How do we define the missionary call and then equip people to fulfill it?
Tag Archives: missiology
What is a Missionary Call?
What defines a missionary call? This week’s episode features E.D. Burns as he talks with Alex and ABWE President Paul Davis about what makes a missionary and how the local church can work with mission organizations to send well.
Prioritizing the Old Ways in Missions With Kevin DeYoung | Missionary 2024
Why is it difficult to rely on the traditional methods of missions? In this exclusive interview from Missionary, Scott Dunford sits down with Kevin DeYoung, pastor, author, and founder of Clearly Reformed, as they discuss good models of ministry and why missionaries need to prayerfully trust in the ordinary means and methods of bringing theContinue reading “Prioritizing the Old Ways in Missions With Kevin DeYoung | Missionary 2024”
Optimizing Ministry Partnerships With Ryan Robertson and Duane Tweeten | Missionary 2024
Should ministries partner together? In this exclusive interview from Missionary, Alex and Scott sit down with Ryan Robertson of Reaching and Teaching and Duane Tweeten from Training Leaders International on the importance of ministries working together to further kingdom impact. They discuss conditions of why organizations should work together, key leadership traits, and how unityContinue reading “Optimizing Ministry Partnerships With Ryan Robertson and Duane Tweeten | Missionary 2024”
Confessionalism and the 1689 London Confession With Dr. James Renihan | Missionary 2024
Are confessions a good or bad thing? In this exclusive interview from Missionary, Alex and Scott sit down with Dr. James Renihan, President of International Reformed Baptist Seminary as he discusses his work with the 1689 London Confession and the role it plays in the life of the church and everyday Christians. Did you missContinue reading “Confessionalism and the 1689 London Confession With Dr. James Renihan | Missionary 2024”
What Lausanne Was Really Like With Paul Davis
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”
What is Really Happening in Modern Missions? Chad Vegas | Missionary 2024
What are the main problems in today’s mission world? In this exclusive interview from Missionary, Alex and Scott sit down with Chad Vegas, pastor, author, and co-founder of the Missionary Conference. Chad analyzes a few of the problems relating to how the church should be raising up and training future missionaries and how churches needContinue reading “What is Really Happening in Modern Missions? Chad Vegas | Missionary 2024”
The Forgotten Doctrine With Jonathan Master | Missionary 2024
Is there a doctrine that’s been forgotten by the contemporary church? In this exclusive interview from Missionary, Alex and Scott sit down with Jonathan Master, President of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, as he talks about how the church has ignored or redefined a crucial theological concept that plays an important role in how we viewContinue reading “The Forgotten Doctrine With Jonathan Master | Missionary 2024”
The State of Christianity in Africa With Conrad Mbewe | Missionary 2024
What language groups still need the Bible in Africa? In this exclusive interview from Missionary, Alex and Scott talk with Conrad Mbewe, author, pastor, and theologian as he talks about the history of William Tyndale, and the current need of Bible translators and theological educators. Did you miss Missionary Conference? Get access to all ofContinue reading “The State of Christianity in Africa With Conrad Mbewe | Missionary 2024”
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.
Why Have the Missionary Conference? Brooks Buser | Missionary 2024
What’s unique about Missionary? Is it just another conference? In this exclusive interview from Missionary, Alex and Scott interview Brooks Buser, President of Radius International and founder of Missionary as he talks about the need in today’s world to inspire new pioneers like William Tyndale who will bring the Word of God to new languagesContinue reading “Why Have the Missionary Conference? Brooks Buser | Missionary 2024”
Reliance on God and the Importance of Faithful Men in Missions With Paul Washer at Missionary
What kind of men do we need going to the mission field? In this exclusive interview from Missionary Conference, Alex and Scott sit down with Paul Washer as he discusses the role that ABWE missionaries had on this life, the type of men that should be going to the mission field, and crucial words thatContinue reading “Reliance on God and the Importance of Faithful Men in Missions With Paul Washer at Missionary”
Don’t Rely on Intelligence. Rely on God Through Prayer | Paul Washer
This week on The Missions Podcast, we have an exclusive interview with Paul Washer from Missionary Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Join Alex and Scott for this incredibly insightful and challenging discussion. Want access to all of the interviews from Missionary? Join our Premium Subscribers and get instant access as well as many other benefits. UseContinue reading “Don’t Rely on Intelligence. Rely on God Through Prayer | Paul Washer”
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.
