When we last spoke with our friend Caleb Suko, the Russia-Ukraine war hadnât yet begun. Now, heâs taken refugeâalong with two million othersâin another country. In this episode, he provides live updates from Moldova and explains how God is at work among the body of Christ and the masses of refugees. You can support theContinue reading “Ukraine Refugee Update: Caleb Suko Exclusive”
Episode Archives
What if Everyone Fundraised Like a Missionary?
We all know that missionary life usually means asking for financial support. That scares many people away. But what if thatâs the way all sorts of ministries are supposed to work? Hear Conley Owens, author of The Dorean Principle, explain in the next episode. New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episodeContinue reading “What if Everyone Fundraised Like a Missionary?”
Nik Ripken on Persecution, Missions, and Ukraine
Nik Ripken has collected the stories of suffering believers from all over the worldâincluding Ukraine. In this episode, he talks to us about missions and what heâs learned from time spent with persecuted believers in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Nik (pseudonym) is the author of The Insanity of God (2013) and other books,Continue reading “Nik Ripken on Persecution, Missions, and Ukraine”
Nik Ripken: âYou Get the Country You Deserveâ
Coming up in our next episode: Nik Ripken shares his insights from observing the persecuted church in Ukraine and around the worldâand what it all has to do with missions and our own country. New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. WantContinue reading “Nik Ripken: âYou Get the Country You Deserveâ”
No Shortcuts to Success: Matt Rhodesâ âManifestoâ
Watch the video version of this episode here. Americans have a need for speedâand missionaries arenât immune. But in his new âmanifesto,â author and missionary Matt Rhodes explains why faithful missions requires long-term commitment. This week, we talk to him about historic missionariesâ example, why definitions matter, and how to gain agreement on a fieldContinue reading “No Shortcuts to Success: Matt Rhodesâ âManifestoâ”
Mission Affirmed: Elliot Clark on Recovering Paulâs Missionary Motivation
Watch the video version of this episode here. Christians talk a lot about grace. We get it from the Apostle Paul. Yet Paul also yearned to be approved by the Lord on the last day for his missionary work. How do we hold these themes together? Elliot Clark, author of Mission Affirmed: Recovering the MissionaryContinue reading “Mission Affirmed: Elliot Clark on Recovering Paulâs Missionary Motivation”
What Elliot Clark Would Do Differently
Elliot Clark just wrote Mission Affirmed: Recovering the Missionary Motivation of Paul. What lessons did he learn that he would have applied on the field in hindsight? New episodes Sundays at 7 p.m. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggestContinue reading “What Elliot Clark Would Do Differently”
Helping Goers Think and Thinkers Go: Paul Davis on Media and Missions
Why does this show exist? What do media and technology have to do with missions? This week, ABWE President Paul Davis turns the table on Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman in a three-way conversation about the state of the show and why it’s critical to equip missionaries and church leaders through resources online. Subscribe now toContinue reading “Helping Goers Think and Thinkers Go: Paul Davis on Media and Missions”
What Is a Church For?
What is the mission of the church? In this weekâs upcoming show, we talk about the biblical role of the church in missions and why this very podcast existsâhelping goers think and thinkers go. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question orContinue reading “What Is a Church For?”
