The Missions Podcast - Page 8 of 10 - Answering Hard Questions About Missions, Theology, and Practice

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 Carlson, Brooks Buser, John Klaassen, and more debating the important issues raised in Darren’s 2019 article on the meaning of the Great Commission. Register now for only $10, and enjoy lunch on us in Louisville on April 15!

We’re excited to partner with Live Global to pull off this event. If you haven’t already signed up for T4G, use the promo code T4G20LiveGlobal10OFF to receive $10 off your registration.

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.

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Note: With the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 situation, some of the information in this podcast may now be outdated.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.

We’re excited to partner with Live Global to pull off this event. If you haven’t already signed up for T4G, use the promo code T4G20LiveGlobal10OFF to receive $10 off your registration.

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.

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.

We’re excited to partner with Live Global to pull off this event. If you haven’t already signed up for T4G, use the promo code T4G20LiveGlobal10OFF to receive $10 off your registration.

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.

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.

We’re excited to partner with Live Global to pull off this event. If you haven’t already signed up for T4G, use the promo code T4G20LiveGlobal10OFF to receive $10 off your registration.

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.

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.

We’re excited to partner with Live Global to pull off this event. If you haven’t already signed up for T4G, use the promo code T4G20LiveGlobal10OFF to receive $10 off your registration.

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.

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.

We’re excited to partner with Live Global to pull off this event. If you haven’t already signed up for T4G, use the promo code T4G20LiveGlobal10OFF to receive $10 off your registration.

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.

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 aside from a handful of nations, reaching into oral language groups, deaf and eventually deaf/blind populations. Dan resides in Orlando, Florida, with his wife Holly, and they have six children.

We’re excited to partner with Live Global to pull off this event. If you haven’t already signed up for T4G, use the promo code T4G20LiveGlobal10OFF to receive $10 off your registration.

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.

Mailbag: Finishing the Task, Counting Converts, and Defining the ‘Call’

Is it possible to “finish the task” of missions? How should we count converts—if at all? Is it necessary to feel a sense of calling before pursuing missions? We tackle these questions are more received by listeners in this week’s special episode.

In the conversation, we also referenced these past episodes:

“Do We Need to Redefine Unreached?” with Matt Bennett
“How Many Unreached Are There Really?” with Justin Long

We’re excited to partner with Live Global to pull off this event. If you haven’t already signed up for T4G, use the promo code T4G20LiveGlobal10OFF to receive $10 off your registration.

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.

Presuppositional Apologetics in Missions: Vern Poythress Explains

How should missionaries argue for the Christian faith? If human beings are dead in sin, then they need more than evidence—they need to realize that even their refusal to believe is an act of rebellion and a sin for which Jesus died. To argue this way is to argue using presuppositional apologetics, but how to apply this method in missions isn’t always clear. How can missionaries take this way of presenting truth—used most often in challenging atheism—and apply it to Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or other pagan religions?

Dr. Vern Poythress returns to the show to unpack this important topic. Taught by Cornelius Van Til, the primary theologian credited with advancing presuppositionalism, Dr. Poythress explains that apologetics matters to missions because no one is neutral before God.

Rev. Dr. Vern Poythress (Ph.D., Harvard; D.Th., Stellenbosch) is professor of New Testament and biblical interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he has taught for 43 years. Hear our previous interview with Dr. Poythress on the topic of linguistics here.

We’re excited to partner with Live Global to pull off this event. If you haven’t already signed up for T4G, use the promo code T4G20LiveGlobal10OFF to receive $10 off your registration.

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.

Reaching Ferguson, Missouri: Chris Brown on Urban Church Planting

For most Americans, Ferguson, Missouri only entered their consciousness in 2014 when news broke of the controversial shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. But the story of Ferguson goes much deeper, and the gospel is spreading slowly. This week, ABWE missionary Chris Brown shares how God is moving in this area and opening hearts to Christ even amidst political, cultural, and racial tensions.

Chris Brown is an EveryEthnē church planter to Ferguson, Missouri serving House of the Lord Baptist Church with his wife Kaitlin. Support their ministry.

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.

Insider Movements: Definitions and Dangers With Matthew Bennett

Can you identify as “socio-culturally Muslim” while still following Christ—and making disciples? That question lies at the heart of the Insider Movement methodology. In this episode, Matt Bennett joins to offer definitions and explain the dangers of the Insider Movement and provide practical guidance for pastors and missionaries navigating these controversial waters.