Worship Practices and Liturgies with Zac Hicks
Does your church worship bring people together or divide them? This week on The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with author and pastor Zac Hicks. In an age where worship through music is so critical and critiqued by Christians and non-Christians alike, what should our worship services look like? How do church leaders balanceContinue reading “Worship Practices and Liturgies with Zac Hicks”
Worship is an Encounter With the Living God
Our churches today are full of worship, but do we have a correct theology of worship? Worship is an encounter with God and should engage us as a whole person. Pastor and worship leader Zac Hicks joins The Missions Podcast this week.
A New Apologetic to Muslims with Matt Bennett
Effective evangelism to Muslims requires a new apologetic. Matt Bennett joins The Missions Podcast this week.
Christians Provide a Hopeful Alternative to Islam
In this week’s episode of The Missions Podcast, we dig into the podcast archives for an insightful conversation with Matthew Bennett about Islam and how to engage Muslims and other religious texts.
Depth and Breadth – The State of Christianity in Brazil with Diego Dy Carlos
Because of the rapid spread of Christianity and large percentage of Protestant believers in Brazil, it is often seen as a success story in missions, but at what cost did that happen? Scott Dunford interviews Diego Dy Carlos, a theological scholar, lecturer, and Live Global national partner on the pros and cons of the ChristianContinue reading “Depth and Breadth – The State of Christianity in Brazil with Diego Dy Carlos”
The Church in Brazil Needs More Writers and Thinkers to Thrive
In this week’s episode, Scott Dunford sits down with Diego Dy Carlos, a professor and author in Brazil to talk about the state of Christianity in Brazil and what the Brazilian church has done well and what it needs.
Christian Nationalism and the Nations: David Schrock and Steve Wellum
Do you embrace or loathe the term âChristian nationalismâ? 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.
Why Are The Unreached Unreached?
Why are there so many unreached peoples? How should churches missions organizations determine which fields are top priority? In this episode, Alex and Scott discuss the underpinnings of unreached people group methodology and the socio-political factors that influence global missions strategy. From antagonistic governments, to eschatological assumptions, to linguistic and cultural barriers, this episode exploresContinue reading “Why Are The Unreached Unreached?”
Who Was John Nevius? Joshua Bowman on the Missionary to China and Three-Self Missiology
Who was John Nevius, and why does his legacy continue to influence missions today? In this captivating episode of The Missions Podcast, we delve into the life and groundbreaking work of John Nevius with the insights of Joshua Bowman, a seasoned missionary with extensive experience in Zambia and South Asia, and currently serving as anContinue reading “Who Was John Nevius? Joshua Bowman on the Missionary to China and Three-Self Missiology”
Mailbag: Neglecting the Unreached and Fighting Heresy
In this episode, we tackle two pivotal topics at the heart of global missions. We begin by responding to one friendly criticism and exploring the nuanced definition of âreached,â emphasizing the importance of not just making contact with the unreached but ensuring every nation, tribe, and people group has a fully mature body of believers.Continue reading “Mailbag: Neglecting the Unreached and Fighting Heresy”
Virtuous Persuasion: Redefining Missions With Michael Niebauer
In this insightful episode, Michael Niebauer, pastor and director of Heritage Mission, delves into the heart of Christian missions. He eloquently discusses the essential elements of virtuous practice, proclamation, and gathering in missions, redefining skilled missionary work as following Christ rather than just mastering techniques. Niebauer also critically evaluates three popular models of missions, offeringContinue reading “Virtuous Persuasion: Redefining Missions With Michael Niebauer”
New Yearâs Eve Countdown: 2024âs Must-Read Missions Books
The tradition is back! In this compelling episode, Chris Howles of For Every Nation joins the discussion to unveil his top 10 missions books to read in 2024. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone engaged in or interested in missions, offering insights that blend deep theological understanding with practical application in the missionContinue reading “New Yearâs Eve Countdown: 2024âs Must-Read Missions Books”
The Caste System & the Homogenous Unit Principle With Aubrey Sequeira | Radius 2023
In missiology, the modern definition of âpeople groupsâ depends substantially upon the work of Donald McGavran and his conception of the homogenous unit principle. But did McGavran misunderstand the caste system from which he drew his insights? And how should missionaries today assess McGavranâs work? Aubrey Sequeira, pastor in Abu Dhabi, joins again to discussContinue reading “The Caste System & the Homogenous Unit Principle With Aubrey Sequeira | Radius 2023”
