Think Global, Do Justice

Power undergirds so much of what we see in the news and how the world operates. How are Christians to engage with power, with government, with violence. Pastor, theologian, and author Dr. David Fitch joins Brandon Stiver on the podcast to discuss how the church can distinguish coercive worldly power from the persuasive, healing power of God. Drawing on examples in Christian nationalism, just war,...

Have you ever considered being a missionary? Does your church support a missionary sent out to another nation? It takes a whole lot of discernment, prayer and connection with other believers to decide and follow through on being a missionary. Joining Brandon Stiver on the podcast today are Ryan Robertson and Dr. Matt Bennett, who are the authors of the new book, The Path to Being a Missionary. Tog...

October 10th is World Mental Health Day and we've invited Dr. Bryan Gouge who serves as the Senior Program Design Specialist for Mental Health at Compassion International. He joins Brandon Stiver to share insights on community-based mental health support for children in underserved areas, emphasizing the importance of belonging, resilience, and de-stigmatizing mental health discussions. Podcast Sp...

Over the last several years, you have maybe heard Brandon speak about his Anabaptist tendencies towards culture. But what does that mean? And how does that apply to global mission? Perhaps somewhat overdue, in this episode Brandon is flying solo to share a brief vantage point around what it means to operate more as an alternate society or a Christian colony both in the states and as it pertains to...

Cyberscam Trafficking has grown into a 3 trillion dollar industry since the pandemic and has quickly become one of the most heinous forms of modern slavery. With victims on multiple sides, what is the church's response to be? Joining the show today is Amy Miller who is the Southeast Asia Director with Acts of Mercy International. Operating on the front lines of this burgeoning area of need, Amy sh...

We've got our resident M&E expert back on the podcast to talk with us about the value and function of DMEAL in working on grants and of course in program development. In this episode, Brandon Stiver is joined by Jeremy Macias to discuss the importance of monitoring and evaluation in nonprofit work, including the differences in international and domestic contexts. They explore how data-driven pract...

With so many factors that lead to multidimensional poverty, what does it look like to scale family flourishing around the world? It's a core question to all of human society. In this episode, Brandon Stiver interviews Jessica Ray who oversees International Programs for the Global Orphan Project to talk commerce, tech and family strengthening. Together they explore the complex issues of global fash...

When we think of people that are fleeing conflict or being displaced by natural disasters, we rightly think about food, water and shelter as critical basic needs, but do we consider the psychological trauma that these populations have just undergone? How does mental health support factor into our relief responses? In this episode, we explore the critical role of mental health in humanitarian work...

Christian relief and development work continues to operate in a vastly shifting time. What do demographic shifts mean for the education of future development practitioners? Is micro-finance not "making a dent" in global poverty? Is remote work a sustainable model for teams? In this episode, Brandon Stiver is joined by Accord Network CEO Michael Cerna to explore the complexities of microfinance, re...

Children are a central focus in international development programming; both from impact in target communities as well as in our fundraising. In this episode, Brandon Stiver talks with Nicole Duciaume who is the Senior Director over Sponsorship Programming at World Vision. Nicole shares about her journey into international nonprofits, the holistic approach of World Vision's child sponsorship progra...

There is no way to separate the plight of families experiencing poverty with the realities of climate change and ecological degradation. But what does it look like to base a Christian international development organization directly at that intersection? In this episode, Brandon Stiver is joined by Milmer Martinez Vergara from Plant with Purpose to explore the interconnections of creation care, pov...

Summer has finally arrived and this isn't just any summer, we have the World Cup! With North America hosting the tournament this year, there are unique opportunities to spread the Gospel and share God's love as nations converge in our own communities. In celebration of sport (and in celebration of ten years of podcasting here), we've got our friend and podcast found Phil Darke back on the show, al...

