Does your life feel small, filled with endless demands, seemingly insignificant work, mundane responsibilities, or challenging relationships? If your desire to make an impact for God's kingdom collides with the limits and disappointments of everyday life, it's easy to feel restless, resigned, and discouraged.

Scripture offers a better way. In one of Paul's letters, there's an unexpected, paradoxical call: "Make it your ambition to live quietly . . ."

In The Quiet Ambition, pastor and theologian Ryan P. Tinetti unpacks the rich spiritual wisdom of 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, showing how it can help you reimagine what following Jesus looks like.

Dr Ryan Tinetti's Website

Book: The Quiet Ambition

Dr Ryan Tinetti's IVP Bio

Dr Ryan Tinetti's at Concordia Seminary

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

1. Quiet Desperation vs Quiet Ambition
2. The World's Perspective vs God's Perspective
3. Can Quiet Ambition Be Impactful?

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Ryan P. Tinetti is a pastor who now serves as an assistant professor of practical theology at Concordia Seminary in St Louis. He is the author of the books “The Quiet Ambition: Scripture's Surprising Antidote to Our Restless Lives” and “Preaching by Heart.” Prior to his call to Concordia Seminary, Ryan served for 14 years in parish ministry. Ryan lives with his wife, Anne, and their four children in St. Louis on the campus of the seminary.

SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:

1. 1 Thessalonians 4 : 11-12

RELATED LINKS:

1. Dr Ryan Tinetti's Website
2. Book: The Quiet Ambition
3. Dr Ryan Tinetti's IVP Bio
4. Dr Ryan Tinetti's at Concordia Seminary

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Dr Ryan Tinetti

02:44 - Book: The Quiet Ambition

03:14 - ...the paradox

03:26 - ...two kinds of ambition

04:27 - ...help Christian lead meaningful lives shaped by the Gospel

05:34 - Is Living in Quiet Desperation God's Vision for Us?

06:31 - ...a slow seeping of hope

07:59 - ...God's pulled us out of quiet desperation into quiet ambition

08:37 - The inspiration: 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

08:54 - Quiet Ambition Contrasted with the World

09:09 - ...the World's Perspective

09:25 - ......restless & burnt out

09:31 - ......resignation

10:10 - ......the rotten fruit of trying to establish out identity on our own merits

10:22 - ...Profound AND Straightforward

10:38 - ......peace in resting in Christ

10:50 - ......restlessness

11:17 - ......tension in the struggle of activity

12:26 - ......reality of desire to do great things for God and not having things work out

13:24 - ...We Don't Have to Make a Name for Ourselves

13:42 - ......we have had God's name placed on us

14:07 - ......attend ourselves to quiet ambition (refill the hope tank)

14:36 - Can Quiet Ambition Be Impactful?

15:54 - ...Jesus walked out of the grave on the third day

16:35 - ...in the Lord, your labor is not in vain

17:12 - ...the Parable of the Talents

18:09 - ...what we think of as very little is very large in the sight of our Lord

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Laura Baghdassarian Murray (DMin, Fuller Seminary) is the director of spiritual engagement and innovation at Fuller Seminary's Center for Spiritual Formation. She is the author of Pray as You Are, serves on the Ministry Collaborative Advisory Board, and previously served at Highland Park Presbyterian Church as the pastor of spiritual formation. Laura is also the founder of the Digital Silent Retreat Ministry, which is rooted in the practice of hospitality to provide brave and courageous spaces for people to connect with God and others.

Dr Laura Murray - Fuller Seminary

Dr Laura Murray - IVPress

Book: Becoming a Person of Welcome

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

1. Extending the Welcome and Hospitality that We Have Receive from God
2. Embodying Hospitality and Being an Example
3. Hospitality in Different Context

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Laura Baghdassarian Murray (DMin, Fuller Seminary) is the director of spiritual engagement and innovation at Fuller Seminary's Center for Spiritual Formation. She is the author of Pray as You Are, serves on the Ministry Collaborative Advisory Board, and previously served at Highland Park Presbyterian Church as the pastor of spiritual formation. Laura is also the founder of the Digital Silent Retreat Ministry, which is rooted in the practice of hospitality to provide brave and courageous spaces for people to connect with God and others.

RELATED LINKS:

1. Dr Laura Murray - Fuller Seminary
2. Dr Laura Murray - IVPress
3. Book: Becoming a Person of Welcome

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Dr Laura Murray

04:35 - Book - Becoming a Person of Welcome: The Spiritual Practice of Hospitality

05:11 - Definition of Hospitality

05:32 - ...welcome, internal and external

07:36 - ...external protected space

08:13 - ...internal protected space

08:26 - ...God calls Israel to remember her stranger status

10:56 - Growing Up in a Culture of Hospitality

11:47 - ...fluid in hospitality / expectation of visitors

12:58 - ...generosity / guests receives more

13:15 - ...as a child growing up, hospitality can be difficult

14:31 - Product of Two Cultures

17:34 - Extending the Welcome and Hospitality that We Have Receive from God

19:30 - Feeling Welcome and Belongingness in Church

20:38 - ...feeling seen and wanted

20:57 - ...feeling safety and security

21:18 - ...being connected to other people's stories and be themselves

24:56 - How Church Leadership Can Embody Hospitality and Be an Example

25:31 - ...leadership needs to be secure in their own welcome that God has for them

27:07 - ...remembering stranger status

27:20 - ...protections and holding values of the church

27:41 - ...difference between belonging and fitting in

29:31 - Hospitality in the Digital Space

33:36 - Hospitality in the Workplace, While Running Errands, or With Strangers

34:07 - ...slowing down

34:54 - ...noticing

35:43 - ...being curious about people's stories

36:20 - Doable Steps to Becoming More of a Person of Welcome

37:13 - What did the Holy Spirit tell you?

38:10 - Getting in touch with Dr Laura Murray and Finding her books

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After waves of disillusionment, #churchtoo movements, and political divides, it’s easy to question the value of investing in the church.

Dr Carmen Joy Imes (PhD, Wheaton) is associate professor of Old Testament at Biola University. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and the editor of Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends. Her new book is Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters.

Book: Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters

Dr Carmen Imes' Blog

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

1. Ways People Have Been Hurt by the Church
2. Unity in a Multiethnic and Intergenerational Congregation
3. Church on the Couch is Not Church

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Dr Carmen Joy Imes (PhD, Wheaton) is associate professor of Old Testament at Biola University. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and the editor of Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends. Her new book is Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters.

RELATED LINKS:

1. Dr Carmen Imes, Biola University
2. Book: Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters
3. Dr Carmen Imes' Blog

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:40 - Introducing Dr Carmen Imes

01:21 - Major Issues When People Experience Hurt in the Church

02:14 - ...not being heard

02:38 - ...gifts are not welcome nor recognized

04:30 - ...conflicts, boredom, needs not met...

04:45 - Ways to Minimize Hurting People

05:48 - ... the role of trust and context

07:26 - ...being vulnerable

08:02 - ...engaging and working through differences

08:31 - ...feeling well loved

11:34 - Biblical Example of Belonging

11:51 - ...metaphor of family

12:23 - ...solidarity

12:58 - ...individualism in our society

13:48 - Unity in a Multiethnic and Intergenerational Congregation

14:18 - ...learn to defer and love one another

14:24 - ...de-center the majority culture

16:30 - ...appreciate each other

17:31 - Church on the Couch is Not Church

17:47 - ...online church is a blessing if it is a necessity

18:34 - ...but it is a poor substitute for in-person church

19:01 - ...family needs to be together physically

19:49 - ...your presence is important and encouraging to others

20:07 - ...church is not just transmitting information; a community is bi-directional

21:42 - Cultivate curiosity to hear people's stories

24:45 - Finding Dr Carmen Imes and her books

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After waves of disillusionment, #churchtoo movements, and political divides, it’s easy to question the value of investing in the church.

Dr Carmen Joy Imes (PhD, Wheaton) is associate professor of Old Testament at Biola University. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and the editor of Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends. Her new book is Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters.

Book: Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters

Dr Carmen Imes' Blog

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

1. Understanding Our Identity as Being Part of God's Family
2. Why Do People Think God and Church Are Not Relevant?
3. Helping People Who Have Been Hurt by the Church

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Dr Carmen Joy Imes (PhD, Wheaton) is associate professor of Old Testament at Biola University. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and the editor of Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends. Her new book is Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters.

RELATED LINKS:

1. Dr Carmen Imes, Biola University
2. Book: Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters
3. Dr Carmen Imes' Blog

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Dr Carmen Imes

02:40 - God's Heart for Family

02:56 - ...God creates a world and intends for everyone to flourish

03:07 - ...God's plan to save the world begins with a family

04:04 - ...Jesus is the new Adam and the pathway that we become God's family

04:27 - Understanding Our Identity as Being Part of God's Family

04:50 - ...every human being is the image of God

05:32 - ...we are estranged from God so we don't live as God's family

06:22 - ...seeing people as potential siblings

08:57 - ...western church needs to learn that God works through people who have no power

10:57 - ...Esther and Daniel model two different ways of navigating faith under oppressive empires

11:47 - Why Do People Think God and Church Are Not Relevant?

12:20 - ...individualism

13:01 - ...quest for happiness

14:05 - ...but encouragingly, religion is no longer a private matter, but people want to know what you believe

16:35 - ...to share in the sufferings of others is part of what it means to become part of God's family

18:03 - ...the most effective form of evangelism right now is coming alongside people who are in sorrow

19:16 - The Church Addressing the Need for Community and Connection

19:56 - ...the church is not for "making me a better me," but for becoming part of a family

20:24 - ...if we don't connect, we still feel lonely

21:20 - ...we are all equipped to serve each other

21:54 - Helping People Who Have Been Hurt by the Church

22:18 - ...don't rush past the hurt

22:29 - ...how do our communities become malformed?

23:11 - ...look honestly at the hurt and the harm

26:20 - ..."smaller" reasons that draw people away from church

27:46 - ...the goal is to find a healthy community to join

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Dr Geoffrey V. Dudley Sr. (PhD, Regent) is the founding and senior pastor of New Life in Christ Church, one of the fastest growing churches in the Metro East area of St. Louis, Missouri (O’Fallon, Illinois). Originally from Goldsboro, North Carolina, Dudley began ministry at the age of thirteen, was ordained by the United Holy Church of America in 1986, and is a retired Air Force chaplain and lieutenant colonel. He is also the CEO of iLead Enterprises, a leadership development platform for staff and workforce development. He and his wife, Glenda, have two adult children who are both ministry leaders.

Dr Dudley on IVPress

Leading Through Storms: Successfully Navigating Ministry While Maintaining Your Mental Health

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

1. Putting Down the Shame of Mental Health
2. Recognizing the Breaking Point When in Storms
3. Practical Steps to Cultivating Self-Awareness, Emotional Resilience, and Self-Care

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Dr Geoffrey Dudley, Sr, is the founding and senior pastor of New Life in Christ Church in O’Fallon, Illinois. Originally from Goldsboro, North Carolina, Dr Dudley began ministry at the age of thirteen, is a retired Air Force chaplain and lieutenant colonel, and also the CEO of iLead Enterprises, a leadership development platform for staff and workforce development.

RELATED LINKS:

1. Dr Dudley on IVPress
2. Leading Through Storms: Successfully Navigating Ministry While Maintaining Your Mental Health

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

07:01 - What is unique in Dr Dudley's approach to leadership?

09:35 - ...how I messed up but the mission went forward with the faithfulness of God

10:31 - Putting Down the Shame of Mental Health

12:17 - ...authentic leadership

12:58 - ...level of openness for teachers is different than that of pastors

16:42 - Recognizing the Breaking Point When in Storms

17:10 - ...Know thyself

17:38 - ...leaders tend not to be reflective

18:18 - Practical Steps to Cultivating Self-Awareness, Emotional Resilience, and Self-Care

19:19 - ...what are the rhythms and seasons of your life?

20:07 - ...taking time off and keeping it

21:33 - ...check out the younger generation

22:39 - ...emotionally dry

23:25 - ...visionaries always have to have something to go after

24:19 - How can Church Leadership and the Congregation Help?

24:39 - ...demand that the leaders take time, have a coach or therapist

29:10 - A Personal Look in Leading Through the Storm

29:38 - ...before the storm

30:01 - ...in the storm

31:13 - ...after the storm

32:32 - For the Next Generation of Pastors

32:52 - ...keep the energy but reality will come around

33:53 - ...God's timing

34:20 - ...patience & trust

35:19 - The book, Leading Through Storms, is Relevant because Life Has Storms

35:46 - @BishopDudleyPhD on all platforms

36:08 - Lead Better

36:25 - Get Dr Geoffrey Dudley's book on Amazon and IVP

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Jenn Chen's new book: Dim Sum and Faith

Jenn Chen's websites: Summit Clear and Personal Website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

1. Importance of food, family, and memories
2. Revisiting the painful parts of our stories
3. The truth of our stories

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Jenn Suen Chen is a spiritual director, speaker, and leader in the area of spiritual formation and crosscultural ministry. She is co-director of Summit Clear (with her husband, John), an organization focused on providing spiritual direction, mentoring, and leadership coaching for those in crosscultural work. She serves with Pioneers and spent twenty-five years living in Asia raising her family. Jenn and John have four adult children and live in the Pacific Northwest.

RELATED LINKS:

1. Jenn Chen's new book: Dim Sum and Faith
2. Jenn Chen's websites: Summit Clear and Personal Website

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:39 - Introducing Jenn Chen

02:46 - Dim Sum and Faith - importance of food, family, and memories

03:11 - ...reminders of home and memories

04:07 - ...where did we come from?

05:19 - Identity Shaped by Cross-Cultural Experiences

09:03 - How Our Stories Form Our Beliefs

09:20 - Dim Sum and Faith is about Spiritual Formation

09:28 - ...God is about our transformation and our growth

09:40 - ...relating to God in our context and understanding God through our lens

10:50 - ...invitational by nature

12:32 - ...it's still about relationship and identity

13:51 - Revisiting the painful parts of our stories

14:31 - ...story work with the Lord

14:47 - ...living in China made her face her discomfort in being an Asian woman

16:21 - ...her father transformed because of the gospel

17:24 - ...pray through generational things

17:40 - ...we carry values from past generations

17:53 - ...giving things to the Lord

18:56 - Getting an accurate picture of the effects of our stories

19:26 - ...need the Holy Spirit to reveal the places in our heart that need healing

19:33 - ...need others to mirror the truth to us

19:41 - ...feelings are real, but not always true

20:03 - ...some stories are good while other leave deep wounds

24:17 - ...healing in community

25:40 - Letting go of wrong beliefs

25:56 - ...ask God to reveal our wrong beliefs

26:29 - ...does God really love me?

28:27 - Realizing God's plan for us

28:50 - ...ask God to show us His heart

28:54 - ...ask God what our gifts are

29:14 - ...find others who want to do the same

29:51 - ...take one step and say, "Yes"

30:50 - ...sharing stories in safety and trust

33:16 - Sharing stories and walking together

33:43 - ...we are not alone; we all struggle

34:11 - ..."one another"

35:40 - ...my healing brings healing into someone else

37:38 - Jenn's hope for the reader of Dim Sum and Faith

37:55 - ...God meets us in our contexts

38:42 - ...give language for and encourage that God is healer...

39:04 - Closing thought

40:16 - Getting in touch with Jenn Chen: IVP website, Amazon, Audible, Spotify, Instagram

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Book: Remissioning Church

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

1. How and why congregations might be dying
2. Remissioning vs Revitalizing
3. Inside-out transformation

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Josh Hayden is the co-founder and co-president of `Iwa Collaborative, which helps leaders fly high and live low as they lead through change processes in their community. He runs remissioning trainings through `Iwa Collaborative across various denominational, non-denominational, and global networks.

Josh Hayden is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Ashland, Virginia. For over 20 years he has worked and led in nonprofit organizations, church plants, and established churches. He has a doctorate in leadership and organizational change from Duke Divinity School and is the author of Remissioning Church and Sacred Hope. He serves on the boards of numerous nonprofits. He and his family live near Richmond, Virginia.

RELATED LINKS:

1. Iwa Collaborative
2. First Baptist Ashland VA

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

01:22 - Introducing Pastor Josh Hayden

05:32 - How and why congregations might be dying

06:04 - ...churches in survival mode

06:21 - ...counting, not reflecting Jesus

06:42 - ...want people to lead, but rarely invite or train up leaders

07:16 - ...afraid of conflict, stuck in tradition

07:45 - How Josh's journey influenced the writing of the book

09:22 - Established church vs church plant

10:53 - Exploring the book title: Remissioning Church

11:42 - ...Remissioning vs Revitalizing

14:44 - ...Remissioning was not a word that people were using regularly

16:27 - ...Is it RE-missioning or re-MISSION-ing?

19:12 - How does church leadership assess if the church should be remissioned?

19:28 - ...awareness of where the church is in the life cycle

19:45 - ...spiritual health of the church

19:53 - ...counting vs measuring

20:02 - ...honest evaluation

21:55 - How does the church leadership manage feelings in assessing a church?

24:24 - ...helping people navigate loss and change

25:35 - ...embrace conflict

26:45 - What does a healthy church look like?

26:47 - ...clear sense of how to make disciples who are good for the community

27:30 - ...common life with the community

27:36 - ...see change as God inviting us into a life-death-resurrection journey

28:03 - ...disciple people inside the church so not to export the mission of God to others

30:35 - What is the goal of remissioning a church?

32:51 - What needs to happen for inside-out transformation to take place?

33:19 - ...people discipling someone

34:18 - ...learn to live on mission with God

34:50 - ...live with more purpose and intention

35:25 - How and why is discipleship the mission of the church?