Responding to the âNo Shortcut to Successâ 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 âNo Shortcut to Successâ 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 Christâs atonement, andContinue reading “The Cross in Context? Exploring Atonement and Contextualization with Brad Vaughn”
Saving Godâs Face? A Dialogue With Brad Vaughn on Honor and Shame
Dive into a thought-provoking conversation with Brad Vaughn, previously known as Jackson Wu. With his book Saving God’s Face as the backdrop, we explore the concept of sin as a violation of God’s honor, the overlap between Chinese and biblical culture, and the distinct differences in how Westerners and Asians understand honor and shame. PrepareContinue reading “Saving Godâs Face? A Dialogue With Brad Vaughn on Honor and Shame”
Recovering Our Ambition: Alex Kocman on Romans 15
This is a special episode of the podcast featuring a sermon preached by Alex Kocman at Laurelglen Bible Church in Bakersfield, CA on March 12, 2023. In this episode, Kocman provides insights from Romans 15, challenging us to have a greater passion for reaching the unreached with the gospel. Tune in to this inspiring sermonContinue reading “Recovering Our Ambition: Alex Kocman on Romans 15”
Does the Church Have One Mission or Two? âCome and Seeâ Author Justin Schell
What is the churchâs mission? Are proclamation and mercy ministry separate tasks, or intertwined? And are we forgetting our foundationâpursuing the glory of God? We explore this week with Justin Schell, US director of Union School of Theology and director of executive projects with Lausanne Movement. Justin studied mission and biblical theology at Gordon-Conwell TheologicalContinue reading “Does the Church Have One Mission or Two? âCome and Seeâ Author Justin Schell”
Hope for American Evangelicals: A Missionary Perspective on Restoring Our Broken House With Matt Bennett
Is the American evangelical house in order? Or is it in need of a remodel? Orâeven worseâshould we sell the house altogether and look for another home? Matt Bennett answers these timely questions from the missionary perspective of Lesslie Newbigin. Dr. Matthew Bennett joined the faculty at Cedarville University in fall 2017 after serving and living inContinue reading “Hope for American Evangelicals: A Missionary Perspective on Restoring Our Broken House With Matt Bennett”
Top 10 Missions Books to Read in 2023: Chris Howles Shares
A new year is upon us. Itâs the time to set new goalsâincluding reading goals. To help us count down the top must-read missiology texts for 2023, Chris Howles joins the show. Chris holds a doctorate in intercultural studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. Heâs the founder of From Every Nation, a resource hub for missionaries.Continue reading “Top 10 Missions Books to Read in 2023: Chris Howles Shares”
The Beauty of International Churches: Dr. Michael Crane
English-speaking churches in cities like Dubai or Bangkok donât appear to be the most missiologically strategicâat least on paper. But as with any local church, thereâs 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”
âGlurbanization,â Church Planting, and Why Our Definition of âPeople Groupâ 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 âglurbanization.â Michael and his wife moved toContinue reading “âGlurbanization,â Church Planting, and Why Our Definition of âPeople Groupâ Is Outdated: Dr. Michael Crane”
#RMC22: The Final Word
In this tenth and final exclusive from the Radius Missiology Conference, Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford discuss their favorite takeaways from their conversations with Kevin DeYoung, Ian Hamilton, Brad Buser, Brooks Buser, Wayne Chen, Chad Vegas, Jonathan Master, and Steve Meister. Watch the video version of this episode on the ABWE YouTube channel. Listen to allContinue reading “#RMC22: The Final Word”
#RMC22: Kevin DeYoung on the Mission of the Church
What is the churchâs mission? Better yet, what isnât 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 Godâs mission.Continue reading “#RMC22: Kevin DeYoung on the Mission of the Church”
#RMC22: Why the Radius Missiology Conference?
We recently attended the 2022 Radius International Missiology Conference to capture some exclusive content. Hereâs the first in a series of exclusive, behind-the-scenes episodes from RMC. Enjoy! Watch the video version of this episode here. Support this podcast and impact Godâs mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.
T4G22: Zane Pratt on Methods and Defining âChurchâ
When it comes to the popular methods used on the mission field today, we often talk past one another. What do we mean by âchurch,â âconvert,â or âdiscipleâ? Zane Pratt, vice president of training for IMB, returns to the show. Hear our previous interviews with Zane here. You can watch the video version of thisContinue reading “T4G22: Zane Pratt on Methods and Defining âChurchâ”
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”
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”
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: 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)”
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)”
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)”
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”