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.

Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can help bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? 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.

Throwback: Is Every Christian a Missionary? Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters Answer

As we leave the Advent season and enter the new year, it’s important to get back to the basics of the Christian life. Should we consider every Christians a “missionary”—and if not, why not?

This week we’re diving back into the archives to enjoy our conversation with Pioneers USA VP Denny Spitters and 16:15 President Matthew Ellison, authors of When Everything Is Missions, all over again.

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.

Bonus Episode: The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulder

The holidays are a time of quaint familiarity, but let’s be honest. We wax philosophical about the royal gifts the magi later bring the Christ-child, but we treat “King” mainly as an honorific title. We think, after all, this Boy grows up to be a controversial Jewish Rabbi, an inspiring religious figure, not a Caesar. It doesn’t appear from a human perspective that Jesus is in charge of anything. But Isaiah 9:6 says “the government shall be upon his shoulder.” What government is this, anyway—and what does it have to do with missions?

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.

Disagreeing Agreeably: An Honest Discussion on Separation, Fundamentalism, and Cooperation with Josh Teis

Nothing requires Christians across tribal lines to work together quite like the Great Commission. However, nothing divides Christians quite like our mission and methods, either. How can we cooperate and disagree agreeably in an age of separatism, without compromising on gospel issues and matters of sound, biblical, conservative theology? How can missionaries understand fundamentalism and how it has historically shaped the churches that support them? In this episode, Pastor Joshua Teis explains.

Josh and his wife Heather have ministered at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Las Vegas, NV for the past fifteen years. 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 launched the Idea Day Network and hosts The Idea Talks Podcast. Josh and Heather have one son, Jonathan David, and two daughters, Savannah Tyler and Scarlett Noel. Read Josh’s blog and follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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.

Children: An Overlooked Mission Field? Taylor Lassiter on Children’s Ministry Overseas

By default, most missionaries and pastors tend to focus their ministry only on those age 18 and up. But if we refocused on the evangelism and discipleship of children—both at home and abroad—might we not see God bless the efforts of church planters in a new way? Taylor Lassiter of Awana thinks so.

Taylor Lassiter serves as Awana Missionary and as an Awana U.S. Field Director. As an Awana Missionary, he leads a volunteer team serving over 300 churches in Southeast Texas and Louisiana. His other leadership responsibilities with Awana include leading ten Awana Missionaries in nine different states, impacting hundreds of churches across America. Taylor and Meredith have served as US Missionaries with Awana since 2008 and served in North Texas and Arkansas before relocating to Houston in 2018. Taylor is originally from Lubbock, TX, and Meredith is from Elgin, TX.

ABWE’s children’s ministries focus on reaching the world’s 2 billion children, because research has shown that 75 percent of Christians accept Christ before they reach the age of 14. Explore international children’s ministry opportunities with ABWE.

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.

Should Emotions Motivate Missions? Jonathan Edwards, David Brainerd, and Religious Affections With Ryan Martin

What role should our emotions play in motivating us towards missions? The answer is in church history. Jonathan Edwards is noted his biography of the famous missionary David Brainerd, who was among the first to reach the Native Americans with the gospel. But most people don’t know that Jonathan Edwards wrote about Brainerd primarily as an example of a missionary life driven by powerful, stirring affections for God. And if we feel the way we should about God and his gospel, we will be driven out on mission too.

To explain all this, we consulted with Ryan Martin. Ryan is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Granite Falls, Minnesota. Prior to that, he served as the associate pastor of Bethany Bible Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He is on the board of directors of Religious Affections Ministries. Ryan received his undergraduate degree at Northland Baptist Bible College, and has received further training from Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis, Minn. (M.Div., 2004; Ph.D., 2013). He was ordained in 2009 at Bible Baptist Church of Elk River, Minn. (now Otsego, Minn.). He has a wife and children too. Ryan is the associate editor of Hymns to the Living God (Religious Affections Ministries, 2017). He contributed to the Jonathan Edwards Encyclopedia (Eerdmans, 2017) and is the author of Understanding Affections in the Theology of Jonathan Edwards: “The High Exercises of Divine Love” (T&T Clark, 2018).

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.