35:57 - ...a lot of pastors haven't been discipled

36:25 - ...not clear on what a mature disciple looks like

37:34 - ...church-hopping is the result of not having a clear discipleship process

40:45 - If your church disappeared, would the community notice?

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Brandon's website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Christians may be hesitate or fearful about engaging with Muslim neighbors
• Muslims might not have significant relationship with Christians
• Heart for Muslims as a Resource

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Brandon lives and serves least-reached peoples in the New York City metropolitan area. After spending significant time in the Middle East, he grew to have hearts for diaspora Muslims living in gateway cities. Brandon is the Executive Director of Heart For Muslims, a mission initiative with a passion to love Muslims, equip the Body of Christ, and connect people for gospel-centered service

• Heart for Muslims

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

03:17 - Calling to minister to Muslims

04:33 - Christians may be hesitate or fearful about engaging with Muslim neighbors

05:07 - ...seek out Heart for Muslims and tour a Muslim neighborhood

07:30 - ...Vision and Mission trip

07:55 - ...Muslims can be in the US for a long time and not have a significant relationship with a Christians

12:55 - A Story of a Meaningful Relationship Illustrates the Power of Faithful Presence in Muslim Community

20:05 - Engaging with Muslims during Ramadan

25:10 - Getting involved with Heart for Muslims

28:39 - HeartForMuslims.com

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Brandon's website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• The Gap Between the Christian and Muslim Communities
• Most Effective Ways for Churches and Believers to Serve Muslims
• Heart for Muslims as a Resource

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Brandon lives and serves least-reached peoples in the New York City metropolitan area. After spending significant time in the Middle East, he grew to have hearts for diaspora Muslims living in gateway cities. Brandon is the Executive Director of Heart For Muslims, a mission initiative with a passion to love Muslims, equip the Body of Christ, and connect people for gospel-centered service

• Heart for Muslims

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

01:21 - Introducing Brandon

03:25 - Calling to minister to Muslims

04:39 - Journey from the Middle East to NYC and Approach to Ministry

05:32 - ...interdenominational seminary

05:43 - ...international students

05:56 - ...studying abroad at Jerusalem University

06:52 - ...teaching ESL at Bethlehem Bible College

07:03 - ...connecting point on seeing all people as God's creation

07:57 - ...the only difference was knowing Jesus

08:39 - ...journey of repentance

09:13 - ...began feeling a calling to serve full-time in the Middle East

10:22 - ...heard of work with displaced Muslims in North America

11:19 - ...neighborhood in northern New Jersey and it's like Palestine

13:46 - ...very limited concerted effort to reach Muslims around NYC with the gospel

14:11 - ...freedom to share the gospel in NY/NJ that's not available in the Middle East

15:10 - ...protection for Muslims who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior

15:34 - Executive Director of Heart for Muslims

16:18 - ...vision for the future of the Heart for Muslims conference

18:07 - The gap between the Christian and Muslim communities

19:11 - Most effective ways for churches and believers to serve Muslims

19:44 - ...lack of knowledge

20:03 - ...focus on a particular local people group

20:40 - ...Step 1: Pray about whom to engage

22:10 - ...Step 2: Who is already doing work among these people?

22:40 - ...the Lord will reveal needs

23:59 - ...Step 3: connect your life to theirs

24:50 - ...Connect and Live with People

25:51 - ...Heart for Muslims as a resource

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Our conversation today will center around effective urban ministry—how churches can serve inner-city communities with dignity, navigate challenges, and build lasting relationships. We’ll also explore Carl’s unique approach to ministry through hip-hop, prison rehabilitation, and youth outreach.

Carl Jamal's Website

Book Link: Urban Missionary Survival Guide

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• People, Not Projects
• Do's and Don'ts of Urban Ministry
• Role of Urban Missionaries in the Church

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Carl Jamal is a dedicated community leader and music educator who has overcome significant personal challenges to empower others. Finding refuge in music during a difficult youth, Carl relocated to Atlanta over ten years ago and committed himself to community outreach and charitable work, earning recognition as a respected leader and volunteer. His passion for hip hop fuels his impactful work in prison rehabilitation and youth outreach programs, where he teaches music production and fosters self-expression. Through his resilience and dedication, Carl shares his wisdom and skills, empowering marginalized communities and inspiring positive change.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Carl Jamal faced many challenges in their youth as their mother struggled with addiction and father was absent. Despite these obstacles, Carl Jamal found hope and inspiration in music, channeling their faith and creativity into a pathway toward a brighter future.

After relocating to Atlanta over ten years ago, Carl Jamal dedicated his life to community outreach and charitable work, becoming a respected local leader and volunteer throughout the nation. His passion for hip hop music inspired his life's work in prison rehabilitation, and Youth outreach where he teaches prisoners and at-risk teens the art and technical know-how of music production, writing, and engineering.

Carl Jamal’s unique approach to hip hop education helped him pioneer a new way to reach and connect with local youths. His workshops and events encourage youth to unleash their creativity through hip hop as a means of self-expression and empowerment.

Despite the many setbacks and obstacles Carl Jamal encountered in their young life, they persevered with grace, skill, and ingenuity. Now Carl Jamal shares his wisdom, his love of hip hop, and life skills with others, continuing his journey of empowerment and positivity in the world.

RELATED LINKS:

• Carl Jamal's Website
• Book Link: Urban Missionary Survival Guide

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

01:21 - Introducing Carl Jamal Rumsey

03:21 - How has Carl Jamal's childhood experiences shaped him?

03:57 - ...visited Atlanta and saw church community and Christ

05:43 - ...full-time in urban ministry

06:27 - ...Maverick City Music Initiative

07:07 - ... dedicated life to be a voice for the voiceless

07:25 - Importance of Principle: People, Not Projects (Book)

07:42 - ...church may treat people as a project or a program

09:07 - Top 10 of Do's and Don'ts of Urban Ministry

12:14 - ...why are you serving in urban ministry?

12:36 - Importance of Serving with Dignity

12:54 - ...Where is your heart?

13:25 - Role of Urban Missionaries in the Church

13:40 - ...use urban interests

14:13 - ...be a missionary anywhere

14:20 - ...be mission -minded

15:39 - ...examples of using urban interests

19:32 - ...staying away from labels that have stigma

20:34 - How Carl Jamal's ministry are the hands and feet of Jesus

22:42 - Care about the things that Jesus cares about

23:22 - Upcoming Events

23:39 - ...awareness of mass incarceration

23:51 - Contacting Carl Jamal Rumsey

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Amy Williams' Website

Worth Seeing: Viewing Others Through God’s Eyes

Amy Williams on IVPress

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Seeing People “through the lens of God” in Daily Interactions and Decision-Making
• Meaningful Inclusion with At-Risk Youth
• Learning More from These Youths than Any Other Group

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Youth ministry veteran Amy Williams ministers to teens involved in gangs and those lost in the criminal justice system with a key strategy of life-on-life mentoring. As a certified gang intervention specialist, she heard God's call to move into a Latino gang neighborhood in Chicago's Humboldt Park community to be a "Hope Dealer" doing street outreach and walking life with young people on her block. Amy is project coordinator at New Life Centers, bringing in restorative justice programming to youth at juvenile prisons. Amy has been a youth pastor, a reentry coordinator, and a youth mentor and advocate. She is a graduate of both University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and National Louis University. She resides in Chicago and loves salsa dancing and is a true beach baby.

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

01:22 - Introducing Amy Williams

05:42 - Amy's inspiration to work with high-risk youth

06:42 - ...deepest pain can become greatest passion

07:25 - ...pull for the underdog

07:54 - Seeing People “through the lens of God” in Daily Interactions and Decision-Making

08:07 - ...evaluate ability to see people through the lens of God

08:42 - ...seeing the value and worth of young people

09:09 - ...God created them for a purpose

09:48 - Meaningful Inclusion with At-Risk Youth

10:13 - ...moving from being watched to being seen

10:49 - ...inviting them into a space where they should already be invited to

11:12 - Justice and Mercy

11:37 - ...the call is to serve both the harmed and the harm-doer

12:05 - ...spirit of mercy

12:31 - ...not "What's wrong with you?" but "What happened to you?"

13:02 - ...compassion for both

14:54 - ...understanding but not agreeing

15:40 - ...opportunity to chnage the direction of kids' lives

16:57 - ...hope that her book would inform us about the issues and help turn compassion into action

17:25 - Learning More from These Youths than Any Other Group

19:55 - The Need to Belong

21:26 - Doing Better

22:07 - ...include people who are involved in the situation

22:57 - ...create spaces for the voices

25:08 - What keeps you going after decades of such intense work?

26:12 - ...God-given work

26:37 - ...community of support

27:06 - ...lost too many young people-- someone is praying for help

28:43 - Give our young people a chance

29:21 - Getting in touch with Amy Williams: ahopedealer.org

29:49 - Book on ivpress.com

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Dr Todd Korpi's Website

Dr Todd Korpi on IVPress

Book: AI Goes to Church

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• AI and the Bible
• Theological Ethics Principles
• Church Leadership Starting the Conversation on AI

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Todd Korpi (DMiss, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a pastor, missiologist, and church consultant. He is dean of digital ministry programs at Ascent College, assistant professor of Christian Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary, and works in several capacities at OneHope whose mission is to affect destiny by providing God’s Word to all the children and youth of the world. He also serves as the lead researcher of the Digital Mission Consortia, a collaborative research initiative exploring the frontier of digital ministry. Todd is the author of Your Daughters Shall Prophesy and The Life-Giving Spirit as well as his new book, AI Goes to Church.

RELATED LINKS:

• Dr Todd Korpi's Website
• Dr Todd Korpi on IVPress
• Book: AI Goes to Church

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:39 - Introducing Dr Todd Korpi

01:32 - AI in the Bible?

01:56 - ...AI and technology will challenge how Christians approach the Bible

04:49 - ...How vs Why

05:52 - ...Knowledge vs Wisdom

06:45 - ...Stewardship of Creation

08:07 - Human Relationship to AI Bots

08:38 - ...human feelings and dynamics

10:33 - ...look at our origin story - God created humans in His image

16:03 - Theological Ethics Principles

16:27 - ...already discussed: image of God, goodness of creation, mission of God

16:42 - ...inaugurated eschatological hope

18:29 - ...power and kingdom

19:17 - ...human connection and culture care

20:37 - ...citizenship and loyalty

21:24 - ...mysterium tremendum ("holy awe")

22:11 - ...shaping of the inner life

22:31 - ...the economy of the kingdom

22:40 - ...our prophetic responsibility

23:15 - Church Leadership Starting the Conversation on AI

23:26 - ...start small

24:00 - ...do what is appropriate for the congregation

24:27 - ...learn to prompt well on ChatGPT

24:51 - ...automate the boring bits and protect the good stuff

26:19 - ...prioritize the in-person things

27:03 - ...regularly assess what is lost, left behind, or missing

27:26 - ...operate in transparency and community

30:25 - Why write a book on AI?

30:47 - ...identity issues

32:12 - ...AI having more impact than social media

32:25 - ...take the mantle about how the AI and church can protect creation, culture, relationships

33:57 - Book: amazon.com | Dr Todd Korpi: toddkorpi.com or @toddkorpi

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Dr Todd Korpi's Website

Dr Todd Korpi on IVPress

Book: AI Goes to Church

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• What is AI? What can it do and cannot do at the present time?
• Do churches hesitate in using AI and technology?
• How is AI technology currently used in the church?

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Todd Korpi (DMiss, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a pastor, missiologist, and church consultant. He is dean of digital ministry programs at Ascent College, assistant professor of Christian Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary, and works in several capacities at OneHope whose mission is to affect destiny by providing God’s Word to all the children and youth of the world. He also serves as the lead researcher of the Digital Mission Consortia, a collaborative research initiative exploring the frontier of digital ministry. Todd is the author of Your Daughters Shall Prophesy and The Life-Giving Spirit as well as his new book, AI Goes to Church.

RELATED LINKS:

• Dr Todd Korpi's Website
• Dr Todd Korpi on IVPress
• Book: AI Goes to Church

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:40 - Introducing Dr Todd Korpi

03:29 - Science fiction shapes journey to technology

04:03 - ...science fiction conveys possibilities

06:27 - ...read our culture in the present moment by the popular culture

07:55 - Do churches hesitate in using AI and technology?

08:14 - ...global church & evangelism

10:20 - ...local church

11:04 - ...replacement by digital technology

15:48 - How is AI technology currently used in the church and other avenues for reaching people with the gospel?

17:36 - ...content curation and utilization

19:32 - ...translation

21:06 - ...automating the administrative, backend work

23:57 - What is AI? What can it do and cannot do at the present time?

25:15 - ...AI in the 1950's and the Turing test

25:48 - ...rapid development in the last 20 years

26:05 - ...Google, streaming service, social media, recommendations...

27:06 - ...generative AI

27:26 - ...theories on singularity event

28:24 - ...right now, AI is fundamentally a mirror

29:42 - ...cautious optimism

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Book: Working for Better (IVPress link)

Book: Working for Better (amazon.com link)

Wheaton College

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Key Tensions of Faith at Work
• Inequalities Among Minorities
• Respecting Other Faiths Without Compromise

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Denise Daniels (PhD, Organizational Behavior, University of Washington) is Hudson T. Harrison Professor of Entrepreneurship at Wheaton College. Her scholarly interests include meaningful work, religion in the workplace, Sabbath, leadership, gender, and motivation. She has written over 50 academic articles and book chapters, and co-authored several books including, Working in the Presence of God (Hendrickson); Religion in a Changing Workplace (Oxford University Press); and Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Work (InterVarsity Press). She is on the board of a fintech company and also serves on the board of the Theology of Work Project (theologyofwork.org).

RELATED LINKS:

• Book: Working for Better (IVPress link)
• Book: Working for Better (amazon.com link)
• Wheaton College

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:37 - Introducing Dr Denise Daniels

02:42 - Inspiration for researching faith tin the workplace

02:53 - ...exhausted from work and family - looked at Sabbath

04:20 - ...Book: Working for Better

06:17 - Understanding the Lack of Sabbath

07:52 - Summary of the Findings of the Research

08:11 - ...people want to be their whole self at work

09:51 - Surprising Conclusions from the Research

10:15 - ...how many people were interested in engaging their faith at work

10:36 - ...how few people viewed their work as a calling

11:48 - Key Tensions of Faith at Work

12:15 - ...Sacred / Secular Divide

12:46 - ...Individual / Systemic Approach

13:03 - ...Discrimination

13:46 - ...Gender

14:11 - Tensions Affecting Minority Groups

15:26 - ...have you been asked to act contrary to your religious beliefs at work?

17:32 - ...have you been discriminated against because of your sex?

19:33 - ...regional differences

20:48 - Other Inequalities Among Minorities

21:02 - ...overlap with minority religion and people of color

21:42 - ...Christians have a responsibility to create structure to be fair

22:26 - ...principled pluralism

22:54 - Christians being respectful of other faiths while living their own faith

23:11 - ...respect different perspectives

23:18 - ...listen to different perspectives

24:22 - ...know and understand what you believe

24:26 - ...engage respectfully

24:29 - ...seek to understand

26:24 - ...all people reflect the Imago Dei

27:17 - Work / Rest

28:06 - ...easy to work and ignore Sabbath

29:21 - ...hard to disengage from established rhythms

30:23 - ......desire to work: success leads to success

30:29 - ......desire to work: affirmation from other people

30:51 - ......intentionally rest

32:50 - ...there is a cost to not resting

33:31 - The hope is that the book, Working for Better, is useful to congregations and people

34:33 - Finding the book, Working for Better: amazon, IVPress

35:09 - Contact: wheaton.edu (Denise Daniels)

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Book: The Hybrid Congregation: A Practical Theology of Worship for an Online Era

Pastor Michael Huerter’s Church

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Exploring the church's relationship with the internet
• Engaging the in-person and online communities in the worship service
• Benefitting from social platforms

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Michael Huerter (PhD, Baylor University) is a pastor at Holmeswood Church in Kansas City, Missouri, where he leads worship and works to build community and connection. As a lifelong church musician and digital native, he is interested in engaging with and contributing to scholarship that bridges the gap between research and practical ministry.

RELATED LINKS:

• Pastor Michael Huerter’s Church
• The Hybrid Congregation: A Practical Theology of Worship for an Online Era

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Pastor Michael Huerter

02:30 - Exploring the church's relationship with the internet

06:07 - Important considerations for live-streaming

07:59 - ..the church of the future may look different than what we are accustomed to

08:16 - ...the vast majority of churches do not have the resources to create a live broadcast every week

09:50 - ...the community is made of people in-person and online

13:58 - Engaging the in-person and online communities in the worship service

15:07 - ...involving people who join online in worship leadership

17:20 - ...creating interactive moments in the worship service to invite conversation or reflection

21:10 - Benefitting from Social Platforms

21:25 - ...Focus on people, remember the hybrid nature of our world

22:16 - ...How can we best minister to the people already connected with our community?

24:18 - How can we connect with and serve our surrounding community?

25:02 - Are there people who cannot or will not engage in your church building?

26:30 - Paying Attention as a spiritual discipline

30:41 - ...finding ways to deeper attention and connection

31:30 - ...be discerning in using technology; there's good and bad

32:36 - The internet: our greatest affliction and greatest hope

34:04 - Turning affliction to hope

36:19 - Placing our cultural moment in historical context

38:38 - Book on InterVarsity Press Academic and Amazon / Email Michael Huerter: michael.huerter@holmeswood.org

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Radical Relaxation on IVPress

Tracie Braylock's Website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• What is stress and what does it do to the human body?
• Biblical Truths to understand in facing stress
• How Churches Can Help Promote Wellness and Reduce Stress

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Tracie Braylock is a holistic nurse educator, wellness consultant, and the author of Radical Relaxation. As a former operating room nurse, she advocates for mind, body, spirit well-being, holistic wellness experiences, and liberating relaxation. Her work has been featured in the American Holistic Nurses Association New Beginnings magazine and Proverbs 31 Ministries.

