What does it take to faithfully bring the gospel home — when "home" is half a world away from where you were trained? In this episode, I sit down with Wezi, a Zambian pastor-scholar pursuing a PhD in Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. Together we explore what it means to leave everything for a calling, how Western theological education translates (and doesn't translate) into African ministry contexts, and why the global church needs voices that the West simply cannot capture on its own.

Wezi draws on his journey from working as a computer scientist in Zambia to "jumping off a cliff" with his wife and arriving in Dallas with $400 and the clothes in their suitcases. He shares what he's learned straddling two cultures, why contextualization is constant work for international students, and his vision for a Zambian church that takes Scripture seriously enough to question its preachers by opening the text. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone involved in theological education, cross-cultural ministry, or the future of the global church.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

1:32 - Jumping off a cliff

3:19 - From computer science to ministry

5:46 - Finding family at DTS

9:16 - The profound cost of moving to America

15:07 - First impressions of seminary

35:59 - Hunger for the Word in Zambia

41:41 - A Zambian voice in global scholarship

47:50 - Advice for the journey of African students coming to the west

1:02:18 - A dream for the Zambian church

What does it take to steward the explosive growth of the Church in Africa when most pastors leading it have never been trained? In this episode, I sit down with Richmond Wandera, pastor, scholar, and founder of Pastors Discipleship Network (PDN), an organization that has equipped over 15,000 pastoral leaders across Sub-Saharan Africa. Together we explore the quiet crisis behind Africa's church boom, why training models built for the West fail in African contexts, and how Africa is moving from being the mission field to becoming the mission force.Richmond draws on his own story — from the streets of Uganda, to studies at Moody and Lancaster Bible College, to leading one of the most respected pastoral training movements on the continent. He challenges us to widen our imagination for what theological education can be, and invites the global Church to listen to what God is doing in Africa. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone involved in theological education, pastoral formation, or the future of the global church.

Links:

• Pastors Discipleship Network https://www.pdnafrica.org/

• Re-Forma https://www.re-forma.global/

• Cornerstone University https://cu.ac.ug/

• ACTEA https://acteaweb.org/

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

2:05 - The quiet crisis behind Africa's church growth

5:30 - Why the 70% untrained figure matters

12:15 - The fear African pastors carry

18:03 - A fatherless generation leading the church

30:08 - What makes PDN different

37:43 - Learning the African learner

57:23 - Investing in pastors' wives

1:06:40 - From mission field to mission force

1:11:08 - A challenge to global theological educators

What does it take to form leaders, not just train them, for the global church? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Anne Zaki, educator, counselor, and author serving at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (the oldest and largest seminary in the Middle East and North Africa). Together we explore what faithful theological formation actually looks like, why companionship is the missing framework in most seminary programs, and how the church, not the academy, must be the starting and ending point of theological education.

Dr. Zaki draws on her life experience straddling the Eastern and Western church traditions, her upbringing in a small urban congregation where every member was a minister, and her years shaping future church leaders in one of the world's most challenging ministry contexts. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone involved in theological education, pastoral formation, or the future of the global church.

Links:

• ETS Cairo https://etsc.org/

• ICETE https://icete.info/

• Voices https://youtu.be/pFa1haMLiHY

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

1:36 - Growing up in a Cairo pastor's home where children were active in ministry

4:34 - Moving to Canada at 16 and being shaped by 16 years in the Western church

11:54 - About the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo: 163 years old, mostly lay students

14:43 - Why companionship is a better model for formation than mentoring or coaching

26:10 - Preaching is caught not taught: training communicators of the Word

43:32 - Redesigning seminary curriculum around what the local church actually needs

58:44 - Dr. Zaki's hopes for theological education in the Middle East

Polycentric theological education is on the rise. In this video, I explain what I mean by “polycentric,” why new centers of reflection and practice are expanding outside historic Western hubs, and how this shift strengthens the church’s mission worldwide. In this video, we will explore:

• What I mean by a polycentric era of missions, and why it reshapes how we think about training

• Why theological education is becoming more polycentric through centers outside of the West

• How postcolonial concerns and contextual formation are influencing programs globally

• How COVID accelerated local leadership, innovation, and independence in many regions

• Examples I have seen firsthand, including Spain, Liberia, India, Cuba, and regional associations

• What the ICETE Manifesto says about a global church and the need for partnership

• Why collaboration and regional training hubs point to the future of theological education

• Why I believe curiosity, global awareness, and mutual learning are essential right now

Join me as I track this polycentric shift and look for ways theological education can strengthen the global church for its mission. If you are enjoying these videos, please subscribe and keep coming back as we continue to reimagine theological education together.

