Strike the Match with J. D. Payne: Recent Episodes
J. D. Payne
Missiologically Thinking: Equipping the Church for the Multiplication of Disciples, Leaders, and Churches
In this final episode of the season, AI Alan and Annie are no longer with us. I thought it would be more appropriate to bring in a living and breathing creature.
Dr. Don Barger is my guest. Don is the director of innovation and artificial intelligence with the International Mission Board. He is the co-author (with Grant Lovejoy) of Unreadable: Another Book You Probably Won’t Read.
He shares some of the work of the IMB in this area. We also discuss AI, ChatGPT, Notebook LM and other options available today. You will hear some encouraging stories from the field as well as some cautions.
Can this technology be leveraged for the Kingdom? Should it be used? You are going to enjoy this conversation.
My interview with Don was conducted on Zoom. If you want to see our smiley faces, check out the full video on my YouTube Channel. There you will find other video resources. Don’t forget to subscribe!
I must confess. . . in this episode Alan and Annie let me down. And just when they were doing so well! Their conversation is related to an article I wrote in February 2010, “Ethical Guidelines for Church Planters.” I encourage you to check out the post (for context) at jdpayne.org and then listen to their dialogue.
AI is a tool that may be beneficial in missiological conversation, thought, and writing. However, we must not blindly pass the baton to technology. As you will hear, Alan and Annie frequently take my work into a generic and wrong direction.
I interrupt their dialogue several times to note where they are accurate and where they mislead. I hope my running commentary does not annoy you.
Technology and innovation are important and valuable in our Great Commission efforts. But may we always move forward with caution, discernment, and supervision.
AI Allen and Annie continue this season as they discuss my March 3, 2023 writing, “8 Challenges to the Apostolic Imagination.” In this episode, I find myself in more agreement with them. Should I be concerned? Is this a fluke? Are they learning my views as they “train” on my work? They are now using phrases such as “I’ve heard of this,” “I’ve noticed that,” “I was wondering about that,” and “I was hoping he would….”
At one point, AI Annie raises the question that I may be contradicting myself. However, AI Allen comes to my rescue and clarifies matters. You go, Allen! Strange and fascinating.
In addition to being amazed at this this technological development, I think you will find their conversation both informative and helpful about challenges related to recovering a biblical vision for the Church today.
The five billion remain.
In the previous episode, I introduced a new aspect of innovation into this season with AI Alan and Annie. Be sure to check it out to understand why I am doing this special season.
AI Alan and Annie return in this episode and discuss two of my blog posts (at jdpayne.org), “To the World through the Stomach” (July 26, 2011) and “A Way to the Heart is through the Stomach” (June 25, 2017). Check out these three minute reads and then listen to where Alan and Annie take a 20 minute conversation about cooking and mission. In some ways they accurately represent my work; in others, they misrepresent my views. Regardless, they provide some excellent, bad, but interesting perspectives.
You will be surprised, shocked, and inspired.
If you find this topic interesting, you may want to check out my brief post: “Wanted: Cooks for the Kingdom.”
The five billion remain.
Today is the long-awaited day! The ninth season of Strike the Match launches with this episode. This season will be brief and will include a series of special episodes. . . unlike any I have posted in the past.
Long-time listeners know from the intro this podcast is about “missions, innovation, and leadership.” In this season, the focus will be on innovation, particularly AI.
Over the years, I have brought guests on to my program to discuss issues. This season comes with a twist. My guests are AI Alan and AI Annie (That’s what I’m calling them.). I want to show some of the realities of AI at this moment in time and challenge us to consider how to think about and leverage innovation and technology for our Great Commission task.
In this episode, AI Alan and Annie discuss my May 5, 2023 blog post (jdpayne.org), “An Overlooked Reason for Decline in Seminary Enrollment.” I strongly recommend you check out this 3 min read. However, this podcast episode is not primarily about the contents of my blog post but what AI has done with it. AI Alan and Annie have turned it into a 15 minute conversation. In some ways they accurately represent my work; in others, they misrepresent it and my views. Regardless, they provide some interesting perspective.
Check it out. I think you will be surprised, shocked, and inspired.
The five billion remain.
