PMPod

Today on the Pod, I talk to a guy who has over 30 years of experience ministering in one city. In the late 80s, he planted a church that is still thriving today. Not an easy task in any country, let alone in one of the most unreached countries in the world. My guest shared his thoughts on giving to locals, how to overcome cynicism, and how to deal with conflict with local MBBs. I found our conversation refreshingly deep and mature. I learned a lot and I hope you will too.

Read more on our website pmpod.org

Find and sign up for those courses my guest is running from the Institute for the Study of Religion in the Middle East at ISRME.org

Timeline

• 00:00 Introduction 
• 02:10 Over 30 years on the field 
• 5:25 How has the church changed in the last 30 years? 
• 9:30 How should we work with local leaders? 
• 14:40 How to deal with finances on the field? 
• 24:14 Does the house-church model avoid a lot of these issues? 
• 30:50 Forgiveness and restoration with locals 
• 38:40 Overcoming cynicism on the field 

Take women seriously as spiritual beings.Today on the Pod, I talk to one of the most insightful people I know about all things relating to missions and women. We talk about everything from how to give better training to our women on the field to the challenges that arise from women being more restricted in Arab countries...continue reading here 

Timeline 

• 00:00 Intro 
• 01:00 What motivates longevity in missions?  
• 09:00 Enjoying the people and place 
• 12:20 The missing elements of training for women 
• 14:30 What would you like to see more of in training? 
• 17:30 What are the issues local women face when they come to faith? 
• 22:45 Does our individualism negatively impact our discipleship? 
• 25:00 Dealing with fear 
• 28:20 Are women able to come to faith in the Middle East? 
• 31:00 Advice for women disciple-makers 
• 35:40 How do you discern spiritual felt needs? 
• 42:20 Women leading groups 

In this Pod, I talk to a couple who address the challenges of moving countries and people groups during a season of high success. We also talk about the toll and stress missions has on the body, what kind of boundaries you need to get rid of and which ones you need to keep. And finally, we have a very interesting conversation about mixed motives on the field and how pride and pure desires are mingled together in the heart of the worker. Read more here 

Timeline

• 00:00 Introduction 
• 01:00 Moving countries during success 
• 08:00 Hero to zero 
• 13:00 Did you ever want to quit? 
• 20:00 Re-understanding boundaries 
• 29:30 How vulnerable should you be with supporters? 
• 38:30 Mixed motives in success 

Our task is for all believers to integrate into something new and better. Today on the podcast, I talk to a guy who has been in the Arab World since 1987. God called my guest out of drugs and jail, to give his life to the expansion of the Gospel in the Middle East. He has a very humble, and mature view of how both Muslim background believers and Christian background believers should...

Read more on our website Pmpod.org

Timeline

• 00:00 Intro 
• 01:45 From Drugs and jail to Jesus and missions 
• 08:00 What has been your ministry emphasis? 
• 11:50 Understanding the history of the Arab church 
• 19:00 What drew you to the Middle East?
• 24:00 Challenges of the Church in the Middle East 
• 30:40 Should MBBs and CBBs be integrated together?
• 40:00 Some arguments against integration of MBBs and CBBs
• 44:00 Do Arab Pastors see a need for integration? 
• 47:30 Do we need a movement of Confessions of Faith? 

Just a little bit of encouragement for you today pmpod.org

Today on the Pod, I walk to a woman I’ve been learning from for the past 15 years. So much of my ministry has been shaped by what she has taught me. I’m very excited for you to learn from her as well. We talk about Islam and why Muslims love both the religion and Mohammed so much. We also talk about my guest’s experience sitting in on home Quran study groups with Muslim ladies and what we can learn about leading meaningful bible studies.

Read more on our website Pmpod.org

Timeline

• 00:00  Introduction 
• 00:55 Starting to understand Islam
• 5:20 Quraninc home-groups 
• 9:50 Why do Muslims love Islam?
• 14:00 How do Christians and Muslims understand Law differently? 
• 23:00 How can we present the Gospel to Muslims better? 
• 29:30 How do we encourage new believers to read God’s word? 
• 37:00 How have you changed in your approach to missions? 
• 43:00 How do you know if people are interested in the Gospel? 
• 47:30 How do you begin to study with someone? 
• 50:50 Dealing with local friends who aren’t interested in the Gospel? 
• 54:30 How to start understanding Islam better. 

Today on the pod, I talk to a guy who is using his professional background to help train some of the poorest and most marginalized people in Africa. Every county, region, and people group comes with its own unique needs, and my guest today explains what some of the Gospel needs are for the church in Africa. He brings a Christ-centered, Gospel-saturated passion to missions in Africa, which is saturated with a kind of prosperity gospel that leaves its people helpfulness and disillusioned. It’s a fascinating conversation, and I hope you enjoy it.

Read more at pmpod.org

Timeline

• 00:00 Introduction 
• 01:00 Using graphic design in Missions 
• 08:00 Discipling and business 
• 14:30 Poverty and work 
• 25:00 Africa and the Prosperity Gospel? 
• 41:20 The Gospel Coalition Africa 

Today on the Pod, I have a fascinating conversation with a guy who had a massive burnout while on the field. We talk about his time on the field, which was actually a very good time, and how, without warning, he burned out. We also talk about his long road to recovery and how he got through his burnout and depression.

Read more at Pmpod.org 

Timeline

• 00:00 Intro 
• 01:00 What did Islam look like in your region? 
• 04:20 The Aga Khan savior 
• 08:00 How did Aga Khan affect how the Gospel was presented and received? 
• 18:30 The spiritual world 
• 22:20 Doing NGO/church planting work in unreached areas 
• 23:30 Burnout on the field 
• 33:30 How did your wife respond to your burnout? 
• 37:00 What did burnout feel like? 
• 41:40 Processing burnout after leaving the field 
• 51:20 How long did it take to recover? 
• 55:00 What warning signs do you look for now? 
• 58:00 What advice would you give to a person struggling with burnout? 

Today in the Pod, my guest and I cover a ton of ground. We talk about ministry after 70, leading silent retreats, Afghanistan, humility, challenges in ministry, the many positive things going on in missions to Muslims, and so much more. I have a feeling you are really going to love today's podcast.

Read more at Pmpod.org

Timeline

• 00:00 Intro 
• 00:45 What is your emphasis in ministry? 
• 2:40 Spiritual formation and silence 
• 12:05 Dealing with failure on the field 
• 17:40 What troubles and encourages you in missions today?
• 29:30 Advice for persecuted believers 
• 40:50 Weakness, shame, and the Gospel

Resources Mentioned in this Pod 

Give up the Purple: A Call for Servant Leadership in Hierarchical Cultures  

In this Pod, I talk to a master storyteller. He has literally written a small book on the subject, which you can download on our website. Together we tell thirteen different stories which each help build a bridge into deeper conversations as we share with our friends. I hope you find this format helpful as we all do our best to share the Good News with our friends.

Go to the website and download the PDF with even more stories Pmpod.org
Timeline

• 00:00 Intro 
• 00:50 Everyone can tell stories 
• 3:40 The Cat on the Hajj 
• 9:30 Bird in a Cage 
• 11:15 Cursing the King 
• 17:15 My Father’s Bible 
• 19:25 The Father’s Two Sons 
• 21:30 The Spot on the Clothes 
• 27:45 The Golden Coin 
• 30:50 Two Boys Playing 
• 33:20 The Red Apple 
• 35:20 The Ramadan Wife 
• 39:45 The Four Rooms 
• 41:50 Thoughts about the Trinity 
• 45:10 Mouse on the Table