The Missiology Podcast

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #34 interview with Roger Schroeder. They discuss some of Martin's experiences as a missionary kid, the question "Is teaching mission?," the complexities of relating to cultural others, what the mysterious "sex soup" mentioned in the interview represents, and the importance of the prophetic dialogue model.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Roger Schroeder, professor of intercultural studies and ministry at Catholic Theological Union. Schroeder reflects on his experiences in mission, identifies his contributions to missiology, and shares his hopes for its future.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #32 interview with Miriam Adeney. They discuss the importance and difficulty of increasing female representation in missiology. Then they break down Dr. Adeney's seven hopes for the future of the field. Along they way, they ponder what counts as tangential matters for missiology, the need for Christians to stay home and learn a neighbor's language ins...

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Miriam Adeney, anthropologist and professor emerita of world Christian studies at Seattle Pacific University. Adeney reflects on her experiences in missiology, identifies her contributions to the field, and shares her hopes for its future.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #30 interview with Darrell Whiteman. They discuss Whiteman's devotion to both scholarship and missionary training, the complex nature of contextualization, and the importance of relationships in academic theological education.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Darrell Whiteman, missiologist and retired professor of cultural anthropology. Whiteman shares about his experiences as a missionary, anthropologist, and professor and reflects on his hopes for the future of the field.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #28 interview with Robert Priest. They discuss Priest's courageous missiology, the implications of his "bridge-building" metaphor for anthropology, and the importance of addressing contemporary issues with rigorous on-the-ground research.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Robert Priest, missiologist and retired professor of anthropology. Priest shares about his experiences as a missiological anthropologist, his research, and his hopes for the future of the field.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #26 interview with Stephen Bevans. They discuss Bevans’s contributions to missiology, the definition of the field of study, and the importance of discipleship for the future of missiological reflection.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Stephen Bevans, the Louis J. Luzbetak, SVD Professor of Mission and Culture, Emeritus, at Catholic Theological Union. Bevans shares about his formative influences as a theologian of mission, his contributions to missiology, and his hopes for the future of the field.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #24 interview with Gailyn Van Rheenen. They discuss Gailyn’s role as the founder of missiology.com, his influence on missiological education among Churches of Christ, and the importance of a holistic model of missiological formation.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Gailyn Van Rheenen, the founder of missiology.com, to discuss his experiences with missiology. Van Rheenen shares about his years as a missionary in Africa, the founding of Mission Alive (a North American church-planting organization), and the importance of the missional helix paradigm for the future of missiology.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #22 interview with Sherwood Lingenfelter. They discuss the messiness of relationships, the role of anthropology in missiology, missional humility, deep otherness, and colonialism.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Sherwood Lingenfelter, Provost Emeritus and Senior Professor of Anthropology at Fuller Theological Seminary, to discuss his experiences with missiology. Lingenfelter shares about his journey from anthropology to missiology, his influences and contributions, and his hopes for the future of the field.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #20 interview with Eddie Gibbs. They discuss the tension between instrumental and theological interests in the definition of missiology, the value of advanced missiological education relative to relationality, the importance of not taking ourselves too seriously, and the difficulty of theological disagreements about core matters such as the Holy Spirit.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Eddie Gibbs, retired Donald A. McGavran Professor Emeritus of Church Growth at Fuller Theological Seminary, to discuss his experiences with missiology. Gibbs shares about his experiences with and hopes for the future of missiology in Western cultures.

This is the first of Missiology Podcast’s book review episodes. Martin leaves aside our usual format for a discussion with Mark Lau Branson and Alan J. Roxburgh about their new book  Leadership, God’s Agency, and Disruptions: Confronting Modernity’s Wager .

Martin and Greg reflect on episode #17 interview with Wilbert Shenk. They discuss the use of thinkers whose major moral failings have come to light (such as John Howard Yoder's sexual abuse of students), the importance of Shenk's Anabaptist contributions to missional ecclesiology, and the meaning of his hope for mission to get a serious hearing in the theological education institution. Sad...

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Wilbert Shenk, retired Senior Professor of Mission History and Contemporary Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, to discuss his experiences with missiology. Shenk shares captivating anecdotes about his friendships with David Bosch and Lesslie Newbigin and laments the failure of the theological education establishment to take mission seriously.

Martin and Greg chop up the episode #15 – Charles and Marguerite Kraft. They discuss the status of anthropology in missiology today, the significance of Charles Kraft's Christianity and Culture, the relevance of the Krafts' emphasis on "power encounters," and more.​​​​​​​

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Charles (Chuck) Kraft, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and Intercultural Communication at Fuller Theological Seminary, and his wife Marguerite (Meg) Kraft, Professor Emerita of Intercultural Studies at Biola University, to discuss their experiences with missiology.

What difference does missional theology make for the practice of Appreciative Inquiry (AI)? Is AI realistic enough to deal with serious problems? How might AI approach issues like systemic racism? Why does Missiology Podcast make use of AI methodology in its interviews? And what's on the lineup for our second season? Podcast host Martin Rodriguez and producer Greg McKinzie discuss these and ot...

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Mark Lau Branson, Homer L. Goddard Professor of the Ministry of the Laity at Fuller Theological Seminary, to discuss his experiences with the qualitative research method known as appreciative inquiry (AI)—which has been Martin's approach in the preceding Missiology Podcast interviews. Dr. Branson shares how he became involved with AI, how it works, and why it is...

What role should God’s agency play in historical scholarship? How does historical study help us think about the problems of Zionism in Christian mission? What might collaborative intercultural mission scholarship look like? And How should Christian spirituality shape missiological scholarship? Podcast host Martin Rodriguez and producer Greg McKinzie discuss these and other questions as they reflec...

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Scott Sunquist, President & Professor of Missiology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, to discuss his experiences in missiology and his hopes for its future.