What does missions look like through the eyes of a wife and mother? In this powerful episode, Trent sits down with his wife, Missionary Stephanie Granger, for one of the most heartfelt conversations ever recorded on Holding the Rope. Stephanie shares her journey from becoming a mother in Monterrey during language school… to planting churches with a baby on her hip… to facing the fear of a medical crisis on the mission field… to the heartbreak of leaving Mexico when it felt like the work had only just begun.

But the story doesn’t end in sorrow. God proved Himself faithful as the churches continued to grow, the distribution center launched, and their daughter received a clean bill of health. Now, the Granger family is preparing to return to Mexico — this time with three children and even greater resolve.

This episode is a raw, encouraging, and deeply human look at the cost — and beauty — of following Christ as a missionary wife and mother.

Contact info:

https://www.facebook.com/GrangerstoMexico

https://www.bimi.org/missionaries/grangerT.php

https://www.missionarytomexico.com

[email protected]

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DMYYS4KRNQ5LQ

In this episode of Holding the Rope, host Trent Granger sits down with Jerry Shaw Jr., a second-generation missionary carrying on the legacy of Gospel ministry in Mexico. From his personal call to the mission field to the everyday realities of life and ministry south of the border, Jerry shares stories of God’s faithfulness, challenges on the field, and the joy of seeing lives transformed by Christ.

Whether you’re a pastor, missions-minded believer, or someone asking how you can be part of God’s global work, this conversation will encourage you to pray more deeply, give more intentionally, and live more missionally.

👉 Learn how you can hold the rope for missionaries like the Shaw family.

In this episode of Holding the Rope, host Trent Granger sits down with long-time missionary Matthew Sweet, who has served in Costa Rica since 2008. What began as a short-term mission trip led to a lifelong calling. From handyman to children’s home staff, and now as a church planter in the mountain town of Orosi, Brother Sweet shares his powerful testimony of surrender, service, and steadfast faith.

You’ll hear:

• How a construction worker from Indiana became a missionary

• The challenges of learning Spanish at age 40

• What it’s like planting a church in the birthplace of Costa Rican Catholicism

• The spiritual climate and obstacles of reaching Costa Rican families

• Why mission trips change lives

• How being a husband and father reshaped his ministry

Whether you’re a missions-minded church member, a young person seeking God’s will, or a pastor looking to support more missionaries, this conversation will stir your heart for the Gospel and challenge you to keep holding the rope.

To connect with Brother Matthew Sweet:

• 📧 Email: [email protected]

• 🌐 www.bimi.org → Search for “Matthew Sweet”

🙏 Prayer Requests

1. Spiritual growth of the new church in Orosi

2. Funding to purchase a church van

3. Provision for their next term on the field

4. Long-term goal of owning property and training national leadership

5. Physical health and endurance for the family

In this episode of Holding the Rope, Trent Granger is joined by Bill Fennell, the Executive Director of Worldview Ministries—a missions organization dedicated to translating the Bible into the heart languages of people groups who still have no Scripture.

You’ll hear:

• Bill’s personal story of salvation and calling into ministry

• How Worldview Ministries began and why Bible translation is still a vital, frontline mission

• The process of translation—from initial contact to final printed copies

• Stories of people receiving the Word of God in their language for the very first time

• The spiritual and logistical challenges of working in unreached regions

• How churches and individuals can be part of this mission today

This episode will stir your heart and help you see Bible translation not as a technical task, but as a deeply spiritual work that transforms lives and communities forever.

🌍 Learn more: https://goworldview.org

🙏 How You Can Hold the Rope:

• Pray for unreached people groups who are still waiting for the Bible in their language

• Give toward the cost of translation, training, and printing

• Share this episode with your church, small group, or missions team

• Stay informed and keep the work of Bible translation in your regular prayer life

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Intro

02:15 – Bill’s salvation testimony

05:20 – The origins of Worldview Ministries

09:45 – Why Bible translation still matters

15:10 – What it takes to start a new translation

20:30 – A powerful testimony from the field

26:45 – How to partner with Worldview

30:00 – Final challenge and encouragement

In this episode of Holding the Rope, we sit down with veteran missionaries Jerrold and Karen Myers, who have served in Africa for nearly 30 years. From church planting in Uganda, to discipleship in Port Elizabeth, to mentoring missionaries in Pretoria, their journey is a powerful story of obedience, endurance, and the grace of God.

Hear how God called them from pastoring in Alabama to the mission field, how their role has shifted over the years, and how they now serve as “missionaries to missionaries.” If you’ve ever wondered what long-term missions really looks like—or how you can better pray for those serving around the world—this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

In this episode of Holding the Rope, we sit down with Shane and Emily Tasker—missionaries to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their story is one of faith, obedience, and God’s providence. From meeting on the mission field to getting married and now preparing to launch a new ministry in the DRC, the Taskers are living proof that when you say “yes” to God, He writes an incredible story.

We talk about their call to missions, what it’s like to go back to the place where it all began, and how God has guided them every step of the way. If you’re looking for real encouragement and a front-row seat to what missions looks like behind the scenes, you don’t want to miss this one.

Contact us:

[email protected]

Taskers contact info:

[email protected]

https://www.bimi.org/missionaries/taskerS.php

Before planes, social media, or even mission boards, a young shoemaker named William Carey had a burning passion to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. But he knew he couldn’t go alone. In this very first episode of Holding the Rope, we dive into the powerful story of how Carey helped spark the modern missions movement—and how a simple rope became a symbol of what it means to support those who go. Whether you’re a sender or a goer, this story will challenge and inspire you to see your role in the Great Commission in a whole new light.

🎙️ Welcome to Holding the Rope — a podcast about missions, prayer, and your part in the Great Commission.

In this short trailer, host Trent Granger shares the heart behind the podcast: why it exists, what to expect, and how you can be part of something bigger than yourself by holding the rope for those taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Whether you’re a missions-minded believer, a pastor, or just beginning to explore God’s global mission—this is where it starts.

Hit follow. Share it. And get ready to pray, learn, and hold the rope.