In this episode of The Broken Banquet, Ashley and Wil welcome Will Faircloth — Director of Spanish Studies of the Wesley House of Studies at Truett Seminary and Director of the Wesley Heritage Foundation.

Will’s story stretches from serving in Costa Rica alongside Wil to shaping the next generation of Wesleyan leaders at Baylor University. With a deep passion for theological education and a heart that beats for mission, Will shares how God has been on the move through every chapter of his life.

Together, we talk about:

• How cross-cultural ministry in Costa Rica shaped Will’s call and perspective
• Why forming a Wesleyan presence within Truett Seminary matters right now
• The work of the Wesley Heritage Foundation and its role in preserving and expanding Wesleyan witness
• Where Will sees God moving in this season of leadership and transition

From the mission field to the classroom, Will’s story reminds us that discipleship and formation are global, relational, and always Spirit-led.

Pull up a chair to the table! You’re going to love this conversation.

Website: International Leadership Institute

Music by: Irene & the Sleepers

Logo by: Jill Ellis

Website: menomissions.org

Contact Us: [email protected]

#BrokenBanquetPodcast #WesleyHouseOfStudies #WesleyHeritageFoundation #BaylorTruett #MissionAndFormation #GlobalChurch #GodOnTheMove

This week at the table, we welcome Charles Cross, Vice President of Strategic Growth and International Director with the International Leadership Institute (ILI).

Charles is a French-speaking, leadership-leading, world-traveling father of six whose heart beats for the Gospel. With nearly two decades serving in France and five years in the U.S. with Greater Europe Mission, Charles and his wife, Amy, have dedicated their lives to equipping leaders and making disciples across the French-speaking world — and beyond.

Now, through ILI, Charles helps multiply leaders of integrity and ignite movements that transform nations for Christ. His life and ministry are rooted in one driving conviction:

“Because the heart of our Heavenly Father longs for all to come to repentance and none to perish, we are passionate to help reach as many people as possible with the life-transforming power of the Gospel.”

Join us for a joyful, hope-filled conversation about calling, family, cross-cultural ministry, and what it means to live on mission — from Texas to Toulouse, and everywhere in between.

🎧 Pull up a chair. The banquet table is wide, and there’s a place for you.

Website: International Leadership Institute

Music by: Irene & the Sleepers

Logo by: Jill Ellis

Website: menomissions.org

Contact Us: [email protected]

Your co-hosts are taking a little break, but we didn’t want to leave your podcast feed empty. Instead, we’re bringing you something special: a replay episode!

We’ve dug back into the archives to highlight one of our favorite authors!

Hunter Farrell is the co-author of Freeing Congregational Mission: A Practical Vision for Companionship, Cultural Humility, and Co-Development.

Hunter is also the Director of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s World Mission Initiative. He worked for thirty-four years as a missionary (in DR Congo and Peru), mission leader (Director of World Mission for the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.), and teacher of mission and intercultural studies (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). He developed fluency in three languages (Spanish, French and Tshiluba) and earned his Master of Divinity in Cross-Cultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, the Diplôme d’études approfondies in religious anthropology at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris and a doctorate in anthropology from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.

While living overseas, he received more than sixty short-term mission groups and studied the complex and nuanced interactions between U.S. visitors and Congolese and Peruvian hosts. He has researched and written articles on congregational mission engagement that have been published in Missiology: An International Review, The Journal of Latin American Theology and Christianity Today. He speaks frequently to groups of congregational mission leaders to better understand their concerns and offer them tools to lead their congregations into more faithful and effective mission.

To buy Freeing Congregational Mission, visit: https://a.co/d/21CrJmk

Music by: Irene & the Sleepers

Logo by: Jill Ellis

Website: menomissions.org

Contact Us: [email protected]

This week, we sit down with Dr. Elie Haddad, President of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, Lebanon. Elie is a theological giant — both figuratively and literally (he’s super tall!) — and a pioneering leader whose influence reaches far beyond the seminary walls.

In this conversation, Elie shares:

• How he’s reimagined theological education in times of crisis and change
• Why polycentric mission is essential for the future of the global church
• The innovative systems he’s implemented to empower leaders across the Arab world
• What it looks like to walk through succession with humility, wisdom, and hope

Elie’s vision, grounded in faith and sharpened through years of leadership, offers encouragement and challenge for anyone passionate about missions, ministry, and the future of theological training.

Website - Arab Baptist Theological Seminary

Blog Post - Passing the Baton: Theological Reflections on Leadership Succession

Music by: Irene & the Sleepers

Logo by: Jill Ellis

Website: menomissions.org

Contact Us: [email protected]

Wellll. It's no longer Labor Day week, but we're still on a break. So today, we’re bringing you something special: a replay episode of Wil's favorite author!

