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.
Available episodes
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1 day ago
Good News: God Doesn’t Need You
What’s the key to lasting in ministry—in a world that’s increasingly chewing up and spitting out Christian leaders? Josh Zeichik of Focus on the Family explains why God’s self-sufficiency is good news for those in ministry.
Get more content at missionspodcast.com.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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4 days ago
How to Hold the Rope: Ryan Martin on Caring for Missionaries
Sending missionaries is only half the battle. If churches don’t continue to care for missionaries, both the missionary and the church will fail in ministry. In this episode, Ryan Martin shares critical insights from his new book Holding the Rope: How the Local Church Can Care for Its Sent Ones.
Ryan serves as director of missions and operations with Lightbearers Ministries. He graduated in 2022 with a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological seminary, where he also serves as a trustee. He has received an MDiv in Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2008) and an undergraduate degree from Union University in Jackson, TN (2005). Prior to joining Lightbearers, he served for thirteen years as a missions pastor in the local church. Ryan lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Rebekah, and three children: Hudson, Annie, and Hattie.
You can watch the video version of this episode (and others!) on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Nov 30, 2022
Mobilization Starts in the Church
Where do missionaries come from? The church. This week, Ryan Martin, author of the new book Holding the Rope: How the Local Church Can Care for Its Sent Ones, returns to explain how church leaders can call people to step out on mission.
Get more content at missionspodcast.com.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Nov 27, 2022
What’s Best Next: Missions and Productivity With Matt Perman
Personal productivity isn’t just important to professional success. It’s also important to the cause of global missions. This week, author Matt Perman lays out a theology of work, productivity, and cross-cultural ministry, drawing upon his book What's Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done.
Matt is director of career development at The King’s College NYC and co-founder of What’s Best Next. Previously he worked for Desiring God and Made to Flourish.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Nov 23, 2022
Missionary: Know Your Limits
It’s almost the holiday season. Not a great time for productivity, right? But this week, gospel-centered productivity expert Matt Perman explains why we should be realistic about our limits—and let God’s grace spur us on to greater activity.
Get more content at missionspodcast.com.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Nov 20, 2022
Is the Commission Still Great? Steve Richardson Answers
There’s no shortage of myths about missions. In this interview, Steve Richardson, president of Pioneers and author of Is the Commission Still Great? 8 Myths about Missions and What They Mean for the Church, dispels common misconceptions about the Great Commission and why it still matters.
Steve Richardson has served as president of Pioneers-USA since 1999. Pioneers mobilizes and supports 3,200 missionaries and marketplace professionals who impact 500 unreached people groups in 95 countries. Steve was raised in Indonesia, where his parents planted churches in a jungle tribe. He witnessed the impact of the gospel on their war-like society, a story documented in his father's missionary classic, Peace Child. Steve and his wife, Arlene, also spent eleven years planting churches among an unreached people group in Southeast Asia. The Richardsons now live in Orlando, FL and have been blessed with four daughters and ten grandchildren.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Nov 17, 2022
The Most Important Thing Happening in the World Right Now
Steve Richardson, president of Pioneers and author of Is the Commission Still Great? 8 Myths about Missions and What They Mean for the Church, explains what he sees as the singularly most important global event right now.
Get more content at missionspodcast.com.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Nov 13, 2022
What Is Discipleship?
We’re called to make disciples of all nations. But how? Is discipleship a separate program added to the life of the church, or is it the sum total of the entire ministry of the church? And how do we know if we’re succeeding? Alex and Scott wrestle through these critical questions.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Nov 9, 2022
Christian: You’re Called to the Church
What is discipleship? Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford explore this often-misunderstood concept and its implications for global missions and local church life.
Get more content at missionspodcast.com.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Nov 6, 2022
When Helping Hurts With Brian Fikkert
Scripture commands us not only to preach the gospel but to care for the poor and suffering. But affluent North Americans can sometimes do more harm than good. How can we help without hurting? Author and professor Brian Fikkert joins to discuss his landmark missions book When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor… and Yourself—and what the consequences of that book have been since its first publication 13 years ago.
Dr. Brian Fikkert is a professor of economics and the founder and president of the Chalmers Center at Covenant College. Dr. Fikkert earned a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University, specializing in international economics and economic development. He is the author of numerous articles in both academic and popular journals and co-author of five books. Prior to coming to Covenant College, he was a professor at the University of Maryland College Park and a research fellow at the Center for Institutional Reform and the Informal Sector.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Nov 4, 2022
Why Poverty Relief Often Fails
Coming up this week, Brian Fikkert, coauthor of When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself, explains why good intentions aren't enough when it comes to serving the needy across the world.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Oct 30, 2022
How Should Christians Respond When the Foreigner Comes?
By any measure, the number of unreached people groups coming to the US is at an all-time high. How should Christians react—not only politically, but spiritually? Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman wrestle through this question from the text of Scripture and discuss what God is doing through ABWE’s Afghan Initiative.
You can hear a recent sermon Alex preached on this topic from 1 Kings 8 here.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Oct 27, 2022
God’s Heart for the Nations
Even in the Old Testament, God’s heart isn’t just for Israel but for all the world. How should that affect our view of the globe today? We’ll explore in our next episode.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Oct 24, 2022
Missions History and Adoption: Dr. John Mark Yeats – #FTC22
What lessons does history teach us about the intersection of missions and mercy ministry? John Mark Yeats sits down to discuss missions movements in Great Britain, adoption, and more.
Yeats serves as Vice President of Student Services, Dean of Students and Student Success, Title IX Coordinator, and Professor of Church History at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College. He earned his Ph.D. in Church History from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and also holds degrees from Southern Seminary, Oxford University, and Criswell College. Yeats has authored three books and has contributed articles to multiple journals. John Mark is married to Angie, and they have four children: Briley, Sean, Cadie, and Jackson.
Watch the video version of this episode here.
You can access all of our For the Church National Conference exclusives here.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
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Oct 22, 2022
Muslims and the Adopting Love of God With Joe Allen – #FTC22
What does the doctrine of adoption have to do with reaching Muslims for Christ? Dr. Joe Allen explains the connection.
Joe Allen serves as Assistant Professor of Missions at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He wrote his dissertation on “Soteriological Adoption for Muslim Evangelism: Engaging Muslims with the Trinitarian Love of God.”
Watch the video version of this episode here.
You can access all of our For the Church National Conference exclusives here.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Oct 21, 2022
Missions in the Old Testament and in the Horn of Africa: Jason DeRouchie Explains – #FTC22
How does God show his heart for the nations in the Old Testament? And how is he still showing it throughout the least-reached parts of the world? Dr. Jason DeRouchie, research professor of Old Testament and biblical theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, gives some powerful exhortations.
Watch the video version of this episode here.
You can access all of our For the Church National Conference exclusives here.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Oct 20, 2022
Turnaround: Dr. Jason Allen on Transformative Leadership in Ministry – #FTC22
What can Christian leaders do when radical change is needed in a ministry? Dr. Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Seminary, shares insights missionaries, pastors, and everyday believers from his new book Turnaround: The Remarkable Story of an Institutional Transformation and the 10 Essential Principles and Practices that Made It Happen.
Watch the video version of this episode here.
In addition to his seminary duties, Dr. Allen has served as pastor and interim pastor of several Southern Baptist churches. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, as well as M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Southern Seminary. Currently, in addition to his responsibilities as president of Midwestern Seminary, he serves the church more broadly through writing and preaching ministries.
You can access all of our For the Church National Conference exclusives here.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more…
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Oct 19, 2022
Charles Spurgeon as a Sending Pastor With Geoff Chang – #FTC22
Charles Spurgeon is beloved as the “prince of preachers.” But what did his church do for global missions? We explore with Geoff Chang, Assistant Professor of Church History and Historical Theology and the Curator of the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Seminary.
Watch the video version of this episode here.
You can access all of our For the Church National Conference exclusives here.
Chang is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A.), The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Most recently, he completed his Ph.D. at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he wrote his dissertation on Charles H. Spurgeon’s ecclesiology. Prior to Midwestern, Geoff worked as a database consultant until he discerned a call to ministry. Since leaving the business world, he has served on the ministry staff at Houston Chinese Church (Houston, TX) and Capitol Hill Baptist Church (Washington, DC), and most recently as associate pastor at Hinson Baptist Church (Portland, OR…
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Oct 16, 2022
The ‘Simple’ Trinity in Missions: Matthew Barrett – #FTC22
Missions exists to spread the knowledge of God. But who is God? And how are evangelicals today getting the Trinity wrong? Dr. Matthew Barrett of Midwestern Seminary gives such much-needed insights at the For the Church conference.
Watch the video version of this episode here.
Matthew Barrett is Associate Professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, as well as the founder and executive editor of Credo Magazine. He is the author of several books, including None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God; God's Word Alone; Canon, Covenant and Christology; 40 Questions About Salvation; Salvation by Grace; Owen on the Christian Life; Reformation Theology; and The Doctrine on Which the Church Stands or Falls. He is the series editor of The 5 Solas Series with Zondervan. He is also the host of the Credo Podcast where he talks theology with the best theologians today about the most important doctrines of the Christian faith.
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Oct 13, 2022
Is Missions Easier Than You Think? Steven Wendel Explains – #FTC22
Many Christians avoid missions because it’s only for the elite. But ABWE missionary Steven Wendel explains why that isn’t necessarily true.
Watch the video version of this episode here.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Oct 12, 2022
What Is Fusion? Erik Odegard Answers – #FTC22
The Fusion program at Spurgeon College and Midwestern Seminary trains students for the mission field in ways a normal classroom can’t. Does it work? Erik Odegard, Fusion director, answers.
Watch the video version of this episode here.
Mr. Erik Odegard serves Spurgeon College as assistant professor of Intercultural Studies. He is a two-time graduate of Midwestern Seminary, holding a B.A. in Christian Ministry (Cross-Cultural Studies concentration) and a Master of Theological Studies. Erik and his wife, Morgan, live in Kansas City with their daughter, Emma, and have been happy members of Cross Fellowship Church since 2013.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Oct 11, 2022
Cooperation, Direct Sending, or Both? Paul Davis Answers – #FTC22
How should local churches work together in the cause of missions? Should more churches cooperate? Is direct sending and support raising the best option? We kick off our first feature from For the Church 2022 by talking to Paul Davis, ABWE president.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Oct 9, 2022
When Couples Disagree About Their Calling: Scott and Tara Dunford Share
How should a wife respond when she senses a calling to missions but her husband doesn’t? What about when the husband believes he is called but his wife doesn’t? And what role does the husband’s authority play? We dive into a listener’s questions this week with Scott and his wife, Tara.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Oct 7, 2022
Give the Holy Spirit Some Credit
What do we do when loved ones disagree with our sense of calling into missions? This week, Tara Dunford talks about her family’s decision-making process with missions, and why we need to trust the Holy Spirit to do the persuading.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Oct 2, 2022
Seeds and Stars: Resting in Christ for Great Commission Service With E.D. Burns
Many modern evangelicals confuse God’s law with God’s grace, mistaking rules and best practices for the gospel itself. How can missionaries understand the difference between law and grace, and what impact can it have on their ministry? E.D. Burns returns to the show this week to discuss his upcoming book with Founders Press, Seeds and Stars: Resting in Christ for Great Commission Service.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Sep 28, 2022
The Power Is in the Seed, Not the Seed Thrower
In missions and in ministry in general, we often think it’s our job to achieve results. But in this week’s upcoming episode, E.D. Burns shares why we’re only responsible to scatter the gospel seed.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Sep 25, 2022
A Pastoral Approach to Theological Training
The world’s pastors need training. But they also need shepherding. This week, Live Global missionary David Prairie shares how we can approach the task of global theological education with a pastoral heart.
David Prairie serves on ABWE's Live Global team doing theological education, pastoral training, and ministry mentoring for students and church leaders internationally. He has a doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY and lives in Chattanooga, TN with his wife, Brandi, and four children, where he also serves at Grace Baptist Church. Support his ministry.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Sep 21, 2022
The Right Type of Training
The world’s pastors need training. But they also need shepherding. This week, Live Global missionary David Prairie shares how we can approach the task of global theological education with a pastoral heart.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Sep 18, 2022
The Air We Breathe: Glen Scrivener on the Ghost of Christianity in Western Culture
Why does Western society believe in ideals like freedom and equality? Where did we get the notion of human rights or self-sacrifice? What about the idea of “secularism” itself? This week, author and apologist Glen Scrivener explains how the specter of Christianity continues to haunt the Western mind—and how, as missionaries, we can reclaim it.
Glen is the author of The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality. is passionate about people meeting Christ and equipping Christians to share their faith. He's often found speaking at churches and universities, in the studio producing online media or in his office, writing books and other evangelistic material. Glen is married to Emma, and they have a daughter, Ruby and son, J.J.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
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Sep 14, 2022
The Shadow of the Cross Over the West
Western culture is haunted by the spectre of Christianity. How did the cross revolutionize the direction of history? Author and director of Speak Life, Glen Scrivener, shares in this week’s upcoming episode.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Sep 11, 2022
The Beauty of International Churches: Dr. Michael Crane
English-speaking churches in cities like Dubai or Bangkok don’t appear to be the most missiologically strategic—at least on paper. But as with any local church, there’s more to international churches than meets the eye. Dr. Michael Crane returns to the show to share the beauties, challenges, and unique blessings of expat fellowships abroad and multiethnic churches at home.
Michael and his wife moved to Southeast Asia working in a variety of roles with development agencies. During this time, Michael completed a Ph.D. in urban missiology. Michael Crane (M.Div., Th.M., Ph.D.) loves cities and loves the church. Michael has lived in a number of global cities (Taipei, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and San Francisco). He serves as faculty of two different seminaries and is a co-director of Radius Global Cities Network, an urban research think-tank that assists the church in seeking the welfare of the city. In addition, he is involved in training and equipping church planters through…
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Sep 9, 2022
Church: Don’t Be Comfortable With Just Who You Have
In our next episode, missiologist Dr. Michael Crane returns to the show to talk about international churches and the unique intersection of missiological issues they unearth.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Sep 4, 2022
When a Sending Church Un-Sends a Missionary
What should missionaries do when a sending church withdraws their support? If we value submission to the local church as much as we value missions, the answer isn’t always easy. This week, Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman discuss how overseas workers can address rifts with their home church.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Aug 31, 2022
Christian: Remember Who You Are in Christ
Coming up this week, we’re having a candid conversation about what happens when a missionary’s church withdraws his or her support. Stay tuned.
Believe in our mission? Support this podcast.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Aug 28, 2022
Josh McDowell: What Missionaries Need to Know About Apologetics
What do missionaries need to know about apologetics? Veteran author, speaker, and apologetics Josh McDowell reminds us about our commitment to defending truth—and sharing the evidence.
Josh McDowell has been at the forefront of cultural trends and groundbreaking ministry for more than 58 years. He shares the essentials of the Christian faith in everyday language so that people of all ages and stages can know Christ, understand what they believe and why it is true, and learn how to live, share and defend their faith.
Well-known as an articulate speaker, Josh has spoken to approximately 46 million people in 139 countries. Josh has written or co-authored 152 books with some translated in 128 languages. These include More Than a Carpenter with over 27 million copies distributed. He also authored Evidence That Demands a Verdict, named by World Magazine as one of the twentieth century's top 40 books and one of the thirteen most influential books on Christian thought of the last 50 years.…
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Aug 24, 2022
Josh McDowell: Are You Ready to Give an Answer?
Christians in the US and across the world live among people that are hostile to truth. Are we equipped to defend our faith? Veteran apologist Josh McDowell asks some penetrating questions in this week’s episode.
Believe in our mission? You can support this podcast through ABWE.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Aug 21, 2022
What Motivates Gen Z Towards Missions?
The generation now coming of age is fraught with anxiety and feeling isolated. What will it take for missionaries and church leaders to motivate Generation Z towards cross-cultural missions? We explore this fascinating question with Dr. Jolene Erlacher, author, speaker, consultant, leadership coach, and teacher.
Dr. Jolene Erlacher founded Leading Tomorrow in 2014 with the aim of equipping churches, businesses, schools, missions agencies and other organizations for effective inter-generational leadership in an evolving culture. Her passion for equipping a new generation of leaders emerged from various leadership experiences in education and ministry.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Aug 17, 2022
The Difference Between Millennials and Gen Z
This week, researcher Dr. Jolene Erlacher shares the differences between mobilizing Millennials for cross-cultural missions and motivating Generation Z.
Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Aug 14, 2022
Medical Missions, Church Planting, and Lessons Learned in Africa: Steven Chmil
Steven Chmil serves as a surgeon and church-planting missionary in Togo. Now returned from his first term overseas, Steven shares the unique challenges, blessings, and opportunities of ministry in an Islamic context where precision—theological and medical—matters.
Learn more about Steven’s ministry or support him and Bethany here.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Aug 12, 2022
Having Surgical Precision in Doctrine
What does healthcare have to do with theology? Missionary surgeon Steven Chmil shares why having surgical precision is essential in both domains.
Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Aug 7, 2022
Mission-Driven Christian Leadership in Cowardly Times: Joel Wayne
Where are the leaders in the church—much less the mission field? Pastor Joel Wayne of bethechurch.org and Chapel Pointe weighs in this week on how churches and missionaries can solve the leadership pipeline and raise up leaders when it counts.
Joel’s is also the founder and executive director of Be the Church, a movement to revitalize the local church through authentic leadership development. Joel holds a business degree from the University of Georgia and a Master of Divinity from Mercer University.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Aug 5, 2022
Will Christian Leaders Speak Up?
Pastor Joel Wayne shares a stirring challenge for Christians on the mission field and at home in changing days. Tune in this upcoming Sunday night to hear the full episode.
Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Jul 31, 2022
‘Glurbanization,’ Church Planting, and Why Our Definition of ‘People Group’ Is Outdated: Dr. Michael Crane
Globalization has made the world smaller and smaller. Increasingly, cities are overtaking suburban and rural areas as the center of society. What does all this mean for church planting? Is the ethnolinguistic people group definition itself outdated? Missiologist Dr. Michael Crane unpacks the implications of what he calls “glurbanization.”
Michael and his wife moved to Southeast Asia working in a variety of roles with development agencies. During this time, Michael completed a Ph.D. in urban missiology. Michael Crane (M.Div., Th.M., Ph.D.) loves cities and loves the church. Michael has lived in a number of global cities (Taipei, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and San Francisco). He serves as faculty of two different seminaries and is a co-director of Radius Global Cities Network, an urban research think-tank that assists the church in seeking the welfare of the city. In addition, he is involved in training and equipping church planters through City to City. Michael has contribute…
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Jul 28, 2022
Missiology Needs to Change
Coming up in this week’s episode: missiology Michael Crane explains why missiology’s outdated views of ethnicity need to change.
Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Jul 25, 2022
#RMC22: The Final Word
In this tenth and final exclusive from the Radius Missiology Conference, Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford discuss their favorite takeaways from their conversations with Kevin DeYoung, Ian Hamilton, Brad Buser, Brooks Buser, Wayne Chen, Chad Vegas, Jonathan Master, and Steve Meister.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Listen to all of our RMC22 exclusives here.
Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Jul 24, 2022
#RMC22: Steve Meister on Classical Hermeneutics and Bible Translation
Right now, two controversies are brewing. In the world of theology, conservative evangelicals are torn over classical theism and pre-modern hermeneutics. And in the missions world, Bible translation methodologies remain a lightning-rod issue. In this meaty conversation from the Radius Missiology Conference, Steve Meister, pastor and board member for Bible Translation Fellowship, explains why these two theological controversies are two sides of the same coin—and how classical hermeneutics can cut through the fog currently enveloping missiology.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Listen to all of our RMC22 exclusives here.
Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Jul 21, 2022
#RMC22: Growing in Grace as a Missionary With Jonathan Master
What does it mean for a Christian on mission to “grow in grace”? Dr. Jonathan Master, president of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, explains at the recent Radius Missiology Conference.
Learn more about GPTS’s new partnership with Radius at gpts.edu/radius-partnership.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Listen to all of our RMC22 exclusives here.
Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
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Jul 20, 2022
#RMC22: What You Might Not Know About Missions in Asia: Wayne Chen
What is the state of the church in Asia? And what makes Asian missions so unique? We talk to Wayne Chen, director of Radius Asia, at the recent Radius Missiology Conference.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Listen to all of our RMC22 exclusives here.
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Jul 19, 2022
#RMC22: Brad Buser on Missionary Endurance
Before helping found Radius International, Brad Buser served among the Iteri people of Papua New Guinea. Continuing our theme of finishing well, we ask him how he instills endurance in the missionaries he trains in this interview from the recent Radius International Missiology Conference.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Listen to all of our RMC22 exclusives here.
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Jul 17, 2022
#RMC22: Ian Hamilton on the Missionary Life as Abiding in Christ
How can missionaries serve in the midst of difficult, spiritually-dry seasons? And did Jesus himself ever feel like all his labors were for nothing? Dr. Ian Hamilton—theologian, minister, author, and president of Westminster Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Newcastle, England—shares some surprising answers at the recent Radius International Missiology Conference.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Listen to all of our RMC22 exclusives here.
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Jul 16, 2022
#RMC22: Brooks Buser on Leaving Well
Missions done well means staying the course. So how do you know when it’s time to transition off the field and entrust local believers with leadership? Brooks Buser, president of Radius International, discusses his experience among the YembiYembi people in Papua New Guinea at the recent Radius International Missiology Conference.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Listen to all of our RMC22 exclusives here.
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Jul 15, 2022
#RMC22: Kevin DeYoung on the Mission of the Church
What is the church’s mission? Better yet, what isn’t her mission? Alex and Scott talk to pastor, author, and theologian Kevin DeYoung at the recent Radius International Missiology Conference.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Listen to all of our RMC22 exclusives here.
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Jul 14, 2022
#RMC22: Are We Idolizing Missions? A Chat With Chad Vegas
For some Christians, missions is out of sight and out of mind. For others, it’s the absolute center of the Christian life. Is it possible for us to make an idol out of missions? If so, how would we know we’ve done so? We ask Chad Vegas, co-founder of Radius International and pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Bakersfield, CA in this second RMC22 exclusive.
Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel.
Listen to all of our RMC22 exclusives here.
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Jul 13, 2022
#RMC22: Why the Radius Missiology Conference?
We recently attended the 2022 Radius International Missiology Conference to capture some exclusive content. Here’s the first in a series of exclusive, behind-the-scenes episodes from RMC. Enjoy!
Watch the video version of this episode here.
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Jul 10, 2022
Missionary Security, Big Tech, and Cancel Culture
Watch the video version of this episode here.
Thanks to modern technology, our every move is tracked and recorded. What does this mean for missionaries living and serving in parts of the world where evangelism is illegal? And what might it soon mean for Christians in the Western world facing an increasingly hostile environment?
This week, Alex and Scott talk to Andrew, executive director for Live Global about digital security and missions.
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Jul 8, 2022
How to Talk to a Missionary in a Closed Country
Risk is right… or is it? In this week’s upcoming episode, we talk to an IT security expert about the best, most secure ways to communicate with missionaries in restricted-access fields.
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Jul 3, 2022
The ‘Three Worlds’ of Evangelicalism: A Paradigm for Missions? Aaron Renn Answers
Watch the video version of this episode here.
In the US, being a Christian used to be a prerequisite for popularity as a politician or social influencer. That hasn’t been true for a while. But why? And, what can analyzing the state of Christianity in America teach us about the state of Christianity in other nations? Aaron Renn weighs in with some penetrating insights from his First Things article on the ‘three worlds’ of evangelicalism.
Aaron M. Renn is an opinion-leading urban analyst, consultant, speaker and writer on a mission to help America’s cities and people thrive and find real success in the 21st century. He focuses on urban, economic development and infrastructure policy in the greater American Midwest. He also regularly contributes to and is cited by national and global media outlets, and his work has appeared in many publications, including the The Guardian, The New York Times and The Washington Post. He also founded American Reformer. He can be reached at aar…
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Jun 30, 2022
When Did Christianity Become So Unpopular?
What changed in the Western mind to make biblical Christianity suddenly so abhorrent in the public eye? Social researcher Aaron Renn shares his “three worlds” explanation in this week’s upcoming interview.
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Jun 26, 2022
The Stranger on Our Shore With Joshua Sherif
Watch the video version of this episode here.
Joshua Sherif grew up Muslim, escaped from Egypt, and found Christ in the US. In The Stranger at Our Shore, he shares his remarkable testimony, Chicago pastor Joshua Sherif calls the Western Church to reconsider the plight of the modern day sojourners in our land—the strangers at our shore and the ones living right next door—and to return wholeheartedly to its first charge: making disciples.
Joshua was born in Egypt to a Muslim family and immigrated to the United States, where he later came to faith in Jesus. For the past decade, he has planted and pastored in Albany Park, Chicago, IL, one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country. His congregation represents more than thirty nationalities, speaking twenty languages. Josh has enjoyed his years equipping and coaching other missionaries and pastors around the world. His story was featured in Love Costs Everything, a documentary produced by CIY and Voice of the Martyrs, concerning…
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Jun 24, 2022
Do Christians Love Foreigners?
Joshua Sherif wasn’t always a Christian. But he wrote The Stranger on Our Shore: How Immigrants and Refugees Strengthen the Church not to critique the church, but to praise the church for the way experienced God’s love when he was leaving his Muslim background. Hear more in this Sunday’s interview.
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Jun 19, 2022
Pride, Culture, and Mission With Josh Teis
Watch the video version of this episode here.
Western culture has made a radical shift. How should Christians respond? What does the gospel have to say about sexuality? How can we approach a culture of pride as bold, humble missionaries? Alex and Scott talk to Josh Teis, pastor of Southern Hills Church in Las Vegas, N.V., and founder of Idea Network.
To purchase and replay the EveryEthne LGBTQ webinar, click here.
He earned his B.A. in Pastoral Theology from Pensacola Christian College where he met his wife, Heather, and also holds a Master’s in Bible Exposition and his M.Div. from Liberty University. Josh leads Idea Network and hosts The Idea Talks Podcast. Josh and his wife Heather have one son, Jonathan David, and two daughters, Savannah Tyler and Scarlett Noel.
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Jun 17, 2022
How Should We Talk About Sexual Sin?
How should Christians talk about sexual sin in our present culture? Pastor Josh Teis takes us back to the pages of Scripture and the Apostle Paul’s approach.
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Jun 12, 2022
How to Reach LGBTQ With the Gospel: Jim Childs
Enter our giveaway to attend the Radius Missiology Conference in person or virtually. Details at missionspodcast.com/radius22.
Many of us are afraid to directly present Christ to those caught up in the LGBTQ subculture. Should we be afraid? How can we win the person, not just the argument? And what does Scripture say?
In this episode, we cut from our normal format to present you a conversation between Alex Kocman, Jim Childs, Kylie Dulo, and Drew Polanycia that took place in March of 2022 on the Idea Talks podcast. You can hear our previous interview with Jim here.
Jim Childs serves with ABWE in the US through EveryEthne, helping churches engage LGBTQ individuals with the gospel. Learn more here.
This episode is brought to you in collaboration with the Idea Network. To learn more about Idea Network and purchase access to the replay of their LGBTQ webinar with Jim Childs, Christopher Yuan, and more, visit IdeaNetwork.church.
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Jun 5, 2022
Why Missionaries Must Read Old Books: Banner of Truth’s John Rawlinson
Enter our giveaway to attend the Radius Missiology Conference in person or virtually. Details at missionspodcast.com/radius22.
The Missions Podcast exists to help goers think and thinkers go. Perhaps no other modern Christian publisher is more concerned with helping believers to think deeply about—and experience—the things of God than Banner of Truth. What cross-cultural impact is the Banner having globally, and why should missionaries steep themselves in the riches of the Puritan tradition and historic Protestantism? John Rawlinson, Banner’s general manager, visits the studio for an encouraging conversation.
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Jun 1, 2022
Too Busy Chasing Methods?
Coming up: Are we so busy chasing the latest fads in missions that we forget the tried-and-true? John Rawlinson, General Manager of Banner of Truth Trust, joins the show to talk about the riches of the Puritan heritage and what it means for missions practitioners today.
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May 29, 2022
When Helping Works: Michael Badriaki on Western Dependence in Uganda
Enter our giveaway to attend the Radius Missiology Conference in person or virtually. Details at missionspodcast.com/radius22.
Many missions-minded Christians have read When Helping Hurts and resonated with its message—that sometimes in missionary work, we can do more harm than good in the name of Jesus. But in When Helping Works: Alleviating Fear and Pain in Global Missions, Michael Bamwesigye Badriaki offers a counter-perspective. Is creating “dependence” on foreign missionaries the worst possible outcome? And are we making excuses that allow us to ignore the needy?
Dr. Michael B. Badriaki has worked globally in education, holistic missions, global health, and consulting and leadership development for over 20 years. He is passionate about human flourishing, sharing hope and love with people. Michael is also committed to caring for people and children affected by war, poverty and certain hardships. Michael and Kristen co-founded the Global Leadership Community where together w…
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May 27, 2022
What’s Wrong With Creating ‘Dependence?’
What’s wrong with creating “dependence” on foreign missionaries? This week, Michael Bamwesigye Badriaki, author of When Helping Works: Alleviating Fear and Pain in Global Missions, challenges our conventional wisdom.
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May 22, 2022
What Is Every Christian’s Calling?
Should every Christian be in ministry? How do missions and evangelism fit with our theology of work? This week, we take a break from our normal conversation format as Alex Kocman answers in this lecture on 1 Peter 2:9-12 delivered to the Central Pennsylvania chapter of the C.S. Lewis Institute.
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May 15, 2022
Does Evangelism Have to Be Scary?
Evangelism can’t be one-size-fits-all. Or can it? This week, Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman discuss their upbringing doing door-to-door evangelism, methods of presenting the gospel, contextualization, and the Book of Acts. If you’ve ever been discouraged in your efforts to share your faith, this conversation will embolden you.
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May 13, 2022
Let’s Talk About Evangelism
This week: It’s back to the basics. Let’s have a conversation about how to do evangelism. Is there a one-size-fits-all method?
New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops.
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May 10, 2022
T4G22: Jason Allen on Building Missions Cultures in Christian Leadership
How can Christian leaders make time to prioritize short-term missions trips? Jason Allen shares how he’s built a missions culture inside of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, which he leads as president. Also featured in this conversation is Paul Davis, president of ABWE.
In addition to his seminary duties, Dr. Allen has served as pastor and interim pastor of several Southern Baptist churches. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, as well as M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Southern Seminary. Currently, in addition to his responsibilities as president of Midwestern Seminary, he serves the church more broadly through writing and preaching ministries.
You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
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May 8, 2022
T4G22: Brooks Buser on Missionary Training That Matters
Too many styles of missions promise fast results. What kind of training to missionaries really need? Brooks Buser of Radius International returns to the show during T4G.
Brooks and Nina Buser planted a church among the Yembiyembi people in Papua New Guinea. In 2016, they returned to San Diego. Both Brooks and Nina participate in the teaching at Radius International as well as leading and traveling to spread the word about the necessity of training. Follow Brooks on Twitter.
Hear our previous conversations with Brooks here.
You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
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May 7, 2022
T4G22: The Need for Church Planting With Thad Bergmeier
Thousands of churches worldwide are closing each year. What can we do to stem the tide? Thad Bergmeier, executive director of EveryEthne, shares solutions.
Join the movement. Sign up to participate in the Day of Prayer for Church Planting.
You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
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May 6, 2022
T4G22: Why the Need for Speed in Missions? Sean DeMars and Caleb Morrell
Why do Americans have such a need for speed in missions, and how can we change that? Alex sits down with Sean DeMars of Confirm and Defend podcast and Caleb Morrell of 9Marks and Capitol Hill Baptist Church.
Caleb Morell is a child of missionaries and graduate of Georgetown University and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves on staff at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Sean DeMars is pastor at 6th Avenue Community Church in Decatur, Alabama. He previously served in Peru as a missionary.
You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
Hear our previous interview with Sean on prosperity heresy and the American Gospel film here.
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May 5, 2022
T4G22: Ryan Robertson on Reaching and Teaching
Louisville, Kentucky, home of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is a theological mecca. In this conversation, Ryan Robertson, president of Reaching and Teaching International Ministries, shares his burden to take the riches of theological rigor in a place like Louisville and unleash is across the globe.
Ryan Robertson has served as the President of Reaching & Teaching since April 2020. Robertson has previously served in executive leadership positions for public companies and other non-profit organizations, and has been a board member of several different charities. In 2014, he obtained his CPA from the State of Massachusetts. Robertson is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Missiology program at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ryan and his wife Erin have three children and are members of Third Avenue Baptist Church.
You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
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May 4, 2022
T4G22: Matt Bennett on the Qur’an and the Christian
How do Muslims think? What should Christians know about the Qur’an? And how is any of that helpful in missions? Our friend Matt Bennett, Assistant Professor of Missions and Theology at Cedarville University, returns to talk about his new book, The Qur’an and the Christian, in this exclusive interview recorded live at Together for the Gospel.
You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
Hear our previous interviews with Matt here.
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May 3, 2022
T4G22: Charles Smith and Paul Davis on Missions, Education, and the Church
Why do so few seminary graduates go to the mission field? Charles Smith, vice president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and ABWE board member, and Paul Davis, ABWE president, share solutions.
You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
Hear our previous interviews with Charles here.
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May 1, 2022
T4G22: Zane Pratt on Methods and Defining ‘Church’
When it comes to the popular methods used on the mission field today, we often talk past one another. What do we mean by “church,” “convert,” or “disciple”? Zane Pratt, vice president of training for IMB, returns to the show.
