
The Missions Show
695 episodes — Page 9 of 14
Who Will Hear ‘Well Done’?
trailerComing up this week: author and missionary Kyle Farran explains who will hear “well done, good and faithful servant” at the end of their race. Tune in this Sunday to hear the full interview. 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.

Doing Missions Committees Right: Paul Davis Shares
For some, the word “committee” means slow, ineffective bureaucracy. How can we keep the passive, maintenance mindset out of our local church missions committees? And what does Scripture have to say about this mode of church organization? ABWE President Paul Davis answers. Mentioned in this episode: Missions by the Book (Chad Vegas and Alex Kocman)Launch Point7 Habits of Highly Effective Missions CommitteesABWE Church Resource LibraryPaulLDavis.com & ConsultationsOperation World 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.
Are Missions Committees Even Biblical?
trailerIn this week’s upcoming episode, ABWE President Paul Davis discusses the biblical rationale for—and critiques of—modern missions programs, teams, and committees in local churches. 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.

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 that’s 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 that can be applied anywhere. To help missionaries meet Ukrainian refugees’ needs and share the gospel to those affected by the war, support the Ukraine Crisis Fund. Duane Early is ABWE’s Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. The Lord led Duane into full-time ministry while a student at the University of Michigan. He continued his education and theological training at Summit University in Clarks Summit, PA, and Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Duane and his wife, Susan, were involved in two pastoral ministries and one church plant during their first 15 years of marriage. In the 90s, the Lord led them Duane, Sue, and their two daughters to join ABWE in order to open and lead the first team in the country of Ukraine. The team was able to grow both in quantity and quality while developing the Church Ministries Institute, multiply churches, and launch mission endeavors throughout the Russian-speaking world. In 2000, Duane was asked to serve as the Regional Director for Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and in 2009, Duane became Vice President of Global Operations. He began his current role in 2017. 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.
Will the Soviet Union Return?
trailerIn our next episode, Duane Early, former missionary to Ukraine and current vice president of strategic partnerships with ABWE, explains how Ukrainians reacted when the Soviet Union fell—and how it informed their missiological tactics. 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.

Ep 244How One Missionary Started a Century-Long Movement: Jim Ruff on ABWE Founder Raphael Thomas
Watch the video version of this episode here. In 1927, the evangelical church was split in two—between gospel-proclaiming fundamentalists and followers of the social gospel. Caught in the struggle was Baptist missionary Dr. Raphael Thomas. When his life and ministry took some unexpected turns, he was faced with a choice—and his actions sparked a missions movement nearly 100 years long. Who was Raphael Thomas? Jim Ruff, missionary and author of an upcoming biography on the ABWE founder, walks us through Thomas’ life and why it matters for Christians today. Learn more about the legacy of Dr. Thomas and its connection to the mission today. Jim (M.Div., D.Min.) is a retired church-planting and leadership training missionary to Japan (20 years) and Trainer and Associate Director of training for ABWE (14 years). He’s also served for a term in church planting in the Chicago area. He wrote one of the ABWE Bible courses, and serves as a Proctor for missionaries taking the Methods of Bible Study course. For the past seven years, he’s taught at Baptist Bible Seminary, Clarks Summit University. 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.
Jesus’ Imminent Return?
trailerIs Jesus is returning at any moment, what happens to missionary efforts? That was a concern of ABWE’s founding missionary, Dr. Raphael Thomas, 100 years ago. Veteran missionary Jim Ruff explains in this week’s upcoming episode. 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.

The Forgotten Principle of Money and Missions: Conley Owens on ‘The Dorean Principle’
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 reaches some startling conclusions that apply to anyone in ministry. Conley Owens (M.Div., The Log College & Seminary) is a pastor at Silicon Valley Reformed Baptist Church and a senior software engineer at Google. He lives with his wife and seven children in Sunnyvale, California. 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.