RELATED LINKS:

• Radical Relaxation on IVPress
• Tracie Braylock's Website

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

Spreadsheet to create time stamped show notes

05:14 - What is stress and what does it do to the human body?

05:24 - ...stress is subjective

06:14 - ...stress needs to be addressed

07:11 - Common signs and symptoms of stress

07:21 - ..physical

07:38 - ...emotional

07:46 - ...spiritual

07:55 - ...behavioral

08:27 - Biblical Truths to understand in facing stress

08:55 - ...biblical instructions are designed to protect us

09:02 - ...reactions in the physical body

09:26 - ...we are not alone

09:56 - Holistic Healing: Mind, Body, Spirit

10:07 - ...understanding that we have mind, body, and spirit

10:49 - ...God care about every aspect

11:47 - Preventing burnout and maintaining work-life priorities

12:05 - ...no one is above sickness and stress

13:41 - ...do the basics

14:04 - ...be open to getting additional support

18:36 - How Churches Can Help Promote Wellness and Reduce Stress

19:04 - ...look for ways to come together outside of Sunday services

20:17 - ...remind people

21:00 - ...care for one another and ourselves

21:14 - Favorite Ways to Release Stress

23:12 - Relaxation is Like a Muscle...

24:51 - Contacting Tracie Braylock - traciebraylock.com

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Ex-Muslim on Amazon

Tomorrow Needs You on IVPress

Pastor Naeem's Church - Mosaic Church Website

Guest is a frequent contributor, founder, co-founder to/of blog post link

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Beauty in Healing and Transformation
• Recognizing and Navigating Fear
• The Need to Be Needed

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Naeem Fazal is the founding and lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a Pakistani, born and raised as a Muslim in Kuwait. He came to the United States shortly after the Gulf War and had a supernatural experience with Christ that changed the course of his life. He was ordained at Seacoast Church in Charleston and is the author of Ex-Muslim and Tomorrow Needs You. Naeem and his wife, Ashley, have two children.

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Welcome Back, Pastor Naeem Fazal

02:11 - God Takes Naeem from a Fearful Past to a Beautiful Future

03:07 - ...traumatic experiences

03:59 - ..."No one needs me..."

05:07 - ...a lie from the enemy

05:48 - Beauty in Healing and Transformation

06:16 - ...connection to what we feel is beautiful

06:48 - ...the essence of beauty is love

08:07 - ...we are created with love and are beautiful

08:28 - ...religion vs perfect love

11:07 - ...put a joy before you to endure your cross

11:49 - Recognizing Fear

12:07 - ... the symptoms of fear

14:18 - ...needing to feel that you are in control

15:24 - ...high or volatile emotions

15:32 - Navigating Fear

15:44 - Choosing Beauty Over Fear

16:05 - ...put a leash on fear

19:16 - Difficulty in Cultivating Joy When Gripped by Fear

19:44 - ...kindess and gratitude

23:15 - Surrounding Ourselves with Positive Influences

23:57 - ...set good boundaries

26:14 - Reframing Failure and Rejection as Steppingstones

28:53 - The Need to Be Needed

29:24 - ..people want to be significant

31:23 - Encouraging Someone Who Feel He Has "Missed" Tomorrow

33:38 - Contacting Pastor Naeem Fazal and Finding His Books

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Ex-Muslim on Amazon

Tomorrow Needs You on IVPress

Pastor Naeem's Church - Mosaic Church Website

Guest is a frequent contributor, founder, co-founder to/of blog post link

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Ex-Muslim - testimony of encounter with Christ
• Three components to sharing the gospel with Muslims
• Common mistakes that Christians make in witnessing to Muslims

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Naeem Fazal is the founding and lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a Pakistani, born and raised as a Muslim in Kuwait. He came to the United States shortly after the Gulf War and had a supernatural experience with Christ that changed the course of his life. He was ordained at Seacoast Church in Charleston and is the author of Ex-Muslim and Tomorrow Needs You. Naeem and his wife, Ashley, have two children.

RELATED LINKS:

• Heart for Muslims – link to specific page if mentioned in episode

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:39 - Introducing Pastor Naeem Fazal

04:24 - Book: Ex-Muslim - testimony of encounter with Christ

06:07 - ...treason

08:03 - ..."intoxicated" with peace

09:05 - ...God pursues humanity

09:33 - ...demonic presence

11:27 - ...brother tells him about spiritual warfare

12:05 - ...only Jesus has authority over demons

13:29 - ..."I am Jesus and your life is not your own"

14:47 - ...woke knowing that he was supposed to be in ministry

15:02 - ...led siblings and his father to Christ

15:41 - God has used "extraordinary means" to guide Naeem's life

16:16 - ...coming to Christ was so different from that of other Christians around him

16:46 - ...easy to walk away from a belief or faith, but harder to walk away from a person

17:54 - ...miracles in education

19:06 - ...seeing supernatural things in siblings' lives

22:06 - Specific expectations from Muslims or Christians

22:26 - ...didn't understand that he was considered a traitor by Muslims

24:25 - ...some people did not believe that he is a Christian

26:57 - Three components to sharing the gospel with Muslims

27:14 - ...knowledge

29:07 - ...emotional connection

30:51 - ...spiritual awareness

32:22 - Common mistakes that Christians make in witnessing to Muslims

32:56 - ...comparing religion to religion

36:06 - ...arguing Bible vs Koran

38:20 - ...Jesus doesn't tell us to defend Him; He said to share the gospel and live it out

39:02 - What can churches do to partner with organizations that reach out to Muslims?

41:51 - ...ask ourselves about the prejudice that we might carry

43:16 - ...find an organization or adopt a mosque

46:22 - Hope for the Effect of Book, Ex-Muslim

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Amy Willliams' Website

Worth Seeing: Viewing Others Through God’s Eyes

Amy Williams on IVPress

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Seeing People “through the lens of God” in Daily Interactions and Decision-Making
• Meaningful Inclusion with At-Risk Youth
• Learning More from These Youths than Any Other Group

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Youth ministry veteran Amy Williams ministers to teens involved in gangs and those lost in the criminal justice system with a key strategy of life-on-life mentoring. As a certified gang intervention specialist, she heard God's call to move into a Latino gang neighborhood in Chicago's Humboldt Park community to be a "Hope Dealer" doing street outreach and walking life with young people on her block. Amy is project coordinator at New Life Centers, bringing in restorative justice programming to youth at juvenile prisons. Amy has been a youth pastor, a reentry coordinator, and a youth mentor and advocate. She is a graduate of both University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and National Louis University. She resides in Chicago and loves salsa dancing and is a true beach baby.

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Amy Williams

04:58 - Amy's inspiration to work with high-risk youth

05:58 - ...deepest pain can become greatest passion

06:41 - ...pull for the underdog

07:10 - Seeing People “through the lens of God” in Daily Interactions and Decision-Making

07:23 - ...evaluate ability to see people through the lens of God

07:58 - ...seeing the value and worth of young people

08:25 - ...God created them for a purpose

09:04 - Meaningful Inclusion with At-Risk Youth

09:29 - ...moving from being watched to being seen

10:05 - ...inviting them into a space where they should already be invited to

10:28 - Justice and Mercy

10:54 - ...the call is to serve both the harmed and the harm-doer

11:21 - ...spirit of mercy

11:48 - ...not "What's wrong with you?" but "What happened to you?"

12:19 - ...compassion for both

14:10 - ...understanding but not agreeing

14:56 - ...opportunity to change the direction of kids' lives

16:13 - ...hope that her book would inform us about the issues and help turn compassion into action

16:41 - Learning More from These Youths than Any Other Group

19:11 - The Need to Belong

20:42 - Doing Better

21:23 - ...include people who are involved in the situation

22:13 - ...create spaces for the voices

24:24 - What keeps you going after decades of such intense work?

25:28 - ...God-given work

25:53 - ...community of support

26:22 - ...lost too many young people-- someone is praying for help

27:59 - Give our young people a chance

28:37 - Getting in touch with Amy Williams: ahopedealer.org

29:05 - Book on ivpress.com

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Book: Remissioning Church

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why the tried and true strategies for church growth not working so well anymore
• Creative Destruction, Exegeting the Culture or Neighborhood, and Traditioned Innovation
• Patterns and Stages that a Church Might Experience in Remissioning

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Josh Hayden is the co-founder and co-president of `Iwa Collaborative, which helps leaders fly high and live low as they lead through change processes in their community. He runs remissioning trainings through `Iwa Collaborative across various denominational, non-denominational, and global networks.

Josh Hayden is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Ashland, Virginia. For over 20 years he has worked and led in nonprofit organizations, church plants, and established churches. He has a doctorate in leadership and organizational change from Duke Divinity School and is the author of Remissioning Church and Sacred Hope. He serves on the boards of numerous nonprofits. He and his family live near Richmond, Virginia.

RELATED LINKS:

• Iwa Collaborative
• First Baptist Ashland VA

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

01:51 - Book: Remissioning Church

02:11 - Don't export your God-given mission to others

02:48 - Why the tried and true strategies for church growth not working so well anymore

02:54 - ...what most churches are doing have not produced healthy disciples that produce the fruit of the Spirit

03:28 - ...churches don't look much different from any other group

04:30 - ...we have lost the missional impulse to know our neighbors

06:40 - Major sections of the book: Creative Destruction, Exegeting the Culture or Neighborhood, and Traditioned Innovation

06:59 - ...Creative Destruction

08:36 - ...connected to Jesus (Matthew 16 : 24-25 - take up our cross and foloow Jesus)

10:49 - Exegeting the Church and Neighborhood

11:55 - ...creating a plan for how to live on mission creatively with God

14:20 - Traditioned Innovation

15:18 - ...we have to translate the past into what's next

18:55 - Patterns and Stages that a Church Might Experience in Remissioning

19:04 - Free download: www.ivpress.com/Media/Default/Downloads/Excerpts-and-Samples/A1055-Graphic-Image-Download.pdf

19:14 - ...remissioning change cycle

19:34 - ...do we have a mission worth dying for?

19:48 - ...working through pain, disillusionment and being unnerved

20:40 - ...then comes a moment of repent or resist

22:24 - ...do we have a mission worth living for?

27:24 - ...take the necessary time in the wilderness

31:11 - Common Concerns in Remissioning a Church

32:04 - Leading Through Remissioning

36:21 - Favorite Tools

36:25 - ...exegeting the neighborhood

37:13 - ...the work of remembering

39:07 - Remissioning is worth it

39:54 - Getting in Touch with Pastor Joshua Hayden - iwacollaborative.com

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Book: Remissioning Church

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• How and why congregations might be dying
• Remissioning vs Revitalizing
• Inside-out transformation

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Josh Hayden is the co-founder and co-president of `Iwa Collaborative, which helps leaders fly high and live low as they lead through change processes in their community. He runs remissioning trainings through `Iwa Collaborative across various denominational, non-denominational, and global networks.

Josh Hayden is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Ashland, Virginia. For over 20 years he has worked and led in nonprofit organizations, church plants, and established churches. He has a doctorate in leadership and organizational change from Duke Divinity School and is the author of Remissioning Church and Sacred Hope. He serves on the boards of numerous nonprofits. He and his family live near Richmond, Virginia.

RELATED LINKS:

• Iwa Collaborative
• First Baptist Ashland VA

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:39 - Introducing Pastor Josh Hayden

04:49 - How and why congregations might be dying

05:21 - ...churches in survival mode

05:38 - ...counting, not reflecting Jesus

05:59 - ...want people to lead, but rarely invite or train up leaders

06:33 - ...afraid of conflict, stuck in tradition

07:02 - How Josh's journey influenced the writing of the book

08:39 - Established Church vs Church Plant

10:10 - Exploring the book title: Remissioning Church

10:59 - ...Remissioning vs Revitalizing

14:01 - ...Remissioning was not a word that people were using regularly

15:44 - ...Is it RE-missioning or re-MISSION-ing?

18:29 - How does church leadership assess if the church should be remissioned?

18:45 - ...awareness of where the church is in the life cycle

19:02 - ...spiritual health of the church

19:10 - ...counting vs measuring

19:19 - ...honest evaluation

21:12 - How does the church leadership manage feelings in assessing a church?

23:40 - ...helping people navigate loss and change

24:52 - ...embrace conflict

26:02 - What does a healthy church look like?

26:04 - ...clear sense of how to make disciples who are good for the community

26:47 - ...common life with the community

26:53 - ...see change as God inviting us into a life-death-resurrection journey

27:20 - ...disciple people inside the church so not to export the mission of God to others

29:51 - What is the goal of remissioning a church?

32:08 - What needs to happen for inside-out tranforamtion to take place?

32:36 - ...people disclipling someone

33:35 - ...learn to live on mission with God

34:07 - ...live with more purpose and intention

34:42 - How and why is discipleship the mission of the chuch?

35:14 - ...a lot of pastors haven't been discipled

35:42 - ...not clear on what a mature disciple looks like

36:51 - ...church-hopping is the result of not having a clear discipleship process

40:02 - If your church disappeared, would the community notice?

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Dr Esqueda's Website

Dr Esqueda's Website (Spanish)

Dr Esqueda's Books

Dr Esqueda on X.com

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Mother's Day vs Father's Day in Churches
• Important Messages to Highlight
• Character, not Competency

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

• Octavio Javier Esqueda is a full Professor of Christian Higher Education and Director of the Ph.D. and Ed.D. Programs in Educational Studies at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He was born and raised in Guadalajara, México. He graduated with honors with a Licenciatura in Latin American Literature from the University of Guadalajara and two additional diplomas, one in Religion and Society and the second in Journalism. He graduated with honors from Dallas Theological Seminary and completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education at the University of North Texas. He and his wife, Angélica, have two children, Darío and Salma. Dr. Esqueda has several publications on theological education and Christian higher education, practical theology, and literature. Teaching is his passion, and he has had the opportunity to teach in several countries on different academic levels. He is an avid soccer fan.

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:37 - Introducing Dr. Octavio Esqueda

03:19 - Differences in Mother's Day and Father's Day Observances in Churches

06:07 - How Churches Can Improve in This Area

06:42 - ...elevate Father's Day like Mother's Day

06:47 - ...two important messages that need to be highlighted

07:06 - ......the mothers' affirmation come from being - her love is unconditional

07:16 - ......when the fathers' affirmation comes from doing - it's never enough

07:49 - ......many fathers believe that their role is to provide, so they are never with their family

08:01 - ...but as Christians, our value is in who we are

08:47 - ...A key aspect of adult motivation is feeling competent

09:26 - ...but no one teaches us how to be a parent

10:00 - ...emphasizing the value of who we are gives us the desire to do without fearing failure

10:42 - Character, not Competency

11:30 - ...instead of pulling in the cultural norms, bring the gospel out

12:34 - A Common Problem in Evangelicalism

12:51 - ...we forget that the whole message is about grace

13:14 - ...God loves us unconditionally not only at salvation, but for our whole lives

14:19 - Unique Challenges Faced by Men of Color

14:48 - ...expression of love and affection are not affirmed

14:59 - ...or to imitate a model that was absent

15:07 - ...tell parents how to live a Christian life

16:43 - ...need to know how and be trained

17:10 - ..cultural expectations for men

19:48 - God's Love in the Story of the Prodigal Son

21:23 - Breaking the Cycle Starts with Us

23:19 - Contacting Dr Octavio Esqueda: amazon.com | x.com/OctavioEsqueda | LinkedIn

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Book:  Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful

Hope Church NYC Website

Drew Hyun Website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Three Types of Books About Christianity
• Tension that Many Believers Experience
• Three Deep Practices

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Drew Hyun is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Hope Church NYC, a diverse church with three locations in New York City. Drew is also the Executive Director of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, an organization that aims to transform church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed pastors and leaders. He regularly speaks at churches, conferences and college campuses throughout the United States and abroad. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div), and Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin). Drew loves cities, ESPN, and naps, and finds it a restful Sabbath when all three come together. He resides in New York City with his wife Christina and their son David and daughter Avery. Drew is the author of Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful: How Gratitude, Grief, and Grace Reflect the Christian Story, available at  Amazon, Churchsource, or Barnes and Noble.

RELATED LINKS:

• Hope Church NYC Website
• Drew Hyun Website
• Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Website

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Drew Hyun

03:10 - Drew's Journey to Urban Ministry in NYC

04:43 - Calling to NYC and Church Planting

05:38 - Motivation for Writing Book: Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful

06:03 - ...Three Types of Books About Christianity

07:16 - ...Explain the Christian Faith in Three Simple Memorable Words

08:12 - ...The Christian faith gives a compelling picture of why both beauty, disappointment, and hope exist

08:33 - ...Practices of gratitude, grief, and grace so Christians can live a resilient, flourishing life

08:53 - ...Written for various audiences

12:34 - Influence of Drew's Father's Call to Ministry

12:59 - ...Drew is a Christian despite growing up in church

13:30 - ...Finding Jesus to be true and compelling

14:05 - ...Reconciliation with his father

14:37 - Two kinds of grief

18:07 - Tension that Many Believers Experience

19:54 - ...the story of the Christian faith starts with a good God creating a beautiful world

22:24 - ...posture to take from a beautiful world is gratitude

22:36 - ...but we struggle with gratitude and being alert the goodness of God

23:25 - ...but the world is also incredibly disappointing

25:49 - Creation - Fall - Redemption - Restoration

26:48 - Three Deep Practices: Gratitude, Grief, Grace

27:19 - ...invitation to live into gratitude

29:09 - ...grief - two kinds of pain

31:13 - ...grace is God's posture towards us

32:01 - Meshing the Book's Concepts with Emotionally Healthy Discipleship

32:56 - Hope for the Readers of the Book

34:37 - Contact Drew Hyun at www.drewhyun.com

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Our conversation today will center around effective urban ministry—how churches can serve inner-city communities with dignity, navigate challenges, and build lasting relationships. We’ll also explore Carl’s unique approach to ministry through hip-hop, prison rehabilitation, and youth outreach.

