Paul Akin interviews Pastor Doug Van Meter, an American who came to South Africa after time in Australia and has pastored Brackenhurst Baptist Church in Johannesburg for nearly 33 years. Doug describes South Africa’s post-apartheid context, ongoing racial and political tensions, and a religious landscape marked by nominal Christianity, syncretism (including the Zionist movement), and prosperity-gospel teaching. He shares how Brackenhurst has grown into a more multi-ethnic, gospel-preaching, missions-minded church connected to other like-minded churches, while facing challenges like corruption, crime, and pessimism. Doug is encouraged by people seeking biblical teaching, healthier churches being planted, and the potential of the younger generation, and he hopes to raise and train future leaders and plant more churches.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Online PhD at Southern Seminary

https://www.sbts.edu/online-phd/

Paul Akin interviews Pastor Juan Hernandez of Rescue Mission Church in Barranquilla, Colombia. Juan shares his journey from witchcraft and hostility toward Christians to faith in Christ and pastoral ministry. He describes Colombia’s largely Catholic context, the influence of prosperity theology, and a growing hunger for sound doctrine. He also recounts planting and reforming his church, now reaching about 520 people weekly with plans to plant more, and highlights a free seminary serving over 10,000 students across Latin America despite challenges like limited funding and pride.

Mentioned in this episode:

Doctorate of Missiology at Southern Seminary

Host Paul Akin talks with Sarah Lanier about her book Foreign to Familiar and how “hot” and “cold” climate cultures communicate love differently through indirect vs. direct communication, relationship vs. task focus, and views of honor, time, and authority. Lanier warns against judging other cultures through one’s own lens and argues there is no perfect culture; effectiveness requires learning what communicates love in the local context, including when directness is necessary for safety. For short-term missions, she advises taking no initiative, acting as guests, following local leadership, and selecting humble, teachable participants to avoid harming local ministry. They discuss applying these concepts within the U.S., using cultural curiosity for conflict resolution, avoiding stereotypes amid generational change, and preparing missionaries by building relationships with different cultural congregations before going overseas.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Doctor of Ministry

https://www.sbts.edu/degree-programs/doctor-of-ministry/

Host Paul Akin interviews Sarah Lanier about her book "Foreign to Familiar" and how cultural differences affect communication, leadership, and missions. Lanier shares formative cross-cultural lessons from growing up in the Middle East, living in Amsterdam, and a painful miscommunication-filled move to Chile that led to mentoring on “hot” (relationship-focused, indirect) and “cold” (task-focused, direct) cultures. She explains why these categories matter, notes culture is only one “thread” among many that shape people, and gives practical examples of avoiding offense when saying no in relational contexts. Lanier also describes how misunderstanding these dynamics can create serious conflict, including Western-African tension in medical training settings.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Online PhD at Southern Seminary

https://www.sbts.edu/online-phd/

In this episode of Amazon to the Himalayas, host Paul Akin welcomes Trevin Wax and Thomas West to discuss their new book, The Gospel Way Catechism, a discipleship resource designed to help believers know what they believe and why. They explain the historic role of catechesis in forming Christians and argue that in an age shaped by secular individualism and cultural confusion, the church must embrace intentional “counter-catechesis.” Rooted in historic orthodoxy yet written for today, the book’s 50 questions and answers address issues like identity, sexuality, freedom, and consumerism, offering a practical tool for personal devotion, families, small groups, and whole-church discipleship, with a kids version in development.

In this episode of Amazon to the Himalayas, host Paul Akin talks with Pastor Jeff Hay of Ballyculle Community Church in Dublin about gospel ministry in modern Ireland. They discuss Ireland’s Christian history, rapid secularization, and the challenges of evangelism in a culturally Catholic yet increasingly post-Christian society, while also highlighting encouraging signs of renewed openness, church growth, and the central role of the local church in mission.

Host Paul Akin interviews Pastor Tiago Vera of First Baptist Church of Lisbon on Amazon to the Himalayas. They discuss Portugal’s secular context, the revitalization of the Lisbon church, and the need for a clear gospel witness.

Mentioned in this episode:

Doctorate of Missiology at Southern Seminary

In this episode of Amazon to the Himalayas, host Paul Akin talks with Pastor Liam Garvie of Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh about his journey to faith, his call to pastoral ministry, and the realities of gospel work in post-Christian Scotland. They discuss challenges and signs of hope for the church, the need for pastor training, and Liam’s involvement with the Pillar Network in church planting and revitalization.

For more about Southern Seminary, visit sbts.edu.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Doctor of Ministry

https://www.sbts.edu/degree-programs/doctor-of-ministry/

In this episode of Amazon to the Himalayas, host Paul Akin speaks with Pastor Paul Reese, lead pastor of Charlotte Chapel in Edinburgh, Scotland. Paul shares his journey from a Christian upbringing in Cardiff, Wales, to leading one of the UK’s historic evangelical churches. They discuss the unique challenges and gospel opportunities in Scotland, the state of the evangelical church in Edinburgh and across the UK, and signs of renewed spiritual interest among younger generations. Drawing on more than 16 years at Charlotte Chapel, Reese reflects on cultivating a mission-shaped congregation, church planting and revitalization, and the importance of prayer, community engagement, and a faithful biblical foundation for gospel ministry both locally and globally.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Online PhD at Southern Seminary

https://www.sbts.edu/online-phd/

In this episode of Amazon to the Himalayas, Dr. Paul Akin talks with Pastor Martin Smith of Hawick Baptist Church in Scotland’s Borders. Martin shares his journey to faith, his call to ministry, and his heart for serving rural Southeast Scotland. Together they explore the cultural and spiritual realities of the Borders, the story of Hawick Baptist Church, and the challenges and hope of gospel ministry in a post-industrial, largely unreached region. The episode highlights the perseverance required for church revitalization and a vision for future gospel work and church planting in the area.

Mentioned in this episode:

Doctorate of Missiology at Southern Seminary