The Missions Show

What can the Puritans teach us about missions? This week, Alex is joined by Stephen Yuille, director of Puritan Publishing at Reformation Heritage Books , to explore who the Puritans really were and why they still matter for missions today. Yuille challenges common cultural caricatures of Puritanism, explaining that the Puritans were not merely dour moralists but a vibrant movement of pastors and...

Has global missions strayed from a biblical foundation? In this episode of The Missions Show , Alex and Scott talk with Pastor Jerry Slate Jr. to discuss the theological foundations and practical realities of faithful missionary work. The conversation centers on the question of what sustains missionaries through hardship, rejection, and long seasons of discouragement. Jerry, Alex, and Scott emphas...

Do you believe miracles can still happen? In this episode of The Missions Show , Scott is joined by Dr. Darren Carlson—pastor, author, and founder of Training Leaders International—to discuss the ongoing work of God as revealed in the book of Acts and experienced around the world today. Drawing from Carlson’s new book, Witness: Missional Devotions from the Book of Acts , the conversation explores...

What does missions look like in a global city like Paris, France? In this episode of The Missions Show , Alex and Scott are joined by pastor Billy Bean to discuss A City of Light , a short documentary exploring gospel work in Paris, France. Often overlooked as a missions field, Paris is presented as a strategic global city, shaped by history, migration, and secular ideology, whose influence extend...

New year, new name. The Missions Podcast is now The Missions Show . Why the change? We’re stepping into a video-first world. The show is now on NRBTV, with Lighthouse TV launching soon in central Pennsylvania. We’ve been on YouTube for some time, and this rebrand reflects a move beyond audio-only podcasting to serve a wider audience. What hasn’t changed is the heart of the show. We’ll keep the sam...

In this week's episode, Alex and Scott welcome pastor Aaron Menikoff (Atlanta, USA) and pastor Harshit Singh (Lucknow, India) to discuss how evangelism and missions function through the local church, particularly in the Indian context. Drawing from their book Prioritizing Missions in the Church , Menikoff and Singh argue that missions should not be treated as a side program but as an outflow of or...

In this episode of The Missions Podcast , Alex welcomes returning guest Matt Rhodes—missionary, church planter among Muslims, and author to discuss his new book Persecution in Missions: A Practical Theology . Together they discuss that persecution is not an anomaly but a normative feature of Christian life and global missions, especially in unreached contexts. While Western Christians may experien...

Come celebrate another year of The Missions Podcast! In this special end-of-the-year episode, Alex and Scott recall their favorite discussions from 2025 and important takeaways from each. They also discuss how they are using this holiday season to celebrate the incarnation of Christ. Become a Missions Podcast Premium Subscriber and get access to our exclusive Overtime episode where Alex and Scott...

What's the spiritual climate like in Bangladesh? In this week's episode, Scott interviews Pastor Prodip Das, a Bengali church planter in New York City with ABWE's EveryEthne ministry. Together, they discuss the unique nature and conflict of Christianity and Islam within Bangladesh. Prodip tells his personal testimony and what it is like growing up in a Christian family in the country. Prodip also...

Why is Japan the graveyard of missionaries? In this episode, Alex talks with veteran ABWE missionary Bill Petite, who reflects on 35 years of ministry in Japan. Bill gives an honest look at the spiritual, cultural, and emotional realities of serving in one of the world’s least-reached nations. Bill Petite also speaks candidly about the emotional and spiritual toll of long-term missions, sharing se...

How does the gospel transcend cultural understandings like guilt/innocence, honor/shame? In this episode, Alex is joined by longtime friend of the show, Dr. E.D. Burns, a missionary, author, and ABWE’s Executive Director for Training & Development. E.D. argues that many modern missionary methods fall into error by beginning with culture rather than Scripture. When missionaries adapt the messag...

In this episode of The Missions Podcast , Alex Kocman and ABWE President, Paul Davis, interview Ted Esler , president of Missio Nexus , on the global state of Christian missions. Esler explains that although the global church is experiencing slow and steady growth, many evangelical churches lack a strong understanding of lostness which has contributed to a decline in missionary sending and passion...

