The Christian Leader Podcast

Building bridges across cultural and religious divides can seem daunting, yet it's at the heart of authentic Christian ministry. In this episode, we meet Cody and Janna, two young workers preparing to serve in the Middle East through Multiply who show us how genuine relationships can transcend perceived barriers. 

Through their ministry in this region so far, Janna and Cody have discovered a Middle Eastern life that differs significantly from how the Muslim world is typically portrayed in our media. Their stories reveal the incredible warmth and hospitality that is very common in this region, and a surprising openness to discuss religion and American culture. 

Ministry and evangelism are difficult in these cultures, but slowly and patiently building sincere relationships is a crucial step to gain trust that leads to important conversations about faith. Learn more in this week's episode, and we invite you to consider partnering with Cody and Janna as they prepare for this exciting new ministry opportunity! 

Many Christians in America today feel ill-equipped to share their faith with Muslims. Our media and our culture tend to paint Muslims in a certain way that often makes us feel intimidated and maybe even scared, but those biases are almost always unfounded and unfair. As we hear from today's guest, sharing about Jesus really comes down to humility, curiosity, and sincerity, regardless of our cultural backgrounds.

Today we speak with Nasser al’Qahtani, Multiply's Regional Team Leader for North Africa and the Middle East. Nasser is a former Muslim himself, and he has amazing stories of how God has done wonders in his life and opened incredible doors for him to teach around the world. Nasser is a gifted storyteller and an engaging biblical scholar, so enjoy this episode as we hear how God is at work in the Middle East and how we can appropriately share our faith with others.

Nasser's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NasseralQahtani
Nasser's Multiply profile: https://multiply.net/global-worker/nasser-alqahtani

Next year marks a significant anniversary for our MB history and heritage, so we're preparing for a big party! The roots of our MB tradition can be traced to 1525 and the birth of the Anabaptist movement beginning in Zurich. For those of us involved with USMB, it's helpful for us to remember that our heritage and our roots go way beyond our U.S. history, and this event is a meaningful chance to learn, remember, and reconnect with our Mennonite and Anabaptist brothers and sisters around the world.

This week our guests are César García, the general secretary of the Mennonite World Conference, and Dr. Tim Geddert, our USMB delegate to MWC. We hear some behind-the-scenes planning for the anniversary event coming up next year, but César and Tim also share important reminders of what it means to be Mennonite, why adult baptism is such a big deal, and what we can learn from our larger Mennonite family around the world.

To learn more about the anniversary events in Zurich, visit mwc-cmm.org or anabaptism500.ch. 

This week we get to know James Moore, the recently appointed eastern district minister. In addition to this important role, James is also the lead pastor of West End MB Church in Lenoir, North Carolina. James discusses the joys and challenges of serving in both roles, including his role in helping immigrant Congolese churches become more self-sustaining. 

Before James became a pastor, he served a full career as a police officer in Lenoir. He still occasionally helps out with special events around town in this capacity, and his unique role as both a pastor and police officer lead to a distinct perspective on bridging the gap between the church and the community. James emphasizes the importance of prayer and the benefit of working together as we all aim to more effectively reaching the younger generations. 

This week, Fred and Esther Leonard from Mountain View Church in Fresno, California, share their passion for global missions and how they've integrated it into their church's DNA over the past 31 years. The Leonards discuss their upcoming "Live the Mission" conference and their extensive experience in missions work across 37 countries. They emphasize the importance of partnering with local leaders, empowering nationals, and creating sustainable mission strategies that don't rely solely on American funding or leadership.

Fred and Esther share practical advice for churches looking to engage in missions, including starting small by adopting a missionary, sending short-term teams, and balancing local and global outreach. They stress the importance of a "theology of presence" and the power of prayer in mission work. They also share inspiring stories of how their church's involvement has transformed lives and communities around the world, highlighting the need for a long-term commitment to see lasting change. This episode offers valuable insights for church leaders looking to cultivate a missions-minded congregation and make a global impact.

This week we speak with Donna Sullivan and Lori Taylor, two long-serving staff members of USMB who are retiring and concluding their careers this week. Over their decades of experience, their roles have changed significantly over time, and today they discuss some of their favorite experiences and reflections on their careers in church administration and ministry. 

Behind-the-scenes heroes like Lori and Donna often go unnoticed and under-appreciated, but their impact and their influence on our churches can't be overstated. Their day-to-day work truly was a ministry, and we've been blessed by the fruit of their labor. 

Both Lori and Donna acknowledge USMB is in a season of significant transition, and while they both are excited to exit and spend more time with family and friends, they also look to the future of USMB with great anticipation and promise as new leaders get settled in their roles.

Donna and Lori, congratulations on a job well done! 

Our resident MB historian Peggy Goertzen is back for another episode of history and storytelling, this time recounting the early days and foundation of the Latin America Mennonite Brethren (LAMB) district. Back in the 1930s, MB pioneers Peter E. Penner, Harry Neufeld, and others were trailblazers in reaching Spanish-speaking people near the Rio Grande Valley. After years of hard work and multiple challenges, these leaders eventually established several Spanish-speaking MB churches, as well as El Faro (The Lighthouse), an important Christian school for children in the region. 

In this era of our history, two MB trademark priorities were once again evident: In our mission work, we have a rich history of elevating both evangelism AND discipleship. This outreach to Spanish-speaking communities was one of the first times we openly welcomed a new ethnic group to our family of churches, and that spirit of inclusion continues today. 

Peggy is a fascinating storyteller, so we hope these stories from our past leave you inspired and encouraged for your next season of ministry! 

Here's an amazing stat you may not expect: A billion dollar disaster now occurs in the U.S. every 18 days. Between tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, thousands of people across the country are left with significant needs after unforeseen disasters, and many have to completely rebuild their homes and their lives. 

Luckily, Mennonite Disaster Service has been around for decades, and their team is equipped to do amazing acts of service to get people back on their feet and restore hope to broken communities. Kevin King has been their national director for 20 years now, and today we get to hear amazing stories of how communities have been healed and the amazing power that can come from a team of volunteers willing to serve. MDS's goal is to "make the path as level as possible from the pew to the project," and you'll hear today how you and your church can "pray, pay, and go" to share the hope of Jesus to broken communities around the country. 

In light of the upcoming retirement of Don Morris, Aaron Box was recently announced as the new USMB national director (effective July 1). Aaron has been an MB pastor for many years and was active on the USMB Leadership Board, but many of you likely don't know Aaron yet. As he prepares to transition into this new role, we wanted to take some time for you to get to know Aaron's history and hear his heart for ministry.

Aaron has more than 20 years of ministry experience, including the past 13 years as senior pastor of North Park Community Church in Eugene, Oregon. Throughout his experience, Aaron notes he is "MB by choice" and is energized by our history and distinctives. Looking ahead, Aaron says his experience and gifting are well-suited for ongoing growth and advancement in our areas of focus: church planting, intentional discipleship, and leadership development. 

We're excited about this new season in the USMB story, and we hope this conversation helps you get to know our new leader! 

Brian Harris is back on LEAD Pods this week discussing his new role as the southern district minister. After previously serving as the church planting mobilizer, Brian now acts as a "pastor to the pastors" by providing support, coordination, and advocacy across the southern district of MB churches. 

In this interview, Brian shares insights from his first few months of meeting with church leaders, unpacking themes like the desire for collaboration between churches on initiatives in missions, leadership development, and pastor encouragement. There are notable challenges for our pastors today, but there are also exciting opportunities to unite and take advantage of our diversity so we can learn and grow together.