The Same Commission

Jim and Matt chat to Matthew Skirton from OM about whether there is a need for short-term mission in the world today. They consider the advantages of short-term mission, the challenges of doing short-term mission well and whether short-term mission always leads to long-term service in cross-cultural mission. Matthew highlights the unique role that short-term outreach has to inspire people for the wider mission of God.

with Matthew Skirton, CEO, OM UK

Beginning his ministry in Moldova, Matthew Skirton is now the UK CEO of OM, overseeing the ministry across the UK as OM seeks to mobilise people to be involved in mission work among the least reached. He regularly preaches and speaks at churches, Christian events and conferences.

"So this belief that we are all called to mission work…I suppose it is a little thing but I think quite important- that we don't speak of being involved in a 'short-term mission' and then just tick the box and then I've done my mission work… because we are called to wrap our whole lives around the reality of knowing God through His son Christ and living as a disciple of Christ and all being on a mission, we are all 'sent ones', we are all missionaries and so that's the thinking around not calling them 'short-term missions' but 'short-term outreaches' within OM" – Matthew Skirton

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Matthew Skirton, CEO, OM UK

SOCIAL:

OM website: https://www.uk.om.org/appeal/skirton OM UK Facebook: @OMUnitedKingdom OM UK Instagram: @omunitedkingdom

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; short-term; mission; outreach; volunteer; volunteering; missional; cross-cultural; missionaries; mobilise, mobilisation

This episode of The Same Commission considers the role of women within mission, particularly those mission partners serving in countries with a strict patriarchal society or where women's rights are not respected. Eunice and Janey share differing experiences of serving in male-dominated societies with Matt and Jim, looking at both the challenges and the benefits of being a woman mission partner.

with Eunice Jones, South Asia and Janey Mukomba, Zambia

Janey Mukomba, originally from Scotland, heads up Mwana Ministries in Zambia, which seeks to improve the lives of children in Africa by reaching them with the good news of Jesus Christ, and providing opportunities to further their education, with three strands of ministry - Mwana Media, Mwana Mission and Mwana Action. Looking ahead, Janey is hoping to produce new TV programmes with her team in Zambia, focusing more on animation, to minister to children on television.

Eunice Jones, now based 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 and with translation projects for Bibles and Christian resources, including ensuring that these translations are recorded and distributed through media, for example through local radio.

"In a country where Christians and missionaries are considered suspicious and… we experienced a lot of opposition and men and families lost their visas and had to leave, women were considered relatively harmless...in terms of impacting the community. That worked in our favour because we were able to carry on, not only just running a clinic but communicating the gospel and I was involved in translation work. I think had I been a man I would not have still been there." – Eunice Jones, mission partner, South Asia

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

TAG ON SOCIAL:

Facebook: @MwanaMinistries Instagram: @mwanaministrieszm Mwana Ministries: https://www.mwanaministries.org/

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; Church; Fellowships; Assembly; Assemblies; Women; Woman; Female; Misogyny; Male; Domination; Power; Patriarchal; Patriarchy; Rights; Society; Community; Communities; Families; Respect; Gender; Africa; Zambia; South Asia

In episode five of The Same Commission, Jim and Matt meet up with mission partner Sam Killins, as they reflect on the changing trends in migration, particularly in South America. They focus on the new missional opportunities that migration can provide to believers, as we seek to share the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world.

with Sam Killins, mission partner

Sam Killins, with his wife Alejandra, has served in Colombia for many years, focusing on church planting among young people and Venezuelan immigrants. Alejandra and Sam continue to help a number of Venezuelan immigrants on a regular basis, and host missions teams as well as participate in camps and conferences in Colombia. In particular they support the Refuge Church in the border city of Cucuta, which is home to new believers from Venezuela who struggle significantly to just get by in their everyday lives.

"We're made of the same stuff, we have similar desires and similar dreams and we start finding common ground and a friendship that can last well beyond what we can imagine" – Sam Killins, mission partner

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Sam Killins, mission partner

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sam.killins Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sam.killins/

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; migrants; migration; immigration; asylum seekers; emigration; emigrants; economy; economic; population; movement; diaspora; dispersion; South America; mass migration; ministry; church planting; refugees; refuge; refugee

Ramez Atallah joins Jim and Matt for Series 2 of The Same Commission, as he discusses how to plan well for succession. Drawing on his experience from leading a number of various mission organisations, Ramez shares how mission partners should work hard to make themselves redundant, by ensuring that their ministries are passed on well to the next generation.

with Ramez Atallah, Senior Advisor, Bible Society of Egypt

Ramez Atallah left Egypt as a child, after his family's property was confiscated by the socialist regime in the 50s. He lived in Canada, where he met and married his wife, Rebecca. In 1980, they moved back to Egypt with their two young children, where he served with IFES and the Lausanne Movement. Since 1990, Ramez worked as the General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt, where he now is their Senior Advisor.