What's happening with persecuted Christians in Nigeria? In this episode of the Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with Larry Alex Taunton , an author and apologist, who shares his firsthand experience witnessing Christian persecution in Nigeria. Taunton recounts his journey to the country’s northern region, where he saw the devastating effects of what he calls a “genocide against Christians.” H...

Is it true that the "blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church"? In this episode, Alex and Scott challenge the popular belief that persecution is inherently good for the church. Drawing from Ronald Boyd-MacMillan’s article Does Persecution Always Bring Growth? , they argue that while persecution can refine believers, history shows it often destroys the local church entirely. They distinguish...

Does your pastor adequately prioritize missions at your church? In this episode of The Missions Podcast , Alex interviews Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters from 1615 Missions Coaching about their new book, The Sending Shepherd: Leading Churches to Disciple All Nations . Drawing from a Barna study , the conversation centers on the vital role of church leadership in global missions. They argue that...

How does the Nicene Creed unite believers from East and West? This episode of The Missions Podcast —in collaboration with Cedar Crest Bible Fellowship Church’s Captivate & Conform podcast —features Dr. Don Fairbairn , a theologian and former missionary to Soviet Georgia. The conversation explores the intersection of missions, theology, and church history, particularly how the Nicene Creed and...

How does a visual representation of the world affect your overall world view? Alexand Scottdiscuss the spiritual and practical significance of maps in missionary work, exploring how maps not only display geography but also influence how Christians perceive the world’s spiritual landscape. They trace the history of missionary mapping from figures like David Livingstone and William Carey , reflectin...

What does church planting look like here in North America? In this episode, Alex and Scott talk with Dr. Clare Jewell , national representative of the GARBC and Executive Director with ABWE’s EveryEthne , about the state of church planting in North America. Clare shares his journey from pastoral ministry to missions leadership, explaining his passion for helping churches reproduce and make discipl...

Are small Bible colleges on life support in America? In this week's episode, Alex and Scott welcome Dr. Jim Lytle, former president of Clarks Summit University and former ABWE missionary to South Africa, to discuss the enduring importance of Christian institutions and the plight facing Bible colleges today. They explore how Bible colleges have historically served as crucial training grounds for mo...

What does being a missionary look like among a totally unreached Muslim majority people group? In this week's episode, Alex and Scott sit down with Alan, an ABWE missionary serving in North Africa, who shares his experience of seeing God work in incredible ways among an unreached people group. Despite having a lucrative career in corporate America, Alan felt the call to go preach the gospel to unr...

Can AI technology shortcut language barriers for the gospel? Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford explore the connection between language, culture, and gospel communication. They discuss Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3 with Live Translation and explain why technology can’t replace the slow, intentional work of learning a language. Scott shares personal stories from learning Mandarin, showing how culture shapes...

Can empathy be a bad thing? This week, Alex and Scott sit down with Joe Rigney, Fellow of Theology at New Saint Andrew's College and pastor, as they explore the challenges of Christian leadership, ministry, and missions, and the dangers of emotional sabotage and untethered empathy. Rigney explains that in times of turmoil, leaders must maintain mission clarity and resist being derailed by reactive...

In this special, unplanned episode, Alex and Scott share their raw reflections on this week’s wicked events and how mission-minded Christians must respond in the present hour.

Does studying classical philosophy have any relevance for missions today? In this episode, Alex and Scott talk with Dr. David Talcott , a philosopher and faculty member at New Saint Andrew’s College , to discuss the intersection of philosophy, culture, and missions. They ask the famous question “What hath Athens to do with Jerusalem?”—whether philosophy and Scripture can meaningfully interact. Dra...

How do you fully understand and explain the work of Jesus on the cross? In this episode, Alex and Scott explore the doctrine of the atonement, focusing on the concept of Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) and contrasting it with other historical and theological views. The discussion walks through various atonement theories—including the Moral Influence, Ransom, and Christus Victor views and mor...