The Same Commission

With Rachael Bee, mission partner, UK (cross-cultural)

The Same Commission stays in the UK today, looking with mission partner Rachael Bee at how to 'Welcome the Stranger'. Jim and Matt explore with Rachael how to use the opportunities that God has given us to share the gospel with refugees and asylum-seekers in this country. Listen, as Rachael shares some practical ways in which fellowships can open up and offer warm hospitality to those who have arrived in the UK, often from countries where Christianity is oppressed and believers persecuted.

Rachael Bee is a mission partner working in cross-cultural mission in the UK. Her work includes Bible teaching and support work with asylum seekers and refugees, particularly amongst people from Iran. She and her family live and serve in the Bristol area.

"Our hope and prayer constantly is that profound and transformative and life-long commitment to Jesus comes into each person, that comes through this kind of [discipleship] process" – Rachael Bee, mission partner, UK (cross-cultural)

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Rachael Bee, mission partner, UK (cross-cultural)

PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Assemblies; Believers; Asylum; Refuge; Migrants; Immigrants; Asylum-seekers; Refugees; Migration; Immigration; Church; Fellowships; Jesus; Jesus Christ; Good news; Hospitality; Bible Studies; Middle East; Persecution; Sojourner; Stranger; Welcome; Persian; Farsi; Iranian; Resettled; Undocumented; Salvation; Stateless; Displaced;

with Jonathan Hanley, mission partner, France

As someone who has spent his life reaching out to creative communities with the gospel, mission partner Jonathan Hanley reflects on the importance of creativity in today's episode of The Same Commission. Jim and Matt chat with Jonathan about the challenges facing people working in creative industries either receiving the gospel or, as believers, in living out their faith.

Jonathan Hanley has been serving the Lord in France for almost 30 years. With his wife Amanda, they have been involved in church-planting and discipleship training, with specific involvement in AIDS chaplaincy, Christian publishing and ministry to artists. He currently helps lead the publications department of Scripture Union in France and Jonathan has written books and published articles for a number of magazines and websites.

"As a Christian, I believe that being creative is part of the divine image that God has put in us all. You know, He made us in His image, and He is creative, so human beings end up being creative, even if they don't give credit to the Creator" – Jonathan Hanley, mission partner, France.

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Jonathan Hanley, mission partner, France.

SOCIAL: Facebook: @echoesinternational; Instagram: @echoesinternational; PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Believers; evangelism; outreach; ministry; ministries; faith; creativity; film; music; art; television; craft; design; publishing; performing; performers; music industry; books; culture; creatives; artists; creative industries; Creation; artistry; innovation; skills; talents; creative sector; theology; world view;

with Bethie Peltola, CEO, One Truth Project

On The Same Commission today, Bethie tells us about her work with the One Truth Project, as they seek to share their faith with Muslim people and respond Biblically to questions about Islam. Jim and Matt chat with Bethie about her own personal experience of friendship with people from the Muslim community and she points us towards some helpful resources for those interested in researching this topic.

Bethie Peltola is CEO of the One Truth Project as well as a writer, lecturer and consultant, helping Christians form Biblical responses to questions Muslims ask of the Christian faith, developing training courses for the Church and public short courses which respond to objections posed against Christianity. She has published a number of books for anyone who is interested in Biblical responses to Islam.

"It was the most overt I had ever been in prayer and I thought 'Oh, I've learned something today' I really do need to pray Biblically. I need to pray to not just to 'Oh Lord' or 'Oh God' because to them that could be Allah. I need to be sure I'm praying to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Many a missionary or a Christian working among Muslims can tell of these sort of stories, coming alongside Muslims and clearly speaking of the Lord " – Bethie Peltola, CEO, One Truth Project

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Bethie Peltola, CEO, One Truth Project

SOCIAL: Facebook: @echoesinternational; @onetruthproject Instagram: @echoesinternational; @onetruthprojectuk Youtube: @onetruthprojecthttps://www.onetruthproject.org/