"The Lord will decide, but what is my role, what does God assign me? And if Paul was responsible to have Timothy, Titus, several young men working with him, each of whom could have picked up the baton and worked in different areas and the Lord Jesus had twelve, eleven of whom ended up carrying the torch after him, then certainly we should have two or three around us from whom we can choose and from whom the Lord can choose. Yes, it is the Lord's decision, but we have a big role to prepare for the Lord's decision" – Ramez Atallah

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Ramez Atallah, Senior Advisor, Bible Society of Egypt

TAG ON SOCIAL:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ramez.atallah

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; retirement; retire; succession; succeeding; management; leadership; generations; managers; leader; ministry; ministries; redundant;

Integration in the community

Former Echoes International's mission director Rupert Abbott reflects on his time serving as a mission partner in Birmingham and Pakistan. Jim and Matt consider how far mission partners should integrate into the culture and community in which they serve. Rupert shares about his skills in running agricultural projects over the years and how even something simple like compost can create a connection with a neighbour!

with Rupert Abbott, former Echoes International missions director and mission partner

Rupert Abbott has served in mission for many years, from inner city Birmingham to Pakistan to Thailand and then back to the UK, where he served as Echoes International Missions Director until 2022. He has used his skills in agriculture to build connections with the communities he's lived in, and he and his wife Janet have been involved in fostering and adoption in a variety of contexts.

"The years that I spent in Birmingham had taught me what I needed to know and all the skills about how to have useful conversations with Muslim friends so that when I did get the opportunity in Pakistan and could open my mouth I had something useful to say and the right kind of way in which to say it " – Rupert Abbott, former Echoes International missions director and mission partner

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Rupert Abbott, former Echoes International missions director and mission partner

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Facebook: @rupert.abbott.37 Instagram: @rupertabbott57 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; Rural; Agriculture; Agricultural Development; Pakistan; Culture; Assimilation; Thailand; Birmingham; Outreach;

Helping the church keep the vision of church-planting

Episode 3 of The Same Commission focuses on the importance of church planting, with Philippe Perilliat from France. Philippe shares with Matt and Jim a bit about the growth of the evangelical church in France, his personal experiences of planting churches and why every church should be considering the need to plant a new fellowship or support others to do so.

with Philippe Perilliat, France

Philippe, with his wife Marie Christine are heavily involved in the work of the local church. Their vision is for evangelism and to see the church grow through new converts. Philippe and Marie Christine serve in Aix en Provence, where a new church has been planted, work among students has developed and a regional church planting training centre has been established.

"I remember when I became a Christian, I met my first group of Christians, it was the first time in my life. I couldn't understand anything of what they were saying, of their culture, even when they were sharing the Bible, but I could see through their lives that they had something I hadn't - and this testimony is very powerful " – Philippe Perilliat, GLO, France

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Philippe Perilliat, GLO, France

TAG ON SOCIAL:

Facebook: @philippe.perrilliat GLO website: https://glo-europe.org/glo/missionary/perrilliat/

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; Church; Fellowships; Assembly; Assemblies; Church-planting; Planting; New churches; Evangelism; Support; Testimony; Outreach;

Want to support mission but you aren't sure how? Listen to Ruth and Monty's inspiring story of their involvement in the Northern Ireland Women Working for God committee, which organises women-only events and a whatsapp prayer group to encourage women of every age to support and pray more for mission. Jim and Matt hear why it is so important for us to walk alongside cross-cultural mission partners in prayer today.

with Monty McCleery and Ruth Price, Echoes International Women Working for God Northern Ireland Committee

Monty McCleery is originally from Mexico, and the Lord brought her to Northern Ireland, where she married Lawrence, and together they have a heart for reaching out to children in Carryduff. She is a member of the Echoes International Northern Ireland Women Working for God committee. She works as a part-time graphic designer with Child Evangelism Fellowship and Monty and her husband have just welcomed their first child.

Ruth Price is married to Glenn with three teenage children. They live on the north coast of Ireland and she is a member of Dunluce Christian Fellowship. She works in nutrition research at Ulster University and is secretary of the Echoes International Northern Ireland Women Working committee.

"Sometimes I feel like we forget that our mission partners are people in their own right and they have left family and friends and the culture that they know and moved everything to a new country to serve the Lord (and absolutely the Lord will bless them for that), but we need to be praying into that for them" – Ruth Price

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Monty McCleery and Ruth Price, Echoes International Women Working for God Northern Ireland Committee

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; Christian; Brethren; Believers; Missionaries; Prayer; Women; Ladies; Female; Woman; Praying; Fellowship; Support; Events; Whatsapp;

The Same Commission Echoes International podcast

The Same Commission kicks off Season Two with a wonderful discussion about the importance of unity in mission, with Jonathan Lamb, minister-at-large with Keswick Ministries. Jim and Matt explore with Jonathan why Christians aren't always united, how to overcome cultural differences and what to watch out for when divisions occur.

with Jonathan Lamb, Keswick Ministries

Jonathan Lamb is a former chairman of Keswick Ministries and is now a minister-at-large, serving the Keswick movement in the UK and internationally. He is a Vice President of IFES and the former Director of Langham Preaching, and continues to train leaders and preachers around the world, as well as regularly teaching at conferences. He is the author of many books, including 'Essentially One: Striving for the Unity God loves'.

