Are the internal structures of our organizations fit for the mission that God has called us to? In this episode, Brandon Stiver welcomes Kelly Strong of Safe International for a conversation on organizational identity and healthy global partnerships. They explore why mission must remain central and the role of values in shaping behavior, culture, and daily decision-making, especially within diverse, international teams. They examine common challenges like founder's syndrome and how it can limit growth if left unaddressed. If you are needing help with your nonprofit, reach out at [email protected]

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Mission Based Management by Peter C. Brinkerhoff

Safe International Online

Email [email protected] if you're interested in a community of practice or one-on-one or team support.

Conversation Notes

• Understanding the centrality of an organizations mission
• The collaboration that develops around Vision statements
• Values : Behaviors, culture and decision making
• Interacting and collaborating with partners across global teams
• The pitfalls of founder's syndrome
• The differences between covenant and contract in international partnerships

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

*Brandon's Note: In step with the topic at hand, I've turned over all show notes and interview audio editing to AI for this week's episode.

In this conversation, Brandon Stiver and Michael Cerna reflect on the challenges and changes faced by non-profit organizations in 2025. They discuss the importance of community, the impact of funding changes, and the role of AI in shaping the future of non-profits. The conversation emphasizes the need for spiritual formation and collaboration among leaders in the sector, as well as the ethical considerations surrounding AI usage. Ultimately, they highlight the significance of building relationships and fostering a supportive community in navigating the complexities of non-profit work.

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Join the Accord Network

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Takeaways

• 2025 has been a year of significant change and uncertainty for non-profits.
• The need for physical presence and community is more important than ever.
• Funding changes have left many organizations in a precarious position.
• Leaders must navigate conflicting narratives about growth and success.
• AI is a major disruptor that organizations must learn to leverage.
• Community groups are vital for support and collaboration among non-profit leaders.
• Ethical considerations around AI usage are crucial for organizations.
• Spiritual formation should be integrated into non-profit work.
• The delineation between home and office has become blurred in remote work.
• Building relationships is essential for effective non-profit work.

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

What does it mean to be a gospel-centered church and should we be a gospel-centered church? As we think through taking the Gospel into the world and fulfilling the Great Commission, have we short changed discipleship by making Matthew 28 all about evangelism? In this conversation with Brandon Stiver, author and missiologist Alan Hirsch joins the show to discuss the current state of discipleship within the church, emphasizing the disconnect between modern practices and the teachings of Jesus. He argues that without true discipleship, churches risk producing a form of religion that strays from Christ-likeness.

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Resources and Links from the show

Disciplism : Reimagining Evangelism Through the Lens of Discipleship (Amazon)

Reframation : Seeing God, People, and Mission Through Reenchanted Frames (Amazon)

Alan's Substack

Conversation Notes

• What we're experiencing now in America is a trend in the church.
• Alan's experience growing up as a Jewish person in apartheid South Africa
• If the churches that we lead do not disciple, we will produce bad religion.
• We are not producing Christ-likeness in our churches.
• The image of God is reflected in Jesus' way of being human.
• Modern churches need to align more closely with Jesus' teachings.
• The consequences of poor discipleship can be detrimental to faith communities.
• Examples of modern Christians that are getting discipleship right.
• Churches must focus on producing genuine followers of Christ.

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

Global poverty is ubiquitous and seemingly intractable, but what if we had a way to mobilize people and a fundraising mechanism that invites ubiquitous participation? In this episode we're joined by Carissa Youssef who is the Executive Director at One Day's Wages. She emphasizes the need for Christians to expand their definition of neighbor to include global awareness and responsibility. Carissa discusses the unique approach of One Day's Wages, which encourages collective generosity by donating one day's wage to support local leaders and address complex poverty issues. Her conversation with Brandon Stiver also touches on the importance of mutuality in partnerships, rethinking empowerment, and the future of nonprofit work in a rapidly changing world.

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Give Your One Day's Wage!

Conversation Notes

• Carissa's early experiences with vulnerability shaped her calling to serve others.
• Community support is crucial during times of personal and family crises.
• Expanding the definition of neighbor includes global awareness and responsibility.
• One Day's Wages promotes collective generosity through donating one day's wage.
• Supporting local leaders is essential for effective global nonprofit work.
• Understanding the complexities of poverty requires a multi-dimensional approach.
• Building relationships with local organizations fosters trust and collaboration.
• Rethinking empowerment to focus on strengthening local communities is vital.
• Generosity should be rooted in faith and a commitment to serve others.
• The future of nonprofit work requires adaptability and a focus on local needs.

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

One out of three leaders don't finish well in the work that they undertake. Striking, isn't it? As our podcast celebrates 300 episodes of engaging global nonprofit leaders, we strive to be that minority that stay the course God gave us and there's no one better to talk to than today's guest. Making his record sixth interview on the show, we're joined by Hope International CEO Peter Greer who sits down with Brandon Stiver and Phil Darke to discuss his new book, How Leaders Lose Their Way. For whatever area that God has called you to lead in ministry, humanitarian work or even within your own family, this is a conversation for you!