BOOKS:

- Questions to Ask your Muslim friends: a closer look at Islamic beliefs and texts, Beth Peltola and Tim Dieppehttps://www.wilberforcepublications.co.uk/questions-to-ask-your-muslim-friends

- A Short guide to Islam: a Biblical response to the faith of our muslim neighbourshttps://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/product/a-short-guide-to-islam-2

PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Believers; evangelism; outreach; ministry; ministries; Islam; muslim; witness; faith; debate; preaching; Islamic

with Mark Davies, Regional Development Director, GLO Europe

On today's The Same Commission, the podcast turns to the topic of prayer, and specifically how to pray for mission. Mark Davies, GLO, explores with Matt and Jim why prayer is so important in our relationship with God, what he appreciates about other people's prayers as he served in mission and how can we pray when things get difficult.

Mark Davies is the GLO Europe Regional Development Director. He and his wife Shirley now live and serve in London, based at Highgate international Church. Previously (1983-2004) they, along with their five children, lived in Zambia, engaged in Bible teaching, church planting and social care projects.

"I see prayer very much as a two-way communication – prayer and Bible reading – we say that prayer is us talking to God and Bible reading is God talking to us. I get that but actually prayer is meant to be a two-way communication, conversation with God, So if we see it from the angle 'I'm in a relationship with God, how does that work? It works by talking – [it is like] any marriage, any relationship, if you're not talking and listening - then prayer is vital because that's how we talk to God and how God talks with us" – Mark Davies, Regional Development Director, GLO Europe

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Mark Davies, Regional Development Director, GLO Europe

TAG ON SOCIAL: Facebook: @echoesinternational; @GLOEurope.org Instagram: @echoesinternational; @glo_europe PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Believers; evangelism; outreach; ministry; ministries; Prayer; Pray; Praying; Faith; God; Jesus Christ; Holy Spirit; relationship; requests; support; communication; talk; talking; speaking; conversation

with Andrew Hart, CEO, PAK-7

Matt and Jim hear from Andrew Hart, of media organisation PAK-7, about the unreached people groups of the region in which he works. Andrew talks about the importance of media within mission, why it is vital for PAK-7 to use local believers' voices and talents in the making of new programmes, and whether they face opposition as they share the good news of God's love in Pakistan.

Andrew Hart is CEO of PAK7, which is a media initiative sharing the good news of God's love with the people of Pakistan, reaching out to both Christian and non-Christian audiences in Pakistan, through national and Christian TV and social media.

"How do we bring faith into those situations and make it relevant for people? Well, I think local people do that, and local people know how to do that, because they live there, because that is their life. We've trained over the last five years since we started over one hundred young Pakistani believers and there's some incredibly talented people there, I really love working with them, and they've got great ideas about how they can communicate the gospel into that culture. I just love hearing their ideas and the kind of things that they want to make programmes about because those are the kind of things that people are going to want to watch in Pakistan" – Andrew Hart, CEO, PAK-7

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Andrew Hart, CEO, PAK-7

TAG ON SOCIAL: Facebook: @echoesinternational; @pak7tv and @ PAK7Supporters Instagram: @echoesinternational; https://pak7.org/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Qmt8N8BHY6_yKS1gDlWdQ Joshua Project; https://www.joshuaproject.net/

PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Believers; evangelism; outreach; ministry; ministries; media; channels; social media; television; TV; unreached; reach; peoples; people groups; Pakistan; South Asia; hard to reach; language; culture; local people; videos; faith; gospel; programmes; programme; strategic; documentaries; reality TV; invest; gifts; talents; entertainment; indigenous; channel; songs; lessons

with Ian Burness

Friend of the podcast and former Echoes mission partner and director Ian Burness comes back to The Same Commission studio to talk all things medicine with Matt and Jim. He shares his expertise and experiences of medical mission to discuss the place of medical mission within overall mission. Together they discuss how medics can share their faith with patients, how medical mission has changed over the years and what should be the priorities for medical mission going forward.