Over the last year and a half, immigration in the US has been completely upended. With refugee resettlement effectively closed and mass deportation instituted throughout the country, it's immigrant families that are getting the brunt of these policies. In this episode, Brandon Stiver interviews Matthew Soerens from World Relief about US immigration policies, refugee resettlement, family separation...

Are all global justice issues created equal or are certain causes worth more of our attention and funding? Is it possible to get more bang for our buck by prioritizing certain geographic areas when it comes to missions and economic development? Joining the show today is JD Bauman of Christians for Impact. He is the co-author of the new book "All the Lives You Can Change" which explores how Christi...

There is a bit of dissonance when it comes to the trajectory of Christian support of global orphan care. More Christians are accurately understanding that kids in orphanages have families AND they are increasing the amount of financial support towards that residential care. In this episode Brandon Stiver is joined by Elli Oswald of the Faith to Action Initiative and Julie Walton of the Martin Jame...

The podcast is back from a break over Lent and we're diving straight in to the most relevant event happening globally right now. The war between the US/Israel and Iran is over five weeks old now and has had a profound impact regionally and around the world. Is peace possible at this point? What would it look like to negotiate and build towards a sustainable future in the Middle East? Dr. Josh Weis...

In this season of Lent, we're on a break from new episodes and are re-running a conversation from 2023 that we had with global child welfare professionals Dr. Greg Burch, Kelly Strong, and Dan Hope. We'll look at cases where westerners were given access to vulnerable children in the Global South and then abused those children. We'll explore the significance of cultivating cultures of awareness aro...

In this season of Lent, we're on a break from new episodes and are re-running a conversation from 2023 that we had the co-author of  Freeing Congregational Mission , Dr. Hunter Farrell. He served as a long-term missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Peru and now works as the Director of the World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Dr. Farrell brings a wealth of firs...

As we head into the Lent this week, Brandon offers a reflection on the justice work that God calls us into and the opportunity to slow down, reflect and pray as we begin the approach to Easter. If you feel weary, burnt out or frustrated and are looking for a reminder of who God is and how we can connect into the everlasting grace that sustains, please join for a listen. Resources and Links from th...

A multitude of orphanages in the Global South continue to be supported by well-meaning Christians throughout the world. Research and scripture both indicate that God's design for children is to grow up in a family, but what do we do when it's the church that needs to be convinced of this? Brandon Stiver is joined today by Tony Lewry who shares his experience in orphan care and cross-cultural minis...

This US capture of Nicolás Maduro presents a range of considerations and reflections across international law, humanitarian needs and diplomacy in the Western Hemisphere. This episode delves into the complex political landscape of Venezuela, focusing on the historical context leading to the rise of Nicolás Maduro and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Brandon Stiver is joined by a former Venezuelan...

We live in a world that is in desperate need of peace and wholeness. Communities across the globe are ravaged by violence and instability, but what does it look like to be practitioners that seek to transform conflict into thriving communities. In this conversation, Brandon Stiver is joined by Prashan De Visser, the Founder and CEO of Global Unites. Prashan shares his insights on the impact of col...

As we start 2026, we should be asking how to join the things that God is already doing. Where is he moving and how do we join such movements? Our old friend Craig Greenfield returns to the show to discuss the growth and impact of Alongsiders International, a movement focused on discipleship and mentorship for vulnerable children. He emphasizes the importance of contextualizing ministry in diverse...

In this episode of Think Global, Do Justice, Brandon Stiver and Dr. Laura Horvath critically analyze the Netflix documentary 'Masaka Kids: A Rhythm Within.' They discuss the portrayal of orphanages, the commodification of children, and the importance of family and community in child welfare. The conversation highlights the need for systemic change in how society addresses the needs of vulnerable c...

In this enlightening episode, Brandon Stiver is joined by Albert Chen, who is the cofounder and CEO of Anago. The two discuss the profound impact of AI on Christian nonprofits. Albert shares his journey from community development in Mexico to the tech world and emphasizes the interconnectedness of global issues with the ethical considerations surrounding AI development. Albert demystifies AI, expl...