Hear our previous interviews with Zane here.
You can watch the video version of this episode here, or watch all of our T4G exclusives on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
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Apr 30, 2022
T4G22: Why National Partnerships? David Prairie on Live Global
Missions is no longer from the West to the rest—it’s from everywhere, to everywhere. In this T4G exclusive, Live Global missionary David Prairie explains why their model is challenging traditional missions assumptions.
You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
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Apr 29, 2022
T4G22: Why Upstream Sending? Nathan Sloan Shares
Sending missionaries is the local church’s job—so why start a new parachurch missions sending organization? Nathan Sloan, pastor and executive director of the Upstream Sending explains in this exclusive interview recorded at the final Together for the Gospel conference.
Nathan has a Doctor of Missiology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Previously, Nathan and his wife Sarah served as missionaries in Kathmandu, Nepal, training national pastors and working with an unreached people group.
You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
Hear our previous interview with Nathan here.
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Apr 28, 2022
T4G22: Women and Singles in Missions? Lisa LaGeorge’s Take
Why do so many women and singles pursue missions—and what does it mean for biblical manhood and womanhood? Dr. Lisa LaGeorge, director of CHF Academy at Children’s Hunger Fund in Sylmar, CA, returns to the show to talk about her experiences as a complementarian woman on mission.
You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
Hear our previous interview with Lisa here. You can also read her blog or follow her on Twitter.
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Apr 27, 2022
T4G22: Prayer and Movements? Jonathan Arnold Explains
Prayer is the beating heart of missions. But how should we pray? Can we repeat pre-written prayers, or is that inauthentic? And what can history teach us about how prayer has sparked missions movements? Our friend Dr. Jonathan Arnold returns to the show to explain in this bonus interview.
This conversation was recorded live at Together for the Gospel 2022 in Louisville, Kent. Watch or listen to more of our T4G22 exclusives.
You can watch the video version of this episode on the Missions Podcast Facebook page.
Hear our previous episodes with Jonathan Arnold here.
Dr. Arnold serves as associate professor of church history and historical theology in the School of Theology and director of Research Doctoral Studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has held a range of academic and ministerial positions including, senior pastor, student ministry leader, professor, and college administrator. Read more here.
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Apr 24, 2022
The Russian Church, Ukraine, and What American Christians Can Learn: Yevgeny Bakhmutsky at T4G22
American believers aren’t the only ones polarized over the last few years. For believers in Russia, the conflict in Ukraine is driving the same wedge through congregations that the social justice debate is in the West. How is the Russian church doing? How do Russian Christians view Ukraine? And what can American Christians and missionaries learn? Pastor and professor Yevgeny Bakhmutsky answers in this exclusive interview hosted at the final Together for the Gospel (T4G).
Bakhmutsky is a pastor in Moscow, Russia. Visit his site or follow him on Twitter. Visit his site or follow him on Twitter.
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Apr 20, 2022
Live at T4G22
It’s the final Together for the Gospel conference, and Scott and Alex are recording on the convention floor and connecting with missions experts and Christian leaders from across the nation. Tune in to our first update!
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Apr 17, 2022
Peter Greer: Helping Without Hurting, Avoiding Mission Drift, and Supporting Enterprise
Sometimes in missions, helping can hurt. But have we taken that simple fact too far—as an excuse for inaction? Peter Greer, president of HOPE International, explains how missionaries can responsibly approach the problem of poverty and how churches and ministries can avoid mission drift.
Peter Greer is the president and CEO of HOPE International, a global Christ-centered economic development organization serving throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. As an advocate for the Church’s role in missions and alleviating extreme poverty, Peter has co-authored over 10 books, including Mission Drift (selected as a 2015 Book Award Winner from Christianity Today), Rooting for Rivals (selected as a 2019 Leadership Resource of the Year in Outreach magazine), The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good (selected as one of the top 40 books on poverty by WORLD Magazine), Created to Flourish (which his mom reviewed with five stars and a smiley face emoji), and The Gift of D…
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Apr 13, 2022
Admitting When Helping Hurts: Peter Greer
Coming this Sunday: Sometimes in the world of missions, our best efforts to help those in need can actually hurt. But has that become an excuse to do nothing? Peter Greer, president of HOPE International, explains.
New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops.
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Apr 10, 2022
Doing Ministry Out of the Overflow: Kyle Farran
Whether you’re in missions or ministry at home, we all struggle to labor in the strength God provides. How can we make sure we’re serving out of the overflow of our hearts? Kyle Farran, ABWE missionary and author of Overflowing: Ministry and Missions That Flow From the Heart.
Serving as the Regional Director of Western Europe, Kyle lives in Portugal and serve the missionaries in that region. His goal is to facilitate effective ministries by providing spiritual care, encouragement, leadership development, and recruitment. Learn more or support Kyle’s ministry.
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Apr 6, 2022
Who Will Hear ‘Well Done’?
Coming up this week: author and missionary Kyle Farran explains who will hear “well done, good and faithful servant” at the end of their race. Tune in this Sunday to hear the full interview.
New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops.
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Apr 3, 2022
Doing Missions Committees Right: Paul Davis Shares
For some, the word “committee” means slow, ineffective bureaucracy. How can we keep the passive, maintenance mindset out of our local church missions committees? And what does Scripture have to say about this mode of church organization? ABWE President Paul Davis answers.
Mentioned in this episode:
* Missions by the Book (Chad Vegas and Alex Kocman)
* Launch Point
* 7 Habits of Highly Effective Missions Committees
* ABWE Church Resource Library
* PaulLDavis.com & Consultations
* Operation World
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Mar 30, 2022
Are Missions Committees Even Biblical?
In this week’s upcoming episode, ABWE President Paul Davis discusses the biblical rationale for—and critiques of—modern missions programs, teams, and committees in local churches.
New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops.
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Mar 27, 2022
Jesus, Ukraine, and the Soviet Union: Duane Early
Around the time that the Soviet Union fell, Ukraine experienced massive spiritual revival. Duane Early, who served there as a missionary, is convinced that’s part of the reason Ukraine is being targeted today.
In this interview, he explains the current situation in Ukraine, miracles that happened during that revival, lessons learned, and missiological takeaways that can be applied anywhere.
To help missionaries meet Ukrainian refugees’ needs and share the gospel to those affected by the war, support the Ukraine Crisis Fund.
Duane Early is ABWE’s Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. The Lord led Duane into full-time ministry while a student at the University of Michigan. He continued his education and theological training at Summit University in Clarks Summit, PA, and Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Duane and his wife, Susan, were involved in two pastoral ministries and one church plant during their first 15 years of marriage. In the 90s, the Lord led them Duane, Sue…
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Mar 23, 2022
Will the Soviet Union Return?
In our next episode, Duane Early, former missionary to Ukraine and current vice president of strategic partnerships with ABWE, explains how Ukrainians reacted when the Soviet Union fell—and how it informed their missiological tactics.
New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops.
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Mar 20, 2022
How One Missionary Started a Century-Long Movement: Jim Ruff on ABWE Founder Raphael Thomas
Watch the video version of this episode here.
In 1927, the evangelical church was split in two—between gospel-proclaiming fundamentalists and followers of the social gospel. Caught in the struggle was Baptist missionary Dr. Raphael Thomas. When his life and ministry took some unexpected turns, he was faced with a choice—and his actions sparked a missions movement nearly 100 years long. Who was Raphael Thomas? Jim Ruff, missionary and author of an upcoming biography on the ABWE founder, walks us through Thomas’ life and why it matters for Christians today.
Learn more about the legacy of Dr. Thomas and its connection to the mission today.
Jim (M.Div., D.Min.) is a retired church-planting and leadership training missionary to Japan (20 years) and Trainer and Associate Director of training for ABWE (14 years). He’s also served for a term in church planting in the Chicago area. He wrote one of the ABWE Bible courses, and serves as a Proctor for missionaries taking the Methods o…
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Mar 17, 2022
Jesus’ Imminent Return?
Is Jesus is returning at any moment, what happens to missionary efforts? That was a concern of ABWE’s founding missionary, Dr. Raphael Thomas, 100 years ago. Veteran missionary Jim Ruff explains in this week’s upcoming episode.
New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops.
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Mar 13, 2022
The Forgotten Principle of Money and Missions: Conley Owens on ‘The Dorean Principle’
Watch the video version of this episode here.
Throughout the ministry world, content is exchanged for money. But is this biblical? Or should the rest of the Christian world take a cue from how missionaries have operated all along? In The Dorean Principle, Pastor Conley Owens analyzes the puzzling biblical teachings on fundraising and reaches some startling conclusions that apply to anyone in ministry.
Conley Owens (M.Div., The Log College & Seminary) is a pastor at Silicon Valley Reformed Baptist Church and a senior software engineer at Google. He lives with his wife and seven children in Sunnyvale, California.
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Mar 11, 2022
Ukraine Refugee Update: Caleb Suko Exclusive
When we last spoke with our friend Caleb Suko, the Russia-Ukraine war hadn’t yet begun. Now, he’s taken refuge—along with two million others—in another country. In this episode, he provides live updates from Moldova and explains how God is at work among the body of Christ and the masses of refugees.
You can support the Ukraine Crisis Fund at abwe.org/ukrainehelp.
Since 2007 Caleb has served as a missionary in Odessa, Ukraine where he is pastor at Hope for People Church and director of the “Evangelism Today” center for evangelism and discipleship. Caleb attended Shasta Bible College and graduated from Northwest Baptist Seminary in 2005 with a Master’s of Divinity. Together with his wife Christina their desire is to help believers and churches to do biblical evangelism and discipleship through training seminars on evangelism and discipleship for churches, personal discipleship, and working closely with national pastors to help strengthen and multiply the church in Ukraine…
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Mar 10, 2022
What if Everyone Fundraised Like a Missionary?
We all know that missionary life usually means asking for financial support. That scares many people away. But what if that’s the way all sorts of ministries are supposed to work? Hear Conley Owens, author of The Dorean Principle, explain in the next episode.
New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops.
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Mar 6, 2022
Nik Ripken on Persecution, Missions, and Ukraine
Nik Ripken has collected the stories of suffering believers from all over the world—including Ukraine. In this episode, he talks to us about missions and what he’s learned from time spent with persecuted believers in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Nik (pseudonym) is the author of The Insanity of God (2013) and other books, and previously served as a missionary with the IMB beginning in 1991.
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Mar 4, 2022
Nik Ripken: ‘You Get the Country You Deserve’
Coming up in our next episode: Nik Ripken shares his insights from observing the persecuted church in Ukraine and around the world—and what it all has to do with missions and our own country.
New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops.
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Feb 27, 2022
No Shortcuts to Success: Matt Rhodes’ ‘Manifesto’
Watch the video version of this episode here.
Americans have a need for speed—and missionaries aren’t immune. But in his new “manifesto,” author and missionary Matt Rhodes explains why faithful missions requires long-term commitment. This week, we talk to him about historic missionaries’ example, why definitions matter, and how to gain agreement on a field team.
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Feb 20, 2022
Mission Affirmed: Elliot Clark on Recovering Paul’s Missionary Motivation
Watch the video version of this episode here.
Christians talk a lot about grace. We get it from the Apostle Paul. Yet Paul also yearned to be approved by the Lord on the last day for his missionary work. How do we hold these themes together? Elliot Clark, author of Mission Affirmed: Recovering the Missionary Motivation of Paul, joins Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman to discuss—and explain why it matters for today’s results-oriented missionaries.
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Feb 17, 2022
What Elliot Clark Would Do Differently
Elliot Clark just wrote Mission Affirmed: Recovering the Missionary Motivation of Paul. What lessons did he learn that he would have applied on the field in hindsight?
New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops.
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Feb 13, 2022
Helping Goers Think and Thinkers Go: Paul Davis on Media and Missions
Why does this show exist? What do media and technology have to do with missions? This week, ABWE President Paul Davis turns the table on Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman in a three-way conversation about the state of the show and why it's critical to equip missionaries and church leaders through resources online.
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Feb 9, 2022
What Is a Church For?
What is the mission of the church? In this week’s upcoming show, we talk about the biblical role of the church in missions and why this very podcast exists—helping goers think and thinkers go.
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Feb 6, 2022
Ukraine From the Ground: Caleb Suko Reports
Watch the video version of this episode here.
Tensions are rising between Ukraine and Russia. The US is considering involvement. What does that mean for Christian workers and churches in Ukraine? Caleb Suko, pastor and ABWE worker, shares his first-hand perspective.
Since 2007 Caleb has served as a missionary in Odessa, Ukraine where he is pastor at Hope for People Church and director of the “Evangelism Today” center for evangelism and discipleship. Caleb attended Shasta Bible College and graduated from Northwest Baptist Seminary in 2005 with a Master’s of Divinity. Together with his wife Christina their desire is to help believers and churches to do biblical evangelism and discipleship through training seminars on evangelism and discipleship for churches, personal discipleship, and working closely with national pastors to help strengthen and multiply the church in Ukraine and beyond. The Sukos also have five children. Support their ministry.
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Feb 4, 2022
Ukraine and Psalm 31
Coming up this week: Caleb Suko explains what workers and national believers are facing in Ukraine firsthand.
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Jan 30, 2022
Sending When It Hurts: Josh Teis on the Pastor’s Job in Mobilization
Everyone says they believe in sending missionaries. But what about when it hurts? What about when your church’s most gifted people leave? And what about when missions seems to compete in priority with local outreach? In this episode, Josh Teis weighs in.
Josh pastors Southern Hills Baptist Church in Las Vegas, N.V. He earned his B.A. in Pastoral Theology from Pensacola Christian College where he met his wife, Heather, and also holds a Master’s in Bible Exposition and his M.Div. from Liberty University. Josh leads Idea Network and hosts The Idea Talks Podcast. Josh and his wife Heather have one son, Jonathan David, and two daughters, Savannah Tyler and Scarlett Noel.
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Jan 23, 2022
The Biblical Case for the Faith Support Model: Steve Shadrach Shares
Watch the video version of this episode here.
In June of 2021, a well-known pastor made waves for connecting partnership development with concepts surrounding systemic injustice and racism. It forces us back to a foundational question: Is it right for missionaries to develop financial support partnerships? Is a centralized, salaried model of missions support better? And what does Scripture have to say? Steve Shadrach, arguably the guru of partnership development in the faith-support missions world, joins us to delve in.
Steve Shadrach is founder of Support Raising Solutions, and the founder of the Center for Mission Mobilization (CMM), which is the parent ministry of SRS. Steve has trained thousands of Christian workers from over 1,200 organizations around the world how to raise support and authored The God Ask. He and his wife, Carol reside in Fayetteville, AR. They have five grown children and eight grandchildren.
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Jan 19, 2022
Is Raising Support Biblical? Steve Shadrach Answers
Should missionaries stop asking for money? We ask partnership development guru Steve Shadrach of the Center for Mission Mobilization.
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Jan 16, 2022
Chad Vegas: Defining the ‘Proclamational Model’ (Part 2)
Watch the video version of this episode here.
This week, we continue our conversation with Chad Vegas defining proclamation, outlining the dangers of pragmatism, and sketching a vision for a biblically-driven missiology.
Miss part 1? Listen here.
Chad is the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Bakersfield, the founding board chairman of Radius International and Radius Theological Institute, and the founding board vice-chairman of Providence Classical Academy. He also serves as adjunct faculty for IRBS Theological Seminary and the Institute of Public Theology. He has been married to Teresa since 1994 and has two children.
You can purchase Alex and Chad’s new book, Missions by the Book: How Theology and Missions Walk Together, from Founders Press.
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Jan 14, 2022
Chad Vegas: The Bottom Line
Coming up: Part two of our conversation with Chad Vegas, where we get to the bottom line definition of healthy missions and its implications for overseas workers.
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Jan 9, 2022
Chad Vegas: Defining the ‘Proclamational Model’ (Part 1)
Watch the video version of this episode here.
In the missions world, there’s a rift between movement practitioners and advocates of biblical proclamation. Why the disagreement? And is there such a thing as the “proclamational model”? Chad Vegas weighs in this week.
Chad is the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Bakersfield, the founding board chairman of Radius International and Radius Theological Institute, and the founding board vice-chairman of Providence Classical Academy. He also serves as adjunct faculty for IRBS Theological Seminary and the Institute of Public Theology. He has been married to Teresa since 1994 and has two children.
You can purchase Alex and Chad’s new book, Missions by the Book: How Theology and Missions Walk Together, from Founders Press.
Listen to our previous two-part dialogue with Ted Esler here.
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Jan 5, 2022
Chad Vegas: Why Evangelism Is Confrontational
Does a missionary have to be confrontation in evangelism? Chad Vegas, pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Bakersfield, California, explains one of the inescapable aspects of faithful evangelism.
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Jan 2, 2022
Refresh: Doing Short-Term Missions Responsibly With Jason Phillips
As global travel uncertainty continues, will short-term missions trips happen in 2022? No one knows the answer for sure, but as Christian leaders, we must plan for the future. So when missions trips do come back at full strength, what can we do to do them better?