This episode ends season 8 of Strike the Match. Revelation not only concludes the New Testament, but takes readers back into the Old Testament. John draws deeply from Torah and the Prophets to provide a vision of what was and is to come. Churches were struggling to remain faithful to the mission of God. They […]
Few scholars have written on the topic of mission in the General Epistles. In this episode, I discuss how these epistles address the mission of God to bless the nations. These writings offer a glimpse into some of the struggles of the early Church. The authors were much concerned with the holiness and righteous living […]
The Pauline literature is a deep reservoir of information related to God’s mission in the world. I continue in this episode with the discussion of mission in the Pauline Literature. Here we encounter additional sub-themes of how God brings blessing to the nations with: 1) A Plan – Planting Local Kingdom Communities; 2) A Process […]
In part one of this two-part study, I address mission in the Pauline Literature.
Pauline Literature is a deep reservoir of information related to God’s mission in the world. This episode addresses four sub-themes related to mission. The blessing of the nations comes through: 1) A Man – Paul’s Conversion and Calling; 2) A Message – Justification by Faith; 3) A Mystery – Mercy through Resistance; and 4) A People – the Church.
In the next episode, I will address an additional five sub-themes related to mission.
Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
In this episode, I address the mission of God in Acts. This book reveals how the story of God’s glory through relationship and blessing continues, starting with the Jews and extending to the Gentiles. The Messiah ascends. The Spirit is poured out. The last days arrive. Jew and Gentile must repent and believe before the Kingdom is restored.
While much may be stated regarding mission in Acts, five general matters summarize God’s glory through blessing the nations.
Blessing comes through: 1) True Israel; 2) Sending the Spirit; 3) Beginning with the Jews; 4) Providing a Light for the Gentiles; and 5) A New Multi-ethnic Kingdom Community.
Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
The fourth Gospel has a great deal to say about mission. One scholar noted, “the Fourth Gospel’s focus is not on God’s mission per se, but on his mission through Jesus and on Jesus’ mission through his followers.”
In this episode, the blessing of the nations shows up in three manifestations.
John notes the blessing of the nations occurs through the sending of John the Baptist, Jesus, Temple, Spirit, and Disciples.
The blessing of the nations only comes through the testimony of those who are sent.
And those who are sent will suffer on account of their testimony and the One who sent them.
Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
In this episode, I address the theme of mission in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is important to understand the Synoptics provide a continuity between the Old Testament and New Testament. When we arrived at the New Testament, 400 years have passed since the conclusion of the Old Testament.
In the Synoptics, the blessing of the nations comes through a: 1) Person-Jesus Sent to the Jews; 2) Judgment-New Covenant by Death and Resurrection; 3) People-Church to Reflect the Kingdom; and 4) Command-Make Disciples of Jews and Gentiles
Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
The Writings comprise the latter section of the Hebrew Scriptures and attempt to show how the people of God were to live in a variety of circumstances. The mission of God saturates the books of Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles.
In this episode (Season 8, Ep. 7), I address the blessing of the nations through:
Israel’s Influence
God’s Sovereignty
Israel’s Restoration and Reconstruction
Invitation to Praise
A Person: God’s Anointed One Who Reigns
A Person: God’s Anointed One Who Suffers
Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
This episode continues the second discussion of God’s mission in the Prophetic Literature. An examination of the Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The Twelve), reveals several sub-themes related to the blessing of the nations.
Here we find God works to bless the nations through: Judgment (Israel in Diaspora and Day of the Lord); Restoration (Israel’s Return, Reconstruction, and Day of the Lord); A Person (the Servant and Spirit); and A Promise (New Covenant). The Prophets also provide a glimpse of the movement of the Gentiles into the Kingdom known as the great eschatological ingathering.
Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
In this episode, I address a theology of mission by examining the mission of God in the Prophets.
The methods by which the nations move into relationship with the nation of Israel and her God has been described as historical incorporation and eschatological ingathering. The Former and Latter Prophets address both and how blessings come to the nations.
In this episode, the importance of the Promised Land, Israel’s King, and the Temple are discussed as critical to understanding God’s mission to bring redeem the nations and restore all things.
Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
I conclude the discussion of mission in Torah. God’s mission to bless the nations primarily happens through: 1) A Person (Abraham); 2) A People (Israel); and 3) A Place (Tabernacle). While the previous episode addressed God working through Abraham, this session draws attention to the latter two categories.
Israel was chosen to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” to represent God before the peoples of the world (Ex 19:6). As W. Ross Blackburn wrote, they were to be a “kingdom with a priestly function.” While Israel kept the commandments of the Lord, all the nations would recognize the greatness of her God and be drawn to Him and His people.
