Engaging Missions

Sharing the Gospel is more than speaking to people. It’s also about living with Integrity. Steve Schirmer joins the show to talk about having a “presence of legitimacy” in missions work. Steve has worked in Asia and with Asian populations for over ten years. He is currently over a ministry called “Silk Road Catalyst,” which works to bring the Gospel to the unreached in the Silk Road region.

During the show, Steve shares about his journey to faith and ministry. He also speaks about the importance of considering what will best serve a community when planning for ministry. By walking in integrity and wisdom, missionaries can better present the Good News to people who have never heard it.

What We Talked About:

• 00:24 - Episode Summary
• 01:39 - Introduction
• 02:13 - The size and reality of the need
• 04:47 - How do people respond to the statistics?
• 06:16 - How did you come to faith?
• 07:41 - A call to vocational ministry
• 09:58 - Preparation for missions
• 10:59 - Meeting a man named Wong
• 15:50 - Processing through sharing the Gospel
• 18:23 - Monumental moments in ministry
• 20:31 - An unexpected journey
• 22:37 - A new name for the 10-40 window
• 24:02 - What is the presence of legitimacy?
• 28:20 - Approaching missions in restricted countries
• 34:41 - What makes your presence legitimate?
• 39:38 - Evaluating what is beneficial for a community
• 42:25 - Silk Road Catalyst
• 45:23 - How can people get involved?
• 47:09 - How can we best pray for you?
• 50:04 - Closing thoughts

Resources & Contact Info:

• Website: http://silkroadcatalyst.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: @SilkRoadCatalyst
• Twitter: @SteveSilkRoad
• Phone: 864-412-3405

Show Links

• Facebook: @engagingmissions
• Messenger: @engagingmissions
• Twitter: @engagingmission
• Leave a Voicemail
• Become a Patron
• Listen for Free

Andrew Foster is one of the most passionate people you’ll ever meet. He’s on the show to share about his prison ministry which also involves a local coffee shop. Having been in prison himself, Andrew has seen the Lord’s love for those behind bars.

He heard the Good News and became a Christian while in jail, and now he wants to see others come to know Jesus. Through his ministry, he houses people transitioning out of prison, showing them the love of Christ. He also runs a local coffee shop and tells others the Gospel. Andrew’s love for God and others is evident, and his joy is contagious!

What We Talked About:

• 00:24 - Episode summary
• 01:18 - Introduction
• 01:43 - Drawing near to the marginalized
• 04:07 - Remaining tethered to God’s redemptive work
• 08:20 - How do you keep going in ministry?
• 12:34 - Regaining a joy for salvation
• 18:39 - Coffee shops and prison cells
• 26:52 - What are recovery residences?
• 33:52 - Participating in God’s redemption
• 37:43 - How can we best pray for you?
• 42:40 - Closing thoughts

Resources & Contact Info:

• Website: https://inspiration-ministries.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspirationMinistriesINC
• Telephone: 260-333-6707

Show Links

• Facebook: @engagingmissions
• Messenger: @engagingmissions
• Twitter: @engagingmission
• Leave a Voicemail
• Become a Patron
• Listen for Free

Local churches play a key role in leading people to Jesus. David Kim joins the podcast to remind us of that important job. He has been equipping believers in his church to evangelize in the community. In the Bay area, where David lives, there is a great harvest that churches can minister to.

Going deeper in discipleship can be a difficult process, but David shows why benefits outweigh costs. By surrendering to the Holy Spirit, he has seen his community change through sharing the Gospel. David has been able to partner with God in ministering to those around him and in encouraging the Church to fulfill her call.

What We Talked About

• 00:24 - Episode summary
• 01:30 - Introduction
• 01:55 - The role of the local church
• 05:46 - The transformative effects of discipleship
• 07:16 - How has this stretched you as a leader?
• 09:56 - Leading a church through transition
• 13:15 - Finding a value for evangelism
• 14:36 - The spiritual reality in the US
• 15:48 - A vision for what ministry would look like
• 20:51 - The local church as a center for movement
• 24:20 - What is your prayer for the local church?
• 29:34 - Growing in camaraderie with God
• 33:58 - How can we best pray for you?
• 38:18 - Resources and feedback

Resources & Contact Info

• Website: https://pursuitbible.com
• Email: Check Full Show Notes
• How to Get to Heaven According to the Bible

Additional Resources

• Kyle shared the article, CHURCH PLANTING LESSONS: HOW WE PLANTED 100 DISCOVERY GROUPS
• Justin shared this feedback

Show Links

• Facebook: @engagingmissions
• Messenger: @engagingmissions
• Twitter: @engagingmission
• Leave a Voicemail
• Become a Patron
• Listen for Free

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

It started in a small Baptist Church, with a response to the Gospel. But that didn’t mean that Justin immediately jumped in and followed God wholeheartedly. But a few years later, God used Isaiah to call Justin back to Himself.

Years later, God used an adoption to redirect Justin and his family to Africa for a couple of years. While they were there, they met cultural challenges but God began to show them how to use simple, reproducible tools to share their love for Him.

Now Justin and his family are in North Carolina and he’s a Movement Catalyst pursuing #NoPlaceLeft.

This is his story.

