What does intercultural church look like Sunday by Sunday? How do ideas about community, unity in the gospel and preferring the needs of others play out in church life? What does worship, Bible teaching and communion look like in an intercultural church?

In this episode co-hosts Reuben and Nathaniel explore all these questions and more in discussion with our guests. There's no one size fits all model, but in these conversations the journey toward intercultural church becomes clearer. We also examine some of the tricky tensions in pursuing intercultural church.

Guests featured in this episode:

Reuben and Nathaniel also mention the upcoming OMF (UK) National Conference 'Across the Street and Across the World', 7-9 March 2025 at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire. Nathaniel will be leading a seminar on intercultural church at the event, alongside lots of other great sessions and Bible teaching.

Find out more and book your place today at omf.org/uk/2025.

After laying the foundations of looking at intercultural church, in the second episode Reuben and Nathaniel share the stories of Justin Lau and Girma Bishaw as windows into the need for and value of intercultural church.

We hope you are blessed by their stories.

Justin Lau shares his experience of coming to church in the UK after growing up as a missionary kid to Singaporean parents in Japan. He gives a candid insight into the challenges he faced in a predominantly White British church.

Girma Bishaw led the first Ethiopian church in the UK, but is now part of the leadership team at Reality Church, a diverse, intercultural church in London. He explains why he made this move and how knowing Jesus gave him a new identity.

What's the difference between a multicultural church and an intercultural church? And why does it matter? Reuben is joined by OMF UK Intercultural Ministries Director Nathaniel Jennings and guests to kick off a new series 'Building Intercultural Church'.

This first episode lays the foundations, defining intercultural church and exploring how it reflects and embodies the gospel we believe in.

Our guests include:

And many more.

Hey kids, are you ready for another adventure? This time Chris introduces us to the vibrant lives of three unique Chinese people groups: the Han, the Zhuang, and the Hui.

Discover their rich histories, languages, and cultures—from the intricate art of calligraphy to the mouth-watering flavours of traditional cuisine. Don't miss out on this adventure that's bursting with fun facts and fascinating stories!

Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uvbheBcMZcA

Ask your questions by emailing us ⁠[email protected]

Hey kids, are you ready for an adventure? Join Chris as he hikes through some of China's geography. Climb the dizzying heights of the Himalayas, where you find Mount Everest. Look out for snow leopards! Cross the sandy Gobi Desert on a camel. Journey down the Yangtze River for nearly 4000 miles. Get ready for an exciting tour of this incredible nation here on Kids Exploring East Asia!

Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EopWfE7AClk

Ask your questions by emailing us [email protected]

Hey kids, are you ready for an adventure? Join Chris as he introduces the fascinating country of China. Explore China's immense size and population, historical artefacts like the Terracotta Army, and the diverse landscapes, animals, and people. Get ready for an exciting tour of this incredible nation here on Kids Exploring East Asia!

Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LDBt5ikhXBU

David Robinson shares how his life changed from being an indifferent churchgoer to a risk-taking evangelist and the role Billy Graham played in the change! He shares about his decades of missionary work in Thailand and Cambodia and points us to the power of faith and personal relationships in spreading the gospel.

David's strategic approach to church planting emphasises the importance of quality time with people, expectant faith, and the nurturing of local believers to eventually lead their own congregations. He opens up about the personal and spiritual challenges of church planting, from grappling with language barriers and potential dangers to overcoming feelings of inadequacy. Despite these hurdles, he reveals the profound joy that comes from witnessing the growth of individuals and communities who respond to the gospel message.

Join the conversation on Instagram ⁠@serveasiapodcast⁠

Or connect with us by email ⁠[email protected]

Roger Carswell, a dedicated evangelist and long-standing OMF supporter, joins us to respond to our podcast series on creation care and shares his tips for sharing Jesus in everyday life. Roger has been spreading the gospel for over five decades. He sheds light on prayerfulness and the use of Christian leaflets as conversation starters about faith. He encourages everyone to share their faith stories, even those who don't consider themselves evangelists. His valuable advice on connecting with others through meaningful conversations, literature, websites, and podcasts will inspire you to share the gospel joyfully.

Join the conversation on Instagram @serveasiapodcast

Or connect with us by email [email protected]

Your work is a great opportunity for making Jesus known across the street and across the world.

Ngaira joins us to tell us about Work+Go, an event exploring this idea of gospel witness in and through our work.

Saturday 4 November, Manchester. See you there.

Book your tickets and find out more at workandgo.org

Hear last year's speakers on the Work+Go podcast.

Follow work+go on Instagram

In this episode of the Serve Asia podcast, host Chris Watts is joined by John, an OMF worker serving in Japan. Continuing the series on church planting, they discuss the importance of establishing groups of followers of Jesus all over the world. John shares his experience in church planting ministry in Sapporo, a city with a population of two million people. He also talks about his love for spending quality time with his family in parks, climbing trees, and telling stories. Tune in to hear more about the impact of church planting and the joy of creating a loving community.

Find out more about John and Izumi Church:

https://johnnewtonwebb.blogspot.com
https://hiragishiizumi.com

The Church Planting Season

In the Church Planting series, we're unpacking what it takes to establish local communities of believers in East Asia. Our guests are from different backgrounds and serve today in very different contexts, each seeking to make disciples of Jesus. They share how they got involved, the highs and lows of this long-term ministry, and what they've learned along the way.

Get in touch, we love hearing from our listeners:

Follow us on Instagram @serveasiapodcast

Send us email [email protected]

Timestamps

[00:01:49] Family

[00:04:01] Understanding the

[00:09:48] Churchlessness in

[00:13:01] Learning Japanese

[00:19:22] Investing in

[00:23:32] Christianity

[00:25:09] The internet and

[00:29:36] Reimagining the

[00:34:23] Easter guest

[00:37:26] Difficulty

[00:41:20] Personal

[00:45:00] Building trust

[00:49:20] Trusting God's

[00:52:42] Building

[00:56:05] Perseverance and

[01:00:37] Being too cautious?

[01:04:44] Short-term opportunities