What does the data say about Christianity in the American church today?

In this episode, Alex and Scott explore the emerging cultural and spiritual shifts among younger generations, particularly Gen Z, with guest Dr. Adam Rasmussen, Cultural Research Fellow and Dean of Arts & Humanities at Arizona Christian University. Drawing from recent data and studies by the Cultural Research Center and the American Bible Society, Rasmussen outlines a growing openness to spirituality and Christianity—especially among young men—despite the rise of secularism.

Together they also examine the mental health crisis and its correlation with worldview, revealing that a stronger biblical worldview significantly lowers struggles with anxiety, depression, and more. Rasmussen warns of the post-COVID decline in biblical worldview and church attendance but sees signs of revival—particularly in increased male engagement and hunger for authentic, biblical discipleship.

• Generational shifts in spiritual interest, especially among Gen Z
• Role of doubt and credibility in evangelism
• Mental health crisis and its link to biblical worldview strength
• Rise and dangers of syncretism in American Christianity
• Practical encouragement for churches and missionaries to seize the current cultural moment

Download the Transcript for this episode.

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Why should Christians spend time reading fiction books?

In this episode of the Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with Dr. Marvin Newell, an accomplished missiologist, author, and missionary as they explore Newell's recent foray into fiction writing with his novel Taking You Under My Skin, a historically grounded narrative set during the Vietnam War. The story not only reflects a gripping tale of survival and love but also serves to awaken readers to the needs of unreached people groups, using fiction as a powerful tool for mobilization and imagination.

Dr. Newell explores the often-overlooked role of imagination