Ukraine Refugee Update: Caleb Suko Exclusive
When we last spoke with our friend Caleb Suko, the Russia-Ukraine war hadn’t yet begun. Now, he’s taken refuge—along with two million others—in 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 the Ukraine Crisis Fund at abwe.org/ukrainehelp. Since 2007 Caleb has served as a missionary in Odessa, Ukraine where he is pastor at Hope for People Church and director of the “Evangelism Today” center for evangelism and discipleship. Caleb attended Shasta Bible College and graduated from Northwest Baptist Seminary in 2005 with a Master’s of Divinity. Together with his wife Christina their desire is to help believers and churches to do biblical evangelism and discipleship through training seminars on evangelism and discipleship for churches, personal discipleship, and working closely with national pastors to help strengthen and multiply the church in Ukraine and beyond. The Sukos also have five children. Support their ministry. 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.
What if Everyone Fundraised Like a Missionary?
trailerWe all know that missionary life usually means asking for financial support. That scares many people away. But what if that’s 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 episode when it drops. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.

Nik Ripken on Persecution, Missions, and Ukraine
Nik Ripken has collected the stories of suffering believers from all over the world—including Ukraine. In this episode, he talks to us about missions and what he’s 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, and previously served as a missionary with the IMB beginning in 1991. 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.
Nik Ripken: ‘You Get the Country You Deserve’
trailerComing up in our next episode: Nik Ripken shares his insights from observing the persecuted church in Ukraine and around the world—and 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 God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.

No Shortcuts to Success: Matt Rhodes’ ‘Manifesto’
Watch the video version of this episode here. Americans have a need for speed—and missionaries aren’t immune. But in his new “manifesto,” author and missionary Matt Rhodes explains why faithful missions requires long-term commitment. This week, we talk to him about historic missionaries’ example, why definitions matter, and how to gain agreement on a field team. 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.

Mission Affirmed: Elliot Clark on Recovering Paul’s 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 Missionary Motivation of Paul, joins Scott Dunford and Alex Kocman to discuss—and explain why it matters for today’s results-oriented missionaries. 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.
What Elliot Clark Would Do Differently
trailerElliot 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 God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.

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 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.
What Is a Church For?
trailerWhat is the mission of the church? In this week’s upcoming show, we talk about the biblical role of the church in missions and why this very podcast exists—helping goers think and thinkers go. 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.

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 is pastor at Hope for People Church and director of the “Evangelism Today” center for evangelism and discipleship. Caleb attended Shasta Bible College and graduated from Northwest Baptist Seminary in 2005 with a Master’s of Divinity. Together with his wife Christina their desire is to help believers and churches to do biblical evangelism and discipleship through training seminars on evangelism and discipleship for churches, personal discipleship, and working closely with national pastors to help strengthen and multiply the church in Ukraine and beyond. The Sukos also have five children. Support their ministry. 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.
Ukraine and Psalm 31
trailerComing 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 God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.

Sending When It Hurts: Josh Teis on the Pastor’s Job in Mobilization
Everyone says they believe in sending missionaries. But what about when it hurts? What about when your church’s 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. in Pastoral Theology from Pensacola Christian College where he met his wife, Heather, and also holds a Master’s in Bible Exposition and his M.Div. from Liberty University. Josh leads Idea Network and hosts The Idea Talks Podcast. Josh and his wife Heather have one son, Jonathan David, and two daughters, Savannah Tyler and Scarlett Noel. 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.

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 us back to a foundational question: Is it right for missionaries to develop financial support partnerships? Is a centralized, salaried model of missions support better? And what does Scripture have to say? Steve Shadrach, arguably the guru of partnership development in the faith-support missions world, joins us to delve in. Steve Shadrach is founder of Support Raising Solutions, and the founder of the Center for Mission Mobilization (CMM), which is the parent ministry of SRS. Steve has trained thousands of Christian workers from over 1,200 organizations around the world how to raise support and authored The God Ask. He and his wife, Carol reside in Fayetteville, AR. They have five grown children and eight grandchildren. 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.
Is Raising Support Biblical? Steve Shadrach Answers
trailerShould 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 God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.