Panel: Why Marketplace Missions Matters But Isn’t a Silver Bullet

How can believers of all educational and vocational backgrounds use their skills in the marketplace for the Great Commission? In this episode, you’ll hear an expert panel address this topic at Cedarville University.

The discussion was led by Matt Bennett, Assistant Professor of Missions and Theology at Cedarville. Also joining the conversation are David Butler, NAMB missionary leading the SEND Boston program, Kyle Peterson, deputy director of Cedarville’s entrepreneurial accelerator program, along with Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman.

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.

Engaging the Cults With Summer Jaeger

You may know her from Sheologians, but long before she was “internet famous,” a young Summer Jaeger would spend whole days with her family and friends engaged in street evangelism outside Mormon temples tackling tough apologetic issues and sharing the gospel. Now, as a married, homeschooling mother of four and an avid podcaster, Summer’s perspective on engaging Latter-Day Saints and other cultists is continuing to grow. What should every Christian know about engaging the cults? And what about those of us who don’t feel as though evangelism is their “gift”? We tackle these exciting questions in this episode.

When she’s not cohosting Sheologians, Summer Jaeger is a wife, mom, blogger, active church member, and thoroughgoing Baptist. Follow her 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.

The Life of the Missionary Wife: Heather Farran on Motherhood on the Field

How can missionary wives balance the pressures of home, marriage, and children with the demands of ministry itself? And do wives have to be “called” to missions the same way their husbands do? Heather Farran, ABWE missionary and wife of Western Europe Regional Director Kyle Farran, shares her wisdom from raising three children in Tanzania and Portugal.

Heather and Kyle have served with ABWE since 2007 and currently reside in Lisbon, ministering to the 100+ ABWE missionaries in Portugal, Spain, France, England, Ireland, Germany, Norway and Italy. Heather is an RN with her degree from Cedarville University. Support the Farrans’ ministry.

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.

A Theology of Language: Dr. Vern Poythress Speaks

The inconvenience of learning a foreign language is a major reason people choose not to pursue cross-cultural missions. But, as Dr. Vern Poythress explains, language isn’t just a barrier; it’s a gift from God that displays his creativity. In this special interview, Dr. Poythress explains why language itself finds its source in the Trinity, how missionaries should approach language learning. Later, we address how missionaries can use presuppositional apologetics in dealing with pagan religious cultures.

Rev. Dr. Vern Poythress (Ph.D., Harvard; D.Th., Stellenbosch) is professor of New Testament and biblical interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he has taught for 43 years.

Dr. Poythress’ academic interests include how Christianity and the Trinitarian nature of God impact all areas of life. He has also spent much of his career studying and teaching biblical interpretation and hermeneutics. A few of his notable books include Redeeming Science, Redeeming Philosophy, or Chance and the Sovereignty of God, and In the Beginning Was the Word, which looks at the Trinitarian foundations for language.

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.

Is All Theology Cultural? Biblical Authority and Contextualization

Biblical authority is under attack. A missionary’s job is partly to make the transcendents truths of God’s word understandable within human language, context, and culture. But is it possible to know God’s objective truth, or are we always “stuck” within our culture—making modern missions inescapably colonialist? In this episode, Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman dialogue over these important topics.

In the episode, we referenced the following resources:

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Why Europe Needs Missionaries: Jonathan Kleis on Reaching Roman Catholics in Italy

While Europe has been the cradle of Christian civilization for centuries, certain countries—like Italy—never truly enjoyed the fruits of the Reformation. Now, Italy is steeped in secularism, paganism, and the occult, in addition to nominal Roman Catholicism. How should missionaries reach into this context, and how can we all engage our Roman Catholic friends and neighbors? Jonathan Kleis, an ABWE missionary in Italy engaged in evangelism and even public debate, weighs in.

Jonathan and Noella Kleis have served in Italy since 2005 in evangelism and church planting. They currently reside in Caselle in Turin, Italy. Support the Kleis’ ministry or email Jonathan to learn more.

During the episode, Jonathan mentioned these resources:

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Disciple-Making Movements: A Critical Discussion With Dr. Glenn Sunshine

Disciple-making movements (DMM) and church planting movements (CPM) are more than just buzzwords—they represent controversial methodologies that are dividing missionaries along organization and theological lines. Do these methodologies represent faulty views of conversion or ecclesiology, or are the critics guilty of prayerlessness and quenching the Holy Spirit? We’ve explored these topics in the past on the podcast, but this week, by popular demand, we’ve brought in a strong DMM proponent to help make a positive case: Dr. Glenn Sunshine.

