The Missions Show

By Alex Kocman and Scott DunfordSociety & Culture Religion & Spirituality Christianity Education Philosophy

The Missions Show episodes

July 13, 2025What Is a Nation and Why Does It Matter?
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.
Key Topics
The definition and components of a nation (language, ethnicity, culture, religion, land, and self-conception)
Challenges to the idea that America is purely an "idea"
The biblical vision of nations in the Great Commission and in Revelation
The globalizing impulse in Christianity and its implications for mission strategy
The theological dangers of tribalism and radical globalism
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 patreon.com/TheMissionsShow.
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.
32 min
July 06, 2025Motherhood on Mission: Purpose Amid the Mundane With Simona Gorton
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.
Key Topics
The theological foundation of motherhood and everyday tasks
Lessons from Ecclesiastes on finding meaning amid daily repetition
Advice to young women considering missions: start with local service
Encouragement for churches to affirm and support women and mothers in their roles
Practical ways to disciple children to value godly character over recognition
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 patreon.com/TheMissionsShow.
Want more of The Missions Show? Our premium content now lives on Patreon.
Supporter ($5/month): weekly bonus shows with more in-depth conversation, behind-the-scenes content, and spiritual insights
Insider ($10/month): the weekly bonus shows, plus a private Signal group with the hosts, quarterly live chats with Scott and Alex, and a thank-you gift for first-time subscribers
Join at patreon.com/TheMissionsShow.
The Missions Show 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].
29 min
June 29, 2025Why Every Missionary Should be a Theologian
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.
Key Topics
The importance of theology in missions work and why every missionary must be a theologian
Real-world implications of inadequate theological preparation in cross-cultural settings
The influence of Greco-Roman thought on Western Christianity and its impact on theological expression
Use of systematic theology and story-based biblical teaching to bridge cultural gaps
The need for deeper engagement with doctrine to counter heresy and build resilient churches
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.
Want more of The Missions Show? Our premium content now lives on Patreon.
Supporter ($5/month): weekly bonus shows with more in-depth conversation, behind-the-scenes content, and spiritual insights
Insider ($10/month): the weekly bonus shows, plus a private Signal group with the hosts, quarterly live chats with Scott and Alex, and a thank-you gift for first-time subscribers
Join at patreon.com/TheMissionsShow.
The Missions Show 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].
31 min
June 22, 2025Missions and Animation: Examining the iBible With Steve Cleary
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.
Key Topics
The vision and development of the iBIBLE project
The gap in oral and visual Bible access worldwide
Challenges and theological considerations in adapting biblical content visually
The theological safeguards and review process for script accuracy
The importance of narrative in missions and reaching oral/visual learners
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 patreon.com/TheMissionsShow. Alex, Scott, and Steve go deeper into pitfalls of Christian media and his work on the animated Pilgrim's Progress movie.
Want more of The Missions Show? Our premium content now lives on Patreon.
Supporter ($5/month): weekly bonus shows with more in-depth conversation, behind-the-scenes content, and spiritual insights
Insider ($10/month): the weekly bonus shows, plus a private Signal group with the hosts, quarterly live chats with Scott and Alex, and a thank-you gift for first-time subscribers
Join at patreon.com/TheMissionsShow.
The Missions Show 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].
31 min
June 15, 2025What New Data Says About Gospel Opportunity With Dr. Adam Rasmussen
What does the data say about Christianity in the American church today?
In this episode, Alex and Scott explore the emerging cultural and spiritual shifts among younger generations, particularly Gen Z, with guest Dr. Adam Rasmussen, Cultural Research Fellow and Dean of Arts & Humanities at Arizona Christian University. Drawing from recent data and studies by the Cultural Research Center and the American Bible Society, Rasmussen outlines a growing openness to spirituality and Christianity—especially among young men—despite the rise of secularism.
Together they also examine the mental health crisis and its correlation with worldview, revealing that a stronger biblical worldview significantly lowers struggles with anxiety, depression, and more. Rasmussen warns of the post-COVID decline in biblical worldview and church attendance but sees signs of revival—particularly in increased male engagement and hunger for authentic, biblical discipleship.
Key Topics
Generational shifts in spiritual interest, especially among Gen Z
Role of doubt and credibility in evangelism
Mental health crisis and its link to biblical worldview strength