Timestamps:

00:00 - The rise of polycentric missions

04:48 - COVID accelerated local innovation and independence

07:09 - Real examples: Spain, Liberia, India, Cuba, and more

09:27 - Benefits and values of polycentric TE

13:52 - What I expect next and why I stay encouraged

Most leaders in theological education focus on authority, hierarchy, or strategic planning—yet the most impactful leaders often lead from below. In this episode, I sit down with William “Guillermo” Taylor to explore how humility, service, and the art of “leading from below” can transform your influence and reshape institutions. We challenge the conventional leadership paradigms and delve into how the quiet, often unseen acts of service cultivate true leadership rooted in Christ’s example.

Join us as we discover:

• How Taylor’s global mission work and theological education intersect in ways that equip leaders to serve more effectively, especially in diverse cultural contexts

• The importance of humility and everyday service (“picking up trash”) as both a metaphor and practice of authentic leadership

• Why “leading from below” is crucial in mission training, seminary programs, and local church leadership—regardless of cultural or denominational differences

•How to incorporate spirituality and character into leadership development, moving beyond mere competency to genuine Christlike influence

• The role of informal mentorship and how intentional, humble acts can shape future leaders in ministries worldwideIn a time when leadership often gets distorted by ego and position, Taylor’s insights provide a compelling alternative—one that calls us back to servant leadership modeled on Jesus Himself.

Links:

• Lausanne: https://lausanne.org/

• WEA: https://worldea.org/• SETECA: https://seteca.edu/

• Leading from Below: https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Below-Lessons-Crucible-Mission/dp/1645086208

Timestamps:

00:00 - Global mission roots and early formation

02:09 - The World Evangelical Alliance and Mission Commission

06:10 - Mentorship and discovering the global church

08:50 - Bill's Theological Education Journey

14:06 - Teaching and theological education in Latin America

20:00 - Obedience, transition, and God’s redirection

28:47 - Rethinking excellence, access, and accreditation

41:43 - Preparing missionaries and preventing attrition

51:43 - Integrating formal and non‑formal training

57:20 - Leading from below and Christ‑centered leadership

Theological education only makes sense when it serves the church and her mission. In this video, I reflect on a bold insight from Linda Cannell and I ask whether our TE programs are turning inward to protect and survive or turning outward to prepare and serve. In this video, we will explore:

• What Linda Cannell’s statement reveals about mandate, mission, and why theological education exists

• Why some training programs become inward focused and how that weakens their purpose

• Why I use the word aim, and why every form of theological education should share one common aim

• What I learned from hearing an endless menu of training programs and why collaboration matters

• Why collaboration fails without mutuality and a shared agenda centered on the church

• What the ICETE Manifesto and Lausanne (Cape Town 2010) say about church, mission, and training

• Practical examples that keep aim clear, including church feedback surveys, church planting requirements, generational impact, and TEE

Resources:

• Linda Cannell book: https://www.amazon.com/Theological-Education-Matters-Leadership-Church/dp/1439205930

• ICETE Manifesto: https://icete.info/resources/the-icete-manifesto/

• Lausanne: https://lausanne.org/statement/ctcommitment

Timestamps

00:00 - Linda Cannell and the church as the mandate for theological education

02:25 - The aim of TE: strengthening Christ’s church

08:39 - Measuring effectiveness of TE in churches

12:04 - A closing test: would I send leaders to my own training program?

Theological education leaders are often running at full speed. In this video, I share two conference stories that helped me see why margin is not optional if we want to lead well, develop others, and finish our calling with endurance. In this video, I will explore:

• What I learned from an intense conference in Africa• Why I believe personal margin fuels leadership capacity and long term reach

• How margin creates space for rest, reflection, wisdom, and character formation

• A real example of a veteran professor who protects margin and continues to thrive

• How the ICETE Manifesto connects formation, wisdom, and flourishing across life

• Why building margin helps leaders raise future leaders who can carry the baton forward

• How Paul's statement in 2 Timothy reframes my priorities when I think about finishing well

Join me as we think through why margin matters for theological education leaders, and if you are enjoying these videos, please subscribe and keep coming back as I continue to reimagine theological education together.