Carl Jamal's Website

Book Link: Urban Missionary Survival Guide

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• People, Not Projects
• Do's and Don'ts of Urban Ministry
• Role of Urban Missionaries in the Church

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Carl Jamal is a dedicated community leader and music educator who has overcome significant personal challenges to empower others. Finding refuge in music during a difficult youth, Carl relocated to Atlanta over ten years ago and committed himself to community outreach and charitable work, earning recognition as a respected leader and volunteer. His passion for hip hop fuels his impactful work in prison rehabilitation and youth outreach programs, where he teaches music production and fosters self-expression. Through his resilience and dedication, Carl shares his wisdom and skills, empowering marginalized communities and inspiring positive change.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Carl Jamal faced many challenges in their youth as their mother struggled with addiction and father was absent. Despite these obstacles, Carl Jamal found hope and inspiration in music, channeling their faith and creativity into a pathway toward a brighter future.

After relocating to Atlanta over ten years ago, Carl Jamal dedicated his life to community outreach and charitable work, becoming a respected local leader and volunteer throughout the nation. His passion for hip hop music inspired his life's work in prison rehabilitation, and Youth outreach where he teaches prisoners and at-risk teens the art and technical know-how of music production, writing, and engineering.

Carl Jamal’s unique approach to hip hop education helped him pioneer a new way to reach and connect with local youths. His workshops and events encourage youth to unleash their creativity through hip hop as a means of self-expression and empowerment.

Despite the many setbacks and obstacles Carl Jamal encountered in their young life, they persevered with grace, skill, and ingenuity. Now Carl Jamal shares his wisdom, his love of hip hop, and life skills with others, continuing his journey of empowerment and positivity in the world.

RELATED LINKS:

• Carl Jamal's Website
• Book Link: Urban Missionary Survival Guide

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Carl Jamal Rumsey

02:38 - How has Carl Jamal's childhood experiences shaped him?

03:14 - ...visited Atlanta and saw church community and Christ

04:59 - ...full-time in urban ministry

05:44 - ...Maverick City Music Initiative

06:24 - ...dedicated life to be a voice for the voiceless

06:42 - Importance of Principle: People, Not Projects (Book)

06:59 - ...church may treat people as a project or a program

08:24 - Top 10 of Do's and Don'ts of Urban Ministry

11:31 - ...why are you serving in urban ministry?

11:53 - Importance of Serving with Dignity

12:11 - ...Where is your heart?

12:42 - Role of Urban Missionaries in the Church

12:57 - ...use urban interests

13:30 - ...be a missionary anywhere

13:37 - ...be mission -minded

14:56 - ...examples of using urban interests

18:49 - ...staying away from labels that have stigma

19:51 - How Carl Jamal's ministry are the hands and feet of Jesus

21:58 - Care about the things that Jesus cares about

22:39 - Upcoming Events

22:56 - ...awareness of mass incarceration

23:08 - Contacting Carl Jamal Rumsey

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Dr Mark Glanville's Website

Book Info: Preaching in a New Key

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Key Shifts in Preaching
• Addressing Difficult Bible Verses
• Drawing from Diverse Traditions and Listening to Diverse Voices

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Dr Mark Glanville works as the Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership at St. Andrews Hall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. He is an Old Testament scholar and has written five books, including Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul and Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Neighborhoods.

 Mark’s vocational goal is to research, teach, write, speak, and play music to nourish Christian leaders to creatively reimagine what the church can be and do in post-Christian societies, with the Bible in our hands. 

Mark is also a professional jazz pianist, active on the Vancouver jazz scene. Mark’s podcast is Blue Note Theology, which he hosts from the grand piano.

RELATED LINKS:

• Regent College
• Dr Mark Glanville's Podcast

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

01:06 - Mark's Background and Family

01:48 - Key Shifts in Preaching

02:21 - ...trauma-informed preaching

05:08 - ...holistic health

14:29 - Addressing DIfficult Biblical Passages

15:08 - ...people come with beautiful values about justice

16:17 - ...show the beauty of the Biblical text

17:11 - ...be patient with the Biblical text

24:33 - Drawing from Diverse Traditions and Listening to Diverse Voices

25:47 - ...requires an intercultural lens

26:17 - ...recontextualize Scripture to people

28:46 - ...diverse voices in the pulpit

28:56 - One Key Piece of Advice

30:18 - Nourish the Community

34:26 - Getting in Touch with Mark and Finding His Books

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Dr Mark Glanville's Website

Book Info: Preaching in a New Key

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• People Relate to Scripture Differently Today than 50 Years Ago
• Recontextualization in the Culture
• Shifts in Faith and How People Relate to Scripture

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Dr Mark Glanville works as the Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership at St. Andrews Hall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. He is an Old Testament scholar and has written five books, including Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul and Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Neighborhoods.

 Mark’s vocational goal is to research, teach, write, speak, and play music to nourish Christian leaders to creatively reimagine what the church can be and do in post-Christian societies, with the Bible in our hands. 

Mark is also a professional jazz pianist, active on the Vancouver jazz scene. Mark’s podcast is Blue Note Theology, which he hosts from the grand piano.

RELATED LINKS:

• Regent College
• Dr Mark Glanville's Podcast

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Mark Glanville

03:19 - Mark's Background and Family

04:00 - Mark's New Book: Preaching in a New Key

04:57 - People Relate to Scripture Differently Today than 50 Years Ago

05:34 - Expository Preaching Has Never Been More Important

05:55 - The deeper into post-Christian context, people crave to know Christian teaching

06:48 - Questions for Context and Clarity

07:18 - ... 1. post-Christian culture

11:11 - ... 2. Recontextualization in the Culture

16:05 - An Illustration from Music

21:42 - Shifts in Faith and How People Relate to Scripture

21:57 - ...people used to come to church with Bibles under their arms,

22:04 - ...but now they come with questions on their minds

22:48 - ...the key might be reversing the direction of flow in preaching

23:40 - ...showing the beauty of Jesus in Scripture

23:42 - ...winning people to Jesus, AND to Scripture itself

28:11 - Contacting Mark and Finding His Books

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Aimee Huber's Website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• How Pregnancy Resource Centers support men & women
• How church can support Pregnancy Resource Centers
• How to talk to someone facing an unplanned pregnancy

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

A pastor's daughter, Aimee Huber serves as the Executive Director of First Choice Women's Resource Centers. First Choice's mission is to protect the unborn by empowering women. Since 1990, she has had the privilege of seeing God grow their ministry in New Jersey from one to five locations, all with medical services. She holds a B.A. from Rutgers University and lives in Central NJ with her husband and two teenage children.

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Aimee Huber

03:48 - Inspiration for involvement at First Choice for 33 years

05:35 - The Mission of First Choice and Services Offered

05:44 - ...protect the unborn by empowering women

05:51 - ......prevention

06:04 - ......intervention

06:17 - ......restoration

06:40 - .........walking with the hurt

08:05 - .........trauma

09:37 - How Pregnancy Resources Centers Fit Into the Larger Picture of Urban Ministry

09:46 - ...extension of the local church

10:32 - Unique Challenges When Faced with an Unplanned Pregnancy in an Urban Setting

10:55 - ...SOS: S - scared, O - overwhelming pressures, S - strengths

12:01 - ...Overwhelming pressures are magnified

12:10 - ......single-parent homes

12:21 - ......younger siblings

12:33 - ......housing

12:42 - ......desire to break generational patterns

13:21 - Story of a Client Whose Life Was Transformed by First Choice's work

14:53 - How Can Churches and Urban Ministries Support Pregnancy Resource Centers

15:07 - ...identify and connect with a local pregnancy center

15:35 - ......share in church services

15:50 - ......contribute financially

16:04 - ......volunteer at a pregnancy center

16:12 - ......employment

17:24 - ...hesitancy to speak about pregnancy and abortion

17:48 - ......present in a caring and compassionate way

20:00 - What Would You Tell Someone Facing an Unplanned Pregnancy?

21:35 - ...Speaking Truth in Love and Honesty without Judgment

21:39 - ...The model is Jesus

22:12 - ...4.9 out of 5.0 stars on Google Reviews

22:22 - ...the most frequent comment is, "I didn't feel judged"

24:20 - Email Aimee at aimee@1stChoice.org

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Brandon's website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Christians may be hesitate or fearful about engaging with Muslim neighbors
• Muslims might not have significant relationship with Christians
• Heart for Muslims as a Resource

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Brandon lives and serves least-reached peoples in the New York City metropolitan area. After spending significant time in the Middle East, he grew to have hearts for diaspora Muslims living in gateway cities. Brandon is the Executive Director of Heart For Muslims, a mission initiative with a passion to love Muslims, equip the Body of Christ, and connect people for gospel-centered service

• Heart for Muslims

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

02:34 - Calling to minister to Muslims

03:50 - Christians may be hesitate or fearful about engaging with Muslim neighbors

04:24 - ...seek out Heart for Muslims and tour a Muslim neighborhood

06:47 - ...Vision and Mission trip

07:11 - ...Muslims can be in the US for a long time and not have a significant relationship with Christians

12:12 - A Story of a Meaningful Relationship Illustrates the Power of Faithful Presence in Muslim Community

19:22 - Engaging with Muslims during Ramadan

24:27 - Getting involved with Heart for Muslims

27:56 - HeartForMuslims.com

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Brandon's website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• The Gap Between the Christian and Muslim Communities
• Most Effective Ways for Churches and Believers to Serve Muslims
• Heart for Muslims as a Resource

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Brandon lives and serves least-reached peoples in the New York City metropolitan area. After spending significant time in the Middle East, he grew to have hearts for diaspora Muslims living in gateway cities. Brandon is the Executive Director of Heart For Muslims, a mission initiative with a passion to love Muslims, equip the Body of Christ, and connect people for gospel-centered service

• Heart for Muslims

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Brandon

02:42 - Calling to Minister to Muslims

03:56 - Journey from the Middle East to NYC and Approach to Ministry

04:48 - ...interdenominational seminary

05:00 - ...international students

05:13 - ...studying abroad at Jerusalem University

06:09 - ...teaching ESL at Bethlehem Bible College

06:20 - ...connecting point on seeing all people as God's creation

07:13 - ...the only difference was knowing Jesus

07:56 - ...journey of repentance

08:30 - ...began feeling a calling to serve full-time in the Middle East

09:39 - ...heard of work with displaced Muslims in North America

10:36 - ...neighborhood in northern New Jersey and it's like Palestine

13:03 - ...very limited concerted effort to reach Muslims around NYC with the gospel

13:27 - ...freedom to share the gospel in NY/NJ that's not available in the Middle East

14:27 - ...protection for Muslims who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior

14:50 - Executive Director of Heart for Muslims

15:35 - ...vision for the future of the Heart for Muslims conference

17:24 - The Gap Between the Christian and Muslim Communities

18:28 - Most Effective Ways for Churches and Believers to Serve Muslims

19:01 - ...gain knowledge

19:20 - ...focus on a particular local people group

19:56 - ...Step 1: Pray about whom to engage

21:27 - ...Step 2: Who is already doing work among these people?

21:57 - ...the Lord will reveal needs

23:15 - ...Step 3: Connect your life to theirs

24:07 - Connect and Live with People

25:08 - Heart for Muslims as a Resource

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Dr Esqueda's Website

Dr Esqueda's Website (Spanish)

Dr Esqueda's Books

Dr Esqueda on X.com

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Challenges of Hispanic faculty in Christian colleges
• Why context is important (Bible translation)
• Unity in the church

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Octavio Javier Esqueda is a full Professor of Christian Higher Education and Director of the Ph.D. and Ed.D. Programs in Educational Studies at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He was born and raised in Guadalajara, México. He graduated with honors with a Licenciatura in Latin American Literature from the University of Guadalajara and two additional diplomas, one in Religion and Society and the second in Journalism. He graduated with honors from Dallas Theological Seminary and completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education at the University of North Texas. He and his wife, Angélica, have two children, Darío and Salma. Dr. Esqueda has several publications on theological education and Christian higher education, practical theology, and literature. Teaching is his passion, and he has had the opportunity to teach in several countries on different academic levels. He is an avid soccer fan.

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

02:19 - Introducing Dr Octavio Esqueda

03:11 - What caused Dr Esqueda to enter educational studies

03:33 - ...asked to teach a lesson in Sunday School at age 12

04:04 - ...teaching middle school at age 19

04:16 - ...teaching high school at age 22

04:22 - ...teaching college at age 24

04:30 - ...liked to teach and wanted to study more about his faith

05:29 - ...started teaching at Biola University 14 years ago

06:54 - Career path to being an educator is different for everyone

08:05 - Edited a new book: The Hispanic Faculty Experience

08:22 - ...relates to previous question about career paths

08:30 - ...Christian schools are more interested in reaching out to the Hispanic students

08:55 - ...conversation about Hispanic faculty members in Christian higher education

09:13 - ...need more Hispanic faculty if we want more Hispanic students

09:51 - Christian schools closing because lack of students

10:39 - Hispanics are not a current trend

10:48 - Institutions now need to reach out to minorities

11:34 - Challenges that Hispanic faculty face

12:12 - ...few mentors

12:18 - ...learning how to navigate the system

12:23 - ...mainstream culture dictates the way things are

13:18 - Theological example: translating to "righteousness" vs "justice"

16:37 - Bible teaching applies to everyone

17:11 - The Bible focuses on the community

18:21 - Collective approach to teaching the Bible

20:20 - Diversity is a gift, not a threat

22:24 - The church can change the world

23:46 - God intended to create unity in the church in Christ

25:08 - Contacting Dr Esqueda: amazon.com | x.com/OctavioEsqueda | LinkedIn

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Carol Ghattas' website

Carol Ghattas' Facebook page

Carol Ghattas' books

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Answering God's Call
• Challenges of and Encouragement from Muslim-focused Ministry
• Fruit is Not Always Immediate

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Carol Ghattas has spent over forty years in cross-cultural service and has lived in six countries. Having served single, married, and now as a widow, Carol lives what she writes.

Pouring back into the next generation of missionaries, Carol’s experience is shared in her non-fiction work on Islam and missions. She also has four novels written under the pen name of Um Daoud which tell the stories of Muslims who come to faith in Christ.

A sought-after speaker on Islam, missions, and other topics, you can connect with her through her website: lifeinexile.net.

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:32 - Introducing Carol Ghattas

03:42 - Carol's varied background and how she came to be where she is now

04:02 - ...call to missions at a very young age

04:16 - ...ministry to Laotian immigrants

04:32 - ...Ivory Coast

04:49 - ...call to work with Arabs

04:57 - ...seminary in Ft Worth, TX and Masters of Divinity degree

05:05 - met late husband, Raul in seminary

05:09 - ...20 years in North Africa

05:25 - ...came back to her hometown in TN and found out that a mosque was being built there

05:38 - ...natural fit to trach about reaching Muslims for Christ

05:51 - ...began an Arab-speaking church in town

06:01 - ...also worked as the manager at the public library

06:12 - ...stepped back from the church and retired from the library to focus on writing and waiting on the Lord

06:56 - Writing a devotional for missionaries

08:05 - Importance of member care

09:44 - Specific member care for Muslim-focused ministry

13:32 - Financial aspects of supporting missionaries

16:32 - Major takeaways from Muslim-focused ministry

20:04 - Writing fiction stories about Muslim women

21:37 - Encouragement in her writing and helping those on the frontlines

22:14 - Contact Carol Ghattas at lifeinexile.net

23:00 - Lightening the mood...

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What is grace and why do we need to talk about God’s grace on Christmas? What if I told you that the Christmas story is the story of God’s grace and that most people celebrate Christmas without considering God’s grace, the first cause behind Christmas?

There is no greater good than telling people what grace is, what it does, and why people need God’s grace.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• The Message of Grace
• The Means of Grace
• The Miracle of Grace

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Dr. Alfonse Javed, the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Metuchen, has planted a church abroad, has been a missions pastor and has served as a missionary in Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.

Born in Lahore, Pakistan — the son of a pastor — Pastor Javed began serving in church at a young age. He has served as a missionary in Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. He has also planted a church in Greece. In the 1990s, a providential relationship formed when Calvary Baptist Church started supporting his ministry efforts; he would later serve as the missions pastor of that congregation. Eventually, in 2009, he moved to New York with a new vision — mobilizing churches to engage Muslims in the NYC metro area.

Dr. Javed’s advanced theological training is from the Greek Bible College, Davis College and Liberty University. He has earned three undergraduate, three graduate, and three doctoral degrees. His dissertations have explored various subjects from religious influence on the American school system to evangelism and church planting, to Islamic madrases and the treatment that Muslims students have received in the post 9/11 New York City school system. He maintains a blog, www.alfonsejaved.com, and is the author of The Muslim Next Door: A Practical Guide for Evangelism and Discipleship. Dr. Javed and his wife, Sarah, have four children.

