Catch the third and final season of Cloud of Witnesses at cloudofwitnessespodcast.com.

How do we view other Christian factions like Catholics and Eastern Orthodox?

Alex and Scott explore how Evangelical Protestants should view Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox believers in the context of global missions. They address the question of whether these groups are “reached” by the gospel, if they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, if they should be evangelized, and finally if we should consider those groups in our mission strategies.

Alex and Scott stress that while unreached people groups deserve priority, revitalizing and strengthening existing Christian communities is also vital to prevent spiritual decline and that a balanced approach is needed in both breaking new ground and building up existing foundations.

Key Topics Covered

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Being a godly husband and father isn't about one big heroic act, it's about showing up every day. Men need a simple, practical plan to stay faithful in the daily grind. How To Lead Your Family is a no-nonsense guide, from author Joel Beeke, that gives the biblical foundation, Christ-centered encouragement, practical advice for men to purse the high standards that God calls them too. Get 20% off your copy today when you use the promo code: LEADABWE. Additionally, new email subscribers can get 10% off a future order. We are thankful for Reformation Heritage Books for their sponsorship of this episode!

With over 3 billion people in the world who have never heard of Jesus, the global need is tremendous for workers to go into the harvest fields (Matthew 9:37-38). Is God calling you to missions? We'd love to have a conversation with you on how you can use your gifts and talents to advance the Great Commission at home and abroad. Visit abwe.org/SendMe for more information and to take your next step in missions.

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The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email [email protected].

What does ministry fruitfulness look like in Papua New Guinea?

Alex Kocman talks with Bill and Lori Smith, veteran ABWE missionaries who have served in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for nearly 40 years. The Smiths share their journey into missions, the unique cultural and spiritual challenges in PNG, and the dual nature of their ministry—training pastors and missionaries at Goroka Baptist Bible College and providing medical care through a high-volume clinic and foster care ministry.

Bill and Lori emphasize that while PNG is often labeled a “Christian nation,” deep-rooted animism, syncretism, and spiritual oppression are prevalent, creating ongoing needs for evangelism, discipleship, and training indigenous missionaries to reach both remote PNG tribes and neighboring Pacific nations. They share real-life stories of God’s miraculous interventions and how, through it all, God is allowing them to plant churches, one baby at a time.

Key Topics

To find out more about the Smith's ministry and to get involved, visit abwe.org/png. You can also contact Bill and Lori by emailing [email protected] or [email protected].

Download the transcript for this episode.

Being a godly husband and father isn't about one big heroic act, it's about showing up every day. Men need a simple, practical plan to stay faithful in the daily grind. How To Lead Your Family is a no-nonsense guide, from author Joel Beeke, that gives the biblical foundation, Christ-centered encouragement, practical advice for men to purse the high standards that God calls them too. Get 20% off your copy today when you use the promo code: LEADABWE. Additionally, new email subscribers can get 10% off a future order. We are thankful for Reformation Heritage Books for their sponsorship of this episode!

Do you love The Missions Podcast? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!

Premium Subscribers get access to:

Support The Missions Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium

The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email [email protected].

How do we theologically look at AI?

Alex and Scott sit down with C.R. Wiley, an author, pastor, and podcaster on the theological and cultural implications of artificial intelligence (AI). Wiley outlines how AI—particularly large language models—presents both a technological revolution and a spiritual challenge. He frames AI development as not merely a technical progression but a competing eschatology—a vision of the future that rivals Christian hope.

Wiley stresses that AI technologies—especially when perceived as sentient or divine—serve as modern idols that can fulfill spiritual functions, replacing prayer, human affirmation, and even "divine" guidance. This functional idolatry, he argues, should concern Christians deeply. Finally, Wiley calls the church to prepare not only ethically but also spiritually for a future increasingly shaped by machine intelligence.

Download the transcript for this episode.

Are you curious about global missions but not sure where to start? ABWE's 24-Hour DEMO is designed to help you find, explore, and encourage you to take your next step in missions. Find out more and register for the next event at demo.abwe.org.

Do you love The Missions Podcast? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!

Premium Subscribers get access to:

Support The Missions Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium

The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email [email protected].

What constitutes a Muslim idiom Bible translation, and why is it dangerous?

Alex and Scott sit down with Dr. Ant Greenham, a retired professor of Islamic Studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, to address the theological and missiological dangers associated with Muslim Insider Movements (MIMs) and insider Bible translations. Dr. Greenham critiques the approach where biblical terminology is replaced with alternatives like to make the gospel palatable to Muslim audiences.

Dr. Greenham explains the two major frameworks guiding missions: the theological approach, which emphasizes doctrinal faithfulness, and the anthropological approach, which focuses on cultural accessibility.

Download the transcript for this episode.

Is God calling you to missions? ABWE can help you find the opportunities and support you need to bring the gospel to the nations, plant churches, and disciple believers. Start the conversation with us today at abwe.org/sendme.

Do you love The Missions Podcast? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!

Premium Subscribers get access to:

Support The Missions Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium

The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email [email protected].

