Was Lausanne Conference staying true to the gospel? In this week’s episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott sit down with ABWE President Paul Davis to debrief his recent experience at the Lausanne Conference in South Korea. Paul discusses the format of the conference, the beauty of the worldwide church gathering together, and someContinue reading “What Lausanne Was Really Like With Paul Davis”
Tag Archives: controversial issues
The Job of Pastors and What Lausanne Does Well
In this week’s episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott interview Paul Davis, President of ABWE, about his recent experience attending the Lausanne Conference and the good and bad things he saw from it.
Is Israel Still Important to Missions? With Stephen Atkinson and Gregg Kite
What is the church’s obligation to the Jewish people? In this week’s episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex sits down with Stephen Atkinson and Gregg Kite from Christian Witness to Israel (CWI) as they discuss the cultural, theological, and political misunderstandings that are present in the American church today as it relates to evangelizing theContinue reading “Is Israel Still Important to Missions? With Stephen Atkinson and Gregg Kite”
What The Gentile Church Owes to the Jews
In this week’s episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex Kocman sits down with Stephen Atkinson and Gregg Kite from Christian Witness to Israel to discuss the cultural, theological, and political challenges of evangelizing modern-day Jews.
Why Islam Isn’t Neutral
On this week’s episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott sit down with Raymond Ibrahim, an ancient history scholar, author, and speaker as he talks about how the narrative around the crusades and Islam has been corrupted over time.
Beheading Statues and Engaging the Public Sphere With Ben Zeisloft
What is the limit of free speech in society? What is the limit that Christians should adhere to? In this week’s episode, Alex Kocman sits down with Ben Zeisloft, the editor at The Sentinel, a Christian news outlet, to discuss the legal case of Michael Cassidy, who illegally tore down a Satanic statue at theContinue reading “Beheading Statues and Engaging the Public Sphere With Ben Zeisloft”
The Christian Origins of the First Amendment
In this week’s episode, Ben Zeisloft, editor at The Sentinel, talks about the origins of the First Amendment and how Christians are to engage the public sphere when our culture is increasingly antagonistic to the gospel.
Christian Nationalism and the Nations: David Schrock and Steve Wellum
Do you embrace or loathe the term āChristian nationalismā? In this episode Alex sits down with David Schrock and Steve Wellum to tackle this hot-button issue through a missiological lens. They explore what the role of Christianity is in contributing to the public policy of a nation, how Christians should approach politics and taking aContinue reading “Christian Nationalism and the Nations: David Schrock and Steve Wellum”
Every Nation is Religious
In this week’s episode, David Schrock and Steve Wellum, talk about Christian Nationalism and how religion shapes culture and laws of that country.
Israel, Palestine, and the Gospel
What is happening to Christians in Israel and the Palestinian territories right now, and what does the current war mean in terms of the advance of the gospel? In this episode, Alex and Scott wrestle Hamasā bloody attacks on Israel and the ensuing conflict from a biblical worldview. As mentioned in the show, you canContinue reading “Israel, Palestine, and the Gospel”
Strategic Retreat? Scott and Alex on Blue States and the Joel Webbon Controversy
Should Christians in the US leave blue states? In this engaging episode, Alex and Scott tackle the topic of strategic retreat, a concept gaining controversy following Joel Webbon’s comments and his recent book, Fight or Flight: Leaving Godless Places. They dive into the complex issues around mission fields, Christian responsibilities, and the balance between ChristāsContinue reading “Strategic Retreat? Scott and Alex on Blue States and the Joel Webbon Controversy”
Responding to the āNo Shortcut to Successā Controversy
In this thought-provoking episode of The Missions Podcast, Scott and Alex delve into a critical review of Matt Rhodes’ book, No Shortcut to Success: A Manifesto for Modern Missions, followed by Rhodes’ response to the review. While they agree on various key points, such as the importance of deep language learning and solid biblical training,Continue reading “Responding to the āNo Shortcut to Successā Controversy”
The Cross in Context? Exploring Atonement and Contextualization with Brad Vaughn
Engage in a thought-provoking continuation of The Missions Podcast as we delve into the ideas presented by Brad Vaughn in his book The Cross in Context. Join hosts Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford as they explore various perspectives on the relationship between Christianity and Western culture, the diverse metaphors of sin and Christās atonement, andContinue reading “The Cross in Context? Exploring Atonement and Contextualization with Brad Vaughn”
Spiritual Warfare in the News: A Missions Perspective
Headlines across the world are telling a single story: spiritual forces of darkness want to dominate the nations. How should Christians read global news with an awareness of Christ as Lord and a missionary heart? Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford navigate some of the top stories and seek to model a Christian response to worldContinue reading “Spiritual Warfare in the News: A Missions Perspective”
MEGA Episode: A Debate on Prioritism and Holism With Ray Norman and Alex Kocman
What is prioritism? What is holism? Is there a middle way? For decades these questions have reverberated throughout the missions community. They arenāt theoretical issuesāthey affect the daily work of missionaries. In this special episode, we bring you a dialogue over the relationship between evangelism and social action with Alex Kocman of ABWE, author ofContinue reading “MEGA Episode: A Debate on Prioritism and Holism With Ray Norman and Alex Kocman”
Can We Learn From Movements? JR Stevenson on What the Reformed and Movements Can Learn From Each Other
Many church and missions leaders are concerned that disciple making movements, church planting movements, and other multiplication methodologies are guilty of pragmatism. Conversely, movement practitioners accuse critics of being too tied to tradition. Is there common ground? In a recent article for Global Missiology, Middle East missionary J.R. Stevenson claims the two sides of theContinue reading “Can We Learn From Movements? JR Stevenson on What the Reformed and Movements Can Learn From Each Other”
Should We Use the āMā Word?
