J.D. Payne is the pastor of church multiplication with the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a missiologist and today we talk about his unique perspective on missions. JD also has his own podcast, Strike the Match, and blog. He has written or edited twelve books on missions including the one we talk about today, Roland Allen’s The Ministry Of Expansion: The Priesthood of the Laity (Amazon affiliate link). Today, J.D. shares the incredible story of an unpublished manuscript by prominent early 20th century missionary Roland Allen and how it came to him for publication 80 years after it was written.

Stories JD shared:

• The ministries to unreached people groups within the US

Great quotes from JD:

If I continued to say no, in all likelihood someday I was going to wake up in the belly of a fish.

The Lord is often gracious with his sheep.

What should be the response of the church when our cultural preferences are unable to keep up with the Spirit?

Resources mentioned by JD (Amazon affiliate links):

• Roland Allen’s The Ministry Of Expansion: The Priesthood of the Laity edited by J.D. Payne

The post J.D. Payne Shares the Uncommon Influence of Roland Allen appeared first on Eric Nevins.

Gunnar is the co-host of the Unchurching Podcast with former guest Richard Jacobson. Today, he shares the story of grace in his life through the church. In fact, every story Gunnar shares with us is about the people who have made an impact on his life by listening to God, praying for him, and living with him. That might be why his ideas about living in community are a bit different than most of us have but it only serves to make his life more interesting to learn from.

I hope you enjoy hearing from Gunnar!

Stories Gunnar shared:

• Growing up in a unique, large Christian family and community

Great quotes from Gunnar:

Even when I walked away from God I never stopped believing in him because I had seen too much.

You know what we can do? We can obey Jesus right now.

If we can trust and obey God, not just live in our own little world but be open to whatever the Lord may prompt us to do…we have no idea how powerful that can be in someone’s life.

I’ve never heard anyone who shared their testimony without everybody doesn’t all of a sudden view them as heroic.

Resources mentioned by Gunnar (Amazon affiliate links):

• Unchurching Podcast

The post Gunnar Falk and Grace Extended in Community appeared first on Eric Nevins.

John Swanger is a wonderful storyteller whose experience with God has to be heard to be believed. He describes his life before Christ as bank robber, prisoner, lead singer in a band, and eventually drug dealer and bouncer at a strip club. His life was wild but one couple who shared the Gospel with him changed everything. God not only turned John’s life around but gave him a mission to let his light shine. John says that his goal is to be spent in service to others sharing Christ with those most of us forget about. He wrote his story in a book called Shackled and has a sequel in the works.

John’s life is proof anyone can be changed by the love of Christ.

Stories John shared:

• The ministries he has had to homeless and prisoners

Great quotes from John:

he can keep people from…

If prison doesn’t count, I’m not sure I’ve ever had a home cooked meal.

I’ll be 63 years old soon and I’m not spent yet.

I haven’t had time to think about what I want to thank God for giving me. I’m still busy thanking Him for what he took away.

Resources John mentioned:

• Shackled: Confessions of a Teenage Bank Robber

The post John Swanger Shares Light in Dark Places appeared first on Eric Nevins.

This episode of Halfway There is being published on the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, an event that profoundly shaped history and the experience many of us with God today. Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg and changed the course of history.

This anniversary got me thinking that we all have influences subtle and more obvious. In today’s episode, I share who has has the most profound influence on my journey (hint, it’s an author) and how that came about. And I ask you to answer the question, too.

Please go to Halfway There’s Facebook page and join the conversation. Who influenced your spiritual journey the most?

Tell us that story.

Resources mentioned:

• Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster

The post Who Influenced Your Spiritual Journey Most? appeared first on Eric Nevins.

When Phil asked me if I wanted to record a podcast with him I jumped at the chance because we have so much in common. We are both fascinated by the experience of God’s people as they interact with him and set out in our own ways to share it. Phil has become a friend through podcasting and Facebook but after a trip to my hometown of Des Moines, Iowa where we had lunch and shared a late night conversation about God, I can honestly say we are brothers in service of the same mission.

Get our complete conversation in iTunes, on God Watch’s website or wherever  you get your podcasts.

Find Phil on Facebook, too.

Hope you enjoy this episode.

The post When Podcasts Collide – Phil Gauthier and Eric Nevins appeared first on Eric Nevins.