The Missions Show

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...

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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...

In this special extended episode of The Missions Podcast , Alex and ABWE president Paul Davis engage in a wide-ranging, deeply reflective conversation with Paul Washer of HeartCry Missionary Society . Washer recounts the founding and growth of HeartCry, emphasizing the importance of supporting both indigenous and cross-cultural missionaries. He stresses that indigenous missions must be grounded in...

Should Christians reject or embrace wealth and prosperity? In this episode of The Missions Podcast , Scott talks with Josiah Stowe, co-founder of Dominion Wealth Strategists , on the often-overlooked yet vital subject of money and prosperity theology in the context of missions and ministry. Their conversation explores the tensions missionaries face regarding finances—especially retirement planning...

Has modern evangelicalism forgotten about key aspects of who God is? In this episode of The Missions Podcast , Alex and Scott welcome Dr. Peter Sammons, Associate Director of Academic Development at Founders Seminary , to discuss the "forgotten attributes" of God—those less-discussed incommunicable aspects of God's nature. Sammons argues that modern Christians tend to focus on God's relational and...

Are we thinking about persecuted Christians incorrectly? What should our and the church's response be? In this episode of The Missions Podcast , Alex and Scott talk with Andy Coleman, president of the Christian Emergency Alliance and author of the new book In Days of Darkness: A Manual for Ordinary Christians Facing Unusual Times . The discussion explores the realities of Christian persecution wor...

How can missionaries use the prevailing cultural narratives and longings of the heart to awaken others to the gospel without sacrificing the truth? In this episode of The Missions Podcast , Alex and Scott continue their conversation with Dr. E.D. Burns, focusing on cultural apologetics and its application in missionary work. E.D. shares insights into different approaches to apologetics, including...

How can missionaries and apologists connect the gospel to the longings of the human heart—without watering it down? In this episode of  The Missions Podcast , Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford sit down with Dr. E.D. Burns—missionary, author, and professor—to unpack the concept of cultural apologetics. Drawing from the legacy of C.S. Lewis, Dr. Burns explains how cultural apologetics appeals not m...

What doctrinal disagreements are driving wedges into your ministry? In this week's episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott sit down with Dr. Joshua Howard to discuss how to handle theological conflict among Christians. They hit on topics of theological triage, hierarchies of theological concepts, and how the theology of the end times (eschatology), can both unify believers and divide them....

What is going on in the Asian church? In this week's episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott sit down with an ABWE missionary to East Asia. He details the translation work he did during his time on the field as well as the current needs and struggles of the Chinese church. This ABWE missionary has helped develop the Bible Study Toolbox, a website of theological resources translated into Ch...

What does missionary life look like in a hard place like East Asia? In this week's episode, Alex and Scott sit down with two ABWE missionaries to East Asia. Together they talk about what ministry looked like during their time in Asia, the benefits and struggles of living on the field with kids, and how family is used in holistic ministry. Want more of the conversation? Become a Missions Podcast Pr...

Big News for Apple Podcasts Listeners! We’ve been talking about it for months—and it’s finally here. You can now support The Missions Podcast and access the Overtime bonus show directly in Apple Podcasts with a $9.99/month premium subscription. No extra logins. No separate websites. Just more missions content, right in your feed. Prefer the full experience—including group chats, live streams, and...

Are our strategies of evangelism getting in the way of God's strategy to advance the gospel? In this week's episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with returning guest Caleb Morrell, Assistant Pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C. Together they talk about the history of Capitol Hill and the balance of local and global engagement. Caleb Morell is an Assistant Pastor...

Who gets to call themselves a missionary, and why does it matter? In today's episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott sit down with Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters to revisit the question, "who is a missionary?" There is still great confusion in the church about what the Great Commission is and the need to go to the lost and unreached. Does missions require crossing cultures? What is the...

Have you ever read Philippians through a missional lens? In this week's episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott dive into Alex's new book, Striving For The Faith: A Journey through Philippians for Life on Mission , and how Paul's letter to the Philippian church is so much richer when thinking about the missional context that Paul and the church itself was in. Join us for the Overtime episo...