For some, missionaries are faith-filled heroesāout on the far reaches of society, sharing the good news in faraway lands. For others, āmissionaryā might be synonymous with words like ācolonizerā or āimperialist.ā Whatās in a word? In this episode, Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford wrestle with the implications of the āmā word in terms of language,Continue reading “Should We Use the āMā Word?”
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”
Jesus, Ukraine, and the Soviet Union: Duane Early
Around the time that the Soviet Union fell, Ukraine experienced massive spiritual revival. Duane Early, who served there as a missionary, is convinced thatās part of the reason Ukraine is being targeted today. In this interview, he explains the current situation in Ukraine, miracles that happened during that revival, lessons learned, and missiological takeaways thatContinue reading “Jesus, Ukraine, and the Soviet Union: Duane Early”
The Forgotten Principle of Money and Missions: Conley Owens on āThe Dorean Principleā
Watch the video version of this episode here. Throughout the ministry world, content is exchanged for money. But is this biblical? Or should the rest of the Christian world take a cue from how missionaries have operated all along? In The Dorean Principle, Pastor Conley Owens analyzes the puzzling biblical teachings on fundraising and reachesContinue reading “The Forgotten Principle of Money and Missions: Conley Owens on āThe Dorean Principleā”
Ukraine Refugee Update: Caleb Suko Exclusive
When we last spoke with our friend Caleb Suko, the Russia-Ukraine war hadnāt yet begun. Now, heās taken refugeāalong with two million othersāin 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”
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”
Responding to the Global Abortion Pandemic: John Ensor of PassionLife
Abortion isnāt just a US issue. Itās a global issueāwhich 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”
Afghanistan, Islam, and Missions: Matt Bennett Joins
Whatās happening in Afghanistan isnāt just politicalāitās spiritual. This week, Matt Bennett of Cedarville University examines the crisis from a missionary perspective. Dr. Matthew Bennett joined the faculty atĀ Cedarville UniversityĀ in fall 2017 after serving and living in North Africa and the Middle East since 2011. Most recently he wroteĀ 40 Questions About Islam. Hear our previewContinue reading “Afghanistan, Islam, and Missions: Matt Bennett Joins”
#RMC21 Panel 1: Trends in Missions With Chad Vegas, Paul Davis, Wayne Chen, and Brad Buser
There are some shockingāand excitingāthings happening in missions. Chad Vegas, Paul Davis, Wayne Chen, and Brad Buser discuss in this panel from the 2021 Radius Missiology Conference. Watch the video version of this episode: youtu.be/rYp5XxOYp-w. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com. The Missions Podcast is sponsored by ABWE International. Subscribe: linktr.ee/MissionsPodcast.
Exposing and Fixing Pragmatism in Movements
We hear stories of explosive growth through rapid-reproduction techniques like disciple-making movements (DMM)/church-planting movements (CPM) from various parts of the world. Are all of these stories true? Is pragmatism driving some missionaries? This week, we talk to Brad, a missionary from South Asia, who shares his first-hand perspective seeing pragmatic methods in action and howContinue reading “Exposing and Fixing Pragmatism in Movements”
Navigating Theological Disagreement on the Mission Field
When should missionaries who disagree about theology work together, and when do they need to separate?