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 and courses to churches around the U.S., Europe and Asia, as well as leading church retreats, seminars, and renewal weekends. He is the founder of Every Square Inch Ministries and he & his wife Lynn have been married for over 30 years and have two children. They live in Newington, Connecticut.

During the episode, we referenced our previous interview with Brooks Buser—listen to that episode here.

Wherever you stand on this critical missiological topic, we believe this dialogue will edify you—and challenge you.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

C.R. Wiley on Missions, the Household, and the Cosmos

In much of the contemporary missions conversation, the good, ordinary gifts of God—like marriage and family—are often spoken of mainly as things to be sacrificed, not as things to be cultivated as a part of the church’s mission. This week, Chris “C.R.” Wiley explains why a return to the biblical understanding of the household can be a powerful weapon on the church’s cosmic spiritual warfare, as well as an evangelistic tool in frontier missions.

C.R. Wiley 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 Letters. He can be heard weekly on The Theology Pugcast.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Why Theology Must Shape Mission: A Chat With Zane Pratt

It’s our 100th episode! Listen all the way through the episode for details on how to win our podcast anniversary giveaway.

In honor of the occasion, we brought back a favorite friend of the show—Zane Pratt, vice president for global training for the IMB—for a heavy-hitting conversation about why our theology must absolutely, unapologetically shape our missiology.

In this interview, we tackle the honor and shame paradigm, the nature of faithful contextualization, the role of systematic and historical theology, and why our theology must ultimately bring us to our knees in devotion and worship.

For twenty years, he served as an IMB church planter and regional leader in Central Asia. From 2011–13, Zane was dean of the Billy Graham School at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he currently serves as associate professor of Christian missions. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University, a master’s degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and is a Ph.D. candidate at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the coauthor of Introduction to Global Missions and a contributor to Theology and Practice of Mission. Listen to Zane’s talk at CROSS 2019, hear our preview interview with Zane on disciple-making movements, and 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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Christopher Yuan on Holy Sexuality and the Gospel

The current flood of issues relating to sexuality isn’t just a challenge for pastors in the West, but for missionaries abroad—especially those serving in Asia, where gender fluidity has been accepted into the cultural assumptions of certain countries for some time. How can Christians approach the issues of homosexuality, transgenderism, and more with gospel-centered, missionary mindsets? Dr. Christopher Yuan weighs in.

Yuan has taught the Bible at Moody Bible Institute for over ten years and his speaking ministry on faith and sexuality has reached five continents. He speaks at conferences, on college campuses, and in churches. He has co-authored with his mother their memoir, Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God, A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope. Christopher graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2005, Wheaton College Graduate School in 2007 with a Master of Arts in Biblical Exegesis and received his doctorate of ministry in 2014 from Bethel Seminary. Dr. Yuan’s newest book is Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God’s Grand Story.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Why Character Matters in Ministry: Paul Davis on Knowing Christ

When pastors, missionaries, and others in ministry fail to actively abide in Christ, that’s when pragmatism becomes most tempting—and most dangerous. How can missionaries remain rooted?

ABWE President Paul Davis stops by the studio this week to share what most burdens him for the missionaries he’s met across the world over the last year, and how remaining weak and dependent upon the Lord reorients our ministry. Listen to this week’s episode for these and other lessons from the field.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

What Happens When Missionaries Get Kicked Out? John Klaassen Answers

Missions always comes with risk, and nothing is guaranteed—especially in hostile, unreached contexts. What should missionaries do when they get kicked off the field? How should they adjust their own expectations when God closes ministry doors?

In this episode, John Klaassen, President of Reaching and Teaching, shares his own powerful story and how he has drawn strength from grasping the sovereignty of God. Born in Colombia, Dr. Klaassen has 18 years of cross-cultural experience overseas in Europe and North Africa, and a further 9 years of experience teaching at Boyce College and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he will continue to teach in the field of missions and global studies. John lives with his wife, Shari, in the city of Louisville where they actively serve amongst Iraqi refugees through their church, Highview Baptist.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Michael Foster on the Crisis of Masculinity and Missions

Why are there so few men in missions? Does the cultural mandate conflict with the Great Commission? And how has the overall downgrade of teaching on biblical manhood in evangelicalism adversely affected the cross-cultural witness of the Christian family unit? Michael Foster joins this week to address these questions and offer insights on the cultural mandate in Genesis, the biblical view of the household, and why so many young men suffer from “failure to launch.”