Rise and dangers of syncretism in American Christianity
Practical encouragement for churches and missionaries to seize the current cultural moment
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 Missions Show? Our premium content now lives on Patreon.
Supporter ($5/month): weekly bonus shows with more in-depth conversation, behind-the-scenes content, and spiritual insights
Insider ($10/month): the weekly bonus shows, plus a private Signal group with the hosts, quarterly live chats with Scott and Alex, and a thank-you gift for first-time subscribers
Join at patreon.com/TheMissionsShow.
The Missions Show 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].
29 min
June 08, 2025Should Christians Read Fiction Books? With Dr. Marvin Newell
Why should Christians spend time reading fiction books?
In this episode of the Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with Dr. Marvin Newell, an accomplished missiologist, author, and missionary as they explore Newell's recent foray into fiction writing with his novel Taking You Under My Skin, a historically grounded narrative set during the Vietnam War. The story not only reflects a gripping tale of survival and love but also serves to awaken readers to the needs of unreached people groups, using fiction as a powerful tool for mobilization and imagination.
Dr. Newell explores the often-overlooked role of imagination in Christian discipleship and missions as well as emphasizing the importance of Bible translation and storytelling in making the gospel accessible.
Key Topics:
The value of fiction in mobilizing Christians for missions.
Summary of Taking You Under My Skin, Newell's fiction novel set during the Vietnam War.
Use of redemptive analogies to communicate the gospel cross-culturally.
Fiction and Non-Fiction Book recommendations for missions-minded believers and missionaries.
Download the transcript for this episode.
Want more of The Missions Show? Our premium content now lives on Patreon.
Supporter ($5/month): weekly bonus shows with more in-depth conversation, behind-the-scenes content, and spiritual insights
Insider ($10/month): the weekly bonus shows, plus a private Signal group with the hosts, quarterly live chats with Scott and Alex, and a thank-you gift for first-time subscribers
Join at patreon.com/TheMissionsShow.
The Missions Show 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].
30 min
June 01, 2025Mega Episode: HeartCry, Humility, and the Great Commission with Paul Washer
In this special extended episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and ABWE president Paul Davis engage in a wide-ranging, deeply reflective conversation with Paul Washer of HeartCry Missionary Society. Washer recounts the founding and growth of HeartCry, emphasizing the importance of supporting both indigenous and cross-cultural missionaries. He stresses that indigenous missions must be grounded in strong local churches with biblical eldership and doctrinal integrity.
Paul Washer also tackles how local churches can develop missions strategies, emphasizing prayer, discernment, and doctrinal clarity over formulaic planning. Washer calls for renewed focus on developing biblically qualified leaders through discipleship and robust prayer life.
Key Topics
Origins and philosophy of HeartCry Missionary Society
The role of indigenous vs. cross-cultural missionaries
Biblical qualifications of missionaries
How churches can prayerfully discern mission priorities
Practical discipleship for young men sensing a call to ministry
The dangers of performance-driven or celebrity church culture
Download the show transcript
Want more of The Missions Show? Our premium content now lives on Patreon.
Supporter ($5/month): weekly bonus shows with more in-depth conversation, behind-the-scenes content, and spiritual insights
Insider ($10/month): the weekly bonus shows, plus a private Signal group with the hosts, quarterly live chats with Scott and Alex, and a thank-you gift for first-time subscribers
Join at patreon.com/TheMissionsShow.
The Missions Show 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].
1 hr 14 min
May 25, 2025Theology of Money and Prosperity With Josiah Stowe
Should Christians reject or embrace wealth and prosperity?
In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Scott talks with Josiah Stowe, co-founder of Dominion Wealth Strategists, on the often-overlooked yet vital subject of money and prosperity theology in the context of missions and ministry. Their conversation explores the tensions missionaries face regarding finances—especially retirement planning, family provision, and legacy—while challenging the assumption that piety must equate to poverty.
Josiah argues that wealth-building can and should align with biblical stewardship and that Christians are called to be faithful stewards who multiply their resources for God’s glory and the good of future generations. Their discussion critiques both the prosperity gospel and the poverty gospel, emphasizing a balanced, exegetically rooted theology of money. Finally, Josiah emphasizes the importance of legacy planning—wills, trusts, insurance, and investments—as essential tools for sustaining ministry impact across generations.
Key Topics Covered
Misconceptions about wealth in missions (piety vs. poverty)
Biblical foundations for wealth building
Distinction between biblical stewardship and prosperity gospel teachings