The tabernacle served as a reminder of God’s immanence and covenantal faithfulness as a means for redemption and restored fellowship–and as a testimony to the nations. How may a sinful people live with a holy God in their presence? The tabernacle and sacrificial system made it clear.
Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
In this two-part episode, I continue the series on theology of mission with the discussion of God’s mission in Torah. Throughout these five books, God’s glory among the nations comes through three particular means: 1) A Person: Abraham; 2) A People: Israel; and 3) A Place: Tabernacle.
Abraham, and Israel, quickly learn God’s election is both a privilege and responsibility. They are chosen to be God’s people for a purpose.
This particularism would be the means by which God brings blessings to the nations. Rather than Israel’s election excluding the nations from the Creator, it would be the means of grace whereby the Gentiles would come to know him.
Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
The biblical storyline reveals a God who remains faithful to His promises which require the ongoing sending of Himself and His servants into a tragically suffering and deeply needy world to accomplish His mission of redemption and restoration. Mission began with God, is sustained by God, and will culminate with God.
The blessing of the nations, which includes the Church’s Great Commission activity, is rooted in this apostolic act: God creates and sends Himself into the creation.
In this episode, I provide an overview of the God Who Sends and define important words related to the theology of mission such as universality, particularity, and centripetal and centrifugal methodology.
Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
Today is the first day of Season 8 of Strike the Match! Over the past seven seasons, I have addressed a variety of topics related to missions, innovation, and leadership, but we will focus on one topic this season: theology of mission. Earlier this year, I published Theology of Mission: A Concise Biblical Theology and […]
This episode of Strike the Match concludes season 7. In this podcast, I take a journey down memory-lane. What are the 10 most downloaded episodes of Strike the Match over the years? Think you can guess which ones made the list? Listen in as I provide a top-ten countdown along with commentary on each episode. […]
How can ordinary followers of Jesus be transformed into extraordinary disciple makers? That is the topic of discussion on this episode of Strike the Match. George Robinson is my guest and serves as a professor of global disciple making at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He has recently published the book […]
I go solo on the mic in this episode and share the big announcement that Apostolic Imagination and Theology of Mission were recently published. Every book has a story, and you will hear why these were written. I address the general contents of the books and do a little reading from Apostolic Imagination. As you […]
Polycentric – a word quickly growing in popularity in missiological circles. It describes the concept of having more than one center. When applied to leadership, it reflects a growing model in ministries and mission agencies. My guest on this episode, is Dr. Joe Handley. Joe is the president of Asian Access and Co-Catalyst for Leadership […]
In a recent gathering of United Methodists, an African leader addressed his Western brothers and sisters when he said, “The gospel you brought to us one hundred years ago is not the same gospel you proclaim today.” The United Methodist Church is facing a denominational split that will affect global mission. In this episode, Paul […]
Craig Ott is my guest in this episode. He is professor of mission and intercultural studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and author of a new book Teaching and Learning Across Cultures: A Guide to Theory and Practice. Craig is an expert in the field, and his book will become the definitive work on the […]
In this episode of Strike the Match, I have the honor of having a conversation with David Joannes about his latest book Gospel Privilege: The Unearned Advantage that’s Meant for Everyone. Privilege is a frequently used word, but seldom applied to gospel conversations. Though more people claim Christianity than any other world religion, the majority […]
If Jesus is building His Church and we are filled with a dynamic Spirit, then we should expect change. Also, we live in a world where change is constant. And with change, we encounter ministry barriers. It is here that leaders must lead with innovation. Throughout history, the Church has often innovated to overcome challenges […]
Peyton Jones is no stranger to the ministry of church planting. After two decades of such kingdom labors in Europe and the United States, his recent book addresses many of the elements involved in this Great Commission activity. In this episode, Jones and I discuss Church Plantology: The Art and Science of Planting Churches. In […]
Season 7, episode 1 is now available! In this initial podcast of the season, I provide several updates since last season and share some important facts from the recently released US Census Data. Percentages and numbers represent individuals and communities. Behind the stats we find cultures and worldviews. While demographics are not the only thing […]
In this second episode of a two-part series, I continue to discuss the ministry of writing and publishing. I specifically address publishing books through traditional publishing houses, indie publishing, and partial-investment publishing. As a hybrid author, I have used each of these paradigms. They have unique strengths and limitations. Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
Writing and publishing expands your influence in the present and extends your influence into a future (Lord willing) beyond yourself. In part one of this two-part podcast, I address my approach to the ministry of writing and publishing. I share my philosophy on writing and practical methods. Listen. Share. Discuss. Go!