This week we’re diving into the archives to bring you, once again, our interview with Launch Point Executive Director Jason Phillips. Just because we’re on vacation over the holidays doesn’t mean we can’t serve you with content.
Jason has more than 30 years of experience in senior corporate and ministry roles in a variety of organizations from start-ups to Fortune 100 enterprises. He has served in multiple pastoral roles, and he co-founded and directed Hope2Live Ministries, a ministry that worked primarily in Sierra Leone. He earned a BBA in finance from Georgia State University, a Master of Divinity in theology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in disciple-making from Southeast…
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Dec 22, 2021
Away From Home for the Holidays: A Missionary Perspective From Stephanie Boon
How do missionaries feel when separated from holiday traditions back home? Should global workers feel guilty for the abundance they enjoy at Christmastime? And what can churches do to support missionaries who feel stuck in the middle between home and the field? Stephanie Boon, ABWE missionary to Tanzania, shares.
Read Stephanie’s advent devotional article here.
Stephanie Boon lives in Tanzania with her husband and their five children. She co-founded Sifa Collective, which equips women with the hope of the gospel and tools to launch their own local businesses. After earning her M.A. in Counseling and B.S. in Counseling (Theology/Psychology), she worked with colleagues to open a Community Counseling Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where they provide gospel-centered individual and group counseling, and counseling training for local churches. Read her blog at Things We Didn't Know or support her ministry.
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Dec 19, 2021
Saving Babies’ Lives in Papua New Guinea: Lori Smith Speaks
Abortion isn’t just a US problem. In Papua New Guinea, too many working-class women expect that rape will happen to them at some point in their lifetimes—and almost as many women, when they become pregnant, are unaware that what is inside them is alive.
For ABWE missionary Lori Smith, this isn’t just a social problem—it’s a spiritual problem with a gospel solution. From her clinic where their team sees over 20,000 patients each year, Lori is witnessing life change regularly. In this episode, she explains why being pro-missions means being pro-life.
You can support Lori’s work and other life-centered ministries at abwe.org/life.
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Dec 15, 2021
Amazing Pro-Life Ministry Happening in Papua New Guinea
Every day, ABWE missionary Lori Smith is seeing women’s hearts and lives change. In this week’s episode, find out why abortion is such a particularly pivotal issue in Papua New Guinea.
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Dec 12, 2021
Thinking Like a Missionary: Mary, Catholicism, and Syncretism
Across the globe, many folk religions try to find peace in life by honoring ancestral figures. So when evangelical missionaries think encounter Roman Catholic tradition and its Marian dogmas and traditions venerating the saints, how should they respond? Dr. James Fryer joins us to discuss this powderkeg issue tackled in his dissertation.
James Fryer, Ph.D. (Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary), M.Div. (The Master's Seminary), serves as a Correctional Chaplain in Virginia and member of his local church. He has served over 18 years in Missions and Ministry. He and his wife Damaris have been married over 24 years and are parents of five.
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Dec 9, 2021
Mary and Idolatry
It’s Christmas. Images of Mary are everywhere. But when missionaries encounter veneration of saints among Roman Catholics and others, what should our response be? Dr. James Fryer joins this week to share.
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Dec 5, 2021
Why Target Unreached People Groups?
How can a missionary discern where they should serve? Is it biblical for a church missions program to target some countries but not others? And what’s the reason more missionaries don’t go to the unreached?
To sign up to learn more about ABWE’s upcoming Open Initiative as it launches, click here.
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Dec 3, 2021
Cover Blown: How a Missionary Got Kicked Out of Country
The barriers to reaching unreached people groups are real. This week, Harry G., overseeing South Asia for ABWE, returns to the show to explain why they still matter—and how churches can recapture a pioneering spirit.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Nov 28, 2021
Doctrine, Pragmatism, and Movements: A Discussion With Ted Esler (Part 2)
Our conversation with Ted Esler continues as we try to define words like “disciple” and “church” and map out both the common ground and the battle lines. Then, we try to chart the path forward.
You can listen to part one.
Ted Esler is the president of an association of agencies and churches representing over 30,000 mission workers worldwide. Ted worked in the computer industry before becoming a church planter in Sarajevo, Bosnia, during the 1990s. In 2000, Ted became the Canadian director of Pioneers and three years later moved to Orlando to join the leadership team of Pioneers USA. In 2015 he was appointed as president of Missio Nexus. Ted has an MTS in theology (Heritage Seminary, 2002), and a Ph.D. in intercultural studies (Fuller Theological Seminary, 2012) and resides in Saint Cloud, Florida with his wife, Annette. They have five adult children and two grandchildren.
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Nov 24, 2021
Why Fruit Isn’t About Numbers
This week, we continue our crucial conversation with Ted Esler as he shares his opinions about methodologies, movements, and the biblical definition of “fruit” in ministry. Hear part 1 here.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Nov 21, 2021
Doctrine, Pragmatism, and Movements: A Discussion With Ted Esler (Part 1)
What are disciple-making movements and church planting movements? Do these methods, carried to their logical conclusions, undermine our doctrines of the local church and of conversion? Or are we being too theologically rigid?
Let’s reason together, build common ground, and determine where the real issues lie. Hear part 1 in a two-part series with Missio Nexus president Ted Esler.
Hear our previous conversation with Ted here.
Ted Esler is the president of an association of agencies and churches representing over 30,000 mission workers worldwide. Ted worked in the computer industry before becoming a church planter in Sarajevo, Bosnia, during the 1990s. In 2000, Ted became the Canadian director of Pioneers and three years later moved to Orlando to join the leadership team of Pioneers USA. In 2015 he was appointed as president of Missio Nexus. Ted has an MTS in theology (Heritage Seminary, 2002), and a Ph.D. in intercultural studies (Fuller Theological Seminary, 2012) and resides in…
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Nov 18, 2021
Pathological Ecclesiology?
This week, Ted Esler returns to the show for a frank conversation about movement methodologies and the biblical doctrine of the local church.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Nov 14, 2021
Suffering, Eschatology, and the Glorious Reward in Missions
Why does God give us a glimpse of the future? How can we prepare for suffering in missions?
This week, hear a special presentation from Alex Kocman to members of Westminster Theological Seminary’s Global Missions Fellowship on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, taken from Alex’s upcoming book with Chad Vegas on integrating doctrine and practice.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Nov 12, 2021
The School of Suffering
Coming up this week: Alex Kocman presents why enlisting in ministry means enrolling in God’s seminary of suffering.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Nov 7, 2021
Is Obedience-Based Discipleship Biblical? Alex and Scott Discuss
What is obedience-based discipleship, and is it biblical? The issue isn’t as simple as it seems. This week, Alex and Scott discuss Alex’s article addressing the topic and explore all the related questions of law, gospel, and salvation by faith alone.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Nov 4, 2021
The Problem With Obedience-Based Discipleship
Coming up in our next episode: Alex and Scott dive deep into obedience-based discipleship, the book of Acts, and the importance of rightly distinguishing law and gospel.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Oct 31, 2021
The Case for Missionary Care With Ryan Martin
Everyone’s talking about “care”—self-care, healthcare, pastoral care, and the list goes on. What’s the biblical case for churches to care for missionaries on the field, and how can we do it well? Ryan Martin answers.
Read Ryan’s articles on the topic:
* “Missionary Care Begins with the Local Church: A Look at 3 John 5-8”
* “Partnership In The Gospel: Biblical Support For Missionary Care From Philippians 2:25–30”
Ryan graduated in 2008 from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received his M.Div. in Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth. He also earned an undergraduate degree from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, in 2005. He currently is pursuing a D.Min. degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he also serves as a trustee. Ryan lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Rebekah, and three children: Hudson, Annie, and Hattie. Follow him on Twitter.
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Oct 28, 2021
Why It’s Hard to Care for Missionaries
What stops too many pastors from confidently shepherding their sent missionaries? Ryan Martin, Director of Missions for Lightbearers, explains some of the common hurdles.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Oct 24, 2021
Reaching Europe Through Liturgy? Melissa Baccarella and Andy Messmer
Europe is more “post-Christian” than ever. So why would a high form of Christian worship be the key to reaching—and discipling—the unchurched in Europe? Melissa Baccarella, ABWE missionary to Italy, rejoins to show along with Andy Messmer to continue our previous conversation about liturgy.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Oct 21, 2021
How Your Worship Is Shaping You
In our upcoming episode, ABWE missionary Melissa Baccarella shares how the content of corporate worship is the key to discipleship.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Oct 17, 2021
Multiethnic or Homogeneous? A Discussion on Church Planting
Should church planters target a specific people group (the homogeneous unit principle) or begin a multiethnic congregation from day one? The answer isn’t always simple. This week, BJ, a church planter working with diaspora Muslim peoples, weighs in as Scott and Alex have an honest conversation.
Learn more about EveryEthne.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Oct 13, 2021
People Group Targeting or Multiethnic Church?
Missions strategists tell us to target specific people groups, but Scripture paints a picture of a multiethnic church. How do we resolve the tension? This week, “BJ,” a church planter working with Muslim diaspora peoples, shares how we can learn from the best of both approaches.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Oct 10, 2021
Does Generation Z Care About Missions? Tanner and Amber Callison Respond
The up and coming generation is a source of confusion and controversy. Are Christians among Generation Z missions-minded? And if they are, do they have what it takes? We ask Tanner and Amber Callison, mobilizers with the Traveling Team.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Oct 7, 2021
How Do We Mobilize the Next Generation?
This week, Tanner and Amber Callison, missions mobilizers with the Traveling Team, offer their advice for how to awaken a generation sometimes perceived as tech-obsessed, shy, and noncommittal.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Oct 3, 2021
The Transcultural Gospel: E.D. Burns
Honor and shame. Fear and power. Guilt and innocence. Missiologists are increasingly identifying these cultural value systems as the key to communicating the gospel. But have we gotten them wrong?
E.D. Burns, author of The Transcultural Gospel, returns to the show to explain how the biblical gospel message transcends cultures and all our imperfect efforts to contextualize.
Listen to our previous interview with E.D. To support E.D.’s work, contact us directly.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Oct 1, 2021
E.D. Burns: What All Religions Have in Common
What is “enoughness,” and how can it help us translate the gospel across cultures? E.D. Burns, author of The Transcultural Gospel, returns to the show in this week’s upcoming episode.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Sep 26, 2021
Is Innovation in Ministry Biblical? A Dialogue With Ted Esler
Ted Esler believes there’s a crisis in the Christian world. He believes leaders in ministry and missions aren’t innovating. Is this true—and is innovation itself biblical? Ted joins Scott and Alex this week to discuss his new book, The Innovation Crisis.
Ted Esler is the president of Missio Nexus, an association of agencies and churches representing over 30,000 mission workers worldwide. Ted worked in the computer industry before becoming a church planter in Sarajevo, Bosnia, during the 1990s. In 2000, Ted became the Canadian director of Pioneers and three years later moved to Orlando to join the leadership team of Pioneers USA. In 2015 he was appointed as president of Missio Nexus. Ted has an MTS in theology (Heritage Seminary, 2002), and a Ph.D. in intercultural studies (Fuller Theological Seminary, 2012) and resides in Saint Cloud, Florida with his wife, Annette. They have five adult children and two grandchildren.
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Sep 24, 2021
Why Culture Isn’t Sacred
Where is the line between innovation in ministry and accommodation of the world? Ted Esler, president of Missio Nexus, shares his perspective this week in a lively interview. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Sep 19, 2021
C.S. Lewis and Mission: Dan DeWitt on Recapturing Our Cultural Imagination
What does C.S. Lewis have to do with missions? More than you’d think. This week, Dan DeWitt explains how Lewis’ vision for literature, tradition, and the affections can transform cross-cultural ministry.
Before joining the faculty of Cedarville University, Dr. Dan DeWitt served in academic and pastoral roles as Lead Pastor of the Campus Church, a campus of Highview Baptist Church, which met on the campus of the University of Louisville, and as Dean of Boyce College, the undergraduate program for The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He started the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity in his first year at Cedarville in the fall of 2016. Follow his work on TheoLatte or follow him directly on Twitter.
Click to watch the video version of this episode.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Sep 17, 2021
Learning Missions From C.S. Lewis?
Can we learn missions from C.S. Lewis? Dan DeWitt, director of the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity at Cedarville University, thinks so. Find out why in this week’s upcoming show.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Sep 15, 2021
Brian Nester: Legendary Mobilizer
In our final mid-week exclusive from our time at Cedarville University, meet Brian Nester, Cedarville’s director of Global Outreach. You’ll be hard pressed to find someone more passionate about missions—or a more effective mobilizer of students to serve overseas. Hear Brian’s story in this interview.
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Sep 12, 2021
Responding to the Global Abortion Pandemic: John Ensor of PassionLife
Abortion isn’t just a US issue. It’s a global issue—which makes it a missions issue. This week, we talk to John Ensor, author, pastor, and president of PassionLife, about how missionaries can push against the culture of death through the gospel of life.
As president of PassionLife, John trains Christian leaders in biblical bioethics and pregnancy crisis intervention in countries suffering the highest rates of abortion worldwide. He is the author of Innocent Blood: Challenging the Powers of Death with the Gospel of Life and lives in Roswell, GA.
Learn more about PassionLife’s Gospel Life Rally.
Did you know ABWE operates multiple pro-life ministries around the world in countries ravaged by abortion? Get involved.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Sep 10, 2021
4 Questions About Abortion
Every missionary, pastor, and believer must answer these four questions about the issue of life for the unborn. Hear PassionLife President John Ensor in our full interview premiering Sunday night at 7 PM Eastern.
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Sep 9, 2021
Why Medical Missions Matters: Katie Webb at Cedarville University
Our Cedarville series continues. Healing happens on the mission field—in ordinary ways. In this podcast midweek exclusive, Katie Webb, M.S., RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing, shares why medical missions is vital to reaching the unreached.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Sep 7, 2021
Sent From Zambia to South Asia: Joshua Bowman Explains
What is it like being sent out from a Zambian church as an American missionary to serve in a Hindu context? Joshua Bowman of Cedarville University shares his unique story.
Joshua Bowman holds a Ph.D. in Missiology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is Assistant Professor of Missions and Theology at Cedarville University. He served with his wife Amy and their four children in Zambia and South Asia with the International Mission Board for seventeen years as a church planter, church strengthening strategist, and team leader.
Prefer video? Watch the video version of this episode.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Sep 5, 2021
Can Parachurch Ministries Serve the Church? Thomas White and Paul Davis Answer
Coming soon, Generation Z will be taking the mantle of the Great Commission. Are they ready? And what role can Christian colleges and missions agencies play in mobilizing them? Dr. Thomas White, president of Cedarville University, and Paul Davis, president of ABWE, join to discuss in this episode recorded on the campus of Cedarville.
Prefer video? Watch the video version of this episode.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Sep 3, 2021
What’s Up With Gen Z?
Is the upcoming generation actually ready to carry on the Great Commission? Paul Davis shares in this week’s upcoming episode, recorded live at Cedarville University.
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Aug 29, 2021
Afghanistan, Islam, and Missions: Matt Bennett Joins
What’s happening in Afghanistan isn’t just political—it’s spiritual. This week, Matt Bennett of Cedarville University examines the crisis from a missionary perspective.
Dr. Matthew Bennett joined the faculty at Cedarville University in fall 2017 after serving and living in North Africa and the Middle East since 2011. Most recently he wrote 40 Questions About Islam. Hear our preview interviews with Matt here.
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The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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Aug 22, 2021
North Korea, Persecution, and Insider Movements: James Cha
What is the Korean Pentecost? Is Korea under divine judgment? And what does any of this have to do with Insider movements in the Islamic world? We tackle some massive topics with missionary and author James T. Cha of the Crescent Project, author of Fear Not.
Rev. James Cha was born in Pusan, Korea, and immigrated to the US in the early 1970s with his family. While studying electrical engineering at Cornell University, he surrendered his life to the call of God to be His ambassador to the world, especially to the Muslims. In 1991, he married his BFF, Faith, and after studies at Columbia Biblical Seminary (SC), they took their little children to Central Asia to serve the Lord as church planting missionaries. By God’s grace, over 120 Muslims came to faith in Jesus during their ten years of ministry. Since 2010, they have been back in the US, reaching out to the nations living in their community. They are on staff with Crescent Project, a ministry that equips the local churches to rea…
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Aug 20, 2021
Mind-Blowing Stories From North Korea
How did North Korea become so spiritually dark? How did Christianity take root in South Korea? And what can missionaries learn today? Here’s a taste of our upcoming interview with James T. Cha of the Crescent Project, author of Fear Not.
