Engaging Missions

Have you ever counted how many homes are in your community? Well, Ross Ramsey has, and he plans on knocking on every single door to let his town know about Jesus. Over the last year, he has worked with his church to train believers in making disciples. As his church has participated in ministry, there has been great spiritual growth.

For Ross, this isn’t about getting new church members. This is about building the Kingdom. His greatest vision is to join in whatever God is doing and to trust Him through it. God has already been moving, and it will be exciting to see what else He has up His sleeve.

What We Talked About

• 00:24 - Episode summary
• 02:31 - Introduction
• 03:02 - How did you come to Christ?
• 05:48 - On the other side of the door
• 07:38 - The impact of God’s work through ministry
• 09:32 - Sending out laborers into the harvest
• 13:01 - Talking Kingdom, not church
• 16:44 - How did your ministry get started?
• 27:57 - Taking the first step
• 31:28 - What happens after a person accepts Jesus?
• 36:49 - Believing God for a greater harvest
• 39:54 - A vision for the future
• 41:36 - How can we best pray for you?
• 43:53 - Closing statements

Show Links

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/engagingmissions
• Messenger: https://m.me/engagingmissions
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/engagingmission
• Leave a Voicemail: https://engagingmissions.com/voicemail
• Become a Patron: https://engagingmissions.com/patron
• Subscribe: https://engagingmissions.com/subscribe

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's easier to tell the "hero" stories of missions and forget the struggles. But the real story is that God meets us where we are. Listen for an honest, transparent discussion about ministry, struggles, and healing.

Ryan's Book: https://amzn.to/2OoISlE

Within Christian ministry, specifically missions, it can be easy to only tell positive stories. Sometimes, though, it’s important to talk about the difficult times. Ryan Kuja joins the show to discuss his own experience with missions and what he has learned about strengths and weaknesses of ministry.

Having lived in over fifteen cities across five continents, Ryan has seen how Western mindsets impact models of mission work. He proposes a model called “constellational thinking,” which looks at the different parts of poverty, not just the surface. Ryan reminds us that God is present in difficult places, and He has a way of making us see the bigger picture.

What We Talked About

• 00:24 - Episode summary
• 01:35 - Introduction
• 02:01 - Why did you write your book?
• 05:04 - Finding healing after the collapse
• 09:22 - The key points of the book
• 15:22 - Constellational thinking and changing views
• 19:44 - Approaching problems holistically
• 26:14 - The reality of poverty in the world
• 35:06 - Forming healthy motivations for ministry
• 41:16 - For those thinking of writing a book
• 43:20 - Closing thoughts

Resources & Contact Info

• From the Inside Out by Ryan Kuja
• Ryan's Website: ryankuja.com
• Facebook: @RyanKujaAuthor
• Twitter: @ryankuja

Show Links

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/engagingmissions
• Messenger: https://m.me/engagingmissions
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/engagingmission
• Leave a Voicemail: https://engagingmissions.com/voicemail
• Become a Patron: https://engagingmissions.com/patron
• Subscribe: https://engagingmissions.com/subscribe

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 is important to remember that wealthy nations need Jesus too. Adam Moody tells about his work in Sweden, which is financially rich, but spiritually poor. There are even priests in Sweden who don’t actually believe in God. After working in university ministry, Adam and his family are planning on returning to Sweden to plant churches.

During the show, Adam talks about a unique idea for raising support for ministries that are underfunded. Here’s a hint: If you like food or other cultures, you won’t want to miss this episode!

What We Talked About

• 00:23 - Episode summary
• 01:25 - Introduction
• 01:53 - The spiritual reality of Europe
• 03:37 - The importance of ministry in all nations
• 06:15 - How do you keep Christ at the center?
• 07:12 - Challenging the tendency towards complacency
• 10:35 - What pointed you to the lost?
• 14:29 - The positive impact of evangelism
• 17:43 - Financially lean times in ministry
• 20:07 - What will church planting look like for you?
• 23:52 - Effective plans for developing leaders
• 27:03 - What’s going on in Swedish churches?
• 32:19 - A new idea for fundraising
• 38:27 - Benefits of the new funding model
• 42:17 - Preserving the dignity of Swedish people
• 44:05 - Internet and book resources
• 46:29 - How can we best pray for you?
• 48:30 - Closing thoughts

Resources & Contact Info

• Serving as Senders by Neal Pirolo
• Website: themoodysinsweden.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: @AMoody777 
• Twitter: @WMoody1471 
• Skype: WMoody1471
• Phone: +1 678-779-1141

Show Links

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/engagingmissions
• Messenger: https://m.me/engagingmissions
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/engagingmission
• Leave a Voicemail: https://engagingmissions.com/voicemail
• Become a Patron: https://engagingmissions.com/patron
• Subscribe: https://engagingmissions.com/subscribe

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.”

Thousands of missionaries return home each year. What if there was something that could better equip those who send and those who go? Listen as David Joannes shares about The Mind of a Missionary.