Elders are the most influential people when it comes to churches going to the nations. However, such pastors are busy and often so focused on established church ministry they do not take time to develop the needed apostolic imagination. In this episode, I share 14 thoughts to help church leaders develop an apostolic imagination for […]
Lesslie Newbigin once stated, “there is no higher priority for the research work of missiologists than to ask the question of what would be involved in a genuinely missionary encounter between the gospel and this modern Western culture.” While Newbigin’s words and work led the Church to claim the “West is a mission field,” they […]
The Church has been told to go into all the world and make disciples. The world is a big place. Where should she begin her apostolic work? How does the apostolic imagination relate to the Great Commission and geography? Most mission work occurs among reached people groups. But with 7000 unreached peoples in the world, […]
I return to the discussion of the apostolic imagination in this episode. The majority of evangelicals do not subscribe to an evangelistic priority when it comes to the Church’s missionary activity. The priority is no priority. This is a recent development in history. As twentieth century theologians returned to the Scriptures, the definition of mission […]
One of the most influential U. S. missiologists was David Hesselgrave. After serving in Japan for several years, he was a professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Some of his writings include Planting Churches Cross-Culturally, Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally, and Paradigms in Conflict. Hesselgrave passed away in 2018. Prior to his death, he and his granddaughter, […]
How many apostles are in the Bible? Twelve? Twelve plus Paul? More than that? What about Jesus “the apostle and high priest?” Did apostles cease to exist after the first century or remain today? In this episode, I continue with The Apostolic Imagination series addressing fixed and fluid categories of apostles found in the Scriptures. […]
Mission language forms our ideas and actions. Talking about such language is not a waste of time. Uncertainty abounds when it comes to the language of mission. Definitions are found in the eye of the beholder. Missionary activity is defined as everything from church planting among an unreached people to putting a roof on a […]
With the publication of Transforming Mission (1991), David Bosch acknowledged the Church’s activity in mission has transitioned through several paradigms. His conclusion at the end of the twentieth century was the new paradigm had not arrived but was in the process of development. We are still in this liminal state. What is a possible way […]
The topic of climate change makes the news everyday. Yet, few within the missions community are talking about this matter. John Ferch is an exception. I recently attended the annual Evangelical Missiological Society where I listened to John give a presentation on his experience in Alaska. He provided a fresh and unique perspective, one I […]
Craig Ott is my guest on this episode of Strike the Match. Craig is a professor of Mission and Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. We talk about ecclesiology and missiology as we focus on Craig’s book The Church on Mission: A Biblical Vision for Transformation among All People. The Church is central to […]
Gene Daniels and Warrick Farah are my guests on this episode of the podcast. Many of us are familiar with the Five Pillars of Islam and the faith’s generalities learned in our comparative religion classes. However, our world is comprised of a Muslim mosaic not a monolithic Islam. My guests and I talk about understanding […]
The first Sunday in November marks the Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. On this special episode of Strike the Match, Dr. Gregory Cochran is my guest. Greg is a professor of theology at California Baptist University and author of Christians in the Crosshairs: Persecution in the Bible and around the World. We discuss […]
The gospel has often advanced on the wings of Kingdom innovation. While the Church is not in the business of getting a better product to market faster than the competitor down-the-street, Spirit-led innovation is a divine blessing and necessity in a radically changing world. Jon Hirst, Director of Program Innovation at SIL International, is my […]
My guest in this episode is Nik Ripken, missionary, author, and founder of Nik Ripken Ministries. Ripken is one of the world’s leading experts on the topic of Christian persecution and missions. His travels have taken him to 72 countries where he has interviewed over 600 believers living in persecution. His writings include The Insanity […]
Conversations about sexual immorality and pornography are often challenging to have within the Church’s fellowship. My guest in this episode is Dr. David Parks, Director of the Global Center at Beeson Divinity School. We address the impact of the pornification of societies on the Church and Her mission. Why is this a missiological matter? Why […]
Winfield Bevins is my guest on this episode of Strike the Match. Dr. Bevins is Director of the Asbury Seminary Church Planting Initiative. We discuss his latest book Marks of a Movement: What the Church Today can Learn from the Wesleyan Revival. You may find Dr. Bevins on-line at winfieldbevins.com, @winfieldbevins, Facebook, and Instagram. The […]