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Aug 15, 2021
Translating the Bible Isn’t Enough: Kyle D. on Bible Translation and Church Planting
The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few (Matt. 9:37). Only 713 of the world’s 7,387 languages have a full Bible translation. Yet our work can’t stop with translation. In this interview, Kyle D. of Bible Translation Fellowship asks churches to send more teams of church-planters and Bible translators.
Kyle is the founder and executive director of BTF. He and his wife Hannah are in the process of relocating to South Africa, where Kyle will lead BTF and labor as a Bible Translation Consultant. His education includes a B.A. in Philosophy and Organizational Leadership, M.A. in Bible Translation, M.A. in Biblical Counseling, M.Div., and a Th.M. in New Testament.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
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Aug 13, 2021
You Can’t Have Bible Without Church
Bible translation must lead to church planting. This week, Kyle D., Executive Director of Bible Translation Fellowship, explains why translating Scripture into the languages of the unreached must go hand-in-hand with growing local churches.
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Aug 8, 2021
Why Brick and Mortar Matter: Tim Hunsicker on Construction in Missions
We often say that missions isn’t about building hospitals and schools or digging wells. But sometimes it is, says Tim Hunsicker. In this week’s episode, this architect and ministry leader explains the biblical basis for construction in missions—and how building projects can help make disciples.
Visit ABWE to see how to use your construction, engineering, mechanical, design, or project management skills in short-term or long-term missions.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
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Aug 6, 2021
More Than Digging Wells?
We know that missions is more than building projects. But it isn’t less. This week, we speak to Tim Hunsicker of ABWE’s Project Office about how construction and design can advance the gospel.
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Aug 1, 2021
Roman Catholicism, Spain, and Liturgy: Andy Messmer Speaks
How we worship matters. How we worship really matters in missions. In Roman Catholic-dominated Spain, ABWE Missionary Andy Messmer argues that returning to a traditional style can be life-changing. How? Scott and Alex explore with him in this episode.
Andy and Lindsey Messmer are serving in Madrid, Spain with their children Sofia, Lucas, Zoe, and Eva. They focus on church planting and theological education.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
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Jul 30, 2021
Why Worship Matters
Why haven’t missionaries won more of Western Europe? Does it have to do with our worship style? Why does liturgy matter for missiology? ABWE Missionary Andy Messmer answers in this week’s upcoming interview.
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Jul 25, 2021
Thinking Christianly About Haiti
The assassination of Haiti’s president on July 7 put Haiti back in the news. For years, this nation has been caught in a painful cycle of crime, corruption, poverty, and natural disaster. What is the news not telling us, and how is the gospel the answer?
Live Global missionary Ismael, a Haitian national and Old Testament Ph.D. focused on pastoral training, shares his perspective and how believers elsewhere in the world can partner.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
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Jul 23, 2021
What the News Won’t Tell You About Haiti
What’s happening in Haiti following the assassination of their president on July 7? A Haitian national and missionary shares.
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Jul 19, 2021
Some Mocked, But Some Believed: Scott Dunford on Acts 17
The Apostle Paul models missional apologetics in Acts 17. What can we learn? In this episode, Scott Dunford walks through a crucial text and draws application for cross-cultural ministry at home and abroad.
This episode features a sermon originally preached at Community Evangelical Free Church of Harrisburg, Pa. on June 13, 2021.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
Subscribe: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
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Jul 15, 2021
The Bee Line to Christ
Should missionaries adapt their message? In this week’s episode, Scott Dunford explains what’s really happening in Acts 17 in Paul’s sermon.
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Jul 11, 2021
When Doors Close: Carol Ghattas on Changing Course in Missions
Sometimes doors close in missions. Visas are revoked, governments change policy, or unrest breaks out and endangers expats. How should missionaries respond to these changes? This week we talk to Carol Ghattas about her latest book When Doors Close: Changing Course in Missions Without Losing Your Way.
With over thirty years in missions, Carol Ghattas writes and speaks from experience. Ghattas worked among Laotians, West Africans, and Arabs, and she co-authored with her late husband Raouf, A Christian Guide to the Qur’an: Building Bridges in Muslim Evangelism. She has written three novels under the pen name Um Daoud and A Life Surrendered: Raouf W. Ghattas, a book about her husband’s life and work. Ghattas has contributed to numerous works on missions and Islam, is a contract writer for Missions Mosaic magazine, and an active blogger.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
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Jul 4, 2021
#RMC21 Panel 2: Sending Well With Paul Davis, Chad Vegas, and Barry Brown
Sending missionaries has taught these pastors what to do—and what not to do. Chad Vegas, Paul Davis and Barry Brown join Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman in this panel from the 2021 Radius Missiology Conference.
Watch the video version of this episode: youtu.be/NEyXBNj9HTU.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
Subscribe: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
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Jul 2, 2021
#RMC21: Wayne Chen on Overcoming Apathy and Suffering Well
Recorded live at the 2021 Radius Missiology Conference: Wayne Chen, director of Radius Asia, was a pastor who wanted to send missionaries. In the end, he ended up mobilizing himself—and repenting of his apathy. But as his ministry among the Biem people group in Papua New Guinea reached its climax, he and his wife Gail received devastating health news. This week, Wayne shares his story of overcoming apathy and seeing the gospel advanced amid suffering.
Watch the video version of this episode: bit.ly/2UjGwvX.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
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Jul 1, 2021
#RMC21: Rick Davis of Engage Global Explains Hands-On Missions Training
Recorded live at the Radius Missiology Conference in Minneapolis: Engage Global is more than an educational experience—it takes missions-minded believers to the streets to immerse them into a cross-cultural experience in the US. In this midweek exclusive, Rick Davis shares how their unique approach is helping believers and churches reframe their perspectives on the world Christian movement.
Watch the video version of this episode: bit.ly/3dwpC40.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
Subscribe: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
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Jun 29, 2021
#RMC21: Chad Vegas and Alex Kocman on Their Upcoming Book on Missions
Recorded live at the Radius Missiology Conference in Minneapolis: In this midweek exclusive, Chad Vegas, pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Bakersfield, California, and board chairman for Radius International, joins to discuss his and Alex Kocman's new book on missions scheduled for publication from Founders Press later this year.
Watch the video version of this episode: bit.ly/3dritlv.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
Subscribe: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
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Jun 28, 2021
#RMC21 Panel 1: Trends in Missions With Chad Vegas, Paul Davis, Wayne Chen, and Brad Buser
There are some shocking—and exciting—things happening in missions. Chad Vegas, Paul Davis, Wayne Chen, and Brad Buser discuss in this panel from the 2021 Radius Missiology Conference.
Watch the video version of this episode: youtu.be/rYp5XxOYp-w.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
Subscribe: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
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Jun 24, 2021
#RMC21: Mark Dever on Pragmatism, Ecclesiology, and the Post-COVID Church
We’re live at the Radius Missiology Conference in Minneapolis! In this midweek exclusive, Mark Dever of 9Marks joins Scott and Alex to unpack what a healthy church looks like in the realm of missions.
Watch the conference live as it unfolds. Purchase a discounted viewing pass for only $10 at missionspodcast.com/radius.
Watch the video version of this episode: bit.ly/3hbsBjq.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
Subscribe now: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
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Jun 24, 2021
#RMC21: Luke Womack on Why Student Debt Is Dumb
We’re live at the Radius Missiology Conference in Minneapolis! Student debt is one of the #1 reasons that missions-minded college graduates fail to launch to the field. In this midweek exclusive, Luke Womack of The Go Fund explains how their ministry eliminates student loans for missionaries, and how ABWE’s partnership works for those who go.
Watch the conference live as it unfolds. Purchase a discounted viewing pass for only $10 at missionspodcast.com/radius.
Watch the video version of this episode: bit.ly/3jbnD98.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
Subscribe now: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
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Jun 24, 2021
#RMC21: Jim Jordan on Church-Based International Theological Training
We’re live at the Radius Missiology Conference in Minneapolis! How can we train indigenous church leaders abroad without pulling them into the US, from which they never return? In this midweek exclusive, Jim Jordan of Training Leaders International explains.
Watch the conference live as it unfolds. Purchase a discounted viewing pass for only $10 at missionspodcast.com/radius.
Watch the video version of this episode: bit.ly/3qpeDyM.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
Subscribe now: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
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Jun 24, 2021
#RMC21: The Cost and Prize of Long-Term Missions
We’re live at the Radius Missiology Conference in Minneapolis! In this midweek exclusive, Scott and Alex debrief Brooks Buser’s powerful plenary talk on the value of long-term missions.
Watch the conference live as it unfolds. Purchase a discounted viewing pass for only $10 at missionspodcast.com/radius.
Watch the video version of this episode: bit.ly/3gV0Gpa.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International.
Subscribe now: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
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Jun 20, 2021
Reforming Short-Term Missions: Chip Lamca Explains
Short-term missions needs to change. Missions trips shouldn’t be a means to an end—they should be mission. This week, former missionary and professor Chip Lamca unpacks his recent dissertation work and explains how to reform the uniquely modern phenomenon of short-term missions. We also tackle guidance for college students, what “reverse short-term missions” trips are, and more in this interview.
Chip is originally from Pennsylvania and has been in the Phoenix area since 2008. He earned a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina and is working on a Doctor of Ministry in Missions in the area of Short-Term Mission. He and his family served as missionaries in Peru and Ecuador from 2000 to 2008 and continue the work during summers, along with Grand Canyon University students.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
* Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours? A Study of the Church in the Four Provinces (…
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Jun 17, 2021
What Short-Term Trips Can’t Do
Is producing long-term missionaries the goal of short-term trips? Former missionary and professor Chip Lamca says “no” in this week’s upcoming episode.
Want to watch the Radius Missiology Conference—and our exclusive panel discussion? Register at missionspodcast.com/radius for 33% off.
Subscribe: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
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Jun 16, 2021
Why the Great Commission Doesn’t Mean What You Think
Why have we been left in the world? We talk often about the Great Commission, but do we truly understand it? According to a 2019 Barna study, about three quarters of US evangelicals don’t. In this episode, Alex Kocman walks through the text of Matthew 28:18-20 to show what is beneath the surface.
This talk was recorded June 5, 2021 at a meeting of the Central Pennsylvania chapter of C.S. Lewis Institute.
Want to watch the Radius Missiology Conference—and our exclusive panel discussion? Register at missionspodcast.com/radius for 33% off.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International, Radius International, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
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Jun 11, 2021
Do ‘Anything Short of Sin’?
Should we do “anything short of sin” to reach the lost? In this week’s upcoming show, we challenge this reigning orthodoxy.
Want to watch the Radius Missiology Conference—and our exclusive panel discussion? Register at missionspodcast.com/radius for 33% off.
Subscribe: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
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Jun 6, 2021
Exposing and Fixing Pragmatism in Movements
We hear stories of explosive growth through rapid-reproduction techniques like disciple-making movements (DMM)/church-planting movements (CPM) from various parts of the world. Are all of these stories true? Is pragmatism driving some missionaries? This week, we talk to Brad, a missionary from South Asia, who shares his first-hand perspective seeing pragmatic methods in action and how missionaries and sending pastors can do better.
Want to watch the Radius Missiology Conference—and our exclusive panel discussion? Register at missionspodcast.com/radius for 33% off.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International, Radius International, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
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Jun 3, 2021
‘Disturbing’ Findings on the Field
God is moving in incredible ways across the globe. But that doesn’t mean that every statistics that glitters is gold. This week, “Brad” the missionary shares his firsthand perspective investigating reports of explosive growth in the Islamic world.
Want to watch the Radius Missiology Conference—and our exclusive panel discussion? Register at missionspodcast.com/radius for 33% off.
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May 30, 2021
Heresy and Contextualization: Tim Bertolet on Galatians
We don’t normally think of Galatians as a “missions book.” Paul is confronting heretics, defending doctrine, and getting really, really detailed about circumcision. Yet according to Tim Bertolet, Ph.D., Galatians is all about God’s mission to the world. It exposes how we idolize contextualization, shows the healthy way to bring the gospel into new contexts, and gives missionaries powerful warnings about defending the gospel. Tim joins us this week to explain.
Tim Bertolet serves with ABWE as Senior Human Resources Specialist. He previously served for sixteen years in pastoral ministry and has experience as an MK. He holds a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from the University of Pretoria, a M.A.R. in Biblical Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor’s in Bible from Lancaster Bible College. He resides in York, Pa. with his four daughters. Tim enjoys reading, writing, theology, and is an avid fan of science fiction. Follow him on Twitter.
Enter our giveawa…
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May 28, 2021
Context Isn’t Everything
Have we made an idol out of contextualization? In this week’s upcoming interview, Dr. Tim Bertolet of ABWE dives into Galatians and why we need to beware the allure of the “new.”
Enter our giveaway for to see us live at the Radius Missiology Conference in Minneapolis this June! Get more information and enter the drawing here.
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May 23, 2021
Navigating Theological Disagreement on the Mission Field
“In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” This phrase has often been used, quotes, misused, and misquoted among Christians. How should Christians handle doctrinal disagreements and controversy? This question is even more complicated on the field. How can missionary teammates know the difference between an essential, gospel-level issue and a non-essential? What is theological triage? This week, Scott and Alex discuss what happens when missionaries differ.
Mentioned in this episode:
* “On Controversy” by John Newton
Enter our giveaway for to see us live at the Radius Missiology Conference in Minneapolis this June! Get more information and enter the drawing here.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International, Radius International, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
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May 20, 2021
The Good Ol’ Baptist Boy
Should doctrinal disagreements on non-salvation issues—like baptism—matter on the mission field? This week, Scott Dunford gets personal as he and Alex Kocman discuss theological triage and the missionary.
Enter our giveaway for to see us live at the Radius Missiology Conference in Minneapolis this June! Get more information and enter the drawing here.
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May 16, 2021
Why Every Christian Isn’t a Missionary: Conversations on When Everything Is Missions with Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters
Not every Christian is a missionary, and not everything that parades itself as missional activity is. This sounds controversial—but should it? We ask Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters, who discuss these issues in their latest book, Conversations on When Everything Is Missions, the follow-up to book to When Everything Is Missions.
Hear our previous interview with Spitters and Ellison here.
Enter our giveaway for to see us live at the Radius Missiology Conference in Minneapolis this June! Get more information and enter the drawing here.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International, Radius International, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
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May 13, 2021
The Crisis in Missions
Much of “missions” is missing a key ingredient: the gospel. Denny Spitters and Matthew Ellison, authors of When Everything Is Missions, explain in this week’s upcoming interview.
Enter our giveaway for to see us live at the Radius Missiology Conference in Minneapolis this June! Get more information and enter the drawing here.
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May 9, 2021
How to Share Christ With Muslims During Ramadan: Matt Bennett Speaks
Evangelism is hard. How can Christians share the gospel with Muslims during Ramadan? Should missionaries in Islamic lands adopt the spiritual practices of their neighbors? Matt Bennett, author and professor, shares his experience from ministering in the Middle East.
Dr. Matthew Bennett joined the faculty at Cedarville University in fall 2017 after serving and living in North Africa and the Middle East since 2011. Most recently he wrote 40 Questions About Islam. Hear our preview interviews with Matt here.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International, Radius International, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
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May 6, 2021
Earning Salvation During Ramadan
Within the Islamic worldview, earning one’s right standing before God—especially during Ramadan—makes sense if God is not a holy God who draws near to dwell among sinners.
New episode on Ramadan featuring Matt Bennett premieres Sunday night at 7 p.m. EDT.
Subscribe now.
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May 2, 2021
From Hinduism to Christ
According to CNN in 2015, about 15.1% of the world population is Hindu, including nearly 80% of India. And when we talk about the unreached, in many cases, we’re talking about Hindus.
How can Christians share the gospel with Hindus and build lasting relationships leading to discipleship? We explore that topic this week with Velu Kadirvel, a Hindu-background believer, as he shares his story of divine rescue from addiction and idolatry.
To learn more or to support EveryEthne’s Heart, Mind, and Soul Hindu evangelism training project, click here.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International, Radius International, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
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Apr 29, 2021
What Wins Hindus
Sharing the gospel with Hindus can be daunting. What leads a person out of Hinduism to faith in Christ? Velu Kadirvel shares his story in this week’s episode on evangelism.
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Apr 25, 2021
Parents, Goodbyes, and the Cost of Missions for Families
How can parents say goodbye to their children who pursue missions? How can grandparents part with their grandchildren in the name of ministry? And what happens when parents are aren’t believers or don’t support their kids’ involvement in cross-cultural ministry?
This week, we have a sit-down, heart-to-heart chat with the Dunford family about what it was like to send their kids and grandkids to a closed country as missionaries.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
* Parents of Missionaries: How to Thrive and Stay Connected When Your Children and Grandchildren Serve Cross-Culturally
* Third Culture Kids 3rd Edition: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International, Radius International, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
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Apr 22, 2021
What It’s Like Sending Your Kids Somewhere Dangerous
Missionary life is costly for the whole family. What is it like for parents who say goodbye to their children? In the next episode, Bruce and Debbie Dunford share their experience sending their kids and grandkids to the mission field.
