The Sent Life

Holidays have a way of bringing out our nostalgia and moving us emotionally. And for Christians, days like Christmas and Easter are packed with meaning. But what happens when you’re a missionary, serving somewhere your favorite holidays aren’t on anyone else’s calendar? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan dive into what it really feels like to celebrate these special days far from h...

If you’re a parent, the idea of your kids growing up and leaving home can feel a little scary. But as Christians, we also know that following Jesus means joining Him in His Great Commission. So how can parents help their kids grow into this kind of obedience that may even lead them to dangerous places? In this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan chat with Meredith Cook about practical ways...

In an age where we can translate things in a moment's notice, why should missionaries study language at all? Is this simply an archaic practice we should leave behind? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan talk with Dr. Todd Borger about his experience as a missionary in Indonesia. Join us as we talk about the increasing value of learning the local language and how missionaries can be...

People from all around the world are moving to the U.S., and as Christians, we believe that we have an opportunity and a responsibility to reach the nations right next door. But how do we even go about finding these people groups in our very own communities? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan talk about how to go about finding diaspora communities in your own city. Whether you are...

We know that Jesus told us to go to all the nations, but the reality is that there are places where it seems impossible for us to go for a variety of reasons. What do we do about these people groups? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan talk philosophy and strategy of reaching seemingly impossible places with the Gospel.   Pray for Unreached People Groups: Unreached of the Day (Joshu...

What is it like being ministry partners overseas with someone you just met? And what are some principles and practices that help you to get along with this person as you do life and ministry together daily? On this episode of The Sent Life, Keelan talks with two returned Journeymen, Lydia and Jade, who served together on a team in South Asia. Join us this week as we continue the conversation about...

What does the Bible mean when it talks about persuading and reasoning with people? And what implications does this have for missions and evangelism? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott sits down with Walter Bowen to talk about receptivity and persuasion in Gospel ministry.

Team dynamics are often cited as one of the main reasons missionaries return from the mission field. But what does it look like to have a healthy and unified missionary team? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott sits down with missionary Elizabeth Andrews to talk about her testimony of a positive team experience on the field. Join us as Elizabeth shares insights from her team experience and som...

Jesus tells us to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. But how do we reach the unreached and unengaged with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan sit down with missionary John Pratt to talk about the IMB's initiative to find and reach the unreached, unengaged people groups of the world. Tune in for a powerful and encouraging conversation with one of th...

What happens when thousands of churches link arms for the sake of the Great Commission? The Cooperative Program is the engine of the Southern Baptist Convention and the strategy that Southern Baptists have implemented to partner in taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth. On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan sit down with SBC Executive President, Dr. Jeff Iorg, as he gives an upda...

Is missionary work only for natural evangelists? What place does discipleship have in the missionary task? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan talk about a key element of the missionary task - leadership development - and how raising up leaders is vital to establishing indigenous churches.

Why is church attendance among Millennials and Gen Z higher than other generations? And what does this mean for the ministry of the church? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan discuss a recent study from Barna Research and its surprising discoveries on the state of the church. Join us as we explore this fascinating trend and its implications for the body of Christ!

We often talk about the importance of being obedient to share the Gospel with those around us. But what happens after you share the Gospel? And what happens if the person you shared with makes a profession of faith in Christ? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan talk about how to navigate next steps after sharing the Gospel, especially when the person professes faith in Jesus for sal...

Missionaries inevitably come home, and this takes place for a plethora of reasons. The question is, how can missionaries navigate this difficult decision, and how can churches care well for their missionaries when they return? Join us as Scott and Keelan kick off a new season of The Sent Life with an important conversation on missionary wellness!

It's undeniable that missionary work is hard work. It comes with a unique set of challenges and trials that make staying on the field incredibly difficult at times. The question is, how can missionaries endure through trauma and hardship as they seek to obey God's call on their lives? On this installment of the Summer Lecture Series, Scott and Keelan sit down with IMB missionary Rick Fraley to tal...

"Isn't missions colonial?" Some have made the claim that Christian missions is just modern-day colonization. But is that true? In our first episode of this year's Summer Lecture Series, Scott and Keelan address this question by looking back at missions history and discussing key contextualization issues. You don't want to miss this installment of The Sent Life!

What happens when circumstances force missionaries to leave the field? How can missionaries grieve the loss of the field well, and how can their church families support them during that process? On this episode of The Sent Life, Keelan sits down with Walter Bowen to talk about how he and his wife have continued to trust the Lord through difficult and unexpected circumstances. Join us as we close t...

Being a missionary in contexts where there is significant opposition means that the cost for both the missionary and the local Christians is going to be high. But ministering in the midst of opposition also comes with great joy that is rooted in remembrance of the Gospel. On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan talk with international missionaries Owen and Myla Stoddard about their year...

The work of making disciples of all nations is often wrongly considered a job only for missionaries and church planters. But we know from Scripture that every follower of Christ is called to Great Commission obedience. On this episode of The Sent Life, Keelan sits down with Scott to talk about his new book, A Short Guide to Evangelism and Missions. Together, they explore the crucial role of every...

What does it take to prepare missionaries who thrive on the field for the long haul? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan talk with Scott Ray, Senior Director of Global Deployment at the IMB, about how the IMB partners with churches to equip and send missionaries with long-term health and sustainability in mind. Join us for this practical discussion dedicated to helping churches send...

What does it look like to live in joyful obedience to God's call, even to challenging and unreached places? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and guest cohost Dr. Anna Daub talk with veteran medical missionary Dr. Rebekah Naylor about her many years of meeting needs and helping plant churches in India. Now serving as a mobilizer with the IMB, Dr. Naylor shares her honest reflections on the m...

What does it look like to raise a family on the mission field? How do children factor into a family's call to serve overseas? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan sit down with IMB missionary Phil Bartuska to explore the joys, challenges, and unique dynamics of doing missions as a family. Whether you're already overseas or discerning a call, we think you will benefit from this conver...

Last week, we talked about the benefit of short-term mission trips from the field team's perspective. But what about the perspective of the person going on the trip? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan talk with SEBTS students to get their thoughts on short-term mission trips and whether or not they are beneficial both personally and for the field team.

Do short-term trips really make a difference? Is there any benefit to the missionaries on the field? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan talk about the impact short-term trips have for the field team's long-term strategy.

What is it like being a missionary in a place that is widely considered a vacation destination? On this episode of The Sent Life, Scott and Keelan sit down with IMB missionary Phil Bartuska to talk about the unique opportunities and challenges of ministering in Vienna, Austria.