Ukraine From the Ground: Caleb Suko Reports
Watch the video version of this episode here. Tensions are rising between Ukraine and Russia. The US is considering involvement. What does that mean for Christian workers and churches in Ukraine? Caleb Suko, pastor and ABWE worker, shares his first-hand perspective. Since 2007 Caleb has served as a missionary in Odessa, Ukraine where he isContinue reading “Ukraine From the Ground: Caleb Suko Reports”
Ukraine and Psalm 31
Coming up this week: Caleb Suko explains what workers and national believers are facing in Ukraine firsthand. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
Sending When It Hurts: Josh Teis on the Pastorâs Job in Mobilization
Everyone says they believe in sending missionaries. But what about when it hurts? What about when your churchâs most gifted people leave? And what about when missions seems to compete in priority with local outreach? In this episode, Josh Teis weighs in. Josh pastors Southern Hills Baptist Church in Las Vegas, N.V. He earned his B.A. inContinue reading “Sending When It Hurts: Josh Teis on the Pastorâs Job in Mobilization”
The Biblical Case for the Faith Support Model: Steve Shadrach Shares
Watch the video version of this episode here. In June of 2021, a well-known pastor made waves for connecting partnership development with concepts surrounding systemic injustice and racism. It forces usback to a foundational question: Is it right for missionaries to develop financial support partnerships? Is a centralized,salaried model of missions support better? And whatContinue reading “The Biblical Case for the Faith Support Model: Steve Shadrach Shares”
Is Raising Support Biblical? Steve Shadrach Answers
Should missionaries stop asking for money? We ask partnership development guru Steve Shadrach of the Center for Mission Mobilization. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
Chad Vegas: Defining the âProclamational Modelâ (Part 2)
Watch the video version of this episode here. This week, we continue our conversation with Chad Vegas defining proclamation, outlining the dangers of pragmatism, and sketching a vision for a biblically-driven missiology. Miss part 1? Listen here. Chad is the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Bakersfield, the founding board chairman of Radius InternationalContinue reading “Chad Vegas: Defining the âProclamational Modelâ (Part 2)”
Chad Vegas: The Bottom Line
Coming up: Part two of our conversation with Chad Vegas, where we get to the bottom line definition of healthy missions and its implications for overseas workers. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
Chad Vegas: Defining the âProclamational Modelâ (Part 1)
Watch the video version of this episode here. In the missions world, thereâs a rift between movement practitioners and advocates of biblical proclamation. Why the disagreement? And is there such a thing as the âproclamational modelâ? Chad Vegas weighs in this week. Chad is the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Bakersfield, the foundingContinue reading “Chad Vegas: Defining the âProclamational Modelâ (Part 1)”
Chad Vegas: Why Evangelism Is Confrontational
Does a missionary have to be confrontation in evangelism? Chad Vegas, pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Bakersfield, California, explains one of the inescapable aspects of faithful evangelism. Subscribe now to never miss an episode when it drops. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
Refresh: Doing Short-Term Missions Responsibly With Jason Phillips
As global travel uncertainty continues, will short-term missions trips happen in 2022? No one knows the answer for sure, but as Christian leaders, we must plan for the future. So when missions trips do come back at full strength, what can we do to do them better? This week weâre diving into the archives toContinue reading “Refresh: Doing Short-Term Missions Responsibly With Jason Phillips”
Away From Home for the Holidays: A Missionary Perspective From Stephanie Boon
How do missionaries feel when separated from holiday traditions back home? Should global workers feel guilty for the abundance they enjoy at Christmastime? And what can churches do to support missionaries who feel stuck in the middle between home and the field? Stephanie Boon, ABWE missionary to Tanzania, shares. Read Stephanieâs advent devotional article here.Continue reading “Away From Home for the Holidays: A Missionary Perspective From Stephanie Boon”
Saving Babiesâ Lives in Papua New Guinea: Lori Smith Speaks
Abortion isnât just a US problem. In Papua New Guinea, too many working-class women expect that rape will happen to them at some point in their lifetimesâand almost as many women, when they become pregnant, are unaware that what is inside them is alive. For ABWE missionary Lori Smith, this isnât just a social problemâitâsContinue reading “Saving Babiesâ Lives in Papua New Guinea: Lori Smith Speaks”
Amazing Pro-Life Ministry Happening in Papua New Guinea
Every day, ABWE missionary Lori Smith is seeing womenâs hearts and lives change. In this weekâs episode, find out why abortion is such a particularly pivotal issue in Papua New Guinea. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
Thinking Like a Missionary: Mary, Catholicism, and Syncretism
Across the globe, many folk religions try to find peace in life by honoring ancestral figures. So when evangelical missionaries think encounter Roman Catholic tradition and its Marian dogmas and traditions venerating the saints, how should they respond? Dr. James Fryer joins us to discuss this powderkeg issue tackled in his dissertation. James Fryer, Ph.D.Continue reading “Thinking Like a Missionary: Mary, Catholicism, and Syncretism”
Mary and Idolatry
Itâs Christmas. Images of Mary are everywhere. But when missionaries encounter veneration of saints among Roman Catholics and others, what should our response be? Dr. James Fryer joins this week to share. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
Why Target Unreached People Groups?
How can a missionary discern where they should serve? Is it biblical for a church missions program to target some countries but not others? And whatâs the reason more missionaries donât go to the unreached? To sign up to learn more about ABWEâs upcoming Open Initiative as it launches, click here. Support this podcast and impactContinue reading “Why Target Unreached People Groups?”