Michael is a director of It’s Good to Be a Man and co-host of the podcast by the same name. is a serial-entrepreneur who has been in bi-vocational ministry the better part of his adult life. God has blessed him with a beautiful wife and seven children. He is also an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Follow Michael 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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Special Episode: What Do the Hong Kong Protests Have to Do With Missions?

Between 1-2 million people have been taking to the streets in Hong Kong—even singing Christian hymns—in peaceful protest over a new extradition law representing China’s continued aim to tighten its fist and squelch political and religious liberties in the semi-autonomous region. What can believers learn from this complex situation?

In this special episode, Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford—a former missionary in Asia—discuss the situation on the ground, the history, and implications for believers seeking to boldly engage the surrounding culture both on the mission field and at home.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Race, Evolution, and Missions: Charles Ware Speaks

If missionaries are to carry the gospel across cultural and national lines, it’s critical that they have a thoroughly biblical theology of race and ethnicity. And while much of modern progressive, secular culture repudiates anything remotely “racist,” Dr. Charles Ware explains why that wasn’t always the case. Secularism and Darwinism lie near the root of much contemporary racist ideology in the West, and only the biblical worldview offers a sound diagnosis of the sin of partiality and its gospel cure.

This week, Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman unpack this deep and profound topic with Dr. Ware, president emeritus of Crossroads Bible College and coauthor of One Race, One Blood with Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis. Charles also serves on the board of ABWE and with other organizations including ABHE (Association for Biblical Higher Education), Anchorsaway, and the Biblical Counseling Coalition. He is a sought-after speaker on racial reconciliation, counseling, and other topics relating to biblical worldview.

You don’t want to miss this hard-hitting episode on the plague of racism and the answers only Christ can provide.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Brooks Buser on the Urgency of Eternity and the Dangers of Pragmatism

Do we really grasp the urgency of taking the gospel to those who have never heard? And if the task of making disciples among the unreached is so urgent, why shouldn’t we employ every pragmatic means at our disposal to finish the task? Brooks Buser weighs in this week and discusses pioneer missions, disciple-making movements, church planting movements, and other important missiological issues from a mobilizer’s perspective.

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.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Is ‘Marketplace Missions’ Sustainable? Mark Silvers Talks Mobilization

Increasingly, Millennials and young people are redefining “long-term” missions. At the same time, fewer are willing to raise missionary support. Is recruiting marketplace missionaries—many of whom are short-term tentmakers—a sustainable solution? And if so, how do we get the word out to professionals that the Great Commission isn’t just for full-time religious workers?

This week we go back and forth with Mark Silvers, Director of Mobilization for Crossworld, on the pros and cons of using marketplace missionaries alongside long-term church planters. Mark Silvers served with Crossworld in the Philippines for 10 years and joined the home office staff in 2009. Mark’s driving passion is the goal of reaching the 2.9 billion people in the world today with no access to the gospel.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

What Missionaries Need to Know About the Faith and Works Debate: Chris Bruno on Justification and the Missiology of Paul and James

For New Testament students, fewer topics are more frequently studied and debated than the relationship between faith and works in the book of James and the letters of Paul. The question “how are we justified?” isn’t just a question asked in churches and seminaries—it’s also a vital question that relates to how we do missions. Could it be that Paul and James emphasize different truths, not because of doctrinal differences, but because they’re thinking like missionaries and contextualizing for their audience?

In this interview, Chris Bruno (Ph.D., Wheaton) returns to discuss his latest book, Paul Vs. James: What We’ve Been Missing in the Faith and Works Debate (Moody, 2019). Chris serves as assistant professor of New Testament and Greek at Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis. He previously taught Bible and theology at Cedarville University and Northland International University and served as a pastor at Harbor Church in Honolulu, Hawaii. Chris and his wife, Katie, have four sons. Follow Chris on Twitter and listen to our previous episode with him on biblical theology.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

What Is the Mission of God’s People?

