Podcast Archives

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. HeContinue reading “A Pastoral Approach to Theological Training”

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.

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.Continue reading “The Air We Breathe: Glen Scrivener on the Ghost of Christianity in Western Culture”

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 multiethnicContinue reading “The Beauty of International Churches: Dr. Michael Crane”

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 questionContinue reading “When a Sending Church Un-Sends a Missionary”

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 languageContinue reading “Josh McDowell: What Missionaries Need to Know About Apologetics”

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 equippingContinue reading “What Motivates Gen Z Towards Missions?”

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 YouTubeContinue reading “Medical Missions, Church Planting, and Lessons Learned in Africa: Steven Chmil”

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 theContinue reading “Mission-Driven Christian Leadership in Cowardly Times: Joel Wayne”

‘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 toContinue reading “‘Glurbanization,’ Church Planting, and Why Our Definition of ‘People Group’ Is Outdated: Dr. Michael Crane”

#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 twoContinue reading “#RMC22: Steve Meister on Classical Hermeneutics and Bible Translation”

#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 RMC22Continue reading “#RMC22: Growing in Grace as a Missionary With Jonathan Master”

#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. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.Continue reading “#RMC22: What You Might Not Know About Missions in Asia: Wayne Chen”

#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 YouTubeContinue reading “#RMC22: Brad Buser on Missionary Endurance”

#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 thisContinue reading “#RMC22: Ian Hamilton on the Missionary Life as Abiding in Christ”

#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 ofContinue reading “#RMC22: Brooks Buser on Leaving Well”

#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. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission.Continue reading “#RMC22: Kevin DeYoung on the Mission of the Church”

#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 SovereignContinue reading “#RMC22: Are We Idolizing Missions? A Chat With Chad Vegas”

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? ThisContinue reading “Missionary Security, Big Tech, and Cancel Culture”

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. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic?Continue reading “How to Talk to a Missionary in a Closed Country”

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 otherContinue reading “The ‘Three Worlds’ of Evangelicalism: A Paradigm for Missions? Aaron Renn Answers”

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. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? EmailContinue reading “When Did Christianity Become So Unpopular?”

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 atContinue reading “The Stranger on Our Shore With Joshua Sherif”

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, weContinue reading “How to Reach LGBTQ With the Gospel: Jim Childs”

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 theContinue reading “Why Missionaries Must Read Old Books: Banner of Truth’s John Rawlinson”

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 inContinue reading “When Helping Works: Michael Badriaki on Western Dependence in Uganda”

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. Subscribe now to never miss an episode whenContinue reading “Does Evangelism Have to Be Scary?”

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. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.

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 andContinue reading “T4G22: Jason Allen on Building Missions Cultures in Christian Leadership”

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 inContinue reading “T4G22: Brooks Buser on Missionary Training That Matters”

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. Subscribe now toContinue reading “T4G22: The Need for Church Planting With Thad Bergmeier”

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.Continue reading “T4G22: Why the Need for Speed in Missions? Sean DeMars and Caleb Morrell”

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 ReachingContinue reading “T4G22: Ryan Robertson on Reaching and Teaching”