Cover Blown: How a Missionary Got Kicked Out of Country
The barriers to reaching unreached people groups are real. This week, Harry G., overseeing South Asia for ABWE, returns to the show to explain why they still matterâand how churches can recapture a pioneering spirit. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Podcast isContinue reading “Cover Blown: How a Missionary Got Kicked Out of Country”
Doctrine, Pragmatism, and Movements: A Discussion With Ted Esler (Part 2)
Our conversation with Ted Esler continues as we try to define words like âdiscipleâ and âchurchâ and map out both the common ground and the battle lines. Then, we try to chart the path forward. You can listen to part one. Ted Esler is the president of an association of agencies and churches representing over 30,000Continue reading “Doctrine, Pragmatism, and Movements: A Discussion With Ted Esler (Part 2)”
Why Fruit Isnât About Numbers
This week, we continue our crucial conversation with Ted Esler as he shares his opinions about methodologies, movements, and the biblical definition of âfruitâ in ministry. Hear part 1 here. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWEâs Global Gospel Fund.
Doctrine, Pragmatism, and Movements: A Discussion With Ted Esler (Part 1)
What are disciple-making movements and church planting movements? Do these methods, carried to their logical conclusions, undermine our doctrines of the local church and of conversion? Or are we being too theologically rigid? Letâs reason together, build common ground, and determine where the real issues lie. Hear part 1 in a two-part series with MissioContinue reading “Doctrine, Pragmatism, and Movements: A Discussion With Ted Esler (Part 1)”
Pathological Ecclesiology?
This week, Ted Esler returns to the show for a frank conversation about movement methodologies and the biblical doctrine of the local church. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWEâs Global Gospel Fund.
Suffering, Eschatology, and the Glorious Reward in Missions
Why does God give us a glimpse of the future? How can we prepare for suffering in missions? This week, hear a special presentation from Alex Kocman to members of Westminster Theological Seminaryâs Global Missions Fellowship on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, taken from Alexâs upcoming book with Chad Vegas on integrating doctrine and practice. Support thisContinue reading “Suffering, Eschatology, and the Glorious Reward in Missions”
The School of Suffering
Coming up this week: Alex Kocman presents why enlisting in ministry means enrolling in Godâs seminary of suffering. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWEâs Global Gospel Fund.
Is Obedience-Based Discipleship Biblical? Alex and Scott Discuss
What is obedience-based discipleship, and is it biblical? The issue isnât as simple as it seems. This week, Alex and Scott discuss Alexâs article addressing the topic and explore all the related questions of law, gospel, and salvation by faith alone. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest aContinue reading “Is Obedience-Based Discipleship Biblical? Alex and Scott Discuss”
The Problem With Obedience-Based Discipleship
Coming up in our next episode: Alex and Scott dive deep into obedience-based discipleship, the book of Acts, and the importance of rightly distinguishing law and gospel. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWEâs Global Gospel Fund.
The Case for Missionary Care With Ryan Martin
Everyoneâs talking about âcareââself-care, healthcare, pastoral care, and the list goes on. Whatâs the biblical case for churches to care for missionaries on the field, and how can we do it well? Ryan Martin answers. Read Ryanâs articles on the topic: âMissionary Care Begins with the Local Church: A Look at 3 John 5-8â âPartnershipContinue reading “The Case for Missionary Care With Ryan Martin”
Why Itâs Hard to Care for Missionaries
What stops too many pastors from confidently shepherding their sent missionaries? Ryan Martin, Director of Missions for Lightbearers, explains some of the common hurdles. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWEâs Global Gospel Fund.
Reaching Europe Through Liturgy? Melissa Baccarella and Andy Messmer
Europe is more âpost-Christianâ than ever. So why would a high form of Christian worship be the key to reachingâand disciplingâthe unchurched in Europe? Melissa Baccarella, ABWE missionary to Italy, rejoins to show along with Andy Messmer to continue our previous conversation about liturgy. Love the show? Want to help more people think and go? SupportContinue reading “Reaching Europe Through Liturgy? Melissa Baccarella and Andy Messmer”
How Your Worship Is Shaping You
In our upcoming episode, ABWE missionary Melissa Baccarella shares how the content of corporate worship is the key to discipleship. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWEâs Global Gospel Fund.
