Our Mission Path: Recent Episodes
Our Mission Path
Short inspirational thoughts, interviews, and stories from along our mission path. We hope to inspire, encourage, and provoke thought with short shareable episodes.
Realistically not every believer is able to cross cultural or geographical boundaries to bring good news. But every believer can be involved in the process of sending those who can go. In Romans 10 we find two complementary roles: those who go; and those who send. Both roles are necessary to advance God’s great commission. Today’s podcast explores the first of six types of support every missionary needs. Make sure to join us every Tuesday for more ways to serve Christ Together. www.ourmissionpath.com
The rain was pounding on the windshield as our Toyota rolled to a stop. It was the kind of rain that gave promises of ending soon. If we had arrived a couple of minutes later we would have been..... www.ourmissionpath.com
The words of Christ reach people in every culture, they even fundamentally change cultures but only when we give the words of Christ unwrapped from the message of our culture. www.ourmissionpath.com
One of the great joys of ministry in Ecuador is the encouragement we both give and receive as we walk alongside our brothers and sisters here on the Equator www.ourmissionpath.com
The Gospel message is the same in every epoch and in every culture. Our Christian experience flows from the Gospel but when our culture is added to the mix the two coalesce into a unique experience that we call Church. Although our theological understanding of Church remains constant across borders our experience changes drastically. In today’s Cultural Insight we explore some of the differences between the North American church and the church in Ecuador from our perspective.
www.ourmissionpath.com
Missionary. What do you think of when you hear the word missionary? Missions, primarily, is not about men and women giving their lives away for a moral or humanitarian cause. Rather, missions are primarily about the proclamation of a specific message with a specific content. We see this message written large in every sermon recorded in the book of Acts. The redemption of the world through the death and resurrection of our incarnate God, Jesus Christ. www.ourmissionpath.com
Angelita and I love how Jonatan’s story has turned out so far and we look forward to walking alongside all of our Children of Promise on whatever adventures may come! www.ourmissionpath.com
As we witness the fall of yet another socialist country in real-time, what are the implications for Venezuela’s neighbors? How are Venezuelans treated in Ecuador? How can we pray? This Cultural insight is ripped right from the headlines. www.ourmissionpath.com
Like concentric waves of water when a stone is thrown into a placid pond the Gospel of Jesus Christ travels from its origen to the uttermost parts of the earth! In the Church there is much discussion about evangelism and discipleship. Which should be our main focus, which should be primary? In reality we miss the mark when we argue about such things. Love is primary! When we love properly we Evangelize those who need it and we disciple those who need it. www.ourmissionpath.com
The humidity was thick but the joy was palpable as we walked through the doors of the Quevedo church...... www.ourmissionpath.com
Why is the USA called the land of opportunity? Do you know the difference between a class based and classless society? This cultural insight sheds some light on this subject. www.ourmissionpath,com
When we think of evangelism we often think of sermons from great orators, of words that reverberate in the very coradoors of heaven. But in realiaty evangelism is more often a matter of liveing a transparent and godly life overtime under the watchful eye of those who need Christ. Discipleship, likewise often flows better from a humble example than from powerful words. We invite you to go to www.ourmissionpath.com to find more good content!
Please visit www.ourmissionpath.com for photos and a video that goes along with this story.
The wellspring of the Gospel is powerful and freely flows into every culture. As you will find out on this episode of our mission path podcast living water speaks to a profoundly to the hearts of people with an Andean worldview. For more cultural insights, stories and missions thoughts please visit ourmissionpath.com!
Do you know the difference between a cold culture and a hot culture? You can find more Ecuadorian cultural insights at www.ourmissionpath.com
Our missionary effort is simply a reflection of Christ’s incarceration. His incarnation is a reflection of the Father's love for our sin-sick world. Just as Christ was sent as a wounded healer so are we. Not only is each ministry to equip the Church for this heavenly commission but each of us have the privilege of becoming the incarnation of our Father’s love right where we live or wherever we travel! For more content please visit www.ourmissionpath.com
We invite you to see the photos that a posted with this ministry story at www.ourmissionpath.com.