Tweet Me: http://engagingmissions.com/tweetme

Get the Book: https://amazon.com/dp/0998061158

Have you ever wondered whether God’s called you to be a missionary? Have you wondered what it takes and why so many missionaries struggle? Have you wondered if your calling isn’t important or why some Christians will leave behind family and friends who haven’t met Christ to take the Gospel thousands of miles away to people they’ve never met?

If so, today’s conversation with David Joannes is for you.

David is a missionary of 20+ years, the founder of Within Reach Global, and the author of a new book, The Mind of a Missionary. In the book, he looks at what motivates missionaries and keeps them going, the reality of struggles and pain, the joy of faithful and selfless obedience, and much more.

My hope and prayer is that after listening to today’s show, you’ll do two things.

1. Go buy David’s book, The Mind of the Missionary, and read it
2. See that, regardless of what you’re called to do, you are an integral part of God’s global plan. That He designed you for greatness…to display His glories to the ends of the Earth.

What We Talked About

• 00:24 - Episode Overview
• 01:19 - Welcome
• 02:27 - Why was this the right time to write the book?
• 03:16 - Is this book ONLY for missionaries?
• 04:49 - No "special" callings but it's important to differentiate.
• 07:17 - Talking about the writing process.
• 08:58 - What was the hardest thing to write?
• 11:24 - How did you come up with the structure of the book?
• 13:14 - What things that readers are taking away have surprised you?
• 15:34 - What would you hope to see changed because of what you've written?
• 17:30 - What can we do to support the health of the missionaries we're connected with?
• 19:26 - What does it mean that the Gospel always bring life to the receiver and death to the giver?
• 22:25 - What does the idea of calling as compared to volunteering mean to us?
• 24:57 - What does it mean to "domesticate" the Gospel and what happens when we do that?
• 27:57 - What makes the negative inner monologue so difficult in cross-cultural ministry situations?
• 31:04 - Who should we emulate?
• 33:28 - If you could whisper something to the Bride of Christ, what would you share?
• 34:37 - How can we best pray for you?

Resources & Contact Info:

• The Mind of a Missionary by David Joannes
• The Space Between Memories by David Joannes
• Chasing the Dragon: One Woman's Struggle Against the Darkness of Hong Kong's Drug Dens by Jackie Pullinger
• When Everything is Missions by Denny Spitters
• Websites:http://themindofamissionary.com
• http://davidjoannes.com
• http://withinreachglobal.org
• Skype: chinaman777
• Facebook:@davidjoannesofficial
• Twitter:@davidjoannes
• LinkedIn: /davidjoannes

Show Links

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/engagingmissions
• Messenger: https://m.me/engagingmissions
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/engagingmission
• Leave a Voicemail: https://engagingmissions.com/voicemail
• Become a Patron: https://engagingmissions.com/patron
• Subscribe: https://engagingmissions.com/subscribe

Isn't the way God leads us interesting? Sometimes the call is clear, sometimes it's revealed over time, and sometimes there are shifts. Listen as Tom and Sarah Hall share what God's been doing in Kansas City.

Tweet Me: http://engagingmissions.com/tweetme

Oftentimes, ministry is closer than you think. Tom and Sarah Hall come to discuss their ministry in Kansas City and how they ended up there.

Growing up, Tom felt a call to missions, and he expected to work overseas. God had other plans, however, and led him to work in the States. He and his wife now train believers to be disciple-makers and spread the Gospel in their community.

Tom shares about his journey from pastor to disciple-maker and what God has been doing through the ministry. He and Sarah have continued to walk in obedience to the Lord’s calling, and look forward to where He is taking them.

What We Talked About

• 00:24 - Episode summary
• 02:56 - Introduction
• 03:16 - A call to the unreached people nearby
• 06:29 - A fulfillment of the calling
• 07:14 - Pushing back the darkness
• 08:22 - A day in the life of ministry
• 12:51 - How has transition impacted your faith?
• 14:59 - The positive impacts of evangelism
• 19:50 - Walking out the vision of ministry
• 25:39 - How do you build up your network?
• 28:22 - The single, biggest need in equipping
• 30:11 - The importance of collaboration
• 34:17 - What would you say to a pastor of a replant?
• 37:18 - For those who want to reach the lost
• 40:13 - Internet and book resources
• 40:58 - How can we best pray for you?
• 42:31 - Thoughts from a funeral
• 45:20 - A book recommendation

Resources & Contact Info

• Website: tomandsarahhall.wordpress.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @twchall
• NoPlaceLeft.net
• T4T: A Discipleship Re-revolution by Steve Smith and Ying Kai
• Pioneering Movements: Leadership that Multiplies Disciples and Churches by Steve Addison

Additional Resources

• The Mind of a Missionary
• Thank You for Giving to the Lord

Show Links

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/engagingmissions
• Messenger: https://m.me/engagingmissions
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/engagingmission
• Leave a Voicemail: https://engagingmissions.com/voicemail
• Become a Patron: https://engagingmissions.com/patron
• Subscribe: https://engagingmissions.com/subscribe