Season 5 has finally arrived! It is going to be a great one concerning missions, innovation, and Kingdom leadership! What have I been doing since Season 4? Here you go. Join me as I share about the stewardship of pilot initiatives, YouTube, mission and innovation, my next two books with Lexham Press and Baker Academic, […]
Steve Addison is my guest in this final episode of season 4. Whether the conversation is about disciple making movements or church planting/multiplication movements, missionary conversations often revolve around the topic of movements. Steve is an expert on this topic. And we need to hear from him. Steve is the author of three books on […]
Canada is home to the 6th largest number of unreached people groups in the world. Global Gates is one organization that is passionate about reaching such groups that have migrated to places such as North America. In this episode, Chris Carr, director of Global Gates Canada, is my guest. We talk about the amazing ethnic […]
Last week, two U. S. news stories broke on sexual abuse: one addressing the sexual abuse of children connected to New Tribes Mission (Ethnos360) and one addressing sexual abuse of 700 people at the hands of Southern Baptist church leaders. In this special episode of Strike the Match, Dr. Tate Cockrell is my guest. We […]
The Church often overlooks the role of artistic expression in Kingdom advancement while limiting such expressions to worship music. However, artists are a powerhouse of Great Commission potential. In this episode, Dr. Byron Spradlin is my guest. Byron is the president of Artists in Christian Testimony International. You need to be familiar with this unique […]
Dr. Steve Leston is my guest in this episode of Strike the Match. Steve is the president and CEO of To Every Tribe. We discuss the importance of multiplying leaders and training church planters. Steve shares about To Every Tribe and their unique training approach that includes “The Eight Phases of Pioneer Church Planting.” Be […]
Dr. Steven Rutt has written the definitive works on Roland Allen. And both of these books were published in 2018. Roland Allen: A Missionary Life is an outstanding biography on the man behind such books as Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? and The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church. And Roland Allen: A Theology of […]
For the past week, international news has covered the death of U.S., missionary John Allen Chau. Sometime between November 16 and November 18, Chau was killed by the North Sentinelese on the isolated North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean. He was there to share the gospel with this unengaged-unreached people group. Media sources and […]
Does the Church threaten the health of isolated people groups when she goes into all the world? Last week, the public became aware of the death of U.S. missionary, John Allen Chau on the North Sentinel Island. His encounter with the North Sentinelese caused many people to voice concerns about the dangers of an outsider engaging an […]
We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. We all have our influences. For me, that person was Charles Brock. On Tuesday, November 13, 2018, Charles passed away. The obituary may be found HERE. I was introduced to Charles and his missiology and thoughts on church planting in June 1996. During […]
The 20th century was called the Age of the Refugee due to the numbers of forcibly displaced people. Presently, 69 million individuals have been forcibly displaced from their homes. Twenty-five million of these are categorized as refugees. Matthew Soerens, U. S. Director of Church Mobilization with World Relief, is my guest on this episode. Matthew […]
Samford University launched a new undergraduate degree and program this fall. Dr. Scott Guffin is now the Executive Director of the Christian Ministry Program and my guest on this episode. We discuss this new program and its 5 Key Distinctives: 1) Biblically Grounded; 2) Theologically Evangelical; 3) Missionally Focused; 4) Baptist Connected; and Academically Rigorous. […]
Jon Hirst is my guest in this episode. Jon serves as the Director of Program Innovation at SIL International. He is the co-editor (with Jim Reapsome) of Innovation in Mission: Insights into Practical Innovations Creating Kingdom Impact, co-founder (with Mindy Hirst) of Generous Mind, and hosts webinars at InnovationInMission.com. We talk about fresh thinking that creates […]
In this episode of Strike the Match, my guest is Matthew Ellison, president of 16:15 and co-author (with Denny Spitters) of When Everything is Missions. When I read this book, my initial reaction was that every (yes, every) North American pastor should read this book in the next year. What happens when everything the Church […]
What time is it? It is time for season 4 of Strike the Match! After 50 episodes, I kick off this season by addressing my recent transition to Samford University. Earlier this summer, I announced this move on the blog. However, I thought it would be good to provide an expanded version in this podcast. […]
My guest in this episode is Bryan Galloway, Senior Researcher for the Diaspora Peoples Initiative of the International Mission Board. We discuss his forthcoming book Reaching the Nations: Carefully Examine, Naturally Encounter, and Intentionally Engage Diaspora Peoples. If you are looking for a guide on how to understand and reach the strangers next door, then […]
Japan is a very influential country and home to one of the world’s largest unreached people groups. John Mehn is my guest in this episode of Strike the Match. His new book, Multiplying Churches in Japanese Soil, sheds light on what the Spirit is doing among this great people. Can churches multiply eleven-fold and increase by […]