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Apr 18, 2021
Prayer as Warfare: A Front-Lines Perspective With Dr. Tom Kendall
Spiritual activity in Africa—whether one calls it African traditional religion, spiritism, tribal religion, or animism—is real. Christians are called not only to gospel witness but also to spiritual warfare.
This week, Dr. Tom Kendall, medical missionary and chief of surgery at Hôpital Baptiste Biblique (HBB) in Tsiko, Togo, explains how missions-minded believers can fight on their knees—even in a context where dark spiritual activity is apparent and pronounced.
Tom and Melissa Kendall are full-time missionaries with ABWE. Learn more or visit their Facebook page. You can also support their ministry or the HBB Vision Project.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.
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Apr 15, 2021
Where Everything Is Supernatural
In the West, we’re all naturalists. Not so in West Africa. In this episode, Dr. Tom Kendall, medical missionary to Togo, offers some insights into the spiritual makeup of the Togolese and why prayer is so important for the gospel worker.
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Apr 11, 2021
‘Reverse Missions’ and Global Christianity
African Christians are coming to the US as missionaries—or are they? Many are saying that “reverse missions”—from the Majority World to the West—is on the rise. But the whole picture isn’t that simple, as the world and the Western church still have a lot to learn from each other. Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford explore in this special episode with limited commercial interruption.
Referenced in this episode:
* Conrad Mbewe: Combatting Prosperity Teaching in Africa
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.
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Apr 8, 2021
Maybe We’re the Ones Who Need the Missionaries
What is “reverse missions”? Is it the Western world that actually needs missionaries sent from Africa, Asia, and elsewhere? This Sunday night at 7 p.m., Scott and Alex discuss what conservative evangelicals in the US have to learn from believers in the Majority World.
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Apr 4, 2021
Mercy, Justice, and Missions: Dr. George Grant
Everyone is debating social justice. But what happened to mercy ministry? Have we forgotten compassion in the midst of our gospel preaching? Dr. George Grant explains how mercy and justice flow from gospel proclamation, sharing his insights from working with homeless, advocating for the unborn, and even helping plant classical Christian schools in the Middle East.
Dr. George Grant is the Pastor of Parish Presbyterian Church, Founder of New College Franklin, President of the King’s Meadow Study Center and Founder of Franklin Classical School. His work on behalf of the homeless, for international relief and development, for racial reconciliation and for the sanctity of life has been profiled in such varied media outlets as the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, the Coral Ridge Hour, Point of View, Crossfire, World Magazine and Christianity Today.
In addition to his pastoral responsibilities and regular classes in literature, history, theol…
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Apr 1, 2021
Preview: What Happened to Mercy Ministry?
With all the controversy surrounding justice, have we forgotten our call to mercy ministry? Dr. George Grant explains how the gospel addresses the physical and spiritual dimensions of life.
Catch the full episode as soon as it premieres. Subscribe now.
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Mar 28, 2021
Mega Episode: Honor, Shame, and the Gospel With Chris Flanders
More and more missiologists are tired of talking about the gospel only in terms of guilt and innocence. This growing school of thought claims these concepts are “Western.” Writers like Roland Muller, Jayson Georges, and Jackson Wu say that honor and shame—not guilt and innocence—hold the keys to evangelism in Majority World cultures. Are they right? Does an honor-shame reading of Scripture undermine penal, substitutionary atonement? This week, we welcome Chris Flanders, co-editor of Honor, Shame, and the Gospel with Werner Mischke, to the hot seat to share his perspective.
Hear our previous episode discussing the honor-shame paradigm here.
Christopher Flanders (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) is associate professor of missions at Abilene Christian University. He served as a missionary in Thailand for eleven years. His current research focuses on face and honor-shame issues. Christopher is the author of About Face: Rethinking Face for 21st Century Missions. He is also assi…
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Mar 25, 2021
Preview: Honor-Shame and the Atonement
Does the current missiological conversation around honor and shame undermine the penal substitution view of the atonement? Dr. Chris Flanders of Abilene Christian University, author of Honor, Shame, and the Gospel, shares his perspective in this week’s upcoming episode. It’s a don’t-miss.
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Mar 21, 2021
Leading With Vision (For Normal People) With Bob Bixby
We all know that having a vision is important. But is vision-casting biblical, and if so, does it really matter for the ordinary missionary or pastor? In this interview, Scott and Alex ask some tough questions about leadership of Bob Bixby, pastor of Redeemer Church in Fremont, California, and president of Bayseed.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Mar 17, 2021
Preview: What Is Vision?
Is “vision” for everyone in ministry, or is it just a grandiose term thrown about by leadership experts? Tune in to our next episode to hear Bob Bixby, pastor of Redeemer Church in Fremont, California and Bayseed and president of Bayseed, explain what visioning means for the ordinary pastor or missionary.
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Mar 14, 2021
Online Education and Global Theological Famine
One year into the pandemic, it looks like the future of education is, in many respects, virtual. What does that mean for theological and biblical training for the 85% of evangelical pastors worldwide who lack any formal education? Al Cuthbert and Rob Hayden of Horizon Education Network join the show this week to explain how their dynamic organization is already ahead of the curve (if you will).
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Mar 12, 2021
Preview: Doing Theological Education Wrong
Fact: 85% of the world’s pastoral workforce has no formal theological training. But there’s a cost to doing theological education the wrong way. Rob Hayden of Horizon Education Network explains.
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Mar 7, 2021
Is the Missions ‘Guilt Trip’ Biblical? Guest: Paul Davis
We’ve all experienced the guilt of being made to feel like we’re not doing enough for world missions. Should preachers emphasize statistics on unreached people groups, the urgency of eternity, and lostness, or simply trust the Holy Spirit—or perhaps both? This week, ABWE President Paul Davis chats with Scott and Alex as they wrestle through the wisdom necessary in preaching, mobilization, and pastoral ministry.
You can browse resources from Paul here. To request Paul as a missions speaker for your church or ministry, see here. Follow him on Twitter: @pdavis_davis.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Mar 4, 2021
Preview: The Guilt Trip
We’ve all felt the missionary guilt trip before. Is it biblical, or manipulative? ABWE President Paul Davis joins us to dialogue.
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Feb 28, 2021
What’s Happening to Myanmar and Why It Matters for Missions
A military coup is underway in Myanmar—a Buddhist nation nestled in the heart of the 10/40 Window. What does the junta mean for the cause of Christian missions, and how is the Burmese church responding? ABWE missionary John (last name withheld) with Live Global returns to the show to explain.
To support the work of ABWE partners in Myanmar, visit Live Global.
Hear our previous episode with John here.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Feb 25, 2021
Preview: What’s Happening to Myanmar?
What is taking place in Myanmar (Burma) with the recent military junta, and how is it affecting Christian believers, churches, and missionaries? John from Live Global returns to the show to explain.
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Feb 21, 2021
Lisa LaGeorge on Women’s Roles and Short-Term Missions
In 20 years of leading missions efforts and teaching students, Lisa LaGeorge has seen it all. This week, she shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of short-term missions trips with high school and college students. In the second half, we explore the role of women and singles on church-planting teams and why every member of the body of Christ must use their gifts.
Dr. Lisa LaGeorge serves as the director of CHF Academy at Children’s Hunger Fund in Sylmar, California. Read her blog or follow her on Twitter.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Feb 17, 2021
Preview: What’s Stopping Women From Using Their Gifts?
What is preventing women from using their gifts in a biblical way in missions? Plus, what make a healthy short-term trip for students? Lisa LaGeorge shares in this week’s upcoming episode.
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Feb 14, 2021
The Dangers of Syncretism and How to Avoid It
Do rapid disciple-making techniques run the risk of welcoming syncretism into new churches by failing to teach new converts to forsake their former idols? It’s no light question, with no easy answers—but there is hope. Scripture is not silent.
This week, Scott and Alex discuss “The Potential Risk of Syncretism in Church Planting Movements” by Michael Cooper (EMQ, January-March 2021, Volume 57, Issue 1) and its vast implications both for practitioners of church-planting movements (CPM) and supporters of the traditional proclamational model.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Feb 10, 2021
Preview: Syncretism in Missions?
Coming in the next episode: Why is syncretism unacceptable in missions? Scott and Alex explore this Sunday at 7 pm.
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Feb 7, 2021
Who Was George Liele? Jason Duesing on the First African American Missionary
Born into slavery, George Liele is credited as being the first African-American missionary and Baptist missionary in the modern missionary movement. So why haven’t we heard his story? Dr. Jason Duesing, missions advocate and academic Provost and Associate Professor of Historical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, explains.
Duesing serves as a research fellow for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, academic editor of the Midwestern Journal of Theology, and general editor for For the Church resources. He is also a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, where he currently serves on the Nominations Committee and the review board for the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. The most offensive thing about him is that he is a Yankees fan. Duesing is married to Kalee, and together they 4 children. Visit his personal site and follow him on Twitter.
You can hear our previous episode with Jason here.
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Jan 31, 2021
Carl Trueman: The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self
How did Western society descend from culture of Christendom to the triumph of the “T” in LGBT? Dr. Carl Trueman, historian and author of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self (Crossway, 2020), lays blame at the feet of expressive individualism. But individualism isn’t just the world’s problem—it’s the air we breathe in the church and in cross-cultural missions, too.
In this exclusive interview, Dr. Trueman explains why. Carl Trueman (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania. He has written more than a dozen books, including Histories and Fallacies: Problems Faced in the Writing of History, Luther on the Christian Life, The Creedal Imperative, and The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and The Road to Sexual Revolution.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE Inte…
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Jan 24, 2021
Thad Bergmeier on the Power of Prayer in Missions
It’s hard to deny: we experience little power in evangelism and missions because we’re slothful in prayer. Jonathan Edwards believed that the world would be reached for Christ when God’s people pled divine promises back to God in prayer. Was he right? And what is the relationship between prayer and revival?
Dr. Thad Bergmeier, Regional Director for EveryEthne, joins us to discuss their Week of Prayer initiative and our own personal spiritual disciplines.
Thad served for over 18 years in pastoral ministry in three different states in the Midwest. In 2016, Thad joined EveryEthne as a regional director because of their commitment to helping local church plant churches. Thad and his wife Monique currently live east of Cleveland, Ohio. Click here to support Thad’s ministry.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius Int…
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Jan 17, 2021
Dan Strange: A Theology of Religions and The Southgate Fellowship
We know missionaries should have a theology of God, the Bible, and salvation—but what does it mean to develop a theology of religions? And what are the bigger problems plaguing evangelical missiology? Dr. Dan Strange, theological director at Oak Hill College and co-chair of The Southgate Fellowship, joins us from London to discuss his new book Their Rock Is Not Like Our Rock: A Theology of Religions, the problem of pluralism, and why his fellowship is pushing back on some emerging trends in missions through its thorough statement of affirmations and denials.
Dan received his Ph.D. from Bristol University, publishing his dissertation The Possibility of Salvation among the Unevangelised (Paternoster, 2000). His speciality is in the area of Christianity’s relationship to other religions. You can follow him on Twitter.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This…
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Jan 10, 2021
How Technology Is Transforming Missions
According to statistics, more than 4.6 billion people on the planet now have internet access—and many of them live among unreached people groups. How does that reshape the way we approach missions? And how can now-commonplace tools like Zoom help Christians in the West invest in fellow believers in hard-to-reach places? Andrew C., executive director for Live Global, shares his journey from ecommerce to ABWE and how technology can be leveraged for gospel aims.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Jan 3, 2021
Thor Madsen: Why Missionaries Need to Know Philosophy
With all the lost and unreached people in the world, slowing down to think about philosophy may seem like a waste of time. This week, Thor Madsen of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary explains how understanding philosophy from a Christian worldview perspective can be game-changing for the missionary serving on the field afar or at home.
Dr. Thor Madsen has been at Midwestern Seminary since 1999 and is currently Dean of Doctoral Studies and Academic Initiatives and Professor of New Testament, Ethics and Philosophy. Since coming to MBTS, Dr. Madsen has served in a variety of roles including vice president of academic development (2003-2009). Dr. Madsen graduated from Wheaton College with the Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in philosophy. Following his studies at Wheaton, he went to Western Kentucky University for his Master of Arts degree, during which time he was also the graduate assistant for Dr. Ronald Nash. Upon graduation from WKU, Dr. Madsen spent a year in the doctoral…
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Dec 27, 2020
Christmas Episode: Can Missions Be ‘Incarnational’?
Merry Christmas from the Missions Podcast! To celebrate the holiday, we’re honing in on the incarnation of Christ and asking: what do Christian leaders mean when they talk about “incarnational” ministry? Can the incarnation actually be imitated, or does referring to our ministry as incarnational cheapen the uniqueness of Christ’s birth? This week, Scott and Alex discuss Christ’s nature and example for missionaries in this special edition of the show.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Dec 20, 2020
Christian Nationalism, Patriotism, and Globalism
Recent political events and rallies have Christians asking: what is nationalism? Is it the same as patriotism? These questions are vitally important to the missionary. Can a missionary truly love his home country that he’s leaving—and if so, how? What does Scripture say about love of country—or countries, for that matter? And what about globalism? Scott and Alex wrestle with these big questions on this week’s episode.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, CROSS Conference, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Dec 13, 2020
James Dolezal: What Every Missionary Needs to Know About the Doctrine of God
Only a big view of God can sustain the people of God on a big mission. Yet have missionaries gotten their very doctrine of God himself wrong? This week, Dr. James Dolezal highlights the doctrines of divine simplicity, immutability, and aseity—aspects of theology proper often lost on modern evangelicalism—and why they matter for reaching pagans, Muslims, secularists, and others.
James E. Dolezal is associate professor of theology in the School of Divinity at Cairn University in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. He is the author of God Without Parts (Pickwick, 2011) and All That Is in God (Reformation Heritage, 2017).
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, CROSS Conference, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your regist…
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Dec 6, 2020
How to Tell Good Missionary Stories—Without Lying
We’ve all sat through missionary presentations in church that were… less than dynamic. But we’ve also seen the dangers of sensationalized stories from across the world that proved untrue and led donors astray. How can missionaries become compelling storytellers, sharing what God is doing worldwide without fudging the truth? This week Scott and Alex talk about how to write compelling missionary updates, newsletter, and presentations with integrity.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, CROSS Conference, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Nov 29, 2020
Has the White Savior Complex Infected Evangelical Missions?
The story of American missionary Renee Bach made waves last year when she was implicated in the deaths of more than 100 Ugandan children. But does her complex situation serve as a mirror for us—and for modern evangelical missions in general? This week, Scott and Alex address whether or not Western missions is dominated by the “white savior” mindset and how pastors can send and train better to prevent stories like this from happening.
Read Darren Carlson’s article, “The White Savior Complex in Missions?” on The Gospel Coalition.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, CROSS Conference, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Nov 22, 2020
Paul Davis on Why Baptism Matters to Missions
Is baptism the most neglected part of the Great Commission? In this conversation, Paul Davis of ABWE shares why cross-cultural workers are tempted to neglect this ordinance among the least-reached—and how steeping ourselves in Scripture’s teaching on baptism can solve the problem.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, CROSS Conference, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Nov 15, 2020
Are Short-Term Missions Trips Dead? Jason Phillips Answers
The world has changed dramatically. Have we witnessed the demise of the short-term missions trip? Jason Phillips doesn’t think so. This week, he explains why—and how pastors and missions trip leaders can do a better job of maximizing the long-term impact of short-term trips.
Jason Phillips was recently appointed to ABWE as executive director for a new short-term missions program. He has more than 30 years of experience in senior corporate and ministry roles in a variety of organizations from start-ups to Fortune 100 enterprises. Jason has served in multiple pastoral roles, and he co-founded and directed Hope2Live Ministries, a ministry that worked primarily in Sierra Leone. He earned a BBA in finance from Georgia State University, a Master of Divinity in theology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in disciple-making from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jason and his wife, Jeannie, have been partners in ministry throughout their tw…
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Nov 8, 2020
Do Missionaries Need to Meet the Biblical Qualifications for Elders?
In 2019, Paul Washer delivered a stirring message at the G3 Conference defining a biblical missionary. His challenge begs the question: must missionaries meet the standard set by 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9? Are all missionaries elder-qualified lead church-planters, or is there room for a diversity of roles on missionary teams? Scott and Alex explore this intricate topic with their Bibles open in this episode.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International, CROSS Conference, Fusion, and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
Abuse Prevention National Conference 2021 attendees: use promo code ABWE21 to receive 20% off your registration.
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Nov 1, 2020
The Dangers of Insider Bible Translations: The Arlington Statement
Scripture calls Jesus Christ the Son of God and the Lamb slain for sinners. These glorious names run directly counter to the sensibilities of those belonging religions including Islam and Hinduism. Should Bible translators soften these words and concepts to contextualize God’s word?
The framers of the recently-published Arlington Statement on Bible Translation say no. This week, Scott and Alex welcome back Pierre Houssney and Seth Vitrano-Wilson to discuss the growing threats in Bible translation.