Resources:

• ICETE Manifesto II: https://icete.info/resources/the-icete-manifesto/

Timestamps:

00:00 - An intense conference in Africa

02:56 - Margin defined: why space fuels leadership capacity and long term reach

04:53 - What margin can look like practically

06:02 - ICETE Manifesto: character, wisdom, and flourishing in every sphere

07:19 - A different conference model: intentional rest, deeper conversations

09:43 - Finishing the race and keeping the faith

Theological education often feels harder to define and measure than evangelism, Bible translation, or church planting, and I am hearing that uncertainty from leaders, younger ministry workers, and even donors across the world. In this video, I ask a core question: is theological education still relevant for the church and society today, and what needs to change if it is going to serve the church’s gospel mission with clarity and credibility? In this video, I will explore:

• Why theological education can feel less “quantifiable” than other ministry efforts, and why that affects trust and support

• How I define relevance through “voices,” and why the future depends on what I am willing to elevate and embody

• What the ICETE Manifesto contributes to this conversation about culture, context, and listening well

• Which voices I believe deserve greater attention right now, including peace and reconciliation, women, disabilities, youth, Muslim background believers, technology, and AI

• How ICETE Impact Teams can help us collaborate globally around key topics and best practices

• Why pew level realities should shape how I evaluate programs and how I train leaders for real church and societal needs

Join me as I reimagine theological education around the voices and realities churches are facing right now, and if you are enjoying these videos, please subscribe and keep coming back as we continue to reimagine theological education together.

Timestamps:

00:00 - The core question: is theological education still relevant today?

02:33 - Reimagining relevance through voices: elevate and embody

04:39 - ICETE Manifesto: listen to voices, questions, and needs in context

06:54 - Examples of voices: peace, women, disabilities, youth, AI, and more

09:49 - Pew level realities: ask better questions and adapt programs for mission

Tools to Equip & Empower (TEE) is quietly transforming how the global church equips leaders—by bringing training to people where they live and serve, not pulling them out of their context. In this episode of RTET I’m joined by Graham Aylett and Rosana Longgat to unpack what TEE is, why it began, and how it’s strengthening discipleship and pastoral formation across Asia and beyond.

We begin with a powerful story from Nepal: a believer rejected because of leprosy who later used TEE training to plant 17 churches in eight years—a vivid reminder that accessible theological education can fuel resilient, grounded gospel leadership. In this video, we will explore:

• What TEE (Tools to Equip & Empower; formerly Theological Education by Extension) is, why it began, and how it works globally

• The TEE learning rhythm: personal study, small-group discussion, and real-life application

• How facilitators, assessment, and partnerships (including Graham Aylett, Rosana Longgat, and Increase Association) strengthen church-based training

Join me as we reflect on how TEE can help the church disciple widely, train deeply, and lead faithfully—especially in contexts where traditional models can’t keep up with rapid growth and urgent leadership needs.

To hear more about TEE and the Increase Association watch my previous podcast "An Old Solution for a New Challenge: TEE in Malaysia" https://youtu.be/tqIeDsuEaKE

Links:

• Increase Association: https://www.increaseassociation.org/

• Open Theological Seminary: https://ots-trust.org/

• Re-Forma: https://www.re-forma.global/

Theological education in India is being reimagined under real pressure—and with surprising creativity. In this video, I share key lessons I gleaned from listening to 27 seminary leaders across India describe their challenges, pivots, and hopes. In this video, we will explore:

• How seminaries stay rooted in historic mission while adapting for today

• Leadership realities: focus, staff change, and “legacy staff” challenges

• Innovation in urban contexts (including Mumbai) and flexible program delivery

• Why vulnerability, assessment, and collaboration are shaping stronger outcomes

Join me as we reflect on what India can teach the global church about strengthening leaders and sustaining theological education for the future.

Links to resources:

• ATA India: https://ataindia.org/

• ATA (Asia Theological Association): https://ataasia.com/