Roland Allen (d. 1947), best known for Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? and The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church, was one of the most influential mission thinkers of the twentieth century. As a High Church Anglican, he had great respect and value for Church tradition but was quick to confront cultural preferences when they appeared to contradict […]
The Moravian Church has been described as “one of the most remarkable missionary churches in Christian history” (Ruth Tucker, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya). In a day and time when few people were thinking about missionary activities, the Moravians were going to the most remote places on the globe and working among the most resistant […]
The Church at Brook Hills, by God’s grace, sends about 40 short-term teams to 10 countries every year. In this episode, my guest is Fox, Director of Short-Term Missions with our church. Some of the questions we address include: What is The Church at Brook Hills doing when it comes to short-term missions? How do […]
The Church is growing the fastest throughout the Majority World. And with any growth comes the need for leadership development. This need is not a contemporary creation but a biblical expectation. Pastoral training is one of the most important issues facing the Church. David Sills and I discuss this topic in this episode of Strike […]
Who pastors missionaries? Who provides care for those sent from local churches? We think about member care when it comes to the members we see every week, but often forget about those making disciples and planting churches across North America and throughout the world. Pastors, member care does not end at the borders of our […]
Season 3 of Strike the Match begins with this post! Be sure to subscribe (iTunes, Android, RSS) so you will not miss an episode! Ramadan 2017 begins Friday, May 26. I thought it would be appropriate to begin our third season talking with Dr. John Klaassen about Islam and reaching Muslims. Dr. Klaassen served for […]
Two of the most influential missiological books of the twentieth century were Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? and The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church, both written by Roland Allen. Even today, Allen’s missiology greatly influences missionary activities. In this episode, Steven Rutt and I continue our two-part conversation about Roland Allen. What were his views about church planting […]
The influence of Roland Allen on missionary activity continues today. Valued by pastors, missiologists, missionaries, and New Testament scholars, Allen’s writings are constant calls for the Church to return to the New Testament for guidance with apostolic endeavors. In this two-part episode, Roland Allen scholar, Dr. Steven Rutt is my guest. We take time to […]
Missiologists and mission agencies operate from two unreached people group lists: 1) global unreached people groups; and 2) global unengaged-unreached people groups. The global unreached people group list receives a high strategic priority when it comes to global disciple making. The global unengaged-unreached people group list receives an even higher strategic priority when it comes […]
Church multiplication strategies must include pastoral training. Though some people believe pastoral training gets in the way of making disciples and planting churches, the bible advocates otherwise. “After church planting, what?” asks my guest, Dr. Ramesh Richard. In this episode, we discuss the importance of pastoral training throughout the world. We address the global conversation […]
Evangelicals have been asking questions related to the ministry of apostles for several years. Some of these conversations have been unhealthy and unhelpful while others have been edifying and resulting in Kingdom advancement. Do apostles exist today? If so, who is an apostle? If so, are they different from the Twelve? Is there an ongoing […]
Good research and healthy mission strategy should go hand-in-hand. How can we be wise stewards with Kingdom resources in view of 7 billion people in the world? Jim Haney is my guest in this episode. Jim is the Director of Global Research with the International Mission Board. He is also the registrar of the Harvest […]
Jeff Sundell has been involved in Great Commission activities for many years. After serving in South Asia and seeing the multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches, he returned to the United States in 2009, contextualizing what he learned. Now, many churches across the United States benefit from Jeff’s vision and training. Christians are becoming aware […]
Last week, Baptist Press released the article by Carol Pipes: “ACP: More Churches Reported; Baptisms Decline.” Media sources across the country quickly ran stories on the information found in the article. The Southern Baptist Convention added 294 churches in 2015. However, our membership declined by more than 200,000 people, with average weekly worship attendance now […]
The concept of church multiplication movements is often discussed in missiological circles. Kingdom citizens desire to see “the word of the Lord. . . speed ahead and be honored” (2 Thes 3:1) and for new churches to be taught the “whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Nathan Shank is my guest on this episode of […]