The moral imperative for Christians to build and steward wealth wisely
The need for long-term financial planning including retirement and legacy
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.
Show Transcript
Want more of The Missions Show? Our premium content now lives on Patreon.
Supporter ($5/month): weekly bonus shows with more in-depth conversation, behind-the-scenes content, and spiritual insights
Insider ($10/month): the weekly bonus shows, plus a private Signal group with the hosts, quarterly live chats with Scott and Alex, and a thank-you gift for first-time subscribers
Join at patreon.com/TheMissionsShow.
The Missions Show 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].
33 min
May 18, 2025The Forgotten Attributes of God With Peter Sammons
Has modern evangelicalism forgotten about key aspects of who God is?
In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott welcome Dr. Peter Sammons, Associate Director of Academic Development at Founders Seminary, to discuss the "forgotten attributes" of God—those less-discussed incommunicable aspects of God's nature. Sammons argues that modern Christians tend to focus on God's relational and communicable attributes (like love and kindness) because they are easier to grasp and more emotionally resonant. Sammons stresses that a proper understanding of God's essence and metaphysical attributes is crucial for true worship and doctrinal precision.
The discussion also explores why understanding God's immutable nature is essential, especially in missions. Many pagan and world religions depict gods as moody and human-like, but the Christian God stands apart as wholly other, unaffected by human emotion or manipulation. This, Sammons emphasizes, highlights the necessity of theological depth for missionaries. Without it, missionaries risk portraying God as just another tribal deity.
Key Points
Forgotten Attributes: Focus on God's immutability, impassibility, and aseity, which are often overshadowed by more "relatable" attributes.
Essence of God: Importance of understanding God's essence versus merely his relational attributes.
Modern Challenges: Cultural and intellectual laziness has led to theological illiteracy and avoidance of difficult doctrines.
Missional Importance: Proper theological understanding is critical for distinguishing the Christian God from false deities in missions work.
Training Solutions: Founders Seminary offers a Master of Arts in Cultural Apologetics and Missions to deepen theological literacy for missionaries, even remotely.
Want more of The Missions Show? Our premium content now lives on Patreon.
Supporter ($5/month): weekly bonus shows with more in-depth conversation, behind-the-scenes content, and spiritual insights
Insider ($10/month): the weekly bonus shows, plus a private Signal group with the hosts, quarterly live chats with Scott and Alex, and a thank-you gift for first-time subscribers
Join at patreon.com/TheMissionsShow.
The Missions Show 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].
31 min
May 11, 2025Persecution, Sensationalism, and the Reality in Syria and Nigeria With Andy Coleman
Are we thinking about persecuted Christians incorrectly? What should our and the church's response be?
In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with Andy Coleman, president of the Christian Emergency Alliance and author of the new book In Days of Darkness: A Manual for Ordinary Christians Facing Unusual Times. The discussion explores the realities of Christian persecution worldwide, especially in regions like Syria and Nigeria, and how Western believers should respond both spiritually and practically. Coleman, who has years of on-the-ground experience in conflict zones, offers a measured, informed perspective that resists both sensationalism and apathy.
Coleman emphasizes the need for “connective tissue” in the global Church—awareness, prayer, and meaningful support between believers in safer contexts and those in peril. He discusses the nuanced and often hidden complexities of persecution, where violence is often localized, and government complicity or neglect plays a key role. The conversation also introduces his book, which seeks to equip everyday Christians to stand firm and act faithfully amid increasing pressures, both abroad and closer to home.
Key Points
Understanding Persecution Without Sensationalism
What’s Happening to Christians in Syria
Analyzing the Intense Persecution Crisis in Nigeria
The Role of the Church with Persecuted Brothers and Sisters
Book Highlight: In Days of Darkness: A Manual for Ordinary Christians Facing Unusual Times
Want more of The Missions Show? Our premium content now lives on Patreon.
Supporter ($5/month): weekly bonus shows with more in-depth conversation, behind-the-scenes content, and spiritual insights
Insider ($10/month): the weekly bonus shows, plus a private Signal group with the hosts, quarterly live chats with Scott and Alex, and a thank-you gift for first-time subscribers
Join at patreon.com/TheMissionsShow.
The Missions Show 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].
30 min

About The Missions Show

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The Missions Show answers hard questions about theology, missions, and practice to help goers think and thinkers go. We are conservative, evangelical, and gospel-centered.