Challenge Accepted! When Wil asked Ashley to book an interview with his favorite author, it at first seemed like an impossible task. But, within a few hours, Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter responded!

Sherwood G. Lingenfelter retired as provost of Fuller Seminary on June 30, 2011, but continues to serve on Fuller’s faculty as senior professor of anthropology. He joined Fuller in 1999 as professor and dean of the School of Intercultural Studies (then the School of World Mission) and served as acting provost in 2001 before being appointed provost in 2002.

Before his appointment at Fuller, he served as professor of intercultural studies and provost and senior vice president at Biola University, La Mirada, California from 1983 to 1999 and professor of anthropology at SUNY College at Brockport from 1966 to 1983. He holds a BA from Wheaton College and a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Lingenfelter’s field research includes three years in the Yap Islands of Micronesia and short-term research projects with the SIL International in Brazil, Cameroon, and Suriname. He has served as research and training consultant to SIL over the last three decades in Papua New Guinea, Borneo, Philippines, Africa, and Latin America. He also contributes regularly to mission conferences and to missionary candidate training for other evangelical mission organizations. His publications include Teamwork Cross-Culturally: Christ-Centered Solutions for Leading Multinational Teams (coauthored with Julie A. Green, 2022), Leadership in the Way of the Cross: Forging Ministry from the Crucible of Crisis (2018), Ministering Cross-Culturally: A Model for Effective Personal Relationships (coauthored with Marvin K. Mayers, 2016), Transforming Culture: A Challenge for Christian Mission (1998), Agents of Transformation: A Guide for Effective Cross-Cultural Ministry (1996), and Leading Cross-Culturally: Covenant Relationships for Effective Christian Leadership (2008). He also served as coauthor with his wife, Dr. Judith Lingenfelter, for Teaching Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Learning and Teaching (2003), and with Dr. Paul R. Gupta for Breaking Tradition to Accomplish Vision: Training Leaders for a Church Planting Movement (2006).

More from Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter:

https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/response-judith-sherwood-lingenfelter/

Amazon: Buy Ministering Cross-Culturally

Music by: Irene & the Sleepers

Logo by: Jill Ellis

Website: menomissions.org

Contact Us: [email protected]

Labor Day Replay Week!

Your co-hosts are taking a little Labor Day break, but we didn’t want to leave your podcast feed empty. Instead, we’re bringing you something special: a replay episode every single day this week!

We’ve dug back into the archives to highlight some of our absolute favorite conversations - featuring authors, storytellers, and mission leaders who have inspired us (and hopefully you, too).

So whether you’re traveling, grilling, or just enjoying a slower pace this week, tune in daily for a fresh replay of timeless wisdom and unforgettable stories.

New episodes will return next week, but until then, enjoy this week of favorites!

Friends, we have out-kicked our coverage once again! Dr. Brian Fikkert of When Helping Hurts fame joins us today on the Broken Banquet Podcast, and we are digging into his newest book, Becoming Whole: Why the Opposite of Poverty Isn't the American Dream.

Dr. Brian Fikkert, founder and president of The Chalmers Center, is also Professor of Economics and Community Development and the Founder and President of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College. He is coauthor of the best-selling book When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself, as well as Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions, Helping Without Hurting in Church Benevolence, and From Dependence to Dignity: How to Alleviate Poverty Through Church-Centered Microfinance.

Dr. Fikkert earned a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University, specializing in international economics and economic development. He is the author of numerous articles in both academic and popular journals. Prior to coming to Covenant College, he was a professor at the University of Maryland — College Park and a research fellow at the Center for Institutional Reform and the Informal Sector.

Music by: Irene & the Sleepers

Logo by: Jill Ellis

Website: menomissions.org

Contact Us: [email protected]

Labor Day Replay Week!

Your co-hosts are taking a little Labor Day break, but we didn’t want to leave your podcast feed empty. Instead, we’re bringing you something special: a replay episode every single day this week!

We’ve dug back into the archives to highlight some of our absolute favorite conversations - featuring authors, storytellers, and mission leaders who have inspired us (and hopefully you, too).

So whether you’re traveling, grilling, or just enjoying a slower pace this week, tune in daily for a fresh replay of timeless wisdom and unforgettable stories.

New episodes will return next week, but until then, enjoy this week of favorites!

Kenneth Rwego was born in Southwestern Uganda near the border of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. As a child he enjoyed crossing the border into Congo to visit his friends. It was during those visits that Kenneth saw firsthand the disturbing images of human suffering and broken families. In 1997, Kenneth accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. It was then that he began to feel a strong conviction to share the message of Faith, Hope and Love with the people of Congo.