After studies in medicine in Aberdeen University, Ian and his wife Margaret went to Africa in 1979, where Ian ran a mission hospital on the Zambian/Angolan border and worked in local churches among the Lubale people. After returning to the UK in 1990, Ian worked with Echoes of Service, now Echoes International, where he was our General Director until 2015. He's also published a variety of books on the history of mission.

"In Christian mission we need to say is that why we're there to do the best we can or to serve the mission of God? And if we are serving the mission of God we've got to understand where Christian mission is and understand where best the health sector can work alongside coexisting missions as arms that reach out to people, to touch people's lives, bring people, make people accessible and allow us to communicate Christ to them alongside the medical care we are giving. I have no problem with that and I think that's a very important area" – Ian Burness

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Ian Burness

TAG ON SOCIAL:

Facebook: @echoesinternational; Instagram: @echoesinternational; Book by Ian Burness - Medicine in Remote Places by Ian Burness: https://www.echoesinternational.org.uk/product/medicine-in-remote-places/

PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Believers; evangelism; outreach; ministry; ministries; medicine; medical; patients; doctors; nurses; mission stations; Africa; Angola; Zambia; India; healing; faith; health; healthcare; care; doctor; nurse; medical practitioner; patient;

Martin Erwin joins The Same Commission podcast to explore with Matt and Jim what being 'gospel-driven' really means for us and for our fellowships. They chat about why it is so important, why we sometimes can lose our focus on the good news of the Lord Jesus and how we can ensure when we are starting a new ministry or outreach to be gospel-driven from the beginning.

with Martin Erwin, CEO, Counties

Martin Erwin is an evangelist, author and church planter. He is CEO of Counties, a charity that exists to make Jesus known across the UK through a national network of evangelists and church planters, as well as schools resources and training opportunities.

"If I can rediscover or be grateful to God for the circumstances in my life, I have got ammunition to share when someone's struggling, when someone's having a moment, someone's having a bad day or being challenged, I've got something in my life that can shed light on the path for that person. Now we know that Light is Christ Himself – 'I am the Light of the world'. So rediscovering a testimony through radical gratitude I think is really significant, because then we're not rehearsing 'what's my testimony?', 'How can I tell my testimony in three minutes?'… We're up-to-date in our walk with the Lord. " – Martin Erwin, CEO, Counties

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Martin Erwin, CEO, Counties

TAG ON SOCIAL:

Facebook: @echoesinternational; @ countiesevangelism ; @martin.erwin68 Instagram: @echoesinternational; @thisiscounties ; @martinerwin68 Resource mentioned: https://www.countiesuk.org/gsuslive

PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Believers; evangelism; outreach; ministry; ministries; evangelists; witness; gospel; gospel-driven; good news; Jesus Christ; Jesus; Lord Jesus; God; gratitude; attitude; gratefulness; grateful; church; fellowships; churches; assemblies

Eunice Jones rejoins The Same Commission podcast conversation in Season Three to reflect on what it is like being single as a mission partner. She shares the particular challenges and blessings that come along with being single, speaking from her experiences serving in a South Asian country. Matt and Jim look with Eunice at some of the cultural expectations that surround people who are not married, and explore with Eunice how we here in the UK can support and pray for mission partners who are single.

with Eunice Jones

Eunice Jones, now living in Wales, was a mission partner in South Asia, commended in 1989 until 2020. Today she is still involved in social media outreach, encouraging believers in South Asia. She is also working on translation projects for Bibles and Christian resources and makes sure these translations are recorded and distributed by media, for example through local radio.

