Amazon to the Himalayas

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, explores the increasing persecution and suffering faced by Christians worldwide. Joined by seasoned missionary Willie, they delve into firsthand experiences of dealing with adversity on the mission field. Willie shares his personal story of being beaten and arres...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, discusses the attributes, training, and preparation required for aspiring missionaries with Scott Ray, Senior Director of Field Personnel Deployment at the International Mission Board. Scott shares insights from his extensive experience in South Asia and his...

In this episode of the 'Amazon to the Himalayas' podcast, host Paul Akin converses with veteran missionary Jesse, who has spent 19 years in South Asia, now living in a city with over 25 million people. They discuss the shift of global populations to urban centers and the unique challenges and opportunities this presents for missions. Jesse shares insights into his work starting from smaller cities...

Every day, new communication channels are being added to our already complex digital world, but how do we choose the right one to reach more people? In this episode of Amazon to the Himalayas, host Paul Akin interviews author Don Barger about his book, "Unreadable: Another Book You Probably Won't Read." They discuss our complex world of communication and how people are receiving their information...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas', host Paul Akin interviews David Bruce, a long-time co-worker of Billy Graham, to uncover the remarkable character and spiritual practices that defined Graham's ministry. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, they explore Graham's profound humility, unwavering dedication to giving God the glory, his effective evangelistic invitations, and his pass...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas', host Paul Akin and guest Dr. David Bruce, a long-time personal assistant to the late Billy Graham, dive into the life and legacy of one of the most influential evangelists of the 20th century. They explore Billy Graham's humble beginnings, his spiritual journey, and the significant impact he made on a global scale. The discussion also touches upon the...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS), sits down with Dr. George Martin, Professor of Christian Mission and World Religions at SBTS, to discuss the historical impact of Southern Seminary on global missions. They delve into the early days of the Southern Baptist Convention and the establish...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin talks with seasoned missionary Kyle Brousseau about the complexities of Hinduism and the dynamics of sharing the gospel within Hindu contexts. Kyle, currently serving with the International Mission Board in Prague, Czech Republic, and soon-to-be Dr. Brousseau, shares insights from his extensive experience in South Asia. Topics include an...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Dr. Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, interviews Dr. Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, about his new book 'Ten Women Who Changed the World.' The book highlights the lives of ten women who made significant contributions to global missions. The conversation de...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, discusses the challenges and opportunities in next-generation ministry with Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board. They delve into the importance of understanding and engaging Gen Z and Gen Alpha, the encouraging signs of...

In this episode, host Paul Akin talks with Dr. Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board, about the significant disparity between single men and women in missionary work. They discuss barriers that prevent young men from pursuing missions, including sin issues, debt, and cultural influences. They also emphasize the need for intentionality in local churches to mobilize and encoura...

In this episode, Paul Akin offers gratitude to regular listeners and delves into the ways Christians can live on mission during the Christmas season. By engaging in missional conversations with family and friends, giving generously to mission causes, praying for the lost, and serving others in the community, believers can seize the Christmas season as a unique opportunity to share the gospel. Paul...

In this episode of Amazon to the Himalayas, host Paul Akin talks to Dr. Jeremy Westbrook, the Executive Director of the Ohio Baptist Convention, about a significant revival event that occurred at Ohio State University in late August 2024. The event attracted over 2000 attendees and resulted in more than 60 baptisms. Dr. Westbrook provides insights into the event, the role of football players in sp...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin, joined by Dr. Ayman Ibrahim, delves into understanding Islam from a Christian perspective and the challenge Islam presents in the Great Commission. Dr. Ibrahim, an expert in Christian-Muslim relations, elaborates on common misconceptions about Islam, the importance of apologetics, and how Christians can effectively engage with Muslim ne...

In this episode, Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, interviews Dr. Jimmy Scroggins, the pastor of Family Church in South Florida, and explores the Three Circles Evangelism tool that Dr. Scroggins developed. They discuss the importance of evangelism for Christians, the origins and purposes of the Three Circles tool, and how it serves as both a con...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin engages in a discussion with Dave Knotts. They explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence and social media on mission work worldwide. Dave shares insights on how digital tools can be used to reach and engage the billions on social media with the gospel, emphasizing the exponential effect of these technologies in areas w...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is joined by Ryan Robertson, president of Reaching and Teaching International Ministries. Together, they dive into the complexities of the relationship between sending churches and mission organizations. They discuss the roles, responsibilities, and authorit...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, discusses the practice of door-to-door evangelism with Dr. Todd Gray, Executive Director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. The conversation addresses the viability of door-to-door evangelism in modern times, the personal experiences and stories of Dr. Gray...

In this episode of the 'Amazon to the Himalayas' podcast, host Paul Akin, Provost of Southern Seminary interviews Justin Schell, PhD student and the author of ' The Mission of God and the Witness of the Church. ' They discuss the importance of aligning theology and mission, the central themes of Schell's book, and how the global rise of Christianity is influencing the relationship between theology...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin discusses the advancement of theological education in Latin America with Felipe Castro. Castro, a former businessman turned theological educator, addresses challenges and opportunities in providing theological training for pastors throughout the region. Despite historical Catholic dominance, the Protestant church has grown significantly,...

In Part 2 of our conversation with notable author and missionary, Nik Ripken, we learn about the encouraging but harrowing story of one man who was radically changed through the power of the Scriptures but suffered greatly for the sake of his witness. Nik Ripken shares his extensive experience and insights from visiting over 70 countries and interviewing more than 600 Christians living in persecut...

Today's episode is part 1 of 2 of our conversation about Persecution and Suffering with noted author and missionary, Nik Ripken. Nik Ripken shares his extensive experience and insights from visiting over 70 countries and interviewing more than 600 Christians living in persecuted contexts. Join host Paul Aiken, provost and professor of missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, as they...

In this episode of "Amazon to the Himalayas," host Paul Akin engages in an enlightening conversation with Aaron Harvie, the senior pastor of Highview Baptist Church. They delve into practical strategies for churches to improve their mission-sending focus and capacity. Aaron Harvie shares his extensive experience from pastoring in various contexts and provides valuable insights on leadership, the i...

In this episode of the Amazon to the Himalayas podcast, host Paul Akin explores the crucial topic of why missions are essential for followers of Jesus Christ. The episode delves into the biblical foundations, emphasizing the missionary nature of God and the Bible, and the historical context with examples of notable missionaries like the Moravians, George Lyle, William Carey, Lottie Moon, Adoniram...

In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas' with host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, missionary couple Keith and Shelly Percic share their experiences of completing their first year on the mission field in Ivory Coast, West Africa. The conversation covers the challenges and blessings of their missionary work, the initial adjustments includin...