In this episode, Alex and Scott talk with Nate Bell, an ABWE missionary serving in Cape Town, South Africa. Nate shares his current focus on church planting and ministry among South Africa’s diverse people groups. He explains the historical complexities of South Africa’s racial and cultural dynamics, shaped by both Dutch and British colonization and apartheid. Nate details how these dynamics still influence communities today, including deep-seated divisions among white Afrikaners, white South Africans of British descent, and colored and black South Africans.

Nate highlights that although about 80% of South Africans identify as Christian, many have a works-based understanding of salvation, especially within the Dutch Reformed Church tradition, and lack a clear grasp of the gospel message. Nate shared honestly about the challenges and learning curve of ministering in such a context as an American, stressing humility, continual learning, and reliance on the unity found in Christ.

To reach out to Nate about his ministry in South Africa, you can email [email protected].

Download the transcript for this episode.

God has already called many people to the mission field, but they need your support to get there. Help someone in Prefield get to where God is calling them by prayerfully supporting their ministry at abwe.org/Prefield.

Do you love The Missions Podcast? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!

Premium Subscribers get access to:

Support The Missions Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium

The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email [email protected].

We are called to make disciples of all nations, but what is the biblical definition of a nation?

Alex and Scott explore the complex question of what defines a "nation" and why it matters for missions. They discuss the popular idea that America is merely "an idea," challenging this reductionist view by highlighting that a nation is more than shared values; it also includes shared language, ethnicity, culture, religion, and self-conception as a unified whole.

Drawing heavily on the biblical texts, they emphasize that God's plan involves not only individuals but distinct nations and people groups worshiping Him. Understanding what constitutes a nation shapes how Christians think about the Great Commission and the ultimate goal of reaching all peoples with the gospel.

Interview with Vishal Mangalwadi that was referenced in the episode.

Download the transcript of this episode.

Get more of the conversation by becoming a Missions Podcast Premium Subscriber! Alex and Scott continue in the bonus Overtime episode to explore if God's grace erases our cultural and ethnic distinctions. Get access at missionspodcast.com/premium.

Are you feeling called to the mission field, but don't know where to start? ABWE's 24-Hour DEMO is for those that are seeking opportunities and direction on how they can help fulfill the Great Commission. Find your role in global missions at demo.abwe.org.

How can the mundane of motherhood be extraordinary?

Alex and Scott talk with Simona Gorton, an author, wife, and mother deeply engaged in local church ministry and missions. Drawing on her experiences with 9Marks and her work translating resources into over 60 languages, she emphasizes the importance of the local church as a training ground and the value of serving where God has placed you, even in seemingly ordinary roles.

Simona also discusses her book Mothering Against Futility, which explores Ecclesiastes and the tension between the mundane and the eternal. She challenges mothers and young women to embrace the daily, unseen work as meaningful in the Kingdom of Heaven, connecting everyday tasks to God's eternal purposes.

Download the transcript for this episode.

Want to hear more of the conversation? Become a Missions Podcast Premium Subscriber to hear Alex, Scott, and Simona talk about the life of Elaine Townsend and how we can be encouraging young women and mothers in our churches. Sign up at missionspodcast.com/premium.

Do you love The Missions Podcast? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!

Premium Subscribers get access to:

Support The Missions Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium

The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email [email protected].

What are the implications if missionaries don't know their theology?

Alex and Scott tackle the essential question of whether every missionary should also be a theologian. Drawing from personal experiences and their work with ABWE, they emphasize that missionaries often find themselves as the primary or sole theological resource in pioneer settings. This reality necessitates a strong foundation in theology, even for those not serving in overt teaching roles.

The discussion also explores the challenges missionaries face in cross-cultural theological communication, including the lack of access to theological resources in native languages, differing worldviews, the prevalence of insider movements, and syncretism.

Download the transcript for this episode.

God has already called many people to the mission field, but they need your support to get there. Help someone in Prefield get to where God is calling them by prayerfully supporting their ministry at abwe.org/Prefield.

Do you love The Missions Podcast? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!

Premium Subscribers get access to:

Support The Missions Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium

The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email [email protected].

Can Scripture be translated into animation and be faithful to the text?

In this episode of the Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with Steve Cleary, founder of Revelation Media, about his groundbreaking work in creating the iBible—an animated, visual translation of the entire biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation. Steve Cleary launched a global multimedia project that seeks to reach oral and visual learners through a new medium of Scripture presentation, particularly in underserved regions.

The conversation also addresses deeper theological and strategic implications of visualizing Scripture, especially for oral cultures and generations increasingly disengaged from print literacy. By producing these high-quality, biblically faithful episodes and offering them freely, Revelation Media aims to serve global missions with impactful tools that reflect the whole gospel.

Download the transcript for this episode.

Explore your calling to global missions at ABWE's 24-Hour DEMO event. These events, held throughout the year, help individuals and churches explore how they can help fulfill the Great Commission and explore God's calling on their life and church. Learn more at demo.abwe.org.

Want more of the conversation? Be a Missions Podcast Premium Subscriber and get access to our bonus Overtime episodes at missionspodcast.com/premium. Alex, Scott, and Steve go deeper into pitfalls of Christian media and his work on the animated Pilgrim's Progress movie.

Do you love The Missions Podcast? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!

Premium Subscribers get access to:

Support The Missions Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium

The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email [email protected].