What is the mission of the people of God in the world? Christians often get this basic question wrong. Are the people of God primarily called to social work, church planting, evangelistic campaigns, or all three somehow? This week, Scott Dunford explains why Romans 15 establishes a paradigm for the whole body of Christ to follow.

This episode features a message that was originally preached at Community Evangelical Free Church in Harrisburg, Pa.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

How Much Do the Unreached Know? Natural Revelation and Evangelism

When we consider unreached and unengaged people groups, we typically think of them as knowing nothing at all of God. But a biblical theology of natural revelation and common grace drives us to a deeper understanding of the fact that all human beings are surrounded by the visible glory of God—and it’s precisely this fact that makes them accountable before their Creator.

In this conversation, Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman explore the ways in which a healthier understanding of general revelation and natural theology can add depth to our cross-cultural evangelism. We also tackle presuppositional apologetics, the priority of special revelation, and end with some encouragements for us all to slow down more and respond to God’s majesty with adoration.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Brad Buser on Tribal Religion, Contextualization, and Disciple-Making Movements

When we think “missions,” we tend to think jungles, tribes, animism, strange languages, and thatched roofs. That impression isn’t always accurate. But for veteran missionary and legendary mobilizer Brad Buser, that’s exactly what he experienced. In this episode, we pick Brad’s brain about the importance of tribal missions and long-term, patient language acquisition and contextualization. We also dive into the topic of faithful methods of disciple-making and how the desire to do things quickly can sometimes come at the expense of long-term impact.

Brad lives in San Diego, California where he is Director of Radius International, a training program in Tijuana, Mexico. He started church planting in Papua New Guinea from 1979-1999, living among the animistic Iteri people, serving under New Tribes (now Ethnos 360). You can read Brad’s dramatic story and his articles for Radius.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Longevity and Endurance in Church Planting: Bob Trout Shares

In our impatient, have-it-now society, it’s difficult to think long-term about serving in one field of ministry for decades—much less healthy church planting and multiplication over the long haul. In this episode, ABWE veteran Bob Trout shares the blessings of and keys to longevity and endurance in a field where he saw over 40 Colombian churches planted or grown in the course of his career.

Bob and Lynne Trout served for many years in Colombia as church planters and then Regional Director for Spanish Speaking South America. He currently directs ABWE’s Member Care department.

You can learn more about how ABWE shepherds and cares for its missionaries through our Member Care portal.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Benjamin Vrbicek: Don’t Just Send a Resume to a Church—Or a Missions Agency

Too often in pursuit of full-time ministry abroad or at home, ministry applicants simply email a church or missions agency their resume and leave the rest of the hiring process to chance. Whether you’re fresh out of seminary or transitioning to ministry after a full career in the outside workforce, such a haphazard approach is bound to fail. Maybe we need to learn more about how to conduct ourselves professional during the the onboarding processes into pastoral or cross-cultural ministry.

Benjamin Vrbicek returns to the show to discuss his newest book, Don’t Just Send a Resume: How to Find the Right Job in a Local Church. He believes that the typical pastor or missionary, while fully equipped to do his job, is not equipped to transition effectively when God calls him to move to another ministry context. The book also features short contributions by 12 published authors and ministry leaders including David Mathis, Jared C. Wilson, and others. In the interview, Scott and Alex catch up with Benjamin on a personal level and explore the similarities and dissimilarities between hiring in the ministry world and the secular world, and wrap up with some wisdom on transitioning well.

Benjamin is a teaching pastor at Community Evangelical Free Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Brooke, have six children. He earned an M.Div. from Covenant Theological Seminary. Benjamin blogs regularly at Fan and Flame and is also the author of Struggle Against Porn, about which he was interviewed on the podcast in January 2019. You can 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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Are Honor and Shame the Keys to Cross-Cultural Evangelism?

In the West, we tend to think in terms of law, justice, guilt, and innocence. Our gospel presentation naturally picks up this flavor. But in many Eastern cultures, honor and shame are the dominant values—and in tribal contexts, it’s fear and power that take center stage. Has the Western church focused too much on a “legal” gospel and missed out on critical components of the biblical message? And if so, how do we avoid overcompensating and leaving out critical parts of the gospel such as the doctrine of justification?