What We Talked About

• 01:19 - About Justin White
• 01:54 - How did you come to faith in Christ?
• 03:31 - What part of Isaiah 6 stood out to you?
• 04:30 - What did that "sending me" look like as you started to walk with Christ?
• 05:59 - What does a Movement Catalyst do?
• 10:41 - How is what you were doing in Africa different from what you're doing now?
• 12:11 - Is it ever difficult to keep that kind of perspective?
• 13:24 - What's God been showing you over the last few months?
• 14:49 - How has God grown your ability to trust Him?
• 16:29 - What are the residencies that you're offering?
• 19:33 - What happens when your investment never really takes root?
• 20:47 - How important is cross-cultural ministry with what you're doing?
• 25:17 - What has to change in our lives if we're really going to start pursuing Movement?
• Broken for Lostness and Repentance
• Understand your identity from Scripture
• Understand who you can share your faith with
• Learn how to start or transition a conversation to the Gospel
• Plan and prioritize time
• 27:43 - What happens when people begin walking in obedience to God?
• 29:09 - Justin’s prayer requests
• Family – especially daughters
• That God would continue to raise up laborers
• Wisdom & Strategy
• 31:18 - Volunteer Resource Guide
• 33:03 - Listener Feedback
• 35:03 - Show Closing

Resources & Contact Info

• Website: https://noplaceleftrdu.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.white.7906932

Additional Resources

• Volunteering as a Senior

Show Links

• Facebook: @engagingmissions
• Messenger: @engagingmissions
• Twitter: @engagingmission
• Leave a Voicemail
• Become a Patron
• Listen for Free

Did you know that many Christians don't know what the Great Commission is? Listen to discover more about why it's critical to understand the Great Commission as well as some about what's going on in China. 

Show Survey: https://engagingmissions.com/2018Survey

The Great Commission is a crucial part of the Christian faith, but many believers don’t even know what it means. Mike Falkenstine comes to remind us of its importance and how followers of Jesus can live out that Commission. He also shares resources for those who want to take the first step of sharing the Gospel.

Mike also has strong connections in China through his ministry. He plans on sending a team of Chinese missionaries to reach different people groups throughout China. Mike’s love for Jesus pushes him to share about what He has done. He shows us the need to obey Jesus and make disciples of all nations.

What We Talked About

• 00:24 - Episode summary
• 01:18 - Introduction
• 01:49 - What is the Great Commission?
• 05:10 - The meaning of Jesus’ command
• 07:35 - Why believers ignore the Great Commission
• 09:54 - The transformation of obedience
• 12:48 - What keeps people from answering the call?
• 16:05 - Needs that you see and address
• 20:18 - How to keep moving forward
• 25:03 - When did God call you to ministry?
• 30:07 - The current situation in China
• 36:49 - Taking the first step
• 39:22 - Other important resources
• 40:18 - How can we best pray for you?
• 43:22 - Feedback and closing thoughts

Resources & Contact Info

• The Art of Neighboring
• OneEightCatalyst.org
• Facebook: @oneeightcatalyst
• Twitter: @missionsmike
• OneEightCatalyst on YouTube
• Mike's Podcast

Additional Resources

• Listener Survey

Show Links

• Facebook: @engagingmissions
• Messenger: @engagingmissions
• Twitter: @engagingmission
• Leave a Voicemail
• Become a Patron
• Listen for Free

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sometimes it seems like we think vocational ministry is the most valuable. But if you're called into the marketplace, what you do is still matters. A lot. Listen to discover what God's taught Caleb Townsend.

2018 Listener Survey: https://engagingmissions.com/2018survey

It’s important to remember that the marketplace is a place of ministry. Caleb Townsend comes and talks about his experience of ministering through his business. He also shares about his journey with Jesus and how others have discipled him.

Caleb mentions the importance of discipleship and investing in people as a part of ministry. Even though people can be messy, Caleb reminds us to be patient and to love them where they’re at. From your neighbor to your co-worker, you can show the love of God and be intentional every day.

What We Talked About:

• 00:23 - Episode summary
• 02:54 - Introduction
• 03:08 - The importance of a mentor
• 05:59 - Moments of honesty leading to growth
• 07:53 - Reflecting on turning points
• 10:05 - How God brings different passions together
• 11:29 - Following God into the marketplace
• 13:20 - Professional versus everyday discipleship
• 14:28 - What does discipleship look like?
• 16:48 - How do you choose who to invest in?
• 18:16 - Ways to shift the conversation in relationships
• 20:23 - Dealing with the “red lights” in ministry
• 22:50 - Facing the heartbreaking relationships
• 29:50 - Sharing the Gospel in the workplace
• 32:21 - Green, yellow, and red lights
• 33:14 - Where to start
• 35:27 - How can we best pray for you?
• 38:01 - Closing remarks

Resources & Contact Info:

• bethefactur.com 
• Caleb's Email (check the full show notes)
• LinkedIn

Additional Resources:

• 2018 Listener Survey
• How to Fuel Your Missions Prayer Fire

Show Links

• Facebook: @engagingmissions
• Messenger: @engagingmissions
• Twitter: @engagingmission
• Leave a Voicemail
• Become a Patron
• Listen for Free

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”