RELATED LINKS:

• Dr Alfonse Javed's Recent Book
• Our Urban Voices Podcast
• First Baptist Metuchen Website
• Father's Love Letter
• Email Dr Alfonse Javed

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:04 - What is grace and why talk about it at Christmas?

01:08 - Graceful Athiest

02:21 - Grace is impossible without God

03:35 - It's meaningless to celebrate Christmas without God's grace

04:53 - The Message of Grace

05:05 - ... What is God's grace?

14:38 - ... What does grace do?

17:54 - ... Why do we need it?

20:55 - ... Application

23:08 - The Means of Grace

28:17 - ... Application

29:05 - The Miracle of Grace

32:43 - ... Application

35:47 - Action Step

37:32 - Appeal

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Cost of not planning for your estate (even if you think you don't have anything)
• What are wills, power of attorney, health care proxy?
• Mindset for estate planning

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Rev Matthews areas of practice are Trusts and Estates and Real Estate. She is passionate about teaching believers and the urban community about Estate Planning. Currently she is one of the ordained Elders of Bethel Gospel Assembly, Inc. where the Senior Pastor is Bishop Dr. Carlton T. Brown.

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

01:35 - Passionate about estate planning dialog

02:57 - Raised in an urban immigrant community

03:43 - Journey to eldership and attorney

07:51 - Importance of estate planning

09:21 - Basics of Estate Planning: will, power of attorney, health care proxy

09:27 - Wills

09:35 - Power of Attorney

10:22 - Health care proxy

11:02 - People don't feel the need for estate planning

11:25 - Not planning creates chaos, uncertainty, confusion

12:10 - We do not prepare for estate planning

12:19 - Estate planning is not usually known about, especially in urban communities

12:40 - Mindset is important

12:50 - Urban communities tend to think more about survival from paycheck to paycheck

13:16 - Suburban communities more plan for the future

14:14 - Both cultural and racial norms come into play

17:24 - How should Christians approach estate planning?

17:31 - Get understanding and knowledge about estate planning

18:22 - Some culture shy away from talking about death and estate planning

20:06 - How should younger people approach estate planning?

20:49 - Plan for the unexpected

21:16 - Get something in place - it can always be changed, if needed

22:04 - Debunk the myths

22:17 - Not planning is selfish because it will negatively affect loved ones

23:32 - What cultural and ethnic considerations need to be considered?

24:25 - How do we change people's mindset?

26:23 - Opportunity to share Christ in estate planning conversations

27:42 - What are the financial barriers to estate planning?

28:33 - Estate planning establishes a legacy

28:52 - Not planning creates more expensive procedures

29:08 - Petitioning the court

29:49 - Incapacitated people can't sign a power of attorney or health care proxy

31:15 - Pay for a will on a payment plan

32:08 - Unexpectedly used by God and He opened doors

36:16 - Initial Steps to Estate Planning

37:14 - How can a pastor help his congregation in this matter?

38:26 - What is God saying to you using this podcast?

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Genre of Revelation and Its Importance
• Old Testament and Revelation link
• Host's & Guest's Interpretation Example

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Rev Dr Duane Alexander Miller was born in Montana and grew up in Colorado and Puebla (in Mexico). He completed a BA in philosophy at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and then an MA in theology at St Mary's University (also in San Antonio). Later, life took him to Jordan where he and his wife studied Arabic, to Israel where he helped found a seminary, and to Scotland for doctoral work, among other places.

He is highly interested in the interactions of Islam, Christianity and secularism in modern contexts. His main areas of research for his PhD in divinity were religious conversion from Islam to Christianity, contextual theology, and the shari'a's treatment of apostates. He has also published research on global Anglicanism and the history of Anglican mission in the Ottoman Empire.

He has had the pleasure of teaching in many places over the years: from Costa Rica to Turkey, and Kenya to Tunisia. Presently, he lives in Madrid where he is on the pastoral staff at the Anglican Cathedral of the Redeemer and associate professor at the Protestant Faculty of Theology at Madrid (UEBE).

RELATED LINKS:

• Rev Dr Duane Alexander Miller's Website
• Author Page

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:37 - Introducing Rev Dr Duane Alexander Miller

02:55 - Preaching through the Book of Revelation

03:29 - Dr Javed takes a literal interpretation and dispensationalist view of Revelation

04:18 - What is the type of genre of literature is Revelation?

04:59 - ... Apocalyptic literature

05:22 - apocalyptic = unveiling - take away something that is covering something else

06:00 - Four methods : preterist, historicist, idealist, futurist

06:41 - Preparing messages : informational, instructional, and inspirational

07:33 - Epistle to the Seven Churches

07:47 - Why did the people of Israel develop this genre of literature?

08:46 - Speaking in code...

09:53 - So much of Revelation is taking ideas from the Old Testament and reformulating it

10:35 - Analogy with a theater production

11:18 - Going back behind the scenes in a world where we have limited vision of what is going on

11:41 - John is getting the behind the scenes tour and telling us in symbolic language what' s going on

13:31 - Importance of Old Testament and connection to Revelation

13:56 - The code is in the Old Testament

15:16 - Helping students understand Revelation

15:20 - Who is the audience for Revelation?

15:36 - Who is writing?

16:32 - America-centric interpretation of Revelation?

18:35 - For example, preaching on the number / mark of the beast

19:09 - Dr Javed on the mark of the beast

20:32 - A little dangerous to over-analyze

20:46 - Rev Dr Miller on the mark of the beast

20:56 - ...Revelation 13:16-17

21:55 - ...Deuteronomy 6:6-9

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why Southside Blooms is different
• Building strong families
• Be the industry and save the economy

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Chicago Eco House’s signature program is Southside Blooms, which creates jobs for young people on the south and west sides of Chicago. The Eco House has won several awards for its work including the UL Innovation Education Award, Delta Institute BOOST Award, the Keep Chicago Beautiful Community Vision Award, and the African American Legacy Award. Quilen is originally from Madison, WI, and moved to Chicago to attend ministry school. 

While in ministry school, he volunteered at a local high school in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's south side. This is where he first got acclimated to the realities that young people face every day in the inner city. He decided to commit his life to creating opportunities for the young people in the inner city by utilizing his skills in community organizing and renewable energy.

Quilen holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in environmental policy and sustainability from the University of Denver. He worked in the biodiesel industry as a procurer of feedstock and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand prior to starting the Chicago Eco House. Quilen resides on the south side of Chicago with his wife Hannah (the other co-founder of Eco House) and their three children.

RELATED LINKS:

• www.chicagoecohouse.org

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

02:27 - Introducing Quilen Blackwell, president and co-founder of the Chicago Eco House

02:53 - His family is his #1 ministry

03:53 - Journey to Chicago & the founding the Eco House

04:14 - Called by the Lord to move to Chicago

04:29 - Started volunteering at a high school during ministry school

04:42 - Opportunity to have relationships with families and see their needs

05:03 - Choice to serve the urban black community

05:12 - Mission to rebuild the economic foundation of the inner city

06:09 - What is Southside Blooms and why does it work?

07:00 - Southside Blooms is different because...

07:05 - Startup business as a viable flower shop

07:09 - Creating bottom up careers in the neighborhood

07:21 - Be the industry and save the economy

08:17 - Urban ministry intersects with other areas of expertise

08:29 - Taking skills, expertise, and experiences and channeling them toward kingdom purpose

08:41 - Not only using God's blessings to solve earthly problems, but to show heaven on earth

09:08 - Combine the spiritual need with physical needs

10:21 - Importance of family-focused programs

10:33 - Culture of single mother families

10:46 - Building block of successful family units

10:58 - Flowers in weddings gives opportunities to talk about marriage

11:20 - Giving a different vision of what family looks like

11:29 - Quilen & Hannah's marriage is a witness to the youth

12:18 - The ministry is really all about families

12:45 - Initial community response to Southside Blooms

12:57 - Survey the community, talk to political leaders, assess the need

13:14 - The real need is homegrown industry

13:31 - Pushback: why flowers and not food?

13:53 - Look at the business picture

14:27 - Now the results can be seen

14:30 - God gave an unconventional idea

14:44 - Christlike leadership and coming alongside people

14:56 - Moses' example leading Israel out of Egypt

15:27 - Unconventional ideas might not be favorable initially

16:20 - Hardest challenges

16:40 - Dangerous neighborhood

16:54 - Unbelief

17:52 - Fixation on the idea that things don't change

18:16 - Work to change: Why can't things get better?

18:36 - God can do more than you think - work in God's will

19:03 - Assumption about “bad” neighborhoods you would like to debunk

19:11 - Debunk that people don't care about their neighborhood

19:28 - People are people and want the same things

19:49 - There are a lot of hidden assets because people do want a better community

19:58 - Facing calamities overshadows improvements for a better community

20:12 - Opportunities for Christians to be the salt and light

20:58 - A doctor is for the sick, not the healthy

21:44 - Trust the Lord

21:56 - Be the answer to the problems

22:39 - Seeing God's hand in ministry work

22:45 - God is working every day

23:04 - When Southside Blooms was trying to get into the neighborhood in the early days

23:31 - Getting vacant properties

24:51 - Construction

25:28 - Southside Blooms started in the basement and the backyard

25:35 - Youth program to teach gardening

25:49 - God has grown the ministry to 10 acres of farms and two flower shops

26:09 - How individuals and church can promote environmental sustainability in urban areas

26:18 - Counting the cost

27:06 - Give your life as a seed

27:40 - Start small with a community garden or a school

29:05 - It's worth it!

30:13 - Knowing that my life mattered

30:35 - Don't think about the short-term pain; think about the long-term gain

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• How Ramadan affects outreach
• Sharing the gospel more effectively
• Practical steps in cross-culture ministry

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

David and his family serve as the Strategy Coordinator and unit on the Global Gates West African Team. Though they have a specific people group focus, the vision is reaching the ends of the Earth through global gateway cities. They have served in the West African community for 10 years globally.

SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:

• Jeremiah 12 : 5
• Matthew 6 : 33-34
• Matthew 13 : 1-9

RELATED LINKS:

• Global Gates

01:01 - Misconceptions to address when ministering among Muslims

01:07 - Not all Muslims are terrorists

01:27 - Christians can visit a mosque

02:06 - Many Muslims do want to know about Jesus

03:10 - What do you love and admire about the people you serve?

03:13 - Value relationship over schedule

03:21 - Hospitality

04:44 - Ramadan

05:27 - Fasting during daylight hours

05:52 - Help reflect on how it feels to be poor

06:02 - Focused prayer and asking for forgiveness

06:16 - Ask God to show the straight path

06:29 - Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca

07:28 - The Night of Power

08:17 - Christian pray that God would show Jesus to Muslims

08:29 - Hope that God would reveal something during Ramadan

08:46 - Christians can invite Muslims to break fast

08:51 - Bring water or dates to a Muslim might not have broken fast at sundown

09:25 - Opportunities during Ramadan and Outreach

09:51 - Focus on having gospel conversations

10:45 - God has shown that so many organizations are focused on reaching on all the nations

11:17 - Network of organizations working together

12:22 - You may not be the one who leads someone to Christ, but you may be one of the many leading up to it

14:52 - Personal story of faith and knowing that God has him

17:28 - Ask God and God revealed in a dream

19:45 - Family on Mission

20:41 - Each member of the family does something

22:56 - Go-to Bible verses for encouragement

23:05 - Jeremiah 12 : 5

24:36 - Matthew 6 : 33-34

25:02 - Matthew 13 : 1-9

26:31 - Sharing the gospel more effectively

26:50 - Joining existing work

27:14 - Find ministries addressing needs

27:33 - If there is no existing work, pray, search the needs, and then start it

28:20 - Practical things to do to reach out

28:34 - Go to restaurants and enjoy their food

29:10 - Go to places of worship and observe

29:43 - Invite into your home

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The fifth most popular episode was #94. The Journey from "Truth" to TRUTH.

Pastor Otis (O.L.) Buckley is the pastor of Highpoint Bible Church in the Bronx, NY. He shares his journey in discovering the Biblical truths that moved him from denominational theology to denominational theology.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• How to Search for Answers
• Big God Theology
• Letting God Be True

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Pastor Otis (O.L.) Buckley is the teaching pastor of Highpoint Bible Church in The Bronx, NY. He has lived in various places in the United States and has experienced different denominational theologies. He and his wife, Consuela, have been married 15 years and both have over 20 years in business and ministry.

SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:

• Matthew 18 : 18
• Matthew 28 : 19
• Acts 2 : 38

RELATED LINKS:

• Highpoint Bible Church
• Email Pastor Buckley

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:39 - Introducing Pastor Otis (OL) Buckley

03:44 - Early years in Chicago

04:01 - then the move to Texas

04:51 - and then to Highpoint Bible Church in the Bronx, NY

07:15 - Sabellianism / Modalistic

09:20 - Classic Oneness Pentecostalism

10:39 - Class on Overview of Hebrew Studies

11:18 - Matthew 18 : 18

11:34 - Learning a different interpretation

12:42 - Have I been wrong all these years?

12:57 - What else could I possibly have been wrong about?

13:17 - Another connected event

14:28 - Matthew 28 : 19

14:47 - vs Acts 2 : 38

15:33 - God opens OL's eyes to the Trinity

16:13 - Are people are going beyond the social issues to wrestling with theology?

18:21 - Denominations, Name, Theology, & Social Media

20:27 - The need for clear Biblical theology

22:47 - God's workings to move OL on the journey

23:04 - Every dilemma raises a question

23:12 - And every question creates an opportunity to pivot

23:49 - Do I really know God the way I think I do?

24:37 - Lord, let your Word imposed itself on me.

25:37 - Big God theology

25:54 - Not compartimentalizing God

28:59 - Was this a personal journey of discovery or where there others alongside you?

30:52 - Every question drives one to search for an answer

30:56 - ...three-fold answer

30:59 - ...1. pray

31:12 - ...2. search the Scriptures

31:25 - ...3. right teaching

31:42 - ... and stilling the voices with wrong interpretations of Scripture

34:06 - Abandoning the past

34:22 - Letting God be True

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Book: Downward Discipleship

Book: Beyond Our Walls

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Definition of "slum"
• What downward discipleship is
• Building relationships in Jakarta

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Anita’s high school years were spent as an American TCK in the Philippines. For the past decade, Anita and her husband and two children have lived and served in a slum in Indonesia. She enjoys learning piano, playing in the rain, and devouring good books. She is the author of Beyond Our Walls: Finding Jesus in the Slums of Jakarta and Downward Discipleship: How Amy Carmichael Gave Me Courage to Serve in a Slum.

RELATED LINKS:

• Servants Asia Website
• Email Anita Rahma

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:39 - Introducing Anita Rahma

03:22 - Anita's choice to live in the urban slums of Jakarta

03:33 - ...grew up in the US as a child of pastors in a modern Mennonite home

03:49 - ...loving God could not be separated from loving those struggling with poverty

03:56 - ...moved to the Philippines during high school

04:06 - ...God working on her heart - her middle-class life vs the homeless around her

04:27 - ... felt that Jesus was saying that He is with the homeless

04:36 - ...desire to return to encounter Jesus while serving the poor

04:51 - ...in college years, went to Urbana Missions Convention, Servants to Asia's Urban Poor

05:10 - ...God is with the poor; we want to be too

05:24 - ...over 1B people live in urban slums

05:59 - Definition of "slum" and why live there

07:06 - ...incarnation: live in the community in which you are serving

07:21 - ...really experience the community to know their needs

07:38 - ...follow Jesus to serve the poor

07:58 - ...great place to learn the language and culture

08:13 - What in Anita's background helped her connect with impoverished people?

09:12 - ...initially, did not want to leave the Philippines and return to America

09:36 - ...God taught a lot about poverty in America

10:09 - ...felt God calling her back overseas

12:19 - Explanation of "downward discipleship"

12:30 - ...bombardment of messages to seek success

12:47 - ...Jesus sets an example of downward mobility - left heaven for earth

13:21 - ...taking the position of a servant

13:37 - ...a disciple is someone who follows

13:55 - Anita's books

13:58 - ...First Book: Beyond Our Walls: Finding Jesus in the Slums of Jakarta

14:04 - ...Second book: Downward Discipleship: How Amy Carmichael Gave Me Courage to Serve in a Slum

14:09 - ......tying in stories of Amy Carmichael

14:44 - ......the struggle of downward discipleship in the American church context

14:57 - ......discipleship happen overseas in the process of learning

15:05 - How to communicate the concept of downward discipleship to the local church

15:27 - ...moving from the need to control to compassion

15:58 - ...compassion means to suffer with

17:23 - Some of the biggest challenges in impoverished urban ministry

17:31 - ...physical - adjusting from comfortable middle class to slums:

17:56 - ......sickness and illness

18:26 - ......fires

18:47 - ......floods

18:50 - ......eviction

19:04 - ...spiritual & emotional:

19:24 - ......Jesus is the Savior, not us

19:29 - Jeremiah 29 : 7

19:41 - ...tying our welfare to that of our neighbors

20:31 - How to build relationships in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world

20:45 - ...choose to live in the neighborhood

20:57 - ...come as learners

20:59 - ...as a single female, was "adopted" into many families

21:07 - ...run a free school for the kids

21:22 - ...through the school came knowing families, visiting, praying, doing Scripture studies

22:57 - ...sow seeds and trust God to bring the growth

24:57 - Experience as a woman and a mother helped minister to Muslim women

25:05 - ...as a single woman was "adopted" into families

25:45 - ...being married and becoming a mother opened doors

26:01 - ...passionate about prenatal care

27:02 - Advice for fellow laborers with small children

27:08 - ...things get easier as the children get older

27:11 - ...be gracious with yourself and your children

27:28 - ...be on mission as a family

27:43 - ...addressing family needs

28:05 - ...self-care is important and not selfish

30:00 - True poverty is a very foreign concept

30:17 - ...before going to another country, learn in your own context

30:25 - ...what are your walls that separate you from people?