Pierre Houssney is MENA Regional Director for Horizons International. Pierre lives in Beirut, Lebanon, with his wife, Gigi, and their two children, where he leads a team of nationals and missionaries who run a center for evangelism and discipleship among Muslims. Seth Vitrano-Wilson was raised in the Mormon church, but God brought him to repentance and faith in Christ while he was living in Argentina. He has served cross-culturally in the Middle East and Southeast Asia for over 10 years,…
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Oct 25, 2020
How to Be a Word-Centered Missionary: E.D. Burns
What is a “word-driven” missionary, and how can you become one? Adoniram and Ann Judson are stirring examples of Scripture-saturated missionaries whose methods subverted human wisdom. To explain this week, author and missionary E.D. Burns joins the show.
E.D. Burns, Ph.D., is the author of The Missionary-Theologian and A Supreme Desire to Please Him: The Spirituality of Adoniram Judson. He has been a long-term missionary in the Middle East, East Asia, Alaska, and currently SE Asia. From his international location he directs the M.A. in Global Leadership at Western Seminary. A linguist and ordained minister, Burns develops theological resources and trains indigenous pastors and missionaries to the least-reached.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention. Abuse Prevention National Conference…
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Oct 18, 2020
Was Adam a Missionary? Matthew Newkirk on the Creation Mandate and Missions
In Genesis, Adam was told to be fruitful, multiply, and take dominion of creation. He failed. Now, believers in Christ are called to spread the good news of Christ to the world. Are these two separate missions, or is the Great Commission a renewal of the original marching orders from Eden? Matthew Newkirk, author of Fill the Earth: The Creation Mandate and the Church’s Call to Missions.
Matthew (Ph.D., Wheaton College) is president and professor of Old Testament at Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya, Japan. For two decades he has served churches in a variety of ministerial roles including youth, worship, mercy, missions, and adult education, and has taught Hebrew and Old Testament in seminaries in the United States, Australia, and Japan. He is married to Caroline and together they have four children and reside in Japan.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored…
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Oct 11, 2020
Know Your Place: How to Identify and Study Your Mission Field
In today’s technology-saturated world, we can “be” anywhere—except where we actually are. Place matters. So how can we identify what our “mission field” is around us and know the way it thinks? In this episode, Scott and Alex dive into the book of Acts for answers about worldview, context, and missional living.
Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
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Oct 4, 2020
Throwback: The Greatest Injustice With Chad Vegas
In 2020, it’s impossible to escape the topic of privilege. This week, we dive into the archives and bring back our May 2019 interview with Chad Vegas, founding board member of Radius International and lead pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, and our discussion of “gospel privilege.” Perhaps it has never been more timely.
Chad is the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church. After completing his M.A. in Theology at Talbot, and being the high school pastor at RiverLakes Community Church, Chad was called to plant a church in Bakersfield. His passion is to know Christ and to make him known. He has been married to Teresa since 1994, and they have two children. You can email him.
Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored b…
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Sep 27, 2020
American Gospel or Biblical Gospel? Sean DeMars on the Danger of Prosperity Preaching
The so-called “prosperity gospel” has infected evangelical religious life. But it doesn’t just appear in the overt claims that God wants us to be rich and healthy—it takes far more insidious forms. Is the American dream antithetical to the missionary calling? What role does suffering play in our mission to the nations? Sean DeMars, former missionary known for his appearance in the American Gospel documentary, weighs in this week.
Sean DeMars is pastor at 6th Avenue Community Church in Decatur, Alabama. He previously served the peoples of Peru by preaching, teaching, and living God’s word.
Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
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Sep 20, 2020
Evangelize or Civilize? C.J. Moore on William Carey
Sometimes the missionary task is a balance between evangelism and humanitarianism. William Carey believed that the more evangelized a society was, the more civilized it became—and the more civilized it was, the more open to evangelized it would become. But was he right? C.J. Moore, missions mobilizer, Midwestern Seminary Ph.D. student and fellow, and pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Missouri, explains how Christian workers today should understand the “father of modern missions.”
C.J. served as a mid-term missionary in East Asia and Peru before joining the International Mission Board as a mobilizer. You can follow him on Twitter.
At the end of the show, we recommended these resources:
* Faithful Witness (Timothy George)
* William Carey (S. Pearce Carey)
* The Missionary Fellowship of William Carey (Michael Haykin)
Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.
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Sep 13, 2020
Are International Churches Missional? Scott Zeller on Pastoring Expats
Missions means doing hard things in hard places. So are English-speaking churches geared towards expats truly reaching the unreached, or does more need to be done? The answers may surprise you. This week, Scott Zeller, executive pastor of Redeemer Church of Dubai, reframes the issue.
Scott Zeller is involved in regional church planting and theological education initiatives from Redeemer Church. You can email Scott or follow him on Twitter.
Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund. This episode is also sponsored by Radius International and Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.
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Sep 6, 2020
Brooks Buser Answers: How Dare Missionaries Seek to Convert?
On August 8, 2020, a simple tweet by Brooks Buser, president of Radius International, ignited a firestorm of controversy: “Thank you for the prayers for Amdu people and team. By God’s grace, there are now members of that people group who are reconciled to God, who no longer have their sins counted against them.” Skeptics, atheists, and even professed Christians joined together to denounce the missionaries for having the audacity to proselytize. This week, Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman ask Brooks: what gives evangelical Christians the right to convert peoples? Are missionaries just glorified colonists stamping out unique cultures with minimal contact with the world—and why or why not?
Brooks and Nina Buser planted a church among the Yembiyembi people in Papua New Guinea. In 2016, they returned to San Diego. Both Brooks and Nina participate in the teaching at Radius International as well as leading and traveling to spread the word about the necessity of training.
Discount From…
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Aug 30, 2020
Critical Theory, Post-Colonialism, and Missions: Neil Shenvi on Social Justice
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.
Social justice. Critical theory. Post-colonialism. Intersectionality. These issues have divided believers and unbelievers alike in the church over the last few years, and in 2020 the issue is impossible to escape. Is conservative evangelicalism beginning to compromise biblical teaching on complex social issues? And if so, what effect does that have on missions?
This week, Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman delve deep with Neil Shenvi, a noted Christian online personality who has researched and written on apologetics and the subject of social justice.
Neil is a homeschooling dad, theoretical chemist, and member of The Summit Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. You can follow him on Twitter.
Discount From Kregel Academic: If you enjoyed our interview with Matt Bennett on his newest book 40 Questions About Islam, you can purchase it here from Christianbook.com and receive 40% off using the exclusive discount code “ABWE.” Check it o…
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Aug 23, 2020
Missions History in a ‘Cancel Culture’ Age: Jonathan Arnold Explains
Christians live in an age of iconoclasm. How can we do church history and modern missions history responsibly—without falling into the opposite errors of hero-worship or “cancel culture”? Jonathan Arnold, Associate Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, weighs in from his perspective as a church historian.
For three years, Jonathan served as senior pastor of a Bible Church in Michigan. Prior to that he and his wife led several student-focused ministries on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Arnold transitioned to the academy full-time at Northland International University in Dunbar, Wisconsin where he served as vice president of student services and professor of theological studies. In 2015, Arnold moved to Boyce College, where he served as the founding director of the Augustine Honors Collegium, assistant professor of Christian theology and church history, and as founding editor of The Augustine Collegiate Review. He has…
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Aug 16, 2020
Tragedy in Beirut and What It Means for Missions: Pierre Houssney Speaks
On August 4, 2020, the world’s eyes were glued on Beirut, Lebanon as two fatal explosions in a major urban center caused at least 171 deaths, 6,000 injuries, rocked social media, and left an estimated 300,000 people homeless. Pierre Rashad Houssney is Middle East and North Africa Regional Director for Horizons International, based in Beirut, and is a Lebanese-American who grew up in the context of cross-cultural ministry among Muslims and international students. This week, we ask Pierre the question many missions-minded believers are asking: what happened in Beirut, and what does it mean for the cause of the gospel?
Pierre has been in full-time ministry with Horizons International since 2006, and has been an active member of Horizons’ teaching staff and curriculum development team since 2002. Pierre lives in Beirut, Lebanon, with his wife Gigi and their two children. He leads a team of nationals and missionaries who run a center for evangelism and discipleship among Muslims. He ho…
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Aug 9, 2020
Is Netflix Killing Missions? Tony Reinke on Media and Technology
“Stay safe, stay home” may be a reasonable mantra during a pandemic, but that thinking long-term suffocates the missionary spirit. Most of us are already technology-addicted, and now streaming video services like Netflix are arguably making it harder to be faithful as a missionary. This week, Tony Reinke of Desiring God explains why the missionary endeavor depends on modern, media-saturated Christians choosing to forsake their fixation on worldly spectacles and get lost in a greater glory.
Tony Reinke is senior writer for Desiring God and author of Competing Spectacles (2019), 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You (2017), John Newton on the Christian Life (2015), and Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books (2011). He hosts the Ask Pastor John podcast and lives in the Phoenix with his wife and three children.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podc…
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Aug 2, 2020
Apologetics, Evangelism, and Revival in Norway: Nahum O’Brien and Edvard Moe Explain
When most people think of Norway, they think of gorgeous fjords, bitter cold, and secularism—not a revival of interest in apologetics or biblical doctrine. Is this Scandinavian nation simply circling the drain of postmodernism, or is God doing something new? We ask that question to Nahum O’Brien, ABWE missionary to Norway, along with his national partner and local church elder Edvard Moe.
Nahum and Arin O’Brien plan to partner with national pastors Asbjørn Berland and Martin Hjellvik of Kilden Menighet, to cultivate a church planting movement in Norway beginning in Stavanger. Their ministry plan is to focus on evangelism, discipleship, and theological education. Support Nahum’s ministry.
Discount From Kregel Academic: If you enjoyed our interview with Matt Bennett on his newest book 40 Questions About Islam, you can purchase it here from Christianbook.com and receive 40% off using the exclusive discount code “ABWE.” Check it out!
Remember to share, rate, leave a rev…
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Jul 26, 2020
Should We ‘Follow the Science’ in Missions?
Everyone is discussing the importance of evidence, empirical data, and peer review. What role—if any—should these scientific standards play in missiology? Dr. John Morgan, resident missiologist for ABWE, discusses his latest article exploring the application of evidence-based practice (EBP) in cross-cultural missions strategy.
After serving as missionaries to Togo, John and his wife Michele returned to Ohio as church planters. They now minister at ABWE’s International Headquarters. Support their ministry.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podcast and you’ll get a link to download the ebook or audiobook in a variety of formats. Special thanks to Desiring God for their generosity.
Discount From Kregel Academic: If you enjoyed our interview with Matt Bennett on his newest book 40 Questions About Islam, you can purchase it here from Christianbook.com and r…
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Jul 19, 2020
Theological Famine in the Pacific Islands: Chris Bruno Speaks
The Pacific Islands are staggeringly diverse—ethnically and religiously. Pastors and churches are starved for theologically rich, gospel-driven teaching and training. What strategy can solve this problem? In this episode, Chris Bruno provides answers and shares an important update about his ministry with Training Leaders International.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podcast and you’ll get a link to download the ebook or audiobook in a variety of formats. Special thanks to Desiring God for their generosity.
Discount From Kregel Academic: If you enjoyed our interview with Matt Bennett on his newest book 40 Questions About Islam, you can purchase it here from Christianbook.com and receive 40% off using the exclusive discount code “ABWE.” Check it out!
Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can bridge the gap between the wor…
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Jul 12, 2020
The Power of God in Missions
The world seems more chaotic than ever. The church feels increasingly paralyzed with fear. What power is available to us to engage the immense task of the Great Commission? The power of God for our mission is found in the foolishness of God in the cross, the foolishness of his servants in the church, and the foolishness of the message we preach. Hear Alex Kocman preach at Mount Calvary Church on 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 to address this topic.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podcast and you’ll get a link to download the ebook or audiobook in a variety of formats. Special thanks to Desiring God for their generosity.
Discount From Kregel Academic: If you enjoyed our interview with Matt Bennett on his newest book 40 Questions About Islam, you can purchase it here from Christianbook.com and receive 40% off using the exclusive discount code “ABWE.” Chec…
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Jul 5, 2020
How to Be a Next-Level Sending Church
Click here to watch the video version of this episode.
In this episode, ABWE President Paul Davis sits down (virtually) with Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford for a GARBC 2020 conference breakout session on global missions and how churches can become next-level senders.
To learn more about the Live Global adopt-an-unreached-people-group initiative, visit liveglobal.org/unreached. And while you are considering your next steps with missions, make plans to join us at our next 24-Hour DEMO event.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podcast and you’ll get a link to download the ebook or audiobook in a variety of formats. Special thanks to Desiring God for their generosity.
Discount From Kregel Academic: If you enjoyed our interview with Matt Bennett on his newest book 40 Questions About Islam, you can purchase it here from Christianbook.com and receive 40% off…
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Jun 28, 2020
Before You Quit: Doug Gehman on Perseverance
Ministry is hard. For many, the temptation to throw in the towel is an ever-present reality. How can pastors, missionaries, and other Christian workers develop a sustained pattern of daily endurance? Doug Gehman, president of Globe International and author of Before You Quit: Everyday Endurance, Moral Courage, and the Quest for Purpose (Moody, 2020), draws on his cross-cultural experiences how to develop perseverance in ministry.
Doug Gehman attended Goshen College and Fuller Theological Seminary and completed graduate and doctoral degrees in missions at Liberty Christian University in Pensacola, FL. Since 1994, Doug has served with Globe International, a mission-sending agency based in Pensacola, FL. Doug and his wife Beth have ministered in nearly sixty nations.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podcast and you’ll get a link to download the ebook or aud…
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Jun 21, 2020
Disaster, Discipleship, and the Developing World: Smita Singh on Cyclone Ampham
While our eyes were glued to Western news, Cyclone Ampham struck India and Bangladesh with deadly results. When tragedy strikes in affluent North America, we can recover much more quickly—but what happens to ministries in the developing world when natural disaster strikes? This week, Live Global partner Smita Singh returns to the show to discuss the physical and spiritual climate of Kolkata and the surrounding least-reached region.
Smita is Director of Justice Initiatives for JKPS, which launched Mahima Homes to help trafficked girls and boys receive counseling, education and vocational training. You can support the ministries of Smita and other JKPS partners through ABWE’s Live Global ministry.
Listen to our previous conversation with Smita.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podcast and you’ll get a link to download the ebook or audiobook in a…
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Jun 15, 2020
Sheriff Chris Swanson on Faith, Justice, and Missions
Click here to watch the video version of this episode.
Sheriff Chris Swanson in Genesee County near Flint, Michigan, went viral two weeks ago when he took off his helmet and riot gear, approached the crowd of demonstrators gathered in response to the killing of George Floyd, and reached out in love to build a bridge between law enforcement and racial minorities. In this exclusive interview, Chris shares with Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman about his faith, his passion for international missions, and why the key to obeying the Great Commission starts with looking in the eye and choosing to love those who are different from you.
Sheriff Swanson is a career police officer with experiences spanning more than two decades. He has served in a variety of positions, including corrections, patrol, narcotics, criminal investigation, death investigation, and command operations. Some of his most notable assignments have been part of the executive protection for presidents George W. Bush and Barack…
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Jun 14, 2020
Fearless Leadership in Fearful Days: Charles Smith Speaks
Between global illness, national riots, and the ordinary lump-in-the-throat feeling that often accompanies Christian obedience, the temptations to retreat in fear—or simulate real risk with risk-free alternatives—are plentiful. But this is not the time for cowardice cloaked in carefulness. Now is the time for fearless mission.
This week on The Missions Podcast, Charles Smith discusses his recent article on the topic and reminds us that the solution to our leadership fears is the fatherly love of God.
Charles Smith serves as Vice President for Institutional Relations at Midwestern Seminary and oversees the offices of Admissions, Institutional Advancement, Alumni, Communications, Student Life and Events, and Center for Church Planting and Partnering. He earned a Business Administration degree from Mississippi College in 2007 and a Master’s of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2011, and he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Christian Leadership.
Listen to our p…
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Jun 7, 2020
Questioning Contextualization? With C.R. Wiley
Missiologists are always talking about contextualizing the church to the surrounding culture. But should we accommodate to a post-Christian culture, or a culture of death like we see in the West today? It’s time for us to rethink the ubiquitous acceptance of the logic of contextualization, says C.R. “Chris” Wiley. This week, Chris returns to the show to defend his thesis.
Chris Wiley is pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Manchester. He has written for Touchstone Magazine, Modern Reformation, Sacred Architecture, The Imaginative Conservative, Front Porch Republic, National Review Online, and First Things, among others. His most recent book is, The Household and the War for the Cosmos published by Canon Press (2019). His short fiction has appeared in The Mythic Circle (published by the Mythopoeic Society) and elsewhere, and the first book in his young adult fantasy series, The Purloined Boy, was published by Canonball Books (2017). He is a member of the Academy of Philosophy and…
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May 31, 2020
What Is Happening to China’s Uyghurs?