This week, Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman interact with the core ideas from books like Rolland Muller’s Honor and Shame: Unlocking the Door (2001) and discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and biblical wisdom surrounding the cultural lenses of guilt and innocence, honor and shame, and fear and power.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Your Questions (Finally) Answered: Mailbag Episode

Is it biblical for a missionary to change sending churches or agencies? Is there a right or wrong way to do it? How often should pastors visit their missionaries? Is it worth it to start a family on the field? Is missions easier or harder as a single?

We’ve been soliciting your questions and feedback since episode 1, and in this episode we finally dig into the mailbag and tackle some of our listeners’ most insightful inquiries. We also discuss other pressing matters including fried chicken restaurants and signs of the apocalypse.

We also recommended Benjamin Vrbicek’s latest book, Don’t Just Send a Resume. If you purchase a copy, be sure to let Benjamin know.

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 for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Rachel Jankovic on Identity, Christian Women, and the Mission Field of Motherhood

How are Christian women to respond to the onslaught of lies barraging them from the surrounding culture about who they are and the basis of their identity? And how is motherhood a “mission field” for the Christian woman? This week Rachel Jankovic, pastor’s daughter and author based in Moscow, Idaho, tackles these questions with whit, flare, and deep biblical wisdom that’s rare.

Be forewarned—Scott and Alex were a bit punchy for the recording of this episode.

Rachel Jankovic is a wife and mother of seven children. She is author of You Who? Why You Matter and How to Deal With It and Loving the Little Years and has been featured on sites including Desiring God. She is heavily involved with the Christ Church Ladies Bible Reading Challenge and invites you all to join in that great movement of Christian women becoming women of the word. You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram.

Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can help bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Faithfulness or Pragmatism? Andy Johnson on Methodologies

What are the non-negotiables of how we do missions? Is it possible to reverse-engineer what’s “working” on the field to build our methodology, or are we locked in to a finite set of prescriptions from Scripture about how to do ministry—thinks like preaching the word training elders? Andy Johnson (Ph.D., Texas A&M), Associate Pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. and contributor to 9Marks, is unafraid to answer these weighty questions. Andy joins us this week to discuss his short book Missions: How the Local Church Goes Global and why faithfulness beats modern North American pragmatism any day of the week.

Andy was born and raised in a believing family in Texas. He worked both on church staff and managing a small, family cattle operation. After completing degrees at Texas A&M, Andy moved to Washington, DC in 1997. Andy earned a living as an agricultural advisor for the US Congress while serving CHBC as an elder. In January of 2006, Andy joined CHBC as an Associate Pastor. Andy also gives special attention to the discipling and international missions efforts of CHBC. Andy loves reading, gardening and, most of all, spending time with his wonderful wife, Rebecca, and their children, Andrew, Evelyn, and Samuel.

Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can help bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This show is powered by ABWE International and the Global Gospel Fund.

Fouad Masri on What Christians Get Wrong About Reaching Muslims

What is it like for a Christian living in the Middle East? What do believers usually get wrong about Islam and how to share Christ with Muslims? These questions are especially pressing during the month of Ramadan. This week Fouad Masri shares his personal conversion account and weighs in on these issues.

Author and lecturer Fouad Masri was born and raised in the war zone of Beirut, Lebanon. As a third-generation ordained pastor, he has a passion for sharing the love of Christ with Muslims and has been reaching out to Muslims and inspiring others to follow his example since 1979.

After coming to the United States to attend seminary, Fouad realized the urgency for teaching American Christians to reach out to the growing population of internationals, particularly Muslims. In 1993, he founded Crescent Project to nurture transformational relationships between Christians and Muslims and to rally the Church to reach out to Muslims to share Christ. You can follow him on Twitter.

Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can help bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Should Missions Be ‘Radical’ or Ordinary? Michael Horton Answers

Radical. Transformative. Impact. Crazy, even. These words fill the atmosphere when Christians discuss the sacrifice and risk involved in missions. But has all this talk of “radical” living left us unable to cope with regular life, ordinariness, boredom, and God’s normal means of grace? This week we talked with Dr. Michael Horton, professor, author, and nationally-syndicated radio host, regarding his book Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World.

Dr. Horton is the J. Gresham Machen Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California since 1998, Editor-in-Chief of Modern Reformation magazine, and president and host of the nationally syndicated radio broadcast, The White Horse Inn. He also leads Core Christianity and hosts Core Radio. Dr. Horton is an ordained minister in the United Reformed Churches in North America and lives in Escondido with his wife, Lisa, and four children. Follow him on Twitter.

Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can help bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Dean Inserra on How to Reach America’s Most-Underrated Mission Field

Christmas-and-Easter Christians. Mainline Protestants. Nominal Catholics. Bible-Belt believers. Let’s face it—cultural Christians are everywhere. And the problem is that we see cultural Christianity as a discipleship issue rather than an evangelistic field.

In this enriching conversation, Dean Inserra expounds on his book The Unsaved Christian and the eight types of cultural Christians he identifies as being in special need of evangelism. He builds a case for why North America’s pew-warmers really are a bona fide mission field, and explains some practical tips to help true disciples understand that America’s civil religion is another faith altogether.

Dean Inserra is the founding and lead pastor of City Church in Tallahassee. He graduated from Liberty University and attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He holds a M.A. in Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is pursuing a D.Min. from Southern Seminary. Dean is an advisory member of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s Leadership Council with the Southern Baptist Convention. He is also a member of Baptist 21. Follow Dean on Twitter.

Dean is married to Krissie, and they have two sons, Tommy and Ty, and a daughter, Sally Ashlyn. Dean likes baseball, wrestling, and the Miami Hurricanes. He believes Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback, and that everyone who disagrees holds the right to be wrong.

Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can help bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Culture: When to Bend, When to Break—Kenneth Nehrbass Explains

Everybody talks about “engaging culture.” Culture is a slippery concept. When should missionaries break from their host culture, and when should they bend with it? Is missions mainly about creating countless contextualized Christianities across various cultures, or is it also about assimilating believers into one overarching Christian culture? We discussed these issues with Dr. Kenneth Nehrbass of Biola University, author of multiple books including God’s Image and Global Cultures.

Kenneth Nehrbass was a pastor before he and his wife Mendy joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 2000. In 2002, they moved to the island of Tanna (in Vanuatu) to translate the New Testament with a team of nationals. In 2012 they moved back to the USA, and Nehrbass became assistant professor of International Studies at Belhaven University. In 2014, he moved to Biola to teach and direct the M.A. and Ph.D. Programs in intercultural studies. He continues to volunteer as a translation and anthropology consultant with SIL and the Seed Company. His research focuses on contextual theology and missiological anthropology. He and his wife have four children. Visit his site to learn more.

You can also read Scott Dunford’s review of Nehrbass’ book on the ABWE blog.

Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can help bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Do We Need to Redefine Unreached? Matthew Bennett Answers

For decades, missiologists have assumed the priority of the “unreached”—and for good reason—building entire organizational strategies around it. But do we need to redefine this term? Matthew Bennett, Ph.D., former IMB missionary and current Assistant Professor of Missions and Theology at Cedarville University, weighs in.

In a recent article, Matthew argues that we’ve taken the arbitrary 2-percent definition of “unreached” too far, countering that we need to consider both unreached people groups and unreached places. He also argues in another piece that we must shift our focus from “finishing the task” to being faithful in the constant disciple-making mandate. In this interview, we ask Matthew about the history of UPG emphasis and talk about Ralph Winter, Donald McGavran, and how the homogeneous unit principle morphed from description into prescription. Finally, we discuss the importance of unhitching our missiology from a narrow conception of eschatology so that we can focus on our present callings. Nerds, this episode is for you. (And everyone else too, of course. We promise.)

Remember to share, rate, leave a review, and subscribe. Together we can help bridge the gap between the worlds of theology and missions.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

What Every Missionary Needs to Know About Lament: Mark Vroegop Explains

Lament—though it litters the psalter—is a lost art form in modern evangelicalism. In a culture as torn-apart as ours, it makes sense that engaging grief biblically can open spiritual doors previously shut. Not only that, but embracing the grace of lament can also prepare missionaries and pastors for the pains and losses that often mark the suffering, missional life.

Mark Vroegop, lead pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis, trustee at Cedarville University, and council member of The Gospel Coalition, joins us to discuss his new book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. In this interview, we dive in to his own experience seeing missionaries like Jennifer DeKryger experience loss, and we talk about the pastoral and personal benefits of this lost spiritual discipline.

Along with being married to Sarah and the father of four children, he is a contributor to 15 Things Seminary Couldn’t Teach Me, and blogs regularly on his personal site. Follow Mark on Twitter.

Want to ask a question for a future episode? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.