Why Every Christian Isnāt a Missionary: Conversations on When Everything Is Missions with Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters
Not every Christian is a missionary, and not everything that parades itself as missional activity is. This sounds controversialābut should it? We ask Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters, who discuss these issues in their latest book, Conversations on When Everything Is Missions, the follow-up to book to When Everything Is Missions. Hear our previous interviewContinue reading “Why Every Christian Isnāt a Missionary: Conversations on When Everything Is Missions with Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters”
Christian Nationalism, Patriotism, and Globalism
Recent political events and rallies have Christians asking: what is nationalism? Is it the same as patriotism? These questions are vitally important to the missionary. Can a missionary truly love his home country that heās leavingāand if so, how? What does Scripture say about love of countryāor countries, for that matter? And what about globalism?Continue reading “Christian Nationalism, Patriotism, and Globalism”
Has the White Savior Complex Infected Evangelical Missions?
The story of American missionary Renee Bach made waves last year when she was implicated in the deaths of more than 100 Ugandan children. But does her complex situation serve as a mirror for usāand for modern evangelical missions in general? This week, Scott and Alex address whether or not Western missions is dominated byContinue reading “Has the White Savior Complex Infected Evangelical Missions?”
The Dangers of Insider Bible Translations: The Arlington Statement
Scripture calls Jesus Christ the Son of God and the Lamb slain for sinners. These glorious names run directly counter to the sensibilities of those belonging religions including Islam and Hinduism. Should Bible translators soften these words and concepts to contextualize Godās word? The framers of the recently-published Arlington Statement on Bible Translation say no.Continue reading “The Dangers of Insider Bible Translations: The Arlington Statement”
Throwback: The Greatest Injustice With Chad Vegas
In 2020, itās impossible to escape the topic of privilege. This week, we dive into the archives and bring back our May 2019 interview with Chad Vegas, founding board member of Radius International and lead pastor of Sovereign Grace Church, and our discussion of āgospel privilege.ā Perhaps it has never been more timely. Chad is the founding pastorContinue reading “Throwback: The Greatest Injustice With Chad Vegas”
Critical Theory, Post-Colonialism, and Missions: Neil Shenvi on Social Justice
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Social justice. Critical theory. Post-colonialism. Intersectionality. These issues have divided believers and unbelievers alike in the church over the last few years, and in 2020 the issue is impossible to escape. Is conservative evangelicalism beginning to compromise biblical teaching on complex social issues? And if so,Continue reading “Critical Theory, Post-Colonialism, and Missions: Neil Shenvi on Social Justice”
Missions History in a āCancel Cultureā Age: Jonathan Arnold Explains
Christians live in an age of iconoclasm. How can we do church history and modern missions history responsiblyāwithout falling into the opposite errors of hero-worship or ācancel cultureā? Jonathan Arnold, Associate Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, weighs in from his perspective as a church historian. For three years,Continue reading “Missions History in a āCancel Cultureā Age: Jonathan Arnold Explains”
Disciple-Making Movements: A Critical Discussion With Dr. Glenn Sunshine
Disciple-making movements (DMM) and church planting movements (CPM) are more than just buzzwordsāthey 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? Weāve explored these topics in the past onContinue reading “Disciple-Making Movements: A Critical Discussion With Dr. Glenn Sunshine”
How Many Unreached Are There Really? A Chat on Statistics With Justin Long
How do we really know how many unreached people groups there areāand is that the thing we should be counting, anyway? What can statistics tell us, and what canāt they? We ask these and other tough questions to expert missions researcher Justin Long, Director of Global Research for Beyond, adept cataloguer of missions statistics and enthusiastic documenterContinue reading “How Many Unreached Are There Really? A Chat on Statistics With Justin Long”
What Is Gospel-Centered Missions?
What is the gospel? Itās a question missionaries canāt afford to take for granted. Specifically, what would a distinctly gospel-centered approach to missions look like, and how would it differāor not differāfrom forms of mission that focus heavily on meeting physical, tangible needs? What is the relationship between gospel proclamation and cultural engagement? Scott and AlexContinue reading “What Is Gospel-Centered Missions?”
John Chau: Missions, Methodology, and Martyrdom
Today weāre taking a break from our regular interview lineup to address the recent death of missionary John Allen Chau. In his final letter before being arrowed to death by the hostile North Sentinelese islanders, Chau penned, āIt’s worth it to declare Jesus to these people.ā As we mourn Chauās loss, how should discerning ChristiansContinue reading “John Chau: Missions, Methodology, and Martyrdom”
How Much Contextualization Is Too Much?
Today in missions thereās a lot of talk about contextualization. The āC scaleā developed by John Travis makes a case for so-called insider movementsāprofessing believers in the Islamic world who follow Jesus, yet remain culturally and religiously Muslim. Is that biblical? How can we adapt the gospel to new culturesāand how far is too far?