Episode Description: Samuel Zwemer, "Apostle to Islam," was turned down by mission boards—went to Arabia alone anyway. Muslims are still most unreached—only 3 missionaries per million in some regions. Zwemer's "Glory of the Impossible": "Unoccupied fields must have Calvary before Pentecost." Many Christians are "making a living" who could "make a life" in unreached fields. Bishop Brooks: "Pray not for easy lives but stronger men, not tasks equal to powers but powers equal to tasks." Livingstone: "I never made a sacrifice"—it's privilege! All suffering is nothing compared to the glory revealed.

Scripture: John 20:21

Source: Samuel M. Zwemer

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Episode Description: The Bible says "do not fear" 365 times, yet fear of Muslims has paralyzed the Western Church. With 1.9 billion Muslims, we send only 2.5% of missionaries to reach them. But God is moving! More Muslims have come to Christ in the last 30 years than in the previous 1,400 years. In Iran, hundreds of thousands are believers despite persecution. Every day 160,000 Muslims die, most never hearing Jesus's name. "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind." Five ways to overcome fear and reach Muslims today.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:29, 2 Timothy 1:7, Matthew 16:18, Romans 10:14

Books: "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus" by Nabeel Qureshi, "Son of Hamas" by Moses Hassan Yousef, "In the Land of Blue Burqas" by Kate McCord

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Episode Description: Ramadan 2026: February 17 evening through March 19. Calling Christians to 30 days of prayer for Muslims! Laylat al-Qadr ("Night of Power," around March 14-15) is considered better than 1,000 months—Muslims intensely seek forgiveness, cleansing, favor with God. This is why Christians should pray! Muslims are spiritually hungry, but Islam can't give what they seek—only Jesus forgives sins. More Muslims have been saved in the last 25 years than the previous 14 centuries combined. God is moving powerfully through dreams, visions, and bold witnesses. Pray daily these 30 days!

Scripture: John 14:6, 2 Peter 3:9

Resource: 30 Days of Prayer for Muslim World (30daysprayer.com)

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Episode Description: Missions should NOT come first—Jesus should. When He's first, He "breaks our hearts for what breaks His." Increased compassion, information, and statistics won't sustain mission focus—only the Holy Spirit intensifying our love for Christ will. Focusing on all the needs led me to sadness, despair, burnout. But the Bible doesn't focus on bad—it focuses on God! Tim Dearborn: "Participation in God's mission is no longer somber duty. It becomes joyous privilege and adventure of passion and hope." Like Peter—look at storms, you sink; look at Jesus, you walk. Put Jesus first; missions will overflow.

Scripture: Luke 2:10, Hebrews 6:18-19, 12:28

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Episode Description: Roger Greenway: "Cities are the new frontier of Christian missions...as cities go, the world goes." By 2030: 48 megacities (10M+ people), mostly Asia/Africa. Urban advantage: instead of trekking to remote villages, missionaries in megacities find representatives from thousands of people groups—more open than in villages! Problem: shortage of workers. Many missionaries prefer rural areas, but Paul's strategy was completely urban. Question: not whether we prefer cities, but "will we go where workers are needed and where God wants us?" Many megacities are less than 2% evangelical.

Scripture: Jonah 1-4, Acts

Source: Roger S. Greenway, UN urban data 2025

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Episode Description: January 22-23, 1999: Graham Staines and his sons Philip (10) and Timothy (6) were burned alive by a Hindu nationalist mob while sleeping in their station wagon. Graham had served India's leprosy patients for 34 years. Widow Gladys Staines' response: "I have forgiven the killers and have no bitterness, because forgiveness brings healing and our land needs healing." She stayed in India and continued the work. Her martyrdom showcased Christ through forgiveness and advanced the Gospel powerfully. India's church today: 32M Christians, growing despite ranking #11 on Open Doors persecution list.

Scripture: Acts 7:60

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Episode Description: John the Baptist expected a conquering Messiah—fiery judge who'd crush Rome and establish a physical kingdom. But Jesus came humbly: no war, no throne, no armies. John doubted from prison: "Are you the one, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus didn't rebuke—He challenged John to change expectations: "Blind see, lame walk, good news preached to poor." History proves: the gentle way of Jesus calls many to follow; force damages the Gospel. Crusades hurt Christ's name among Muslims for 1,000 years. Better way: compassion and sacrifice win nations. The Kingdom advances through quiet persuasion, not military power.

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-5, 12:18-21, Daniel 2:31-35

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Episode Description: Is there a way to share Jesus in a hostile country that can open doors without great dangrer…yes…it’s storying! 

Billions in the Middle East, North Africa, Asia—no written language, no Bible, no JESUS film—but there's hope: "storying." ~80% of unreached peoples (5.7B people) are oral preference learners who communicate through stories, not reading.

Khalim shares 3-minute Bible stories over tea. Months later, a friend says: "I think I believe in this Jesus...tell me more."

Why storying works: memorable, shareable, gets past barriers—indigenous not foreign, oral not literate, relational not threatening. Can't build churches or distribute Bibles in closed countries—but can share stories over tea! Stories in hearts can't be confiscated.

Scripture: Matthew 13

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In 2026, many Christians are more hopeful with Trump back in the White House, but there’s a crucial question—was Christianity meant to be a political force? When Constantine made Christianity Rome's official religion, it became "ill-equipped to complete the Great Commission among anti-Roman peoples." When Christianity has political power, it often becomes corrupt; when it becomes easy, fervor for outreach dwindles. Jesus avoided political power: "My kingdom is not of this world." God is already shifting! 67% of Christians now live in the Global South. Don't put hope in political power. Don't trade the cross for a crown.

Scripture: John 18:36

Source: Ralph D. Winter

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Episode Description: Why does God demand praise from all peoples? Isn't that vain? C.S. Lewis discovered: "All enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise—praise completes enjoyment." What if God's demand for praise is actually a demand for our maximum joy? God seeks our praise not because He won't be complete without it, but because we won't be happy until we give it! John Piper: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." Missions = helping people find their deepest joy. God's glory and man's good are the same motive.

Scripture: Psalm 117, 147:1

Sources: John Piper "Everlasting Truth for Joy of All Peoples," C.S. Lewis "Reflections on Psalms"

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