Chad Vegas: Defining the ‘Proclamational Model’ (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 International and Radius Theological Institute, and the founding board vice-chairman of Providence Classical Academy. He also serves as adjunct faculty for IRBS Theological Seminary and the Institute of Public Theology. He has been married to Teresa since 1994 and has two children. You can purchase Alex and Chad’s new book, Missions by the Book: How Theology and Missions Walk Together, from Founders Press. 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.
Chad Vegas: The Bottom Line
trailerComing 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 God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.

Chad Vegas: Defining the ‘Proclamational Model’ (Part 1)
Watch the video version of this episode here. In the missions world, there’s a rift between movement practitioners and advocates of biblical proclamation. Why the disagreement? And is there such a thing as the “proclamational model”? Chad Vegas weighs in this week. Chad is the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Bakersfield, the founding board chairman of Radius International and Radius Theological Institute, and the founding board vice-chairman of Providence Classical Academy. He also serves as adjunct faculty for IRBS Theological Seminary and the Institute of Public Theology. He has been married to Teresa since 1994 and has two children. You can purchase Alex and Chad’s new book, Missions by the Book: How Theology and Missions Walk Together, from Founders Press. Listen to our previous two-part dialogue with Ted Esler here. 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.
Chad Vegas: Why Evangelism Is Confrontational
trailerDoes 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 God’s 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 we’re diving into the archives to bring you, once again, our interview with Launch Point Executive Director Jason Phillips. Just because we’re on vacation over the holidays doesn’t mean we can’t serve you with content. Jason has more than 30 years of experience in senior corporate and ministry roles in a variety of organizations from start-ups to Fortune 100 enterprises. He has served in multiple pastoral roles, and he co-founded and directed Hope2Live Ministries, a ministry that worked primarily in Sierra Leone. He earned a BBA in finance from Georgia State University, a Master of Divinity in theology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in disciple-making from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jason and his wife, Jeannie, have been partners in ministry throughout their twenty-five years of marriage, and they have two children in college who love the Lord. You can email Jason here. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.

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 Stephanie’s advent devotional article here. Stephanie Boon lives in Tanzania with her husband and their five children. She co-founded Sifa Collective, which equips women with the hope of the gospel and tools to launch their own local businesses. After earning her M.A. in Counseling and B.S. in Counseling (Theology/Psychology), she worked with colleagues to open a Community Counseling Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where they provide gospel-centered individual and group counseling, and counseling training for local churches. Read her blog at Things We Didn't Know or support her ministry. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.

Saving Babies’ Lives in Papua New Guinea: Lori Smith Speaks
Abortion isn’t 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 lifetimes—and almost as many women, when they become pregnant, are unaware that what is inside them is alive. For ABWE missionary Lori Smith, this isn’t just a social problem—it’s a spiritual problem with a gospel solution. From her clinic where their team sees over 20,000 patients each year, Lori is witnessing life change regularly. In this episode, she explains why being pro-missions means being pro-life. You can support Lori’s work and other life-centered ministries at abwe.org/life. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
Amazing Pro-Life Ministry Happening in Papua New Guinea
trailerEvery day, ABWE missionary Lori Smith is seeing women’s hearts and lives change. In this week’s episode, find out why abortion is such a particularly pivotal issue in Papua New Guinea. Support this podcast and impact God’s 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. (Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary), M.Div. (The Master's Seminary), serves as a Correctional Chaplain in Virginia and member of his local church. He has served over 18 years in Missions and Ministry. He and his wife Damaris have been married over 24 years and are parents of five. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
Mary and Idolatry
trailerIt’s 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 God’s 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 what’s the reason more missionaries don’t go to the unreached? To sign up to learn more about ABWE’s upcoming Open Initiative as it launches, click here. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us.
Cover Blown: How a Missionary Got Kicked Out of Country
trailerThe 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 matter—and how churches can recapture a pioneering spirit. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.