Kenneth's first trip to Congo as a believer was in 1998 during his first year of college. Since then, he has traveled to Congo at least once each year to share the Gospel with the people there. Over the years, God has continued to clarify Kenneth and his wife, Abigail's call to go into full-time missionary ministry in Congo through the founding of Eden Mission. With a focus on family, the Rwego Family trusts that Eden Mission will help families find joy, peace and a more fruitful and fulfilling life through Christ Jesus.

Beginning in 2015 Kenneth and his family moved to live in the Congo full-time to continue and expand the work of Eden Mission.

To learn more about Eden Mission, visit their website: https://edenmission.org

Music by: Irene & the Sleepers

Logo by: Jill Ellis

Website: menomissions.org

Contact Us: [email protected]

Labor Day Replay Week!

Your co-hosts are taking a little Labor Day break, but we didn’t want to leave your podcast feed empty. Instead, we’re bringing you something special: a replay episode every single day this week!

We’ve dug back into the archives to highlight some of our absolute favorite conversations —featuring authors, storytellers, and mission leaders who have inspired us (and hopefully you, too).

So, whether you’re traveling, grilling, or just enjoying a slower pace this week, tune in daily for a fresh replay of timeless wisdom and unforgettable stories.

New episodes will return next week, but until then, enjoy this week of favorites!

Dr. Patrick Murunga was Ashley's doctoral adviser at George Fox Evangelical Seminary. Patrick is from Kenya and has served as a pastor, a missionary, the director of a seminary...and more! Now he is a pastor to pastor and missionaries. This is a story you don't want to miss!

Music by: Irene & the Sleepers

Logo by: Jill Ellis

Website: menomissions.org

Contact Us: [email protected]

Labor Day Replay Week!

Your co-hosts are taking a little Labor Day break, but we didn’t want to leave your podcast feed empty. Instead, we’re bringing you something special: a replay episode every single day this week!

We’ve dug back into the archives to highlight some of our absolute favorite conversations - featuring authors, storytellers, and mission leaders who have inspired us (and hopefully you, too).

So whether you’re traveling, grilling, or just enjoying a slower pace this week, tune in daily for a fresh replay of timeless wisdom and unforgettable stories.

New episodes will return next week, but until then, enjoy this week of favorites!

Reuben Munn is Senior Pastor of Shore Community Church and an Adjunct Lecturer in Practical Theology at Laidlaw College.

He holds a degree in Communication Studies from AUT and a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology from Laidlaw College. He also holds a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Arts in New Testament Studies from Cincinnati Christian University.

Reuben is particularly passionate about the ministry of preaching and the formation of emerging preachers who can clearly, faithfully and creatively expound the Word of God. He is committed to developing pastors and preachers who can equip people to dwell deeply in the biblical story and live this out in the complex realities of everyday life.

Reuben spent two years as a public relations consultant before joining the staff of Shore Community Church. He has a thriving preaching ministry and his teaching has featured on Shine TV, Radio Rhema and Prime TV. Since 2014 Reuben has taught courses at Laidlaw College including Introduction to Preaching and Pastoral Leadership.

Reuben is married to Anna and they have three boys. He enjoys reading, playing jazz piano and eating Burger Fuel.

Learn more about Shore Community Church: https://www.shorecommunity.church

Listen to Reuben's great sermons: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shore-community-church-podcast/id1346871953

Learn from Reuben about preaching: https://www.discipleship.nz/courses/preaching

Music by: Irene & the Sleepers

Logo by: Jill Ellis

Website: menomissions.org

Contact Us: [email protected]

What do Peru, Panama, Portugal, and Paul have in common? They’re all part of the story of Rev. Luciano Pereira da Silva. 🇧🇷➡️🇵🇪➡️🇵🇦➡️🇵🇹

Originally from Brazil, Luciano has poured out his life across the globe - serving in Peru, now shepherding in Panama, and always carrying a deep love for Portugal. If it starts with a “P,” chances are Luciano has a story there!

But more than geography, Luciano has a heart like the Apostle Paul. He’s a church planter, pastor, Conference Superintendent for the Global Methodist Church in Panama, and a member of the GMC Commission on Kingdom Advancement. His vision? To see the Church multiply, disciples grow, and God’s Kingdom advance to the ends of the earth.

In this episode, Luciano shares his journey, his passion for planting churches, and how the Spirit is moving in Latin America and beyond. You’ll leave inspired by his joy, his faith, and his global heartbeat for the Gospel.

WATCH this Plainspoken Podcast Interview.

READ Luciano's new book, Rescued from Darkness: Helping Others Find Deliverance in Christ

VIEW the GMC Panama Website.

VIEW video from annual conference.

🎧 Listen now and discover why Luciano is called a “modern Paul” with an apostolic fire.

Music by: Irene & the Sleepers

Logo by: Jill Ellis

Website: menomissions.org

Contact Us: [email protected]