"It's the same way I don't want to do anything that would grieve my heavenly father, so that commitment to purity, without someone putting parameters there, but the choice to live a pure life is part of that relationship and it is quite powerful to be able to share that. The real big divide between Islam and Christianity is that for us God is not our boss, when He's looking at you to make sure you are toeing the line, He's your father and you choose to please Him, because you want to, because of that relationship that's underlying there so I think that being single was helpful in that way to be able to share" – Eunice Jones, Mission Partner, South Asia

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Eunice Jones, mission partner (South Asia)

TAG ON SOCIAL:

Facebook: @echoesinternational; Instagram: @echoesinternational;

PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Believers; Single; Singleness; Marriage; Married; blessed; challenges; families; relationships; friends; colleagues; work; unmarried; unattached; isolation; unwed; family; home; relationship

The Same Commission podcast starts Season Three with a hard-hitting look at what mission looks like in the aftermath of war. Andy Mayo shares his experiences of mission in the Balkans after the Yugoslavia conflict in the 1990s. Pertinent to today's world, with over 110 armed conflicts [1] , we look at the challenges of working in areas affected by fighting, when to stay and when to go and how to balance the needs of people you are serving.

with Andy Mayo

Andy with his wife Faye lived in the Balkans for the decade that followed the civil war that tore Yugoslavia into fragments, serving in a Bible School that sought to disciple believers to serve as evangelists and church-planters. Now back in the UK, Andy and Faye are both involved in the arts, pointing to the Good News of Jesus in universities and other contexts - Faye through ceramic sculpture and Andy through music. Andy is part of the leadership team of Oak Hall Expeditions and both serve in a small growing church on the south edge of London.

"We had prayed about it and we had real peace it was the right place to be, and actually it was a really fruitful time. So, we weren't in the heart of where those bombs were falling, we were over the border. The UN were leaving but we felt sure it was the right thing to be there at that point" – Andy Mayo, Oakhall

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Andy Mayo, Oakhall

TAG ON SOCIAL:

Facebook: @echoesinternational; @AndyIMayo Instagram: @echoesinternational; @andy.mayo/

PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Believers; War; Conflict; Tension; Armed Conflict; Fighting; Aftermath; Eastern Europe; Humanitarian Aid; Training; Support

[1] https://geneva-academy.ch/galleries/today-s-armed-conflicts

A topic which isn't always the focus of Western churches, Nate Bramsen reflects on the challenging issue of SPIRITUAL WARFARE with Jim and Matt in today's episode of The Same Commission. They consider the Biblical definition, discuss whether mission partners face particular spiritual pressures as they serve and focus on what our responses as believers should be to spiritual attacks. Nate gives a personal account of the prayers of God's people sustaining him in times of trouble and the assurance that we have in in the Lord Christ Jesus.

with Nate Bramsen, CMML mission partner

Born and raised in Senegal, Nate Bramsen founded Rock International in 2006, a non-profit organization offering holistic care and multi-media gospel media tools for children in neglected areas of the world. Today, Nate carries out a global itinerant speaking schedule, podcasts, and works with teams taking the Gospel to unreached areas. His heart is to see this generation become disciples and unconditional followers of Jesus Christ.

"Spiritual warfare doesn't just mean what the enemy is doing, spiritual warfare is what we get to do. We are on offence, we're not on defence. I've already got victory so I'm moving forward. How do I move forward? In 'everything by prayer and supplication' – and so prayer is our weapon" Nate Bramsen, mission partner (CMML)

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Nate Bramsen, CMML mission partner

SOCIAL:

Facebook: @echoesinternational; Nate Bramsen @bramsen Instagram: @echoesinternational; Nate Bramsen @natebramsen

Nate Bramsen, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVTeE49ilmWgpzifMNWwM5g and Into Your Bible: https://www.intoyourbible.org/ Spiritual warfare in the jungle (video mentioned in podcast) https://youtu.be/WRWStpaKqwY?si=dkhGdZlo3c4SNHR7

PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Assemblies; Believers; Prayer; Missionaries; Faith; Spiritual warfare; spiritual attack; enemy; pray; attacks; religions