This episode of Strike the Match kicks off season 2. In this podcast, I share insights from eighteen years of training pastors in both the academy and the church. The pastor is the most important and influential person in a local church when it comes to leading that congregation to participate in the mission […]
In this last episode of Season 1 of Strike the Match, I share about my forthcoming book, Apostolic Church Planting: Birthing New Churches from New Believers (IVP). In the book of Acts, church planting begins with sharing the gospel. A church was not talked about until disciples were made; and disciples were not made until […]
Disciple making and church planting movements are popular topics in many conversations today. In this episode, Steve Addison is my guest. Our conversation is about his next book, Pioneering Movements: Leadership that Multiplies Disciples and Churches, which releases December 2015 with InterVarsity Press. In our conversation, Steve answers questions such as: Why write this book? […]
The twentieth century has been called the Age of the Refugee. And today, we continue to hear of the flight of the peoples of the world. At the time of this recording, the refugee crisis continues to grow in Europe. The United States is planning to increase her cap on the number of refugees allowed […]
Dr. Travis Kerns is one of the leading evangelical scholars in the area of Mormon history and theology. He is also a missionary with the North American Mission Board and serves in Salt Lake City. The state of Utah is the least-reached state in the United States, comprised of a 2% evangelical population. And within […]
Dr. Ted Esler recently became the new President and CEO of MissioNexus. Ted joins me in conversation this week on Strike the Match. We spend time talking about his background as a church planter and an administrator. MissioNexus is the largest network of evangelical mission agencies and church partners in North America. Ted and I […]
Paul Dzubinski is my guest on this episode. Paul is the Director of Innovation for Frontier Ventures where he provides oversight for Launch Lab. In our conversation, we talk about the place of Spirit-led innovation in missions today and answer question such as: Why should Kingdom citizens have conversations on innovation and the Church? What […]
God has not only made every person from Adam and Eve, but He has also determined when and where they will live (Acts 17:26). The reason? That they might find Him (Acts 17:27). 232 million people live outside of their countries of birth. While many of these people are followers of Jesus, many are from […]
Churches and mission agencies have been thankful for the global work of the U. S. Center for World Mission. For almost four decades, the Center has been involved in Kingdom advancing labors. If you are familiar with the name Ralph Winter, unreached people groups, or the Perspectives course (to mention a few examples), then you […]
The decision to select a major and/or vocation is one of the most important decisions a person will make. This decision sets life on a specific course. This decision is often left up to the whims of youth, family tradition, and secular guidance counselors. The church is usually divorced from this decision. Personal comfort and […]
Patrick Johnstone’s leadership has been very significant among evangelicals for many years. It is a delight to have Patrick as my guest on this episode of Strike the Match. We discuss the history of Operation World, his latest books (Pray for the World, The Future of the Global Church, and Serving God in Today’s Cities), three challenges […]
The world is always changing; our mission remains the same. Dr. David Sills is my guest and we discuss his forthcoming book, Changing World, Unchanging Mission: Responding to Global Challenges. In this conversation, we address some of the key global challenges confronting disciple-making today. David calls us to be proactive as Kingdom citizens and to […]
Discussions related to the topic of orality and missions often focus on contexts outside of North America. However, in 2003 half of the Untied States’ citizens struggled with literacy. Few college students read books on a regular basis after graduation. And according to my guest, Mark Snowden, after work and school, “the vast majority of […]
Your church is not involved in church planting. How do you begin to cast such a vision to move from where you are to where you need to go? Proverbs 20:5 notes, “A plan in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out” (NASB). Vision casting is […]
The 20th century has been called the Age of Migration. Presently, 232 million people live outside of their countries-of-birth. They move for different reasons. Some are relocating for a better standard-of-living and education; others are fleeing persecution, war, disease, and famine. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Enoch Wan, one of the leading global […]
The United States is home to the third largest number of unreached people groups in the world (behind India and China). The Global Gates Network is one of very few groups in North America attempting to make disciples and plant churches among the unreached peoples in the United States. In this episode I speak with […]
One of the cutting edge organizations out there is GMI. They have been thinking and leading on an innovative plane for 30 years. With a mission statement like: GMI leverages research and technology to create, cultivate, and communicate mission information leading to insight that inspires Kingdom service, you know they are involved in some exciting […]