If you would like to see a photo of our new year’s effigy please join us at ourmissionpath.com. There you will find more information about our family, life and mission. Happy New Year!
On the very first Christmas there was no room given to Christ. Unfortunately many today still seem to have no room for Jesus in their hearts. This is unfortunate because everyone has a hole in their heart that only a relationship with Christ can fill.... for more please visit www.ourmissionpath.com. Programming note: This is the last of our daily Christmas Devotion series. We will be focusing on a post once a week, of short shareable missions thoughts. We will also begin sharing ocasional Cultural posts! Stay tuned for more podcasts and ministry updates. Our next daily series is sheduled for the Advent season. Daily Easter Devotions are in the works! Thanks for joining us on our mission path!
The third gift was myrrh. Myrrh was used to prepare a body for burial. It seems like an odd gift for a child but in light of the mission of Christ this gift makes perfect sense. The way our redemption was purchased is through the atoning death of Jesus. He took our sin and shame and died because of it. Then three days later he defeated the consequence of our sin, he rose from the grave. The resurrection narrative tells us that Mary and some other women tried to anoint the body of Jesus with myrrh on the third day after his crucifixion. The expensive myrrh that they were going to use was most likely the same myrrh that the wise men gave to Jesus..... for more go to www.ourmissionpath.com. Merry Christmas!
The wise men sought something beyond their experience. They had seen in the stars that God would send a King to the Jews. They struck out to seek this one that God sent. They did what was wise, they responded to the light that they had been given. Even on their way home they responded to the truth they had encountered, they took a major risk and tricked King Herod because they were warned in a dream....... We invite you to read and listen to more content at www.ourmissionpath.com!
Jealousy is a motivation that many people hold in common with Herod. During Christmas, greed and jealousy can overshadow the true joy and message of the season. These motivations do not need to control us. The beauty of Christmas is that we no longer are obligated to allow our sinful impulses to guide us. We can live a life free from such sin. All we need to do is accept the good news that a Savior has come to rescue us, then live the kind of life Christ showed us was possible to live..... for more please visit www.ourmissionpath.com
The call of Christ should never be taken as easy. We are called to embrace our cross and follow him. It does cost us to follow him but he is worth everything we have..... we invite you to read more at www.ourmissionpath.com!
A wise man once said, “God’s Word tends to outlive its pallbearers.” A true work of God will outlive all its enemies. God was determined to provide a way to bring lost and hurting people into His family. Even though the world was determined to reject and destroy God’s wonderful gift, God would have His way.... for more visit us at www.ourmissionpath.com!
The reformer Martin Luther wrote “Why, Herod, Unrelenting Foe” which is the Hymn that accompanies today’s Christmas devotion. Herod had his eyes on earthly pursuits and failed to lift his eyes heavenward. All kingdoms of this world eventually disappear but the Kingdom of God remains.... For more content we invite you to visit www.ourmissionpath.com!
The ears who heard the first Gospel message belonged to the people who most needed a Savior. This is the loving nature of God! He is quick to seek out those who need Him most. He brings the improbable into His family....... we invite you to read more at www.ourmissionpath.com!
The voices of God’s angels were the first to carry the good news of salvation to the ears of God’s lost creation. The good news brings great joy and peace to all who believe.
After the Angelic voices faded into the memory of the shepherds the responsibility of the message was given to.... to read more please visit www.ourmissionpath.com!
What God did, He did not do in secret. When God sent His Son to become flesh and fulfill His promise He sent ripples throughout the world. The wise men who came to worship Jesus were Astrologers, they were actively practicing a forbidden and false religion that placed people under the control of stars and other heavenly bodies. It was an act of grace that God spoke to them by a means that they could understand.... to read more please visit www.ourmissionpath.com.
God invites those who are hurting into His family. Anna had only been married for seven years when the unthinkable happened, she lost her husband. In Anna’s time that meant she lost her income, her home and her protection. She was devastated. But God has a heart for the devastated. For eighty-four years Anna came under the protection of God as she worshiped him day and night in the temple.... To read more visit us at www.ourmissionpath.com.
