How should missionaries argue for the Christian faith? If human beings are dead in sin, then they need more than evidenceâthey 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 toContinue reading “Presuppositional Apologetics in Missions: Vern Poythress Explains”
Episode Archives
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 heartsContinue reading “Reaching Ferguson, Missouri: Chris Brown on Urban Church Planting”
Insider Movements: Definitions and Dangers With Matthew Bennett
Can you identify as âsocio-culturally Muslimâ while still following Christâand 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 BennettContinue reading “Insider Movements: Definitions and Dangers With Matthew Bennett”
Throwback: Is Every Christian a Missionary? Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters Answer
As we leave the Advent season and enter the new year, itâs important to get back to the basics of the Christian life. Should we consider every Christians a âmissionaryââand if not, why not? This week weâre diving back into the archives to enjoy our conversation with Pioneers USA VP Denny Spitters and 16:15 President Matthew Ellison, authorsContinue reading “Throwback: Is Every Christian a Missionary? Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters Answer”
Bonus Episode: The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulder
The holidays are a time of quaint familiarity, but letâs be honest. We wax philosophical about the royal gifts the magi later bring the Christ-child, but we treat âKingâ 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.Continue reading “Bonus Episode: The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulder”
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 andContinue reading “Disagreeing Agreeably: An Honest Discussion on Separation, Fundamentalism, and Cooperation with Josh Teis”
Children: An Overlooked Mission Field? Taylor Lassiter on Childrenâs 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 childrenâboth at home and abroadâmight we not see God bless the efforts of church planters in a new way? Taylor Lassiter of Awana thinks so. Taylor LassiterContinue reading “Children: An Overlooked Mission Field? Taylor Lassiter on Childrenâs Ministry Overseas”
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 donât know that Jonathan Edwards wrote about Brainerd primarily asContinue reading “Should Emotions Motivate Missions? Jonathan Edwards, David Brainerd, and Religious Affections With Ryan Martin”
Panel: Why Marketplace Missions Matters But Isnât 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, youâll 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,Continue reading “Panel: Why Marketplace Missions Matters But Isnât a Silver Bullet”
Engaging the Cults With Summer Jaeger
You may know her from Sheologians, but long before she was âinternet famous,â 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, Summerâs perspectiveContinue reading “Engaging the Cults With Summer Jaeger”
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 âcalledâ 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 TanzaniaContinue reading “The Life of the Missionary Wife: Heather Farran on Motherhood on the Field”
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 isnât just a barrier; itâs a gift from God that displays his creativity. In this special interview, Dr. Poythress explains why language itself finds its source in the Trinity, howContinue reading “A Theology of Language: Dr. Vern Poythress Speaks”
Is All Theology Cultural? Biblical Authority and Contextualization
Biblical authority is under attack. A missionaryâs job is partly to make the transcendents truths of Godâs word understandable within human language, context, and culture. But is it possible to know Godâs objective truth, or are we always âstuckâ within our cultureâmaking modern missions inescapably colonialist? In this episode, Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman dialogueContinue reading “Is All Theology Cultural? Biblical Authority and Contextualization”
Why Europe Needs Missionaries: Jonathan Kleis on Reaching Roman Catholics in Italy
While Europe has been the cradle of Christian civilization for centuries, certain countriesâlike Italyânever 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 andContinue reading “Why Europe Needs Missionaries: Jonathan Kleis on Reaching Roman Catholics in Italy”
Disciple-Making Movements: A Critical Discussion With Dr. Glenn Sunshine
Disciple-making movements (DMM) and church planting movements (CPM) are more than just buzzwordsâthey 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? Weâve explored these topics in the past onContinue reading “Disciple-Making Movements: A Critical Discussion With Dr. Glenn Sunshine”
C.R. Wiley on Missions, the Household, and the Cosmos
In much of the contemporary missions conversation, the good, ordinary gifts of Godâlike marriage and familyâare often spoken of mainly as things to be sacrificed, not as things to be cultivated as a part of the churchâs mission. This week, Chris âC.R.â Wiley explains why a return to the biblical understanding of the household canContinue reading “C.R. Wiley on Missions, the Household, and the Cosmos”
Why Theology Must Shape Mission: A Chat With Zane Pratt
Itâs 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 showâZane Pratt, vice president for global training for the IMBâfor a heavy-hitting conversation about why our theology must absolutely, unapologetically shapeContinue reading “Why Theology Must Shape Mission: A Chat With Zane Pratt”
Christopher Yuan on Holy Sexuality and the Gospel
The current flood of issues relating to sexuality isnât just a challenge for pastors in the West, but for missionaries abroadâespecially 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, missionaryContinue reading “Christopher Yuan on Holy Sexuality and the Gospel”
Why Character Matters in Ministry: Paul Davis on Knowing Christ
When pastors, missionaries, and others in ministry fail to actively abide in Christ, thatâs when pragmatism becomes most temptingâand 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 heâs met across the world over the last year, andContinue reading “Why Character Matters in Ministry: Paul Davis on Knowing Christ”
What Happens When Missionaries Get Kicked Out? John Klaassen Answers
Missions always comes with risk, and nothing is guaranteedâespecially 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 hasContinue reading “What Happens When Missionaries Get Kicked Out? John Klaassen Answers”
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 culturalContinue reading “Michael Foster on the Crisis of Masculinity and Missions”
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 Kongâeven singing Christian hymnsâin peaceful protest over a new extradition law representing Chinaâs 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 KocmanContinue reading “Special Episode: What Do the Hong Kong Protests Have to Do With Missions?”