30:45 - ...wherever you're going to minister, go as a learner and encounter Jesus

31:10 - ...recognize that service is a life-long and long-term

31:29 - ...live lives of compassion

31:56 - Join in praying for communities around the world

32:23 - Getting in touch with Anita or finding her books

32:33 - ...go to amazon.com or servantsasia.org or email rahma@servantsasia.org

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Book: Holding the Rope

Blog: The Upstream Collective - Cultivating Missions Awareness

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• When does missionary care start
• Practical ways the local church can care for their missionaries
• How pastors can help their congregation be aware of the missionaries' needs

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Ryan serves as Director of Missions and Operations with Lightbearers Ministries. He graduated in 2022 with a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological seminary, where he also serves as a trustee. He has received a MDiv in Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2008), and an undergraduate degree (2005) from Union University in Jackson, TN. Prior to joining Lightbearers, he served for thirteen years as a missions pastor in the local church. Ryan lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Rebekah, and three children: Hudson, Annie, and Hattie.

RELATED LINKS:

• Website: Lightbearers.com
• Twitter: Ryan Allen Martin
• Email: Ryan Martin

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

02:02 - Introducing Dr Ryan Martin

02:58 - Motivation for writing a book on missionary care

04:07 - ...addressing needs of missionary families

04:34 - ...giving and not being poured back into and filled up

04:41 - ..almost reaching the point of burnout

05:16 - How do we care for them?

05:59 - ...the local church sensed that more tools were needed to care for missionaries well

09:06 - Book - Holding the Rope : How the Local Church Can Care for Its Sent Ones

09:10 - ...Metaphor for the title, "Holding the Rope"

09:21 - ...William Carey sermon

10:28 - Importance of caring for missionaries

11:12 - ...commissioning a missionary is the starting point, not the finish line

11:44 - When does missionary care start?

12:02 - ...getting to know the missionary as he is being trained and developed

12:26 - ...understand where the pressure points might be

12:55 - ...debrief points when the missionary returns

13:16 - ...areas of struggle will be exposed in the field

13:51 - What are practical ways that a church can care for their missionaries?

14:09 - ...evaluate missionaries' readiness

14:16 - ......The Upstream Collective has resources

14:39 - ...pre-field stage

15:07 - ...on the field care

16:04 - ...returning from the field

16:26 - How can pastors help their congregation be aware of their missionaries' needs?

16:32 - ...get to know the missionaries

17:12 - ...look for ways to bring the missionaries before the congregation

17:58 - ...visit missionaries in the field

19:13 - How do we care for missionaries' kids?

20:44 - ...show the children their role and how they can help

21:03 - ...dealing with different ages

21:37 - ...children and teen ministries to pray for missionary kids

21:46 - ...send families with children to visit them in the field

22:24 - ...dealing with abuse and crisis situations

23:33 - ...issues are worldwide, not just isolated to the West

24:50 - ...missionary kids have the added pressure of the local kids

27:58 - Look to strengthen care for missionaries

29:17 - More resources from Dr Ryan Martin...

29:18 - ...book (Amazon) : Holding the Rope

29:21 - ...theupstreamcollective.org

29:34 - ...The Center for Great Commission Studies

29:37 - ...Other podcasts

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Book: Holding the Rope

Blog: The Upstream Collective - Cultivating Missions Awareness

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• What missional awareness is
• Three practical suggestions for engaging the local international community
• What missional discipleship looks like

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Ryan serves as Director of Missions and Operations with Lightbearers Ministries. He graduated in 2022 with a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological seminary, where he also serves as a trustee. He has received a MDiv in Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2008), and an undergraduate degree (2005) from Union University in Jackson, TN. Prior to joining Lightbearers, he served for thirteen years as a missions pastor in the local church. Ryan lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Rebekah, and three children: Hudson, Annie, and Hattie.

SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:

• John 20 : 21
• Acts 17 : 26

RELATED LINKS:

• Website: Lightbearers.com
• Twitter: Ryan Allen Martin
• Email: Ryan Martin

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:09 - Introducing Ryan Martin

03:26 - What is missional awareness?

03:40 - ...The unreached are now within arm's reach

04:14 - ...John 20 - 21 - sent by Jesus to be ambassadors into the world

04:32 - ...The nations are here within our reach

05:01 - ...The Great Commission is not just for the paid professionals

05:22 - ...Make disciples and be disciples who make disciples

05:29 - How does missional awareness tie into our growing international community?

05:59 - ...Acts 17 - 26 - God has determined our dwelling places

06:12 - ...God has brought the nations to us and to recognize that we need to live that theology

06:50 - ...Recognize the need to take the gospel to our local people groups

09:47 - Planting seven churches over the next ten years

10:22 - ...First, Hispanic church plant and Second, South Asian

10:27 - ...Next, Hmong and South East Asian population

10:47 - ...and global partners to train and sent out

11:15 - ...Resourced by local church budget

11:42 - Practical Suggestions for engaging with the local international community

12:15 - ...Local church being missionally aware

12:34 - ...Visit world religion sites and learn about other religions

14:08 - ......Look for avenues to gospel conversations

14:14 - ......Read up on basics before visiting

15:05 - ...Frequenting ethnic establishments

15:17 - .....Food is a great way to break down barriers

16:20 - ...International students

16:54 - ......80% of international students will never be invited to an American home

19:21 - How does Lightbearers minister to students?

20:15 - ...Discipleship and missions

20:58 - ...72-unit complex houses students

21:55 - ...Life on life discipleship among students

22:03 - ...Match student with a local church mentor

22:26 - ...Fund mission projects to international church plant project

22:48 - ...Short term missions trips

23:54 - ...Dreaming of an East Coast presence

25:56 - Why is discipleship important for preparing for missions?

26:05 - ...At the heart of the Great Commission is discipleship and gathering into the local church

26:50 - What does missional discipleship look like?

27:03 - ...Corporate worship gathering

27:19 - ...Meeting in homes

27:27 - ...One-on-one and small groups

27:45 - ...Missional expressions in our lives

28:03 - ...Count the cost and take the gospel to the ends of the earth

31:37 - How does a church send AND go?

31:49 - ...We are all sent ones

32:03 - ...Protect the word, "missionary"

32:39 - ...We are all called to be on mission

32:50 - ...Opportunities to the cast the vision for missions

32:57 - ...Keep missions and missionaries in the minds of the church

33:41 - ...Each one of us are missionaries and are sent as well

34:31 - Ask ourselves how to build in missional awareness

34:48 - ...Pray for unreached people groups

35:19 - ...Read missionary biographies

35:41 - ..Look for opportunities to serve together on mission

36:03 - ...Take family on missions trip

37:01 - Contacting Ryan Martin...

37:07 - ...email ryanmartin@lightbearers.com

37:13 - ...twitter and instagram RyanAllenMartin

37:18 - ...blog theupstreamcollective.org

37:39 - ...book (Amazon): Holding the Rope

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• Book: Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul
• Book: Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Yahweh loves the stranger so you are to love the stranger
• Challenging the fear-based ethic approaches to refugees
• Banal, Sterile Life vs A Rich Feast

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Dr. Mark Glanville trains pastors at Regent College, Vancouver, and is an Old Testament scholar.

Prior to coming to Regent, Mark pastored for 14 years in both Vancouver and Australia in urban, justice seeking churches. 

Mark has been bi-vocational– combining reflective pastoring with biblical scholarship and is a trained jazz pianist, active on the Vancouver jazz scene.

SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:

• Deuteronomy 10 : 18-19 - Love the stranger

RELATED LINKS:

• Dr. Mark Glanville's website

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

02:02 - Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics

02:46 - Christians need to be different

03:12 - Book looks deeply into the questions and pushback of welcoming refugees

04:15 - Deuteronomy 10 : 18-19 Biblical scholarship on love the stranger

04:40 - Yahweh loves the stranger so you are to love the stranger

05:17 - Welcoming a stranger is very common in Old Testament ethics

06:10 - Mirroring the love and character of God

06:16 - Hebrew word for love = steadfast covenant loyalty

07:53 - Challenging the fear-based ethic approaches to refugees

08:16 - ...Preaching the scriptures very clearly

08:35 - ......not prooftexting, but displaying the gospel in our local neighborhood

09:07 - ......recovering every aspect of what it means to flourish

09:33 - ......the whole biblical story and playing our part faithfully

09:45 - ......choosing love & tenderness

09:58 - ...Proximity

10:02 - ......having real life experience with people who have a refugee story

10:20 - ......dispelling false fears

10:45 - ......not just the resilience, but the brilliance, of regufees

11:28 - .....live life in diversity and sharing lives

11:50 - ......partner with Christian refugee-welcoming organization

13:20 - Engaging the community in New York over food

14:25 - Banal, Sterile Life vs A Rich Feast

16:02 - ...as contrasted in a musical example of "Jesus Loves Me"

18:30 - the body of Christ exercising all their gifts

19:36 - Amazing Grace

21:46 - To get in touch with Dr. Glanville: glanville.org

22:33 - This is the Day the Lord Has Made

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• Book: Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul
• Book: Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Christian vs Post-Christian Culture
• Four Key Questions of Scripture
• Beauty is a Glimpse of God

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Dr. Mark Glanville trains pastors at Regent College, Vancouver, and is an Old Testament scholar.

Prior to coming to Regent, Mark pastored for 14 years in both Vancouver and Australia in urban, justice seeking churches. 

Mark has been bi-vocational-- combining reflective pastoring with biblical scholarship and is a trained jazz pianist, active on the Vancouver jazz scene.

RELATED LINKS:

• Dr. Mark Glanville at Regent College

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Dr. Mark Glanville

03:19 - Mark's background and his approach to doing church

03:30 - 4-note chord: pastoring, scholarship, teaching, jazz music

04:13 - Exited seminary to a government housing area in western Sydney, Australia

04:33 - High crime, high poverty, high community

05:12 - Then to Vancouver, very post-Christian city

06:31 - Impoverished cities

06:50 - Impoverished, underprivileged areas are higher in community

07:31 - See Christ in the faces of those who are marginalized

07:45 - Deuteronomy 24 - God hears the prayers of the marginalized people

09:12 - Definition of a Christian culture

09:52 - Definition of post-Christian culture

10:30 - Should the church fight post-Christian culture or go deep into our identity as Christians and mirror Christ?

11:02 - We are authorized to embody Christ's tenderness and love

11:37 - Book: Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul

12:15 - Be aware of the things we do as a church that are culturally Christian and discerning what is the Spirit forming us to do

12:57 - How can we be a church that is genuinely local?

13:31 - Beauty is a part of witnessing Christ

14:29 - Phrase: Incarnational communities

14:55 - Church: a people that is receiving and extending the healing of Jesus

15:23 - Incarnational Communities as a Sentence: An incarnational community is full of the Spirit, shaped by Scripture, and seeking to embody the love of Jesus and receive and display it in a particular neighborhood.

15:47 - Incarnational Communities as an Image: Incarnational church seen as blues musicians

18:17 - Unpacking four key questions of Scripture...

18:55 - ...Biblical story

19:14 - ...gospel

19:53 - ...witness

20:21 - ...Biblical ethics

20:57 - The need for churches to truly belong to their neighborhoods

21:14 - Scripture is related to place

22:02 - Reconceive "witness" as loving a place in the name of Jesus

22:50 - ...photos of loved places in the neighborhood

24:49 - ...prayer for revival

30:11 - Churches should give their attention to beauty, aesthetics, and the arts

31:01 - Beauty is a glimpse of God

31:57 - Give attention to the artists in the church

32:46 - We need to be artists and be creative in all we do

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Dr. Hercyk is an Assistant Professor at Liberty University School of Divinity and the program director for the online Masters in Humanitarian Action and Human Right

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• The balance between social gospel and evangelism
• Ministering to the community in which you are placed
• Broadening the impact of the church

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Dr. Darren Hercyk is an Assistant Professor at Liberty University School of Divinity and the program director for the online Masters in Humanitarian Action and Human Rights. Prior to serving in higher education, he had 18 years of international cross-cultural experience living in 10 countries. While overseas, the service spanned from child evangelism to responding to emergencies to long-term development programs. Through all these countries and experiences, a priority was placed on partnering with the local church.

RELATED LINKS:

• Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian Action & Human Rights – Law and Policy
• Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian and Human Rights – Disaster Relief
• Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian Action & Human Rights – Woman and Child Advocacy
• Email Dr. Hercyk

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

Spreadsheet to create time stamped show notes

01:53 - Majority World Church's view on humanitarian training

01:59 - Realms of society: private sector, civil society, public sector

02:26 - Majority World Church tends to be the largest provider of education, healthcare...

02:47 - ...out of the absence of these services

03:07 - ...not a lot of assets, but involved in people's daily lives

03:39 - ...church leaders have enormous moral authority

03:58 - As a developed society, we don't have that role-- we just evangelize

04:20 - ...sometimes we miss the balance between social gospel and evangelism

04:51 - ...5 times where Jesus took care of a physical need but didn't share a truth

05:00 - ...58 times where Jesus shared a truth but didn't take care of a physical need

05:05 - ...99 times when Jesus did both

05:26 - Generation Z is one of the most cause-oriented generations...

05:35 - ... be mindful to engage them

06:56 - Ministering to the community in which you are placed

07:40 - ...understanding their "Jerusalem"

07:49 - ...know my neighbor before I love my neighbor

08:02 - Broadening the impact of the church

08:09 - Faith Integration - connect heart and hands

08:34 - ...be involved - help, know people, bring the gospel

08:59 - ...look for ways to bring the youth

09:10 - ...build a bridge to people to whom you wouldn't normal engage

09:27 - A frightening question --

09:29 - ...Would anybody even know if your church ceased to exist?

09:56 - Mercy ministries in your own community

11:06 - ...getting it to the church level about being New Testament believers

11:43 - Preparing for missions trips through prior local engagement

12:22 - ...learn skills, but we should be connecting with people anyway

13:15 - ..this is not just about missions, but about loving people where God has placed you

13:33 - ...developed training as a masters program at Liberty University

14:29 - Dr. Hercyk's upcoming book

15:39 - Getting in touch with Dr. Hercyk by email: dehercyk@liberty.edu

DID YOU APPRECIATE THIS PODCAST?

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Dr. Hercyk is an Assistant Professor at Liberty University School of Divinity and the program director for the online Masters in Humanitarian Action and Human Right

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• What is humanitarian work?
• Evangelism includes some type of humanitarian work
• Developing the heart attitude for those in need

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Dr. Darren Hercyk is an Assistant Professor at Liberty University School of Divinity and the program director for the online Masters in Humanitarian Action and Human Rights. Prior to serving in higher education, he had 18 years of international cross-cultural experience living in 10 countries. While overseas, the service spanned from child evangelism to responding to emergencies to long-term development programs. Through all these countries and experiences, a priority was placed on partnering with the local church.

RELATED LINKS:

• Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian Action & Human Rights – Law and Policy
• Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian and Human Rights – Disaster Relief
• Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian Action & Human Rights – Woman and Child Advocacy
• Email Dr. Hercyk

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:38 - Introducing Dr Darren Hercyk

03:06 - Work in Pakistan

03:31 - 1998: overseas as an engineer

03:45 - ...began working with a local church

03:55 - ...transition to humanitarian work

03:58 - ...to nine more countries

04:43 - Program Director for Online Masters in Humanitarian Action & Human Rights at Liberty University

04:56 - ...started in 2022

05:08 - ...increase in emergencies

05:16 - Leaders needed around the world with Biblical foundations and skills

05:56 - ...work with the global church

06:13 - ...Cross-cutting program - in School of Divinity, but with courses from government, law, behavior sciences

06:41 - Evangelism includes some type of humanitarian work

06:53 - ...take care of people's physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs

07:19 - What is humanitarian work?

07:41 - ...mercy ministries

07:59 - ...emergency response

08:23 - ...refugee crisis

08:31 - ...human rights & trafficking

08:59 - ...food aid

09:05 - living on the streets

09:28 - Prepare the heart for mercy ministries, for the needs around you

09:52 - How do you get from the book to the heart?

10:04 - ...develop the skills in your local community

11:02 - ...connecting the head, heart, and hands

11:30 - ...learn the skills to engage someone, hear their story, learn why God loves them so much

11:53 - ...sometimes, God works from the hands, to the heart, to the head

12:06 - ...realize your commonality with that person

12:18 - ...everyone is created in God's image

12:21 - ...read Scripture in an entirely new way

12:40 - ...start where you are

14:11 - Humanitarian training is crucial for missionaries

14:15 - ...show the overseas country that you have these skills to get a visa

14:25 - ...understand the breadth of the opportunities in humanitarian work

14:34 - Old Testament: God's provision and protection: one is charity, but the rest is doing life with people in need

15:32 - ...there's more opportunities to serve than just charity

15:48 - ...our lives intersect with people in need

16:47 - Our job is not to become more efficient at delivering goods, but to have our heart and lives intersect with people in need

17:11 - Mercy ministries often involve going to places you do not normally go and engaging people you do not normally engage

17:51 - What's our heart attitude to those in need and those around us?

18:14 - The one thing common to all stories was the need for relationship (social isolation)

18:55 - Foundation of God's work

19:04 - ...How did Paul build a bridge to people?

19:27 - ...we are created in God's image

19:39 - ...affirm people's God-given dignity

19:44 - ...ask open-ended questions

19:46 - ...use people's names

19:53 - ...are you there to fix them or are you there because you are interested in their lives?