A promise had been made to Adam and Eve. That same promise was given to Abram and Sarai. David was brought into that same promise. Mary and Joseph were told they would bear that divine promise. Simeon was told he would see the promise fulfilled.... To read more please go to www.ourmissionpath.com!
The significant promise of God was about to be fulfilled in a very insignificant place through a very insignificant family.... to read more we invite you to visit www.ourmissionpath.com!
Today we begin daily Christmas Devotions on our podcast. Each day you will find a new devotion on your feed. For bonus content please visit our website. www.ourmissionpath.com Merry Christmas!
There is a longing in the Christian’s heart that simply can not be fulfilled on this side of Heaven. It is born not of appetites, philosophies or theologies but of brokenness. The terrible sin-induced rift between God and Man has wounded us beyond comprehension. When we come to the Healer and begin our new lives as followers of Christ our wound begins to heal but a portion of it is transformed.... read the rest at www.ourmissionpath.com
The lesson is obvious. True missionaries concentrate on doing the work of Mark 16:15 rather than operating social-welfare programs. True missionaries serve the message of Christ, not the institutions of the church. -K.P. Yohannan, Come, Let’s Reach the World
We, the Downing family formily invite you and your family to journey along side us this year as we ready our hearts for Christmas. Beginning on November 25th and ending on Christmas Day our podcast will be updated daily with a Christmas devotion. You will be able to find a written version of each devotion on our website (ourmissionpath.com). After Christmas we will return to our weekly short shareable thought provoking missions focused content.
I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so that I could but gain souls to Christ. -David Brainerd
Do not think me mad. It is not to make money that I believe a Christian should live. The noblest thing a man can do is, just carry the humbly to receive, and then go amongst others and give. -David Livingston
I go out as a missionary not that I may follow the dictates of common sense, but that I may obey the command of Christ. -James Gilmour
Missionary zeal does not grow out of intellectual beliefs, nor out of theological arguments, but out of love. -Roland Allen
The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity. -Mike Stachura Along our mission path we have encountered an attitude in many churches that can best be described as low self-esteem. Many churches have given up hope that they can be world changers. They tend to look at attendance or financial numbers as their only indicators of spiritual health and they tend to forget what Jesus did with a handful of followers. We ought to remember that the people to whom Jesus give the Great Commission stood empty handed on that hill outside of Galilee. They were the only religious people without a temple to meet in or a treasury to draw from. They had not hymn book to sing from nor did they have an ecclesiastical manual to tell them what to do or how to do it. They had no New Testament to read or written doctrine to study. They were simply a movement of people who had experienced the resurrection of Christ and who were motivated by their love for God and their love for their neighbors. As they lived that love out they became the people who turned the world upside down! It is amazing what can happen when we cease to measure our reach by seating capacity and more to the point how many of our seats are occupied but instead focus on our sending capacity. May we live and die for greater things than seating capacity. May we live in the knowledge that we are world changers because we follow Jesus. May we die in the knowledge that we have done everything we can to send some so that many will know the saving grace of our Lord!
Unless I am sure I am doing more at home to send the gospel abroad than I can do abroad, I am bound to go. -A. B. Simpson In Matthew’s rendering of the great commission Jesus puts legs on the great commandment. Love of God and love of our neighbor demands that we are in perpetual movement. To that end Jesus says go. Go is such a simple command and yet it is often misunderstood or worse ignored. Greek, the original language of the New Testament sheds some light on our call to go. The participle “go” is followed by the aorist imperative “make disciples” which linguistically means that “go” becomes part of the imperative. Consider the words of Daniel B. Wallace, professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you that grammar is inconsequential! Matthew’s grammar paints a picture and urges an action, and we seriously err if we neglect what our Lord is really teaching at the end of this Gospel.” In light of the Scripture, may the measure of our calling reflect the wisdom found in A. B. Simpson’s words. May we weigh our responsibility to the great commission in terms of effectiveness.
Not every believer has the missionary gift, but every Christian is called to some kind of involvement in missions. We are called to advance the gospel in some way and to participate in the fulfilling of God's purposes in our generation. -David Shibley