Race, Evolution, and Missions: Charles Ware Speaks
If missionaries are to carry the gospel across cultural and national lines, itâs critical that they have a thoroughly biblical theology of race and ethnicity. And while much of modern progressive, secular culture repudiates anything remotely âracist,â Dr. Charles Ware explains why that wasnât always the case. Secularism and Darwinism lie near the root ofContinue reading “Race, Evolution, and Missions: Charles Ware Speaks”
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 shouldnât 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,Continue reading “Brooks Buser on the Urgency of Eternity and the Dangers of Pragmatism”
Is âMarketplace Missionsâ Sustainable? Mark Silvers Talks Mobilization
Increasingly, Millennials and young people are redefining âlong-termâ missions. At the same time, fewer are willing to raise missionary support. Is recruiting marketplace missionariesâmany of whom are short-term tentmakersâa sustainable solution? And if so, how do we get the word out to professionals that the Great Commission isnât just for full-time religious workers? This weekContinue reading “Is âMarketplace Missionsâ Sustainable? Mark Silvers Talks Mobilization”
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 âhow are we justified?â isnât just a question asked in churches and seminariesâitâs also a vital question that relates to how we do missions.Continue reading “What Missionaries Need to Know About the Faith and Works Debate: Chris Bruno on Justification and the Missiology of Paul and James”
What Is the Mission of Godâs 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 toContinue reading “What Is the Mission of Godâs People?”
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 Godâand itâs precisely this factContinue reading “How Much Do the Unreached Know? Natural Revelation and Evangelism”
Brad Buser on Tribal Religion, Contextualization, and Disciple-Making Movements
When we think âmissions,â we tend to think jungles, tribes, animism, strange languages, and thatched roofs. That impression isnât always accurate. But for veteran missionary and legendary mobilizer Brad Buser, thatâs exactly what he experienced. In this episode, we pick Bradâs brain about the importance of tribal missions and long-term, patient language acquisition and contextualization.Continue reading “Brad Buser on Tribal Religion, Contextualization, and Disciple-Making Movements”
Longevity and Endurance in Church Planting: Bob Trout Shares
In our impatient, have-it-now society, itâs difficult to think long-term about serving in one field of ministry for decadesâmuch 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 ColombianContinue reading “Longevity and Endurance in Church Planting: Bob Trout Shares”
Benjamin Vrbicek: Donât Just Send a Resume to a ChurchâOr 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 youâre fresh out of seminary or transitioning to ministry after a full career in the outside workforce, such a haphazard approach isContinue reading “Benjamin Vrbicek: Donât Just Send a Resume to a ChurchâOr a Missions Agency”
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 valuesâand in tribal contexts, itâs fear and power that take center stage. Has the Western church focused too much on aContinue reading “Are Honor and Shame the Keys to Cross-Cultural Evangelism?”