“Absolutely no mercy.” That’s how leaked documents describe the treatment of China’s Uyghur Muslims detained in “re-education” camps, according to the New York Times. In recent years, China has detained more than one million members of the ethnic minority concentrated in Xinjiang. What is really happening, and what should Christians do about it? This week, Scott and Alex speak to a former overseas worker who has been up-close and personal with the communist regime’s Uyghur policy.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podcast and you’ll get a link to download the ebook or audiobook in a variety of formats. Special thanks to Desiring God for their generosity.
Discount From Kregel Academic: If you enjoyed our interview with Matt Bennett on his newest book 40 Questions About Islam, you can purchase it here from Christianbook.com and receive 40%…
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May 24, 2020
Nathan Sloan on the Sacrifice of Sending
Every church wants to send. So why aren’t we? Could it be that we aren’t willing to pay the price—or worse, that local churches are relying on parachurch organizations to do what only the body of Christ can? This week, Pastor Nathan Sloan of Sojourn Church weighs in with some loving rebukes and encouraging insights from his own testimony.
Nathan is the Pastor of Sending at Sojourn Church Midtown in Louisville, KY. He is the author of Multisite Missions Leadership and helps coach mission leaders through an organization called the Upstream Collective. Before moving into local church ministry, Nathan and his wife were missionaries in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podcast and you’ll get a link to download the ebook or audiobook in a variety of formats. Special thanks to Desiring God for their generosity.
Discount From Kregel Aca…
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May 17, 2020
Has COVID-19 Halted Global Missions? Paul Davis Answers
With global travel restrictions and months-long shutdowns in place, what is happening to world missions? Scott and Alex interviewed ABWE President Paul Davis to answer from his perspective overseeing work in 70 countries.
In this episode, Paul shares his new rhythms in life, what missionaries are telling him, what he’d be doing right now if he were a local church pastor, and why our best weapon through this entire season is singing.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podcast and you’ll get a link to download the ebook or audiobook in a variety of formats. Special thanks to Desiring God for their generosity.
Discount From Kregel Academic: If you enjoyed our interview with Matt Bennett on his newest book 40 Questions About Islam, you can purchase it here from Christianbook.com and receive 40% off using the exclusive discount code “ABWE.” Check it out!
Re…
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May 10, 2020
The Biblical Way to Raise Support During Financial Crisis
Let’s admit it: ministry depends on money. But ministry partnership development, deputation, or raising missionary support were already hard enough. Now, with global economic shutdown and mass layoffs, making the “ask” feels wrong. How can missionaries connect with partners and churches and maintain funding in a way that is good, decent, and biblical? Jason Ruch explains.
Jason is Director of Infrastructure for Cru’s U.S. National Ministry Partner Development Team. He has served with Cru for 19 years and has trained and coached missionaries to invite others to join them in God's work by praying and giving financial support since 2007. He and his wife Erika live in the Minneapolis area with their three sons and have been members of Bethlehem Baptist Church since 2001.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podcast and you’ll get a link to download the e…
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May 3, 2020
When the Church Can’t Gather: Pandemics, Persecution, and Worship on the Mission Field
Does online worship count as “church?” Is Sunday unique as the Lord’s Day? Does the Bible give us a regulative principle or worship, or a normative principle of worship? The current global crisis has brought up these important questions about ecclesiology—questions that missionaries already face in parts of the world where gathering openly and regularly may be impossible or illegal. In this episode, Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman dive in to the issue of worship from an historic Baptist standpoint.
Free John Piper Book Download: Desiring God is giving away John Piper’s latest book, Coronavirus and Christ, absolutely free. Subscribe to ABWE’s blog and podcast and you’ll get a link to download the ebook or audiobook in a variety of formats. Special thanks to Desiring God for their generosity.
Discount From Kregel Academic: If you enjoyed our interview with Matt Bennett on his newest book 40 Questions About Islam, you can purchase it here from Christianbook.com and r…
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Apr 28, 2020
T4G20 Panel: The Local Church and the Nations
In the current crisis, it has never been harder to do global missions. It has also never been a better time. But who are the “nations” Jesus commands us to reach, and how can struggling churches engage right now?
At Together for the Gospel 2018, an expert panel of theologians, missiologists, and ministry leaders assembled to address some tough missions questions. In honor of T4G20, we invited even more trusted voices:
* Paul Davis | President, ABWE
* Zane Pratt | Vice President, IMB
* Darren Carlson | President, TLI
* Brooks Buser | President, Radius International
* John Klaasen | President, Reaching and Teaching
* Matt Bennett | Assistant Professor of Missions and Theology, Cedarville University
This episode is sponsored by:
* Live Global
* ABWE International
* Training Leaders International
* Reaching & Teaching
* Radius International
* The Gospel Coalition
* Chosen People International
* Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention
*…
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Apr 26, 2020
Dr. Robin Hadaway on Reaching Folk Muslims
What is the difference between folk Islam and orthodox Islam—or folk religion in general and any other major religion—and how can Christians meaningfully present Christ in a context of traditional spiritism? Dr. Robin D. Hadaway joins us this week to unravel these complex missiological questions.
Dr. Hadaway is professor of missions at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, having joined the faculty in 2003. Dr. Hadaway came to MBTS following 18 years of service with the IMB. During that time, Dr. Hadaway was a church planter in North Africa and Tanzania. His 18 years with the IMB included administrative positions such as strategy coordinator, cluster leader, and finally Regional Leader for Eastern South America, with oversight of 350 missionaries in Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
T4G Live Webcast April 27th: In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s never been harder to figure out how to do overseas missions. So when Jesus told us to make disciples of all “nations,…
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Apr 19, 2020
What Does COVID-19 Mean for Medical Missions?
Healthcare missionaries across the globe are acutely feeling the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic—even in countries where there are few reported cases. And in developing nations where subsistence living is common, “shelter in place” isn’t feasible. What does coronavirus mean for medical missions? Joining Scott and Alex this week to answer is Jodi Boyd, ABWE missionary nurse serving with International Healthcare Ministries (IHM).
Email Jodi to connect or find out how to help her in her efforts in procuring medical supplies. You can also support her ministry.
T4G Live Webcast April 27th: In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s never been harder to figure out how to do overseas missions. So when Jesus told us to make disciples of all “nations,” what did he mean? Who are the nations, and how can struggling, ordinary churches reach them in days like these?
Join our T4G missions expert lunch panel, The Local Church and the Nations, on Monday, April 27. Hear from…
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Apr 12, 2020
Coronavirus and Plague: Lessons From Church History With Glenn Sunshine
The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging churches to be more bold, evangelistic, and loving towards our neighbors than we’ve ever needed to be. But this isn’t the first time in church history that Christians have faced the challenge of a plague. In this episode, our friend Glenn Sunshine returns to share a history of pandemics, the Black Death, and how believers over the last 2,000 years have stared illness in the face to faithfully live on mission.
Glenn Sunshine is Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University and a Senior Faculty Member of the Colson Fellows. An award-winning author, Glenn has published books, articles and book chapters on history, theology, and culture, online and on both sides of the Atlantic. His most recent book, The Kingdom Unleashed: How Jesus’ 1st-Century Kingdom Values Are Transforming Thousands of Cultures and Awakening His Church, was co-authored with Jerry Trousdale. Glenn has taught a variety of Bible, history, and worldview seminars a…
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Apr 5, 2020
God’s Law or Sharia? 40 Questions About Islam With Matt Bennett
How can Christians with a high view of God’s moral law in the Old Testament address the apologetics challenged posed by the Islamic doctrine of sharia? That’s one of a number of thought-provoking questions tackled by Matt Bennett this week as he connects with Scott and Alex about his newest book, 40 Questions About Islam.
Dr. Matthew Bennett joined the faculty at Cedarville University in fall 2017 after serving and living in North Africa and the Middle East since 2011. He currently teaches The Bible and the Gospel, Theology I, Urban Missiology, Contemporary World Missions, Global Theology, and World Religions. Hear our preview interviews with Matt here.
Announcement: In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s never been harder to figure out how to do overseas missions. So when Jesus told us to make disciples of all “nations,” what did he mean? Who are the nations, and how can struggling, ordinary churches reach them in days like these?
Join our T4G missions expert lun…
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Mar 29, 2020
Serve in Place: Missions in a Pandemic
Global travel restrictions are in place. Hordes of healthy people throughout the U.S. and abroad can’t even get to their local church service in-person—much less to the mission field. Should we temporarily shift our focus away from global missions during the current crisis? Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman explore this complex question in this exclusive conversation.
Announcement: In spite of the coronavirus, our T4G missions expert lunch panel, The Local Church and the Nations, will premiere on April 27. Hear from Paul Davis, Zane Pratt, Darren Carlson, Brooks Buser, John Klaassen, and more debating the important issues raised in Darren’s 2019 article on the meaning of the Great Commission. More details will be available here as they become available!
Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE In…
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Mar 22, 2020
Paul Davis: Why the Gospel Must Be ‘Preached’
In the missions community, we all believe the gospel must be spread. But there is increasing resistance to the idea of “preaching” or “proclaiming” the gospel with authority and simplicity. Why is that? ABWE President Paul Davis joins Scott and Alex this week to explain what is burdening him and what he’s seeing in the heart of the unreached world in South Asia.
Announcement: Even though T4G has been canceled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are still planning—Lord willing—to hold our expert panel via live webcast. The topic: who are “the nations,” and what can the local church do to reach them? Hear from Paul Davis, Zane Pratt, Darren Carlson, Brooks Buser, John Klaassen, and more debating the important issues raised in Darren’s 2019 article on the meaning of the Great Commission. More details coming soon!
Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.
Want to ask a questi…
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Mar 15, 2020
Soleimani, Iran, and the Gospel
The death of Qasem Soleimani. Coronavirus. The shooting down of Ukrainian flight PS752. Iran has been in the news a lot lately, but it’s critical that Christians look beyond the headlines. How are Iranians and Persians worldwide processing these events—and what are the implications for the spread of the gospel among Shia Muslims? This week, Scott and Alex discuss the spiritual state of Iranians across the globe with an Iranian missionary and church planter.
He and his wife has ministered extensively in the underground church in Iran, and they continued on to serve and resource believers and churches for Farsi-language evangelism and discipleship. He is now planting and leading a Persian church in Canada. Hear our previous interview with him here.
Announcement: If you’re coming to Together for the Gospel, join us for an expert panel and luncheon discussing the topic: who are “the nations,” and what can the local church do to reach them? Hear from Paul Davis, Zane Pratt, Da…
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Mar 8, 2020
Is Christianity a ‘Western Religion’? The Ancient Path in Asia
Throughout southeast Asia, where John m has ministered with ABWE for years, one of the major barriers to the gospel is the misconception that Christianity is a Western or even American religion. Is that true—and if not, how can we counteract that understanding?
In this episode, John explains the miraculous story of The Ancient Path tract and how God is drawing people from the East to Christ. John and his critical work in developing and distributing The Ancient Path are a part of Live Global, a ministry of ABWE focusing on advancing the gospel creatively through national partnerships in the least-reached places across the globe. Learn more about Live Global’s exciting opportunity for you or your church to adopt an unreached people group.
Announcement: If you’re coming to Together for the Gospel, join us for an expert panel and luncheon discussing the topic: who are “the nations,” and what can the local church do to reach them? Hear from Paul Davis, Zane Pratt, Darren Carls…
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Mar 2, 2020
Special Episode: How Does Coronavirus Affect Missions?
Note: With the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 situation, some of the information in this podcast may now be outdated. For the latest on ABWE’s response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, see here. For the latest medical facts and figures, please refer to the U.S. CDC or WHO.
With global health and economic implications, how should Christian missionaries throughout Asia and beyond respond to the growing Coronavirus outbreak? In this bonus episode, Scott and Alex interviewed Dr. Miriam Wheeler, who has been walking alongside ABWE’s missionaries throughout this crisis.
After 21 years pioneering the Ukraine village clinic ministry and Choose Life post-abortion ministry and crisis pregnancy center, God called Miriam to become the ABWE Medical Director of International Missionary Healthcare.
Refer to the CDC report here. We recorded this episode on the fly, so please forgive the less-than-perfect audio quality.
Announcement: If you’re coming to Together for the Gospel, j…
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Mar 1, 2020
From Africa to the Abortion Clinic: Anthony Mathenia on Suffering and the Sovereignty in Evangelism
Anthony Mathenia ministered faithfully in Ethiopia as a missionary, but the pragmatism and watering-down of the gospel he saw from his fellow cross-cultural workers worried him. He was charting a new course—until God’s sovereignty directed him elsewhere, and the sudden passing of his wife brought him back to the U.S. to raise their children. Now he’s pastoring and preaching the gospel to abortion-seekers on the frontlines in his city. So what does pro-life ministry have in common with evangelism in Ethiopia? As it turns out: everything. Anthony is pastor of Christ Church in Radford, Virginia, a board member of HeartCry Missionary Society, and the founder of Better Than Life ministries. Follow him on Twitter.
Announcement: If you’re coming to Together for the Gospel, join us for an expert panel and luncheon discussing the topic: who are “the nations,” and what can the local church do to reach them? Hear from Paul Davis, Zane Pratt, Darren Carlson, Brooks Buser, John Klaas…
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Feb 23, 2020
Can Soldiers Become Missionaries? Rich Culp on Military Ministry
Our soldiers are already deployed to some of the hardest places in the world and learn foreign languages and important cross-cultural skills. What if they carried the gospel to the people around them? This week, ABWE North America missionary Rich Culp explains the pros and cons of the strategy and why oftentimes U.S. military personnel are the real mission field.
Rich leads the Centurion Project, a part of EveryEthnē that exists to network and empower churches to support and strengthen military leaders in their mission and the Great Commission. Rich and his wife Jenny network with about 100 churches around Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Support the Culps’ ministry.
Announcement: If you’re coming to Together for the Gospel, join us for an expert panel and luncheon discussing the topic: who are “the nations,” and what can the local church do to reach them? Hear from Paul Davis, Zane Pratt, Darren Carlson, Brooks Buser, John Klaassen, and more debating the important issues rai…
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Feb 16, 2020
How Do Chinese Christians Think? Diane Poythress on the Church in Asia
“Eastern” and “Western” aren’t just geographic labels—they’re terms that signify a massive worldview chasm. How do Chinese culture, the Confucian system of thought, and Eastern patterns of thought impact the church in Asia? What questions to Chinese Christians tend to bring to the Bible, and what questions should they—and we—be asking instead? Dr. Diane Poythress provides answers, drawing upon her theological expertise and her time as a missionary in Asia.
Diane M. Poythress earned her Ph.D. in Reformation history and theology from Westminster Theological Seminary. She studied under Francis Schaeffer at L’Abri, was a missionary in Europe and Taiwan, and served as staff for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in Washington, D.C. She is a speaker, writer, and housewife married to Vern Poythress, and mother of two grown sons.
Announcement: If you’re coming to Together for the Gospel, join us for an expert panel and luncheon discussing the topic: who are “the nati…
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Feb 9, 2020
The Tragic Fruit of Liberalism in Missions: Mark Tatlock Explains
We often talk about the state of theology in the American church, but what about on the mission field? In this episode, Mark Tatlock, president of The Master’s Academy International (TMAI), explains why there is reason for rejoicing but also much concern—and how the root of many heresies overseas can be traced to a gradual retreat from biblical inerrancy and sufficiency in the West.
Dr. Mark Tatlock, prior to being appointed to his full-time role with TMAI, served as executive vice president and provost of The Master’s University. Mark is a graduate of The Master’s Seminary, and he and his wife Lisa have five children, included adopted children: Jacob, Josiah, Hope, Paul, and Olivia.
Announcement: If you’re coming to Together for the Gospel, join us for an expert panel and luncheon discussing the topic: who are “the nations,” and what can the local church do to reach them? Hear from Paul Davis, Zane Pratt, Darren Carlson, Brooks Buser, John Klaassen, and more debating…
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Feb 2, 2020
Translating the Bible in 40 Weeks? Dan Kramer on Bible Translation Methods
Of the world’s 7,100 languages, less than ten percent have a complete, written Bible. The Great Commission depends on translations into the heart languages of the lost. How can we get Scripture into the remaining languages without waiting for English-speaking experts in Greek and Hebrew to learn multiple foreign languages—or, is speeding up the process the wrong idea altogether?
We dive deep this week with Dan Kramer of Wycliffe Associates who developed the MAST (Mobilized Assistance Supporting Translation) methodology that is rapidly increasing the speed of translation across the globe, resulting in 254 complete New Testament translations.
Dan Kramer worked for thirteen years in the field of education as faculty at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He came to Wycliffe Associates in 2009 to create an English program. Within three years, the program spanned across 25 countries. Today, Dan leads a staff of more than 60 people to spread of MAST reach the entire globe asid…