20:37 - ...listen to people's stories

20:59 - ...bridge to gospel conversations

24:41 - ...when we hear people's stories, it's a gift exchange

25:24 - Trauma counseling

25:38 - ...first responder training

25:45 - Proposal development

26:02 - Funding, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and progress

26:22 - Calculating physical needs in trauma situations

27:11 - Capstone course

27:21 - How to network

29:00 - Dr Hercyk's upcoming book

30:04 - Dr Hercyk's Email Address: dehercyk@liberty.edu

DID YOU APPRECIATE THIS PODCAST?

Checkout previous episodes, leave a review, drop us a note or support the mission here: oururbanvoices.com

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• What is Emotionally Healthy Discipleship?
• New City Network (of Churches) Five Values
• Unique needs and challenges faced by urban ministers

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Drew Hyun is the Founder and Pastor of Hope Church NYC, a family of diverse churches in and around NYC. Drew is also the Co-Founder of the New City Network, a network of urban churches that value multi-ethnicity, Spirit-filled ministry, emotional health, and mission. Drew is also part of the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship team, a movement that is dedicated to transforming church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed leaders and disciples. Drew loves cities, ESPN, and naps, and finds it a restful Sabbath when all three come together. He resides in New York City with his wife Christina and their son David and daughter Avery.

RELATED LINKS:

• HOPE Church Website
• New City Network Website
• Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Website
• The Hub Website
• Drew Hyun on Twitter

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

02:24 - Introducing Pastor Drew Hyun

04:01 - Founder of Hope Church NYC and Co-Founder of New City Network

04:41 - Psalm 33:18

05:18 - defined as a people who deeply hoped in God's unfailing love

05:42 - 2012 - dream to start a movement of churches in NYC - Hope Church NYC

06:39 - 2016 - New City Network

06:54 - Recovery House of Worship (Next Step Community Church)

07:11 - New Life Fellowship

07:14 - New City Network of Churches around five values...

07:26 - ...urban ministry

07:32 - ...emotional health

07:34 - ...Spirit-filled ministry

07:42 - ...multi-ethnic ministry

07:48 - ...mission

08:04 - Church-planting - support for ~40 churches with $2M

08:51 - What is Pastor Hyun's journey to urban ministry?

09:24 - Grew up in Los Angeles, but very unlike New York

09:31 - College at University of California at Berkeley

09:40 - 2000: Three options following university

11:02 - NYC has a different vibe

11:48 - 2001: Internship at New Life Fellowship

13:23 - Love the people and the diversity of people

14:41 - What are the unique needs and challenges faced by urban ministers?

14:59 - Very practical challenges...

15:14 - ...exorbitant cost

15:27 - ...extra time that things take to do

15:34 - ...leads to feeling weightier and a heaviness

15:43 - ...the soil does not seem quit as open

15:50 - ...tons of people, but they are harder to reach because they have such little time in margin

16:05 - ...staying emotionally and spiritually vibrant is exceptionally difficult

16:26 - ...practical needs end up putting on more stress, fear, loneliness, anxiety

16:43 - Unless one is super-intentional about remaining emotionally and spiritually whole

17:14 - Deeply passionate about emotionally healthy discipleship

17:41 - Approach with a missionary mindset - it's cross-cultural experience

17:59 - What is emotional health and why is it important?

18:32 - The goal is not just planting churches...

18:42 - ...vibrant and full of health

18:45 - ...integrity that mimic Sermon on the Mount

18:55 - Emotionally healthy discipleship culture

19:41 - What are we multiplying?

20:19 - Role of New City Network

20:38 - Emotionally Healthy Discipleship is in process of building a network

21:41 - Involvement in Emotionally Healthy Discipleship

22:29 - Seeing unhealthy churches in the past

23:09 - Seeing Christianity in the church vs what Jesus taught

23:29 - Seeing the same thing happening in his own life

24:22 - How does the gospel speak into our lives and experiences?

24:51 - What it means to follow Jesus?

25:46 - We are unaware of our blind spots and our power

25:55 - Grow continually

26:02 - Make amends with our sinfulness

26:08 - Desire to live with as much integrity as possible

26:31 - Ask God for transformation

26:49 - Deep father wounds transcend cultures

30:34 - Discipleship Model: what's caught and what's taught...

30:57 - ...taught...

31:10 - ...Emotionally Healthy Discipleship...

31:20 - ... Course 1. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

31:24 - ... Course 2. Emotionally Healthy Relationships

31:36 - Introduce people on what it means to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind

31:41 - and to love others as your love yourself

31:46 - ...caught...

31:49 - Modeling incarnational listening while working through a conflict

31:58 - Building a culture

32:20 - Who can participate in the program?

32:57 - How would a ministry leader start this discipleship program?

33:05 - EmotionallyHealthy.org - for assessments, tools, introduction to courses

33:19 - Hope Church begins The Hub in Midtown NYC

33:59 - Communal space for use by church plants, missions agencies, and non-profits at an affordable cost

34:50 - Last year, 78 organizations used this space

36:51 - Getting in touch with Pastor Drew Hyun - @drewhyun on Instagram and Twitter

DID YOU APPRECIATE THIS PODCAST?

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Purpose of the book Revelation
• Discussing Revelation with Muslim background people
• Focus on "Who is Jesus?"

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Rev Dr Duane Alexander Miller was born in Montana and grew up in Colorado and Puebla (in Mexico). He completed a BA in philosophy at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and then an MA in theology at St Mary's University (also in San Antonio). Later, life took him to Jordan where he and his wife studied Arabic, to Israel where he helped found a seminary, and to Scotland for doctoral work, among other places.

He is highly interested in the interactions of Islam, Christianity and secularism in modern contexts. His main areas of research for his PhD in divinity were religious conversion from Islam to Christianity, contextual theology, and the shari'a's treatment of apostates. He has also published research on global Anglicanism and the history of Anglican mission in the Ottoman Empire.

He has had the pleasure of teaching in many places over the years: from Costa Rica to Turkey, and Kenya to Tunisia. Presently, he lives in Madrid where he is on the pastoral staff at the Anglican Cathedral of the Redeemer and associate professor at the Protestant Faculty of Theology at Madrid (UEBE).

RELATED LINKS:

• Rev Dr Duane Alexander Miller's Website
• Author Page

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

Spreadsheet to create time stamped show notes

01:43 - How did John's audience relate to the book of Revelation?

01:53 - Apocalyptic literature - multiple fulfillment: immediate and later

02:32 - Bible : implication in every generation and church age

03:24 - Revelation is not only for that final generation

03:41 - Multiple fulfillment examples: ...unto us a child is given, onto us, a child is born

04:04 - ...from Egypt, I have called my son

04:36 - ...woman in Revelation 12

04:58 - Responsibility of each person to ask: why am I given this text in this day and age?

05:28 - When we miss the big picture, we miss what God has given us in Revelation

05:39 - Knowing the end of the book should take away our anxiety

05:50 - Struggle: how to help people know Revelation but also act on it to reach the lost

06:37 - How do Muslim background believers (MBBs) approach Revelation?

06:44 - ...one Muslim Background believers' experience

07:12 - Even the devil is God's devil

07:23 - fascinated by Revelation

07:27 - Muslims have a very detailed eschatology

07:53 - which includes the return of Jesus

08:09 - Have not personally found that MBBs are that concerned with the end times and the return of Christ

08:33 - The main issue of MBBs is identity and relating to family and others

08:42 - Every tribe and language and people and nation...

10:59 - Revelation shows us the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant

11:13 - The text from Revelation to discuss with a MBB

11:39 - Who is this guy that John is describing?

12:00 - Visions of Jesus

13:11 - Revelation 19-21 - City of God coming down - the division between heaven and earth is erased

14:23 - And no division in Eden, either

14:38 - Our vision is corrupted by sin

15:04 - Revelation will be clear when Jesus returns

15:43 - Grand Finale - restoration

16:28 - Acts 3 : 21 apokatastasis

18:42 - Focus on gospel kingdom and evangelism

18:58 - Israel in the end times

19:59 - Israel is the people of God

20:16 - Main symbols of Israel in the Old Testament

21:01 - Let everyone who thirsts come

21:12 - Don't miss the boat

22:47 - Contacting Rev Dr Duane Alexander Miller

22:53 - blog : duanemiller.wordpress.com

23:04 - Amazon : Duane Alexander Miller

23:16 - Youtube : @drduanemiller

DID YOU APPRECIATE THIS PODCAST?

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Genre of Revelation and Its Importance
• Old Testament and Revelation link
• Host's & Guest's Interpretation Example

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Rev Dr Duane Alexander Miller was born in Montana and grew up in Colorado and Puebla (in Mexico). He completed a BA in philosophy at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and then an MA in theology at St Mary's University (also in San Antonio). Later, life took him to Jordan where he and his wife studied Arabic, to Israel where he helped found a seminary, and to Scotland for doctoral work, among other places.

He is highly interested in the interactions of Islam, Christianity and secularism in modern contexts. His main areas of research for his PhD in divinity were religious conversion from Islam to Christianity, contextual theology, and the shari'a's treatment of apostates. He has also published research on global Anglicanism and the history of Anglican mission in the Ottoman Empire.

He has had the pleasure of teaching in many places over the years: from Costa Rica to Turkey, and Kenya to Tunisia. Presently, he lives in Madrid where he is on the pastoral staff at the Anglican Cathedral of the Redeemer and associate professor at the Protestant Faculty of Theology at Madrid (UEBE).

RELATED LINKS:

• Rev Dr Duane Alexander Miller's Website
• Author Page

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:37 - Introducing Rev Dr Duane Alexander Miller

02:55 - Preaching through the Book of Revelation

03:29 - Dr Javed takes a literal interpretation and dispensationalist view of Revelation

04:18 - What is the type of genre of literature is Revelation?

04:59 - ... Apocalyptic literature

05:22 - apocalyptic = unveiling - take away something that is covering something else

06:00 - Four methods : preterist, historicist, idealist, futurist

06:41 - Preparing messages : informational, instructional, and inspirational

07:33 - Epistle to the Seven Churches

07:47 - Why did the people of Israel develop this genre of literature?

08:46 - Speaking in code...

09:53 - So much of Revelation is taking ideas from the Old Testament and reformulating it

10:35 - Analogy with a theater production

11:18 - Going back behind the scenes in a world where we have limited vision of what is going on

11:41 - John is getting the behind the scenes tour and telling us in symbolic language what' s going on

13:31 - Importance of Old Testament and connection to Revelation

13:56 - The code is in the Old Testament

15:16 - Helping students understand Revelation

15:20 - Who is the audience for Revelation?

15:36 - Who is writing?

16:32 - America-centric interpretation of Revelation?

18:35 - For example, preaching on the number / mark of the beast

19:09 - Dr Javed on the mark of the beast

20:32 - A little dangerous to over-analyze

20:46 - Rev Dr Miller on the mark of the beast

20:56 - ...Revelation 13:16-17

21:55 - ...Deuteronomy 6:6-9

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About film: At the Cross

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Embracing different types of people in the church
• Keeping the focus on Biblical teaching and the kingdom
• Call to ministry vs pleasing the culture

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Temeko Richardson, a seasoned Executive Producer, Director, and Writer, is known for her inspirational films that combine business acumen with artistic vision, earning her eight awards. Her latest film, "At the Cross," explores thought-provoking topics often overlooked in traditional Church settings, and resonates with youth and contemporary culture. This film skillfully captures the essence of youth and contemporary culture while fearlessly exploring issues that many pastors and religious leaders avoid.

RELATED LINKS:

• About Temeko Richardson

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

01:39 - Introducing Temeko Richardson

03:23 - At the Cross - story based on uncomfortable conversations that church people have to have with the unchurched & seeking

03:43 - feeling resistance in telling these stories

03:56 - feature film that focuses the audience through the lens of a pastor in dilemmas with his congregation and community

04:22 - like youth who astray, people who don't know what church is about, feeling judged, marginalized

04:48 - focus on not being so relevant that God's kingdom is not kept in mind

04:58 - lessons on the times like women in leadership, succession planning, and calling

05:39 - Movie short - male mental health wellness - challenges of upholding "I'm OK" called "I am Him"

07:20 - Inspiration of characters of "At the Cross"

07:26 - The characters and stories are real

08:58 - Traditional vs Modern Day Church

09:16 - Pandemic heightened the sense of loss of popularity and will to attend church

09:38 - Church was very important to get through adversity

09:54 - Traditional church: Fellowship and gathering

10:24 - Modern day church : less about relating to people in their Christian walk and more about relating to people where they are in the secular world

10:58 - leaders tend to want to focus on popularity over purpose-filled walk

11:44 - a changing of the guard in leadership

11:53 - Focus of 60-80 year-olds

12:24 - Focus of 30-60 year-olds

13:02 - The focus still has to be on the kingdom

14:15 - Don't let culture take over

15:45 - Embracing different types of people in the church

15:54 - Bring the church outside to the community

16:46 - What do people in the church think

16:59 - More and more groups feel marginalized by the traditional church

17:38 - Do we really mean, "come as you are?"

17:50 - Leaders have to recognize that everyone, including themselves, are or have been broken

18:20 - We need to show God's love and forgiveness for all sins

18:45 - Be less judgmental

18:51 - Today's youth are different and influenced by the culture

19:41 - What should the church do? Don't judge people who are not part of the traditional model.

19:56 - The role of entertainment in the church

20:26 - Social media has killed people's focus

20:53 - People want to be entertained

21:03 - Praise and worship team

21:11 - Liturgy dance team

21:19 - People have different responses

22:29 - Is it worship or a gig?

23:32 - Leaders should understand that the entertainment has the focus of the kingdom and not the world

24:22 - Call to ministry vs pleasing the culture

24:41 - Not everything is right for every church

26:15 - Setting boundaries against watering down God for the sake of popularity

26:29 - Challenges in producing and writing the script for the film

26:34 - Scheduling

27:12 - Shooting during the end of the pandemic

27:55 - Seeing God working through the film

28:06 - Unnecessary use of the Bible in national politics

29:00 - Relevance for the youth of today

29:26 - Alternate lifestyle communities seeing the walk that God wants for them

30:11 - Athletes saw their walk with God and walking closer and forgiveness

30:52 - Hope for the impact of the film, "At the Cross"

32:41 - Answer questions for the unchurched

32:54 - Reach those who need to be re-churched

33:05 - Making sure that people have that walk with God

33:19 - Understanding that God is not here to grant your wants

33:30 - God protects us from things seen and unseen

34:03 - Keeping all generations in church

34:33 - Churches should be a stronghold in the community and help

34:42 - Succession planning

36:36 - Diversity in the church

37:11 - Churches need to be intergenerational and reach everybody

37:52 - Get out of what is seen as marketing and greed and focus is on Biblical teaching and the kingdom

38:23 - Humility and make a difference to reach the unchurched and re-churched

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Henry O Arnold III's website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Identifying with people and their needs
• Art and literature as a call to action
• How to start ministering to the unhoused population

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Henry's career as an actor and author spans over five decades with multiple stage and film credits. His most recent film is "The Hiding Place." He has recorded over one hundred audiobooks and is the author of the multi-volume biblical/historical fiction series entitled "The Song of Prophets and Kings."

Mr. Arnold received his B.A. from Pepperdine University and his Master of Fine Arts degree at U.N.C. Chapel Hill.

When not writing, he can be found hiking on a trail somewhere in the world. 

He and his lovely wife, Kay, have two beautiful daughters, married to two handsome men, with three above-average grandchildren.

SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:

• Matthew 25 : 35-40

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

02:23 - What is the role of the church in urban America?

02:38 - Matthew 25:35-40 - whatever you did for one of the least of these of mine, you did for me

03:41 - Identify with people - see and hear the need

04:25 - Open eyes and ears open to God and hearts and action for those around us

04:31 - Not just see and pass by

05:27 - What righteous people do is make the sacrifice

05:33 - Out of the joy of our relationship with Jesus, we get to sacrifice for others

06:33 - If the church does what she is supposed to do...

08:07 - How is God working in the homeless ministry?

08:28 - The Room in the Inn

08:38 - National Rescue Mission

08:40 - Stand - a play about a friendship between a homeless man and a middle class business person

09:09 - based on a true story

09:23 - the play toured the country with the founder of Room in the Inn

09:30 - a story of homelessness, poverty, and addiction

09:43 - raising money and awareness

09:46 - Las Vegas has the 3rd highest homeless population in the country

10:00 - juxtaposition between what Vegas is known for and the homelessness

10:30 - Closer to home, the local church...

10:36 - Second Saturdays of City Service

11:07 - The Village Chapel has a missional sense of getting out into the world to care for people

11:29 - to be of such service that if the church no longer existed, it would be sorely missed because of their care and generosity

12:14 - each church should look at their existence

13:44 - churches change societies

14:07 - beautiful symbiosis between government and church to meet a need in the community

14:34 - The hope for the impact of "The Mercy Seat" and sequels

14:48 - for the reader to be entertained

15:16 - but more so, to identify with the characters and situations

15:30 - and to see a place for himself in a similar situation

16:03 - Example of the first century church

16:57 - How to start ministering to the unhoused population

19:28 - Pray and walk at the same time

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Henry O Arnold III's website

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Importance of talking about conflict & dichotomy
• Jesus came to give us His heart so that we can reflect His heart to the world
• Willingness to sacrifice

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Henry's career as an actor and author spans over five decades with multiple stage and film credits. His most recent film is "The Hiding Place." He has recorded over one hundred audiobooks and is the author of the multi-volume biblical/historical fiction series entitled "The Song of Prophets and Kings."

Mr. Arnold received his B.A. from Pepperdine University and his Master of Fine Arts degree at U.N.C. Chapel Hill.