Doctrine, Pragmatism, and Movements: A Discussion With Ted Esler (Part 2)
Our conversation with Ted Esler continues as we try to define words like “disciple” and “church” 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 30,000 mission workers worldwide. Ted worked in the computer industry before becoming a church planter in Sarajevo, Bosnia, during the 1990s. In 2000, Ted became the Canadian director of Pioneers and three years later moved to Orlando to join the leadership team of Pioneers USA. In 2015 he was appointed as president of Missio Nexus. Ted has an MTS in theology (Heritage Seminary, 2002), and a Ph.D. in intercultural studies (Fuller Theological Seminary, 2012) and resides in Saint Cloud, Florida with his wife, Annette. They have five adult children and two grandchildren. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
Why Fruit Isn’t About Numbers
trailerThis week, we continue our crucial conversation with Ted Esler as he shares his opinions about methodologies, movements, and the biblical definition of “fruit” in ministry. Hear part 1 here. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s 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? Let’s reason together, build common ground, and determine where the real issues lie. Hear part 1 in a two-part series with Missio Nexus president Ted Esler. Hear our previous conversation with Ted here. Ted Esler is the president of an association of agencies and churches representing over 30,000 mission workers worldwide. Ted worked in the computer industry before becoming a church planter in Sarajevo, Bosnia, during the 1990s. In 2000, Ted became the Canadian director of Pioneers and three years later moved to Orlando to join the leadership team of Pioneers USA. In 2015 he was appointed as president of Missio Nexus. Ted has an MTS in theology (Heritage Seminary, 2002), and a Ph.D. in intercultural studies (Fuller Theological Seminary, 2012) and resides in Saint Cloud, Florida with his wife, Annette. They have five adult children and two grandchildren. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
Pathological Ecclesiology?
trailerThis 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 God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s 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 Seminary’s Global Missions Fellowship on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, taken from Alex’s upcoming book with Chad Vegas on integrating doctrine and practice. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
The School of Suffering
trailerComing up this week: Alex Kocman presents why enlisting in ministry means enrolling in God’s seminary of suffering. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.

Is Obedience-Based Discipleship Biblical? Alex and Scott Discuss
What is obedience-based discipleship, and is it biblical? The issue isn’t as simple as it seems. This week, Alex and Scott discuss Alex’s article addressing the topic and explore all the related questions of law, gospel, and salvation by faith alone. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
The Problem With Obedience-Based Discipleship
trailerComing 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 God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.

The Case for Missionary Care With Ryan Martin
Everyone’s talking about “care”—self-care, healthcare, pastoral care, and the list goes on. What’s the biblical case for churches to care for missionaries on the field, and how can we do it well? Ryan Martin answers. Read Ryan’s articles on the topic: “Missionary Care Begins with the Local Church: A Look at 3 John 5-8”“Partnership In The Gospel: Biblical Support For Missionary Care From Philippians 2:25–30” Ryan graduated in 2008 from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received his M.Div. in Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth. He also earned an undergraduate degree from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, in 2005. He currently is pursuing a D.Min. degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he also serves as a trustee. Ryan lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Rebekah, and three children: Hudson, Annie, and Hattie. Follow him on Twitter. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
Why It’s Hard to Care for Missionaries
trailerWhat 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 God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.

Reaching Europe Through Liturgy? Melissa Baccarella and Andy Messmer
Europe is more “post-Christian” than ever. So why would a high form of Christian worship be the key to reaching—and discipling—the 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? Support this podcast. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
How Your Worship Is Shaping You
trailerIn our upcoming episode, ABWE missionary Melissa Baccarella shares how the content of corporate worship is the key to discipleship. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s 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 isn’t 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 to help more people think and go? Support this podcast. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
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, “BJ,” a church planter working with Muslim diaspora peoples, shares how we can learn from the best of both approaches. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.

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 ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.
How Do We Mobilize the Next Generation?
trailerThis 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 God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email us. The Missions Show is sponsored by ABWE’s Global Gospel Fund.