The Missions Show

Dive into a thought-provoking conversation with Brad Vaughn, previously known as Jackson Wu. With his book Saving God's Face as the backdrop, we explore the concept of sin as a violation of God's honor, the overlap between Chinese and biblical culture, and the distinct differences in how Westerners and Asians understand honor and shame. Prepare to be captivated as they unravel the intricacies of h...

Missiologist and author Brad Vaughan, also known under his pseudonym Jackson Wu, shares his perspectives this week on honor, shame, and the nature of Christ’s death—including some opinions that have proven controversial in both missiological and theological circles. Believe in our mission? Support the show at missionsshow.com/support . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more a...

Headlines across the world are telling a single story: spiritual forces of darkness want to dominate the nations. How should Christians read global news with an awareness of Christ as Lord and a missionary heart? Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford navigate some of the top stories and seek to model a Christian response to world events. You can also  watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Enter to wi...

How should Christians discuss world events with a missionary mindset? Scott and Alex discuss in this week’s upcoming show. Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at  abwe.org . Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email  alex@missionsshow.com .

Are churches and missions organizations going about developing leaders the wrong way? And how do parents raise their sons to become pastors and missionaries? In this episode of the podcast, Pastor Ray Brandon of North Bridge Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Director of Church Planting with EveryEthne discusses the challenges and joys of raising up men for the church and the mission field. Ray off...

What role should godly men play in the mission of God? Ray Brandon , director of church planting with EveryEthne, explains in this week’s upcoming conversation on biblical masculinity and leadership development. Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at  abwe.org . Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email ...

As Christians, we hold the Bible in the highest esteem. But what happens when the people we are trying to reach have a primarily oral culture—how do we ensure that the message of Scripture is accurately transmitted and understood in cultures where literacy is not the norm? In this podcast interview with Jonathan Worthington, Ph. D., Director of Research at Training Leaders International, we explor...

Christians are people of the Book. Does that mean that we should pursue global literacy? Or can the Word of God thrive in oral cultures too? Joining this week to discuss is Jonathan Worthington, Ph. D., of Training Leaders International. Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at  abwe.org . Want to ask a question or su...

Are you struggling to deepen your relationship with God and wondering how to become the person He created you to be? Join Scott and Alex on The Missions Show as they interview Mason King , author of A Short Guide to Spiritual Disciplines and pastor at The Village Church, on the topic of spiritual disciplines. King offers a holistic approach that expands your thinking beyond basic spiritual practic...

Sometimes, those of us in ministry can easily avoid God out of a secret fear that he’s displeased with us. This week, author and pastor Mason King helps us unlearn some common misconceptions about spiritual disciplines. Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at  abwe.org . Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Ema...

Have we focused too much on contextualization and not enough on who God is? This week, we talk to J. Chase Davis, author of Trinitarian Formation: A Theology of Discipleship in Light of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit . In this episode, we explore how the doctrine of the Trinity can deepen our understanding of discipleship in the current cultural moment, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of th...

Have we so emphasized contextualization that we’ve started to adopt a different persona altogether in the name of evangelistic effectiveness? J. Chase Davis, author of Trinitarian Formation: A Theology of Discipleship in Light of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit , answers in this week’s upcoming show. Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of...

What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ mean for global missions? In this thought-provoking podcast, Tim Bertolet (Ph. D., University of Pretoria), initiatives strategist with ABWE, dives deep into the importance of the resurrection and its relationship with redemption, evangelism, and our future hope. With insightful analysis of key verses from 1 Corinthians, Romans, and Acts, Bertolet unpacks...

Coming up on Easter Sunday: New Testament scholar Tim Bertolet, Ph. D., unpacks the powerful implications of Christ’s resurrection on the global missionary mandate. Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at  abwe.org . Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email  alex@missionsshow.com .

This is a special episode of the podcast featuring a sermon preached by Alex Kocman at Laurelglen Bible Church in Bakersfield, CA on March 12, 2023. In this episode, Kocman provides insights from Romans 15, challenging us to have a greater passion for reaching the unreached with the gospel. Tune in to this inspiring sermon to learn more about our gospel obligation, the need for holy ambition, and...

What role does desire play in the missionary call? We explore in this week’s upcoming episode. Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at  abwe.org . Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email  alex@missionsshow.com .

What is prioritism? What is holism? Is there a middle way? For decades these questions have reverberated throughout the missions community. They aren’t theoretical issues—they affect the daily work of missionaries. In this special episode, we bring you a dialogue over the relationship between evangelism and social action with Alex Kocman of ABWE, author of Missions by the Book , and Dr. Ray Norman...

Some in the missions world maintain that the Great Commission is simply about serving others—whether or not the gospel is presented. In this week’s upcoming episode, we explain what’s at stake in the long-running missiological debate between prioritism and holism. Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at  abwe.org . W...

What is the church’s mission? Are proclamation and mercy ministry separate tasks, or intertwined? And are we forgetting our foundation—pursuing the glory of God? We explore this week with Justin Schell, US director of Union School of Theology and director of executive projects with Lausanne Movement . Justin studied mission and biblical theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and business...

Is missions about proclaiming the word, deeds of mercy, or both? Justin Schell, US director for Union School of Theology and director of executive projects with Lausanne Movement, answers in our upcoming podcast discussion on his new book Come and See: A History and Theology of Mission . Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn mo...

Many church and missions leaders are concerned that disciple making movements, church planting movements, and other multiplication methodologies are guilty of pragmatism. Conversely, movement practitioners accuse critics of being too tied to tradition. Is there common ground? In a recent article for Global Missiology, Middle East missionary J.R. Stevenson claims the two sides of the conversation m...

Coming this week: J.R. Stevenson, a missionary in the Middle East, engages us with a different perspective on movements. Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at  abwe.org . Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email  alex@missionsshow.com .

What is “revival”? Is it biblical? And if so, should we pursue it in our homes, churches, and across the globe? Scott and Alex wrestle with the timely topic in light of the recent reports from Asbury University. You can watch the video version of this episode and more on the  ABWE YouTube channel . Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource o...

Revival is in the news. What should we be looking for in terms of biblical revival—in our own lives, our families, our churches, and among the nations? We discuss in this week’s upcoming episode. Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at  abwe.org . Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email  alex@missionssh...

Does the Old Testament give us a theology of missions? Or are we reading our modern convictions into the ancient text? Dr. Scott Callaham, Ph. D., dean of the Institute of Public Theology , weighs in. Believe in our mission?  Support this podcast . The Missions Show is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at  abwe.org . Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email  alex@missi...