The Missions Show

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...

What does it mean to follow Jesus in one of the most dangerous places in the world? How do believers live out their faith in Gaza—caught between Hamas, Israeli forces, and deep cultural hostility? This week, Alex and Scott sit down with Pastor Hanna Massad, former pastor of Gaza Baptist Church, to hear his firsthand story of shepherding believers in a context of persecution, poverty, and war. Past...

Catch the third and final season of Cloud of Witnesses at cloudofwitnessespodcast.com.

What does ministry fruitfulness look like in Papua New Guinea? Alex Kocman talks with Bill and Lori Smith, veteran ABWE missionaries who have served in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for nearly 40 years. The Smiths share their journey into missions, the unique cultural and spiritual challenges in PNG, and the dual nature of their ministry—training pastors and missionaries at Goroka Baptist Bible College a...

How do we theologically look at AI? Alex and Scott sit down with C.R. Wiley, an author, pastor, and podcaster on the theological and cultural implications of artificial intelligence (AI). Wiley outlines how AI—particularly large language models—presents both a technological revolution and a spiritual challenge. He frames AI development as not merely a technical progression but a competing eschatol...

What constitutes a Muslim idiom Bible translation, and why is it dangerous? Alex and Scott sit down with Dr. Ant Greenham, a retired professor of Islamic Studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, to address the theological and missiological dangers associated with Muslim Insider Movements (MIMs) and insider Bible translations. Dr. Greenham critiques the approach where biblical terminol...

In this episode, Alex and Scott talk with Nate Bell , an ABWE missionary serving in Cape Town, South Africa. Nate shares his current focus on church planting and ministry among South Africa’s diverse people groups. He explains the historical complexities of South Africa’s racial and cultural dynamics, shaped by both Dutch and British colonization and apartheid. Nate details how these dynamics stil...

We are called to make disciples of all nations, but what is the biblical definition of a nation? Alex and Scott explore the complex question of what defines a "nation" and why it matters for missions. They discuss the popular idea that America is merely "an idea," challenging this reductionist view by highlighting that a nation is more than shared values; it also includes shared language, ethnicit...

How can the mundane of motherhood be extraordinary? Alex and Scott talk with Simona Gorton, an author, wife, and mother deeply engaged in local church ministry and missions. Drawing on her experiences with 9Marks and her work translating resources into over 60 languages, she emphasizes the importance of the local church as a training ground and the value of serving where God has placed you, even i...

What are the implications if missionaries don't know their theology? Alex and Scott tackle the essential question of whether every missionary should also be a theologian. Drawing from personal experiences and their work with ABWE, they emphasize that missionaries often find themselves as the primary or sole theological resource in pioneer settings. This reality necessitates a strong foundation in...

Can Scripture be translated into animation and be faithful to the text? In this episode of the Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with Steve Cleary, founder of Revelation Media , about his groundbreaking work in creating the iBible —an animated, visual translation of the entire biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation. Steve Cleary launched a global multimedia project that seeks to reach o...

What does the data say about Christianity in the American church today? In this episode, Alex and Scott explore the emerging cultural and spiritual shifts among younger generations, particularly Gen Z, with guest Dr. Adam Rasmussen, Cultural Research Fellow and Dean of Arts & Humanities at Arizona Christian University. Drawing from recent data and studies by the Cultural Research Center and th...

Why should Christians spend time reading fiction books? In this episode of the Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with Dr. Marvin Newell, an accomplished missiologist, author, and missionary as they explore Newell's recent foray into fiction writing with his novel Taking You Under My Skin , a historically grounded narrative set during the Vietnam War. The story not only reflects a gripping tale...