The Aquila Institute

In this episode, Stephen sits down with Pastor Erik Nielsen of FIBC in Copenhagen to discuss church finances. You'll be reminded of the important biblical principles that form the foundation of church finances and how pastors lead their church to have a God-honoring view of money and giving.

In this episode, Stephen sits down to speak with software engineer and church planter Ngewi Fet. You will be encouraged and challenged as he clearly explains that time management is an act of stewardship and even worship.  Negewi was born and raised in Cameroon, but moved to Germany 20 years ago to study. He has since worked in the marketplace in software engineering and has recently launched his...

In this episode, Stephen sits down again with Keith and Jeff to continue their discussion of the joys and challenges of pastoring international churches. You'll be blessed as they share their heart, vision, and passion for God's mission in the world. 

In this conversation, David sits down with A.J. Mathieu of the Malphurs Group and Healthy Churches Global to discuss the important role that Mission, Vision, and Values have in the local church.   These things will help local church pastors and the churches they lead know why they exist, where they are going, and how they are going to get there.   To learn more, visit: https://healthychurchesgloba...

In this episode, Stephen sits down with two fellow IBC pastors to discuss the joys and challenges of pastoring international churches. The conversation was so rich that it required a second part. So tune in and wait for part two, coming soon. Keith (MPhil, University of Pretoria) was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. He is married to Coreen, and they are the parents of three young childr...

In this final episode before the summer break, David Martin sits down with his father, Paul Martin, to discuss being a generous church. Pastor Martin has been pastor of Laramie Valley Chapel for 42 years and in that time has seen the church grow from being a mostly self-focused church to one that disciples well, gives generously, and consistently sends their best people onto the mission field.

In this episode, David and Stephen sit down to share an important update from Aquila.  Reach out to us at info@aquila-initiative.org to get involved!    

In this episode, Stephen and David sit down with Pastor Erik Nielsen to discuss church planting partnerships, where two or more churches team up together to plant a new church. In this case, they discuss the partnership Erik's church in Denmark made with Stephen's church in Germany to plant a new English-speaking church in Spain.   You'll be encouraged to hear of God's faithfulness and provision t...

In this episode, Stephen sits down with Pastor Carsten Lotz to discuss the experience of becoming a planting church.  Carsten has been in ministry since 2005 and the pastor of the International Christian Fellowship in Frankfurt since 2010. In 2019/2020, ICF had the joy of sending their best to launch River of Life in downtown Frankfurt.  You'll be encouraged by the story of God's grace and goodnes...

In this episode, Stephen and David sit down with Aquila apprentice Lucas dos Santos. Lucas began as a member of IBC Cologne and has grown into an essential part of the core church-planting team and lay elder at Aachen International Church.    You'll be encouraged by Lucas's high view of God and the local church, and you'll be challenged by his wisdom and experience of church planting.

In this episode, Stephen sits down with church planter John Hugh Tate. You'll be encouraged by his heart for evangelism, mentoring, and helping disciples of Christ grow in faith and obedience.   Dr. Tate, together with his wife Linda and their boys went to Paris after 17 years of church planting & pastoring in his home state of Mississippi, USA. He has always had a global heart, growing minist...

In this episode, David and Stephen sit down with Dr. Glenn Kreider to discuss the Last Things. You'll be blessed as they discuss the consummation of God's eternal plan of salvation and the hope of every believer.  Dr. Kreider is Professor of Theological Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and Editor in Chief of the Theological Journal Bibliotheca Sacra. He has a Th. M. and Ph. D. from Dallas Th...

In this episode, David and Stephen sit down with Dr. Juan Sánchez about the church. Many Christians try to downplay the importance of the local church in God's mission, but listeners will be enriched by Juan's clear biblical support and encouraged to love and participate in their local church. Dr. Sanchez has an MDiv, ThM, and PhD from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as the se...

Stephen sits down with Dr. Lucas Stamps to discuss the doctrine of salvation. How does God save sinners? What is man's role in salvation? You'll be blessed to learn more about this essential and comforting doctrine of God's grace. Dr. Lucas Stamps has a PhD is Systematic Theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and serves as Professor of Christian Theology and Director of the Master...

In this episode, Stephen and David sit down with Dr. Graham Cole to discuss the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Cole's years of experience in the church and classroom mean that he's full of knowledge, wisdom, and practical insights. You'll be blessed as you grow to love God more and thank Him for the gift of His Spirit, who points us to Christ. Graham A. Cole (ThD, Australian College of Theology)...

In this episode, Stephen sits down with Dr. Matthew Emerson to discuss Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is the second person of the Trinity. This doctrine is the epicenter of all doctrines. It is essential to knowing God and being in a relationship with him. Dr. Emerson earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and an M.Div. and Ph. D. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Emers...

Stephen sits down with Dr. Gary Schultz to talk about the doctrines of humanity and sin. What does it mean to be a human? What is sin? Why is it such a big problem?    You'll be challenged and encouraged as the Bible's clear teaching on these important topics is explained in simple terms.   Gary Shultz (Ph. D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as Associate Professor of Theology at...

David sits down with Stephen to discuss the Trinity, the doctrine that God has revealed Himself as one God in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   You'll be encouraged and built up in your faith, but you will also be challenged to be more precise in your speech about God. To learn even more, watch Stephen's lecture on the Trinity here. Stephen Campbell earned his MA in Church Ministry an...

In this episode, Stephen and David sit down with Dr. James Dolezal of Cairn University to discuss the attributes of God. You'll be challenged to think more deeply and more precisely about who God is. You'll be encouraged to trust God more than ever before. James Dolezal is professor of theology in the School of Divinity at Cairn University near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has an MDiv from The M...

In this episode, Stephen sits down with Dr. Mike Svigel for the first episode in our new series of conversations about Systematic Theology. To begin the series, Stephen and Mike lay a strong foundation by outlining how we can know God at all.  You'll be built up as you begin to search the beauties of God, and you'll be encouraged to hear how much God loves you and wants to be known by you. Dr. Svi...

David and Stephen sit down with Nick von Brandenstein, one of the founders of Home Aid, an outpatient home care service in Cologne and Neuss, Germany. Their aim is "to make life in your own home more pleasant.    You will be encouraged by Nick's story of faith in God's provision and guidance that led him and a friend from an idea to a company that is now,  after a long journey, profitable.    http...

Stephen Campbell sits down with Tom Griffin, who is Executive Director of By Heart Ministries (byheart.org). By Heart is dedicated to helping churches incorporate regular Scripture recitation into their corporate life. Tom's story will encourage you, and his passion for God's Word will inspire you to learn your Bible more and memorize Scripture. Tom is a technical consultant for a global software...

In this episode, Stephen and David sit down with Kristen Martin. Kristen is the BIM (Business in Mission) Manager at Aquila and co-founder, together with her husband David, of Prisca Publishing, where she also serves as Executive Publisher.   You're sure to be inspired by her vision to use business to provide for the needs of those in ministry, equip church members in important life skills, and me...

In this episode, David and Stephen sit down with Mike DeVries, pastor of Gateway Bible Fellowship in Dacono, Colorado. Mike and his church have fully committed to mentoring and training their members through the Aquila Theological Institute. Mike shares how it is operating and what he has enjoyed about ATI.   In this episode, Mike endorses the book Missions on Point: The LOcal Church at the Heart...

In this episode, we start a series highlighting our apprentices, mentors, and partner churches. David and Stephen sit down with Jonathan Aeschlimann, a trained carpenter from Switzerland who is a church-planting apprentice at IBC Bonn working toward planting an international, German-language church in that city.