My next book, To the Edge: Reflections on Kingdom Leadership, Mission, and Innovation, is scheduled to be released this summer. In this podcast, I share about the book and my reason for writing it. I even read an excerpt for you! Most of what I share in this episode about this book, I have not […]
Mission agencies have always faced challenges. However, the 21st century has brought some unique challenges to agencies headquartered in North America. In episode 15, I speak with Dr. Steve Moore, Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Leadership. Steve is an author and formerly served as the President of MissioNexus, the largest network of […]
This week Baptist Press released the article, “SBC Reports More Churches, Fewer People.” Within hours, secular media outlets were reporting on these findings too. For those who have been tracking these numbers, this article brought no surprises. And while there is nothing surprising here, as a Southern Baptist, I have many concerns for the tribe […]
It has been said that since Gutenberg the Christian faith has walked on “literate legs.” And while we are very thankful to have the Bible in our language, we often operate from the assumption that the majority of the world also prefers to learn through literate means. However, close to 5 billion people in the […]
One reason churches do not participate in church planting is because they believe it is beyond their abilities. And I would agree that church planting is beyond most churches as long as we use the typical western definition of church planting. When we turn to the Scriptures, we do not see church planting as something […]
There is much in the Bible that addresses the topic of shame (referenced more than twice as often as the notion of guilt). This is good news as we labor among the 4 billion! For most of the world is not as individualistically-oriented as we in the West. Matters such as honor and shame affect […]
Dean Merrill, collaborating with Patrick Johnstone, recently published Serving God in Today’s Cities: Facing the Challenge of Urbanization. This book is a great introduction to our urban world and ministry today. Three percent of the world’s population lived in cities in 1800. By 2100, 90% of the global population will live in cities. Most of […]
A stewardship of innovation exists within the Kingdom. We often do not think in such terms or recognize this responsibility we have received. If Jesus is building His Church and we are filled with a dynamic Spirit, then change should be expected. We do not innovate for the sake of innovation. We innovate as the […]
We have better information on unreached people groups living in the most remote places of the world than we do of those same groups living in the United States and Canada. We know the world; we do not know our neighborhood. I recently spoke with Dr. Bryan Galloway, Senior Research Analyst with the International Mission […]
If the first century disciples approached disciple making and church planting with the complexity we have in the West, the gospel would have never left the Middle East. We want reach the world with the extraordinary working through complexity. But what if the way to reach the nations is not through such means? What if […]
We are living in a time when the greatest number of Muslims are coming to faith. Last year, David Garrison noted this reality in his book A Wind in the House of Islam: How God is Drawing Muslims around the World to Faith in Jesus Christ. David traveled over 250,000 miles into every area of […]
I greatly appreciate the work of the Pew Research Center. They recently released a very important study: “The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050.” This work is filled with a great deal of information. For example, by 2050, the global Muslim population will nearly equal the global Christian population and the global religiously […]
Christian holidays often provide many excellent opportunities to share our faith with others. With Easter around the corner, I want share with you a conversation I had with Jonathan Dodson, pastor of City Life Church (Austin, Texas). In 2014, he published two books–one for unbelievers, the other for believers. In this episode, we discuss these […]
I recently spoke with Dr. David Platt about his transition to the role of the president of the International Mission Board (IMB). David stopped by the office to record this conversation for Strike the Match. In this episode, we talk about family, restructuring and future of the IMB, diaspora missiology, meaningful collaboration between the IMB […]
What is apostolic missiology? Why is it important to mission in a post-Christianized context? Why does the Church in the West primarily operate from a pastoral missiology? In this episode, I address these and other questions related to mission today. Our theology shapes our missiology. Our missiology shapes our missionary methods. How we begin the […]
Ruth Tucker writes, “Shrouded in legend and glorified by sainthood, Patrick, Ireland’s great fifth-century missionary is one of the most misrepresented figures in church history” (From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya, 37). On this first episode of Strike the Match, we are discussing, “Who was St. Patrick and what can we learn for today?” I felt […]
I am thankful the day has finally arrived. Strike the Match is now public. I don’t know who created the idea of an “episode 0,” but I like it. It allows for a test run to work out the bugs. 0 says, “We’re not there yet; please be patient with us.” Since you are readers […]