When not writing, he can be found hiking on a trail somewhere in the world. 

He and his lovely wife, Kay, have two beautiful daughters, married to two handsome men, with three above-average grandchildren.

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

02:02 - Introducing Henry O Arnold III

02:35 - raised in Christian home

02:41 - parent are professional actors

02:58 - people of all walks of life welcomed into their home

03:53 - appeared in a play with his father

04:24 - met wife, Kay

05:01 - influence of a father on his son

05:17 - What led Henry to write The Mercy Seat

05:41 - Kay suggested writing something contemporary as opposed to historical fiction

06:04 - read article about a pastor who worked with urban societies, specifically the homeless

06:48 - Henry had been working with organizations minstering to the homeless

07:49 - Brief description and narrative arc of The Mercy Seat

09:32 - Inspiration for the characters

10:51 - Matching characters with the action in the story

11:15 - Making characters authentic and believable

11:59 - Imagine the characters playing out the scenes

12:46 - Imagination & daydreaming

13:08 - Importance of talking about major themes of the book - conflict & dichotomy

13:28 - People to see themselves in the characters and environments

14:39 - Empathize with the character because of his truthfulness

15:13 - Expands the heart muscle of how we see people

15:26 - Art helps us see that we have a common bond

15:38 - Art gives Christians a sense of God's heart towards all people

15:52 - Jesus came to give us His heart so that we can reflect His heart to the world

16:10 - Hebrew idea of being God-centric is to be a blessing on this earth

16:41 - Christian idea of being God-centric is eternal life

16:49 - Jesus came and changed us and we see these elements in our society

17:29 - When we are kind to the others, we lend to the Lord - we show God's kindness to one another

18:17 - God desires justice, not sacrifice

18:50 - Our righteousness comes from God and we should be able to reflect that in acts of justice

19:51 - Researching for The Mercy Seat deepened relationships with God, Kay, immediate family, and other people

20:23 - Willingness to sacrifice

22:03 - Jesus used stories to bring people back to God

DID YOU APPRECIATE THIS PODCAST?

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Why Southside Blooms is different
• Building strong families
• Be the industry and save the economy

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Chicago Eco House’s signature program is Southside Blooms, which creates jobs for young people on the south and west sides of Chicago. The Eco House has won several awards for its work including the UL Innovation Education Award, Delta Institute BOOST Award, the Keep Chicago Beautiful Community Vision Award, and the African American Legacy Award. Quilen is originally from Madison, WI, and moved to Chicago to attend ministry school. 

While in ministry school, he volunteered at a local high school in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's south side. This is where he first got acclimated to the realities that young people face every day in the inner city. He decided to commit his life to creating opportunities for the young people in the inner city by utilizing his skills in community organizing and renewable energy.

Quilen holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in environmental policy and sustainability from the University of Denver. He worked in the biodiesel industry as a procurer of feedstock and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand prior to starting the Chicago Eco House. Quilen resides on the south side of Chicago with his wife Hannah (the other co-founder of Eco House) and their three children.

RELATED LINKS:

• www.chicagoecohouse.org

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

02:27 - Introducing Quilen Blackwell, president and co-founder of the Chicago Eco House

02:53 - His family is his #1 ministry

03:53 - Journey to Chicago & the founding the Eco House

04:14 - Called by the Lord to move to Chicago

04:29 - Started volunteering at a high school during ministry school

04:42 - Opportunity to have relationships with families and see their needs

05:03 - Choice to serve the urban black community

05:12 - Mission to rebuild the economic foundation of the inner city

06:09 - What is Southside Blooms and why does it work?

07:00 - Southside Blooms is different because...

07:05 - Startup business as a viable flower shop

07:09 - Creating bottom up careers in the neighborhood

07:21 - Be the industry and save the economy

08:17 - Urban ministry intersects with other areas of expertise

08:29 - Taking skills, expertise, and experiences and channeling them toward kingdom purpose

08:41 - Not only using God's blessings to solve earthly problems, but to show heaven on earth

09:08 - Combine the spiritual need with physical needs

10:21 - Importance of family-focused programs

10:33 - Culture of single mother families

10:46 - Building block of successful family units

10:58 - Flowers in weddings gives opportunities to talk about marriage

11:20 - Giving a different vision of what family looks like

11:29 - Quilen & Hannah's marriage is a witness to the youth

12:18 - The ministry is really all about families

12:45 - Initial community response to Southside Blooms

12:57 - Survey the community, talk to politcal leaders, assess the need

13:14 - The real need is homegrown industry

13:31 - Pushback: why flowers and not food?

13:53 - Look at the business picture

14:27 - Now the results can be seen

14:30 - God gave an unconventional idea

14:44 - Christlike leadership and coming alongside people

14:56 - Moses' example leading Israel out of Egypt

15:27 - Unconventional ideas might not be favorable initially

16:20 - Hardest challenges

16:40 - Dangerous neighborhood

16:54 - Unbelief

17:52 - Fixation on the idea that things don't change

18:16 - Work to change: Why can't things get better?

18:36 - God can do more than you think - work in God's will

19:03 - Assumption about “bad” neighborhoods you would like to debunk

19:11 - Debunk that people don't care about their neighborhood

19:28 - People are people and want the same things

19:49 - There are a lot of hidden assets because people do want a better community

19:58 - Facing calamities overshadows improvements for a better community

20:12 - Opportunities for Christians to be the salt and light

20:58 - A doctor is for the sick, not the healthy

21:44 - Trust the Lord

21:56 - Be the answer to the problems

22:39 - Seeing God's hand in ministry work

22:45 - God is working every day

23:04 - When Southside Blooms was trying to get into the neighborhood in the early days

23:31 - Getting vacant properties

24:51 - Construction

25:28 - Southside Blooms started in the basement and the backyard

25:35 - Youth program to teach gardening

25:49 - God has grown the ministry to 10 acres of farms and two flower shops

26:09 - How individuals and church can promote environmental sustainability in urban areas

26:18 - Counting the cost

27:06 - Give your life as a seed

27:40 - Start small with a community garden or a school

29:05 - It's worth it!

30:13 - Knowing that my life mattered

30:35 - Don't think about the short-term pain; think about the long-term gain

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Cost of not planning for your estate (even if you think you don't have anything)
• What are wills, power of attorney, health care proxy?
• Mindset for estate planning

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Rev Matthews areas of practice are Trusts and Estates and Real Estate. She is passionate about teaching believers and the urban community about Estate Planning. Currently she is one of the ordained Elders of Bethel Gospel Assembly, Inc. where the Senior Pastor is Bishop Dr. Carlton T. Brown.

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

01:35 - Passionate about estate planning dialog

02:57 - Raised in an urban immigrant community

03:43 - Journey to eldership and attorney

07:51 - Importance of estate planning

09:21 - Basics of Estate Planning: will, power of attorney, health care proxy

09:27 - Wills

09:35 - Power of Attorney

10:22 - Health care proxy

11:02 - People don't feel the need for estate planning

11:25 - Not planning creates chaos, uncertainty, confusion

12:10 - We do not prepare for estate planning

12:19 - Estate planning is not usually known about, especially in urban communities

12:40 - Mindset is important

12:50 - Urban communities tend to think more about survival from paycheck to paycheck

13:16 - Suburban communities more plan for the future

14:14 - Both cultural and racial norms come into play

17:24 - How should Christians approach estate planning?

17:31 - Get understanding and knowledge about estate planning

18:22 - Some culture shy away from talking about death and estate planning

20:06 - How should younger people approach estate planning?

20:49 - Plan for the unexpected

21:16 - Get something in place - it can always be changed, if needed

22:04 - Debunk the myths

22:17 - Not planning is selfish because it will negatively affect loved ones

23:32 - What cultural and ethnic considerations need to be considered?

24:25 - How do we change people's mindset?

26:23 - Opportunity to share Christ in estate planning conversations

27:42 - What are the financial barriers to estate planning?

28:33 - Estate planning establishes a legacy

28:52 - Not planning creates more expensive procedures

29:08 - Petitioning the court

29:49 - Incapacitated people can't sign a power of attorney or health care proxy

31:15 - Pay for a will on a payment plan

32:08 - Unexpectedly used by God and He opened doors

36:16 - Initial Steps to Estate Planning

37:14 - How can a pastor help his congregation in this matter?

38:26 - What is God saying to you using this podcast?

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• How Ramadan affects outreach
• Sharing the gospel more effectively
• Practical steps in cross-culture ministry

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

David and his family serve as the Strategy Coordinator and unit on the Global Gates West African Team. Though they have a specific people group focus, the vision is reaching the ends of the Earth through global gateway cities. They have served in the West African community for 10 years globally.

SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:

• Jeremiah 12 : 5
• Matthew 6 : 33-34
• Matthew 13 : 1-9

RELATED LINKS:

• Global Gates

01:01 - Misconceptions to address when ministering among Muslims

01:07 - Not all Muslims are terrorists

01:27 - Christians can visit a mosque

02:06 - Many Muslims do want to know about Jesus

03:10 - What do you love and admire about the people you serve?

03:13 - Value relationship over schedule

03:21 - Hospitality

04:44 - Ramadan

05:27 - Fasting during daylight hours

05:52 - Help reflect on how it feels to be poor

06:02 - Focused prayer and asking for forgiveness

06:16 - Ask God to show the straight path

06:29 - Hajj - pilgrimage to Mecca

07:28 - The Night of Power

08:17 - Christian pray that God would show Jesus to Muslims

08:29 - Hope that God would reveal something during Ramadan

08:46 - Christians can invite Muslims to break fast

08:51 - Bring water or dates to a Muslim might not have broken fast at sundown

09:25 - Opportunities during Ramadan and Outreach

09:51 - Focus on having gospel conversations

10:45 - God has shown that so many organizations are focused on reaching on all the nations

11:17 - Network of organizations working together

12:22 - You may not be the one who leads someone to Christ, but you may be one of the many leading up to it

14:52 - Personal story of faith and knowing that God has him

17:28 - Ask God and God revealed in a dream

19:45 - Family on Mission

20:41 - Each member of the family does something

22:56 - Go-to Bible verses for encouragement

23:05 - Jeremiah 12 : 5

24:36 - Matthew 6 : 33-34

25:02 - Matthew 13 : 1-9

26:31 - Sharing the gospel more effectively

26:50 - Joining existing work

27:14 - Find ministries addressing needs

27:33 - If there is no existing work, pray, search the needs, and then start it

28:20 - Practical things to do to reach out

28:34 - Go to restaurants and enjoy their food

29:10 - Go to places of worship and observe

29:43 - Invite into your home

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Being a missionary in your own backyard
• Connecting with immigrant people groups
• Common barriers in cross-culture contact

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

David and his family serve as the Strategy Coordinator and unit on the Global Gates West African Team. Though they have a specific people group focus, the vision is reaching the ends of the Earth through global gateway cities. They have served in the West African community for 10 years globally.

SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:

• Acts 17 : 26-27
• Matthew 28 : 19-20

RELATED LINKS:

• Global Gates

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

01:13 - Family is the first ministry

01:31 - Partnership at home

03:08 - Being a missionary in your own backyard

04:00 - Acts 17 : 26-27

04:36 - God moves nations and people groups to us

05:09 - The need to connect with these immigrant people groups

05:26 - We are supposed to GO

05:43 - Matthew 28 : 19-20

06:11 - What if I'm not comfortable sharing?

06:23 - Model, assist, watch, and leave

06:51 - Disciples that make disciples

07:05 - Training might be needed before going

07:22 - Cultural makeup and demographics of mission field

07:46 - Diverse, but mainly West African

08:36 - Different groups gravitate to different opportunities

09:18 - Cities are fruitful mission fields

09:59 - People tend to stay in their own cultural community

11:14 - Follow-up opportunities

11:30 - 1st conversation: I am a follower of Jesus

12:07 - Identifying people groups to serve

12:24 - 5000+ people in a community

12:55 - Reach out to community leaders

13:06 - Ask the leaders what the community needs

13:52 - Take care of the physical need to meet the spiritual need

14:50 - Often starts as a family unit working with a people group

15:07 - Advocating for the people group and asking for help

15:31 - Training in simple and reproduceable methods

15:50 - Favorite ways to connect with people

15:58 - 1. Start conversations on the subway

16:18 - Able in pinpoint someone from West Africa 95% of the time

16:28 - Greet someone in their language and have a conversation

16:46 - Step by step, back and forth - interested in talking about God?

16:59 - 2. Networking

17:10 - people who are not interesting in talking about God may know people who are

17:26 - Common barriers in cross-cultural contact

17:40 - Language

17:45 - Learning greetings in the language shows interest in the people

18:43 - Bring your family to meet their family

19:20 - Smile

19:26 - Barriers are based on their comfort level with you

20:04 - To reach people's hearts, learn greetings in their specific language

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• Preach the Word
• Patience and Grace
• Apologetics and Care

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Pastor Otis (O.L.) Buckley is the teaching pastor of Highpoint Bible Church in The Bronx, NY. He has lived in various places in the United States and has experienced different denominational theologies. He and his wife, Consuela, have been married 15 years and both have over 20 years in business and ministry.

SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:

Important NOTE: there needs to be a space, ' ' between ':' and the verse number, otherwise the scripture verse will be automatically converted to a timestamp link. Link

• 2 Timothy 4 : 2
• Romans 8 : 28-29

RELATED LINKS:

• Highpoint Bible Church
• Email Pastor Buckley

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

01:31 - late 1980s/mid 1990s pentacostalism

01:42 - Word of Faith influence - metaphysical approach to scripture

02:04 - The Bronx, NY syncretism and witchcraft

02:41 - Resistance to the New Testament

03:11 - Show there is no disunity between the Old and New Testaments

03:27 - Praying with the community

03:43 - Coming from modalism to trinitarianism has help

03:51 - The metaphysics approach created the mind science

04:35 - OL had to raise his understanding of God and Jesus

05:16 - Justification by faith is only possible with God still working in me

06:51 - No new revelation, but the Spirit gives illumination

07:36 - How has OL's journey uniquely prepared him to pastor Highpoint Bible Church

07:49 - In a word... Sensitivity

07:52 - 2 Timothy 4 : 2 - preach the word - reliance on the word of God

08:20 - Be ready in season and out of season

08:41 - Be persistent in the first thing that you are instructed

09:06 - To reprove - heling people understand what is proper - correctness

09:17 - To rebuke - challenging people to come out of any wrongness to restoration

09:37 - To exhort - encourage

09:52 - With complete patience

10:36 - Making major changes at Highpoint

11:31 - Wisdom in the content and wisdom in the action

11:49 - Patience goes both ways

12:03 - Wait for the Holy Spirit to work

12:28 - Two way street of grace

12:34 - Church name change

12:45 - Which change was the bigger challenge: leadership or theology?

13:34 - Understanding what people want from what they treasure

13:39 - For example, ex nihilo uniqueness of God - Romans 4:17

13:53 - What makes something attractive? and then expose it to the human heart

14:38 - Preaching Big God theology

14:58 - John 9 : 1-7 - Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

15:42 - John 11 : 1-16 The Death of Lazarus

16:08 - God uses trials to show His goodness and be glorified

16:20 - View trials differently

16:42 - Why not trust God's omniscience and omnipotence?

16:54 - Romans 8 : 28-30 - God is going to work it out for my good

17:09 - Balance between apologetics and care

17:18 - NYC demands preaching with an apologetic

17:30 - Do the work of the evangelist in preaching

18:11 - Give answer for the hope within us

18:20 - Walking in Christlikeness when faced with opposition

18:54 - Joy inexpressible in glory creates conversation

19:01 - Caring for souls

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• How to Search for Answers
• Big God Theology
• Letting God be True

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Pastor Otis (O.L.) Buckley is the teaching pastor of Highpoint Bible Church in The Bronx, NY. He has lived in various places in the United States and has experienced different denominational theologies. He and his wife, Consuela, have been married 15 years and both have over 20 years in business and ministry.

SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:

• Matthew 18: 18
• Matthew 28: 19
• Acts 2: 38

RELATED LINKS:

• Highpoint Bible Church
• Email Pastor Buckley

TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

00:39 - Introducing Pastor Otis (OL) Buckley

03:44 - Early years in Chicago

04:01 - then the move to Texas

04:51 - and then to Highpoint Bible Church in the Bronx, NY

07:15 - Sabellianism / Modalistic

09:20 - Classic Oneness Pentecostalism

10:39 - Class on Overview of Hebrew Studies

11:18 - Matthew 18 : 18

11:34 - Learning a different interpretation

12:42 - Have I been wrong all these years?

12:57 - What else could I possibly have been wrong about?

13:17 - Another connected event

14:28 - Matthew 28 : 19

14:47 - vs Acts 2 : 38

15:33 - God opens OL's eyes to the Trinity

16:13 - Are people are going beyond the social issues to wrestling with theology?

18:21 - Denominations, Name, Theology, & Social Media

20:27 - The need for clear Biblical theology

22:47 - God's workings to move OL on the journey

23:04 - Every dilemma raises a question

23:12 - And every question creates an opportunity to pivot

23:49 - Do I really know God the way I think I do?

24:37 - Lord, let your Word imposed itself on me.

25:37 - Big God theology

25:54 - Not compartimentalizing God

28:59 - Was this a personal journey of discovery or where there others alongside you?

30:52 - Every question drives one to search for an answer

30:56 - ...three-fold answer

30:59 - ...1. pray

31:12 - ...2. search the Scriptures

31:25 - ...3. right teaching

31:42 - ... and stilling the voices with wrong interpretations of Scripture

34:06 - Abandoning the past

34:22 - Letting God be True

44:31 - End of Part 1

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