Multiethnic or Homogeneous? A Discussion on Church Planting
Should church planters target a specific people group (the homogeneous unit principle) or begin a multiethnic congregation from day one? The answer isnât always simple. This week, BJ, a church planter working with diaspora Muslim peoples, weighs in as Scott and Alex have an honest conversation. Learn more about EveryEthne. Love the show? Want toContinue reading “Multiethnic or Homogeneous? A Discussion on Church Planting”
People Group Targeting or Multiethnic Church?
Missions strategists tell us to target specific people groups, but Scripture paints a picture of a multiethnic church. How do we resolve the tension? This week, âBJ,â a church planter working with Muslim diaspora peoples, shares how we can learn from the best of both approaches. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to askContinue reading “People Group Targeting or Multiethnic Church?”
Does Generation Z Care About Missions? Tanner and Amber Callison Respond
The up and coming generation is a source of confusion and controversy. Are Christians among Generation Z missions-minded? And if they are, do they have what it takes? We ask Tanner and Amber Callison, mobilizers with the Traveling Team. Love the show? Want to help more people think and go? Support this podcast. Want to askContinue reading “Does Generation Z Care About Missions? Tanner and Amber Callison Respond”
How Do We Mobilize the Next Generation?
This week, Tanner and Amber Callison, missions mobilizers with the Traveling Team, offer their advice for how to awaken a generation sometimes perceived as tech-obsessed, shy, and noncommittal. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWEâs Global Gospel Fund.
The Transcultural Gospel: E.D. Burns
Honor and shame. Fear and power. Guilt and innocence. Missiologists are increasingly identifying these cultural value systems as the key to communicating the gospel. But have we gotten them wrong? E.D. Burns, author of The Transcultural Gospel, returns to the show to explain how the biblical gospel message transcends cultures and all our imperfect effortsContinue reading “The Transcultural Gospel: E.D. Burns”
E.D. Burns: What All Religions Have in Common
What is âenoughness,â and how can it help us translate the gospel across cultures? E.D. Burns, author of The Transcultural Gospel, returns to the show in this weekâs upcoming episode. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWEâs Global Gospel Fund.
Is Innovation in Ministry Biblical? A Dialogue With Ted Esler
Ted Esler believes thereâs a crisis in the Christian world. He believes leaders in ministry and missions arenât innovating. Is this trueâand is innovation itself biblical? Ted joins Scott and Alex this week to discuss his new book, The Innovation Crisis. Ted Esler is the president of Missio Nexus, an association of agencies and churchesContinue reading “Is Innovation in Ministry Biblical? A Dialogue With Ted Esler”
Why Culture Isnât Sacred
Where is the line between innovation in ministry and accommodation of the world? Ted Esler, president of Missio Nexus, shares his perspective this week in a lively interview. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWEâs Global Gospel Fund.
C.S. Lewis and Mission: Dan DeWitt on Recapturing Our Cultural Imagination
What does C.S. Lewis have to do with missions? More than youâd think. This week, Dan DeWitt explains how Lewisâ vision for literature, tradition, and the affections can transform cross-cultural ministry. Before joining the faculty of Cedarville University, Dr. Dan DeWitt served in academic and pastoral roles as Lead Pastor of the Campus Church, aContinue reading “C.S. Lewis and Mission: Dan DeWitt on Recapturing Our Cultural Imagination”
Learning Missions From C.S. Lewis?
Can we learn missions from C.S. Lewis? Dan DeWitt, director of the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity at Cedarville University, thinks so. Find out why in this weekâs upcoming show. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWEâs GlobalContinue reading “Learning Missions From C.S. Lewis?”
Brian Nester: Legendary Mobilizer
In our final mid-week exclusive from our time at Cedarville University, meet Brian Nester, Cedarvilleâs director of Global Outreach. Youâll be hard pressed to find someone more passionate about missionsâor a more effective mobilizer of students to serve overseas. Hear Brianâs story in this interview. Your gift matters to help us bring you this content.Continue reading “Brian Nester: Legendary Mobilizer”
Responding to the Global Abortion Pandemic: John Ensor of PassionLife
Abortion isnât just a US issue. Itâs a global issueâwhich makes it a missions issue. This week, we talk to John Ensor, author, pastor, and president of PassionLife, about how missionaries can push against the culture of death through the gospel of life. As president of PassionLife, John trains Christian leaders in biblical bioethics and pregnancyContinue reading “Responding to the Global Abortion Pandemic: John Ensor of PassionLife”