"We miss sometimes the spiritual reality here, the spiritual warfare in our congregations and in mission and we can cruise along without recognising what's going on. And we can miss the urgency of being eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit " – Jonathan Lamb, Keswick Ministries

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Jonathan Lamb, Keswick Ministries

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; Unity; Holy Spirit; churches; assemblies; United; Together; Gentleness; Humble; Theology; Doctrine; Serving; God; One; Jesus Christ; Spiritual Warfare;

The Same Commission Echoes International podcast

A difficult topic today for The Same Commission podcast as we look at what it means to suffer as a Christian. Shahbaz shares from his experiences in Pakistan, mentioning in particularly recent events affecting believers in the Punjab province. It might not be a subject we like to dwell on, but suffering has long characterised the Christian's life and Shahbaz, Jim and communications manager Lesley (standing in for our missions director Matt Pitts) reflect on why suffering isn't in vain.

The Same Commission podcast focuses on aspects of mission you might not have considered before. Whether you are thinking about mission for the first time or you've been faithfully serving in or supporting mission – this is the podcast for you! Echoes International's Jim Armstrong and Matt Pitts meet a new guest each week from the world of mission, learn about a new topic and hear ways in which we can pray effectively. Find out how God is moving across His world and be inspired to follow God's leading.

Season 1 Episode 9

SUFFERING

with Shahbaz Masih Boota, Pakistan

Shahbaz Masih Boota has been a full-time church leader in the Brethren church in Pakistan for around 10 years. He then joined Zarephath Bible Seminary (ZBS) in 2008 and has served at ZBS in different roles, such as lecturer, Associate Dean, and President of the Seminary until 2022. He is now studying for his Ph.D. He teaches and speaks on Christian Theology in Context, looking particularly at the theology of suffering and persecution in a minority context.

"By suffering, churches are more motivated, more revived, more strengthened, more focused on prayer and fasting – the church is united!"

A difficult topic today for The Same Commission podcast as we look at what it means to suffer as a Christian. Shahbaz shares from his experiences in Pakistan, mentioning in particularly recent events affecting believers in the Punjab province. It might not be a subject we like to dwell on, but suffering has long characterised the Christian's life and Shahbaz, Jim and communications manager Lesley (standing in for our missions director Matt Pitts) reflect on why suffering isn't in vain.

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Lesley de Blieck, Communications Manager, Echoes International and Shahbaz Masih Boota, Pakistan

Resources: https://www.youtube.com/@ShahbazMasihBoota Opal International: https://www.opalinternational.org/news/suffering-for-christ

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; Prayer; Missionaries; Faith; Pakistan; Asia; Christianity; Suffering; Pain; Violence; Response; Churches; Church; Unity; United; Pray; Minorities; Persecution; Assemblies

Bringing his many years of experience on the mission field encouraging microenterprise and setting up humanitarian aid projects, Allan considers whether BUSINESS AS MISSION is just something for the entrepreneurial types among us. Jim and Matt quiz him on the advice Allan would give to new mission partners setting out and they all reflect on how to keep mission as your primary goal in business.

The Same Commission podcast focuses on aspects of mission you might not have considered before. Whether you are thinking about mission for the first time or you've been faithfully serving in or supporting mission – this is the podcast for you! Echoes International's Jim Armstrong and Matt Pitts meet a new guest each week from the world of mission, learn about a new topic and hear ways in which we can pray effectively. Find out how God is moving across His world and be inspired to follow God's leading.

Season 1 Episode 8

Season 1 Episode 8

BUSINESS AS MISSION

with Allan Bussard, MSC Canada mission partner

Allan Bussard is chair and managing director of Integra Cooperative, a social venture capital fund active in Eastern Europe and East Africa and founding partner of Integra Foundation, a microenterprise development and SME business development agency. Allan, with his wife Caulene, ministers through discipleship in Central and Eastern Europe, economic development (poverty alleviation) programmes in Central and Eastern Europe and East Africa and work with children at risk and are listed by our sister support group in Canada, MSC.

"There's a wide range of skills that can be employed, for example engineers and technicians and logistics people - and so who is it that God has made you to be and how can that fit into a bigger picture?"

Bringing his many years of experience on the mission field encouraging microenterprise and setting up humanitarian aid projects, Allan considers whether BUSINESS AS MISSION is just something for the entrepreneurial types among us. Jim and Matt quiz him on the advice Allan would give to new mission partners setting out and they all reflect on how to keep mission as your primary goal in business.

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Allan Bussard, MSC Canada mission partner

Resources: Allan and Caulene Bussard, MSC Canada https://msccanada.org/donee/bussard-allan-and-caulene/ Integra: https://integra.sk/en/o-nas/

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; Prayer; Missionaries; Faith; Business as mission; Microenterprise; Humanitarian aid; Christianity; Small and Medium Sized Enterprise; SME; Business; Business Development; Central Europe; Eastern Europe; Skills; East Africa; Economic development; Poverty; Poverty alleviation; Support; Assistance; Assemblies