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Hope International Online

How Leaders Lose Their Way by Peter Greer and Jill Heisey (Amazon)

Conversation Notes

• Phil and Brandon share their respective top 5 episodes since the podcast started in 2016
• Start of interview (16:00)
• How Hope International has been able to stay the course of global economic development over the years
• The significant shifts in global development over the last year
• We should all add "interim" to the start of our title and the importance of succession planning
• Solomon's leadership and other examples and lessons learned from scripture
• We all need mentors in this work!
• Approaching leadership with a long-term view

Phil's Top 5 Episodes

• Curt Thompson - Anatomy of the Soul
• Michael Miller - Curing Poverty
• Rebecca Nhep and Todd Guckenberger - Orphanages, Short Term Missions and Deinstitutionalization
• Andy Crouch - Strong and Weak
• Peter Greer and Ryan Skoog - Leading from Your Knees

Brandon's Top 5 Episodes

• Delia Pop - How We Can Discover and Develop Each Child's Uniqueness in Cross-Cultural Situations
• Michael Pucci - Owning Poverty
• Ruth Padilla DeBorst - Integral Mission and Decolonizing Theology
• Kelly Strong, Greg Burch and Dan Hope - The Westerner Abuse and Child Protection Conversation
• Sinet Chan and Grace Njeri - Creating a Lasting Impact for Care Leavers

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

If our commitment is that every child grow up in a safe and loving family, how do we address that so many children are living in orphanages that are unregistered and operating outside of the public eye? It's challenging work to map, find and even collaborate with such institutions, but we've got the right guides to learn from. Brandon is joined today by Obed Masese and Meredith Caleb of Victory Child Empowerment to learn what is causing children in Kenya to go into orphanages of all types and what their team is doing to map unregistered orphanages with a broader care reform approach.

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Victory Child Empowerment Online

Conversation Notes

• How Obed's family and village raised him and recognizing this used to be the norm
• Has the Kenyan Child Act of 2022 successfully been implemented?
• The differences between national policies and county implementation
• Paper orphans and paper orphanages
• The challenges of working with and among unregistered orphanages
• Care reform that promotes the development and mapping of new community services

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

Did you know that 90% of the persecution that Christians face throughout the world comes from one region? Nigeria has seen a trajectory of violence aimed at Christians in recent years and in today's episode we're unpacking all the layers behind targeted massacres in the area. Joining the show are Clint Lyons and Paul U. who are with iReach Global, a Christian nonprofit that is serving the church and creating bridges of peace in the country.

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iReach Global Online

AP Article from 2023

AP Article from 2025

NPR News Coverage from 2025

Conversation Notes

• An introductory word from Brandon about the violence that we see in the world and if it's okay to treat certain violence as justified by Christians
• Paul describes a recent massacre that took place in a Nigerian village
• Understanding the targeted violence by Muslim Fulani herdsmen pointed towards Nigerian Christians
• The intersections of religion and vocation and the multilayered nature of conflict
• Understanding the gradients between African folk religion and Islam

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

This year has seen a tremendous amount of change for Christian NGOs doing transformational development throughout the world. In many ways, we are entering a new era of global mission and international development. To talk about some of those changes and to help us keep a pulse on what God is up to, we're joined by Michael Cerna who serves as the CEO at the Accord Network. Building on topics from Accord's Thursday Three weekly newsletter, Michael talks with Brandon Stiver about recent reports, articles and resources that are charting a path forward for us.

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Resources and Links from the show

Accord Network Online

Subscribe to The Thursday Three

Interesting Times by Ross Douthat : Under Trump, Is Foreign Aid 'Our Problem?'

"The End of the Age of NGOs?" by Sarah Bush and Jennifer Hadden

The Nonprofit Times : Next Generations Christians Will Give Differently

Conversation Notes

• Updates from the Accord Network and the upcoming One Accord Conference in Washington DC
• Reflections from prayer and advocacy with Bread for the World
• Ross Douthat's eye-opening conversation with Jeremy Lewin from the Department of Government Efficiency and State Department's shuttering of USAID
• Reflections on the recent article in International Affairs "The End of the Age of NGOs?"
• In what ways are Christian Millenials giving differently as they inherit the wealth of older generations

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

There is no place on Earth that God is not working. Even in authoritarian regimes that make following Christ illegal, He still moves. Iran is one of those countries. While we hear about Iran pretty regularly in the news, we don't typically hear about what God is doing through His Spirit and in His Church there. Today we're joined by the CEO of Transform Iran, Lana Silk. She talks with Brandon Stiver about the geopolitics of the country, what it was like for her growing up in Iran and most importantly, how the gospel is spreading among communities there.

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Transform Iran Online

Kairos AI Chatbot

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Conversation Notes

• The brainwashing of students in Iran
• The theology component of Jesus in Islam - differences and shared reverence
• Where the Koran came from in the views of a Muslim
• Understanding the various viewpoints that different Muslims might hold
• Modern history of Iran and the geopolitical reality we live in
• Is Iran exporting Shiite Islam throughout the world?
• The Christian experience in Iran (including its illegality)
• Lana's own family background and how the Gospel came to her family
• The spreading of the underground church in Iran
• The hybrid model of Transform Iran's ministry
• Stories of how people have found Jesus in Iran
• A new AI tool that can counsel and pray for Iranian Christians

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License

Families are the center piece of how God created societies to flourish, yet there are so many things that can tear down this fundamental part of God's design. We know that orphanages are spread out throughout the world and we know that those children should be allowed to grow up in families. In today's episode, we have Chantry Mweemba of Alliance for Children Everywhere joining to dive deeper into the effects of urbanization, education access and other factors that are leading children in Zambia to separate from their families. We also get into how the recent USAID closure is negatively affecting the protection of children in Zambia and how organizations like ACE are continuing to step up for children even in the midst of uncertain times.

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Resources and Links from the show

Alliance for Children Everywhere Online

Conversation Notes

• Chantry's background in child rights and care reform
• God's idea of a global family that transcends the nuclear family
• The resulting isolation of developing urban areas in the Global South
• The paradox of advocacy that led to development that led to growing inequality
• The work that ACE is doing to contribute to the broader picture of promoting family in Africa
• The connection between orphanages and education
• How the closing of USAID affected child protection efforts in Zambia
• An estimated 14 million people will die in the next five years as a result of the USAID closure

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License