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? Weâve been soliciting your questions and feedbackContinue reading “Your Questions (Finally) Answered: Mailbag Episode”
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 âmission fieldâ for the Christian woman? This week Rachel Jankovic, pastorâs daughter and author based in Moscow, Idaho, tackles these questions with whit,Continue reading “Rachel Jankovic on Identity, Christian Women, and the Mission Field of Motherhood”
Faithfulness or Pragmatism? Andy Johnson on Methodologies
What are the non-negotiables of how we do missions? Is it possible to reverse-engineer whatâs âworkingâ on the field to build our methodology, or are we locked in to a finite set of prescriptions from Scripture about how to do ministryâthinks like preaching the word training elders? Andy Johnson (Ph.D., Texas A&M), Associate Pastor atContinue reading “Faithfulness or Pragmatism? Andy Johnson on Methodologies”
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 lecturerContinue reading “Fouad Masri on What Christians Get Wrong About Reaching Muslims”
Should Missions Be âRadicalâ 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 âradicalâ living left us unable to cope with regular life, ordinariness, boredom, and Godâs normal means of grace? This week we talked with Dr. Michael Horton, professor, author, andContinue reading “Should Missions Be âRadicalâ or Ordinary? Michael Horton Answers”
Why Arenât We Talking About âGospel Privilegeâ? Chad Vegas Answers
The social justice controversy echoing across conservative evangelicalism has brought terms like âprivilegeâ into the Christian vernacular, but in all the discussion of rights, equity, and cultural engagement, weâve missed a critical category: gospel privilege. Chad Vegas, founding board member of Radius International and lead pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, joins the show this weekContinue reading “Why Arenât We Talking About âGospel Privilegeâ? Chad Vegas Answers”
Dean Inserra on How to Reach Americaâs Most-Underrated Mission Field
Christmas-and-Easter Christians. Mainline Protestants. Nominal Catholics. Bible-Belt believers. Letâs face itâcultural 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 asContinue reading “Dean Inserra on How to Reach Americaâs Most-Underrated Mission Field”
Culture: When to Bend, When to BreakâKenneth Nehrbass Explains
Everybody talks about âengaging culture.â 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. KennethContinue reading “Culture: When to Bend, When to BreakâKenneth Nehrbass Explains”
Do We Need to Redefine Unreached? Matthew Bennett Answers
For decades, missiologists have assumed the priority of the âunreachedââand for good reasonâbuilding 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 weâve taken theContinue reading “Do We Need to Redefine Unreached? Matthew Bennett Answers”
What Every Missionary Needs to Know About Lament: Mark Vroegop Explains
Lamentâthough it litters the psalterâis 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 markContinue reading “What Every Missionary Needs to Know About Lament: Mark Vroegop Explains”
Muslim Refugees Meeting Christ: Darren Carlson on âJesus in Athensâ Documentary
Are all the accounts of miraculous conversions among Muslim refugees true? What is unique about Athens, Greece amidst the ongoing people displacements in the Middle East? And what can U.S. churches learn from the hospitality and evangelistic zeal of Greek Christians? In this episode, Scott and Alex invited Darren Carlson to weigh in and takeContinue reading “Muslim Refugees Meeting Christ: Darren Carlson on âJesus in Athensâ Documentary”
The Life of the Missionary Mind
Reading well in Scripture, theology, culture, and literature in general is key to preaching and teaching that connectsâespecially for the cross-cultural worker. What should we be reading? Why does it matter? And how can we who are busy working and doing ministry have time to cultivate the life of the mind as we constantly prepareContinue reading “The Life of the Missionary Mind”
Tom Ascol and Jared Longshore on the Priority of Preaching, Godâs Sovereignty, and Discernment
Is preaching essential to missions, or is it a Western tradition that can be sacrificed for the sake of contextualization? Some advocates of disciple-making movements (DMMâs) claim the latter. In this interview, Tom Ascol and Jared Longshore of Founders Ministries explain why authoritative proclamation is indispensable to ministry in any culture. Later in the episode,Continue reading “Tom Ascol and Jared Longshore on the Priority of Preaching, Godâs Sovereignty, and Discernment”
Should We Stop Sending Indebted Missionaries? Luke Womack on Student Loans
The average college student in the U.S. leaves with about $30,000 in educational debt. At what point do we stop sending missionaries to the field with students loans? Is it immoral to send expensive Western missionaries to serve where national partners could do the work of ministry much more affordably? Luke Womack, executive director ofContinue reading “Should We Stop Sending Indebted Missionaries? Luke Womack on Student Loans”
Why You Should âAdultâ Before Pursuing Missions: A Chat With Lori McDaniel
Whatâs the danger in missions conferences and serial short-term missions trips? This week, we welcome back our friend Lori McDaniel, Church Initiatives Manager for IMB and also a pastorâs wife, to give her take on trends weâre seeing among Christian college students and why itâs so critical to learn to âadultââin finances, education, career, marriage,Continue reading “Why You Should âAdultâ Before Pursuing Missions: A Chat With Lori McDaniel”
The Number One Reason Missionaries Go Home
Globally, 71% of missionaries who return home each year leave the field for preventable reasons. What might be the biggest factor? We believe it all comes down to team dynamics. What is it about cross-cultural ministry that is so uniquely stressful for teams? How can missionaries better handle conflict? And what does the Bible say about resolvingContinue reading “The Number One Reason Missionaries Go Home”
A Biblical Theology of Spiritual Warfare and Missions
Among the practical topics on which missionaries receive hands-on training, spiritual warfare can sometimes fall by the waysideâbut spiritual warfare is crucial for missionaries to grasp and engage effectively. How should we understand spiritual warfare in relation to pagan nations? Is exorcism normal and to be expected on the field? Do missionaries need to nameContinue reading “A Biblical Theology of Spiritual Warfare and Missions”
Micah Fries: What Christians Should Know About Islam in North America
The presence of Islam in North America is still a lightning-rod issue, even 17 years after 9/11. This week we return to the topic of how Christians can engage their Muslim immigrant and refugee neighborsâand wade through the complicated waters of related political issuesâin a way that is biblical and missional. We consulted a newContinue reading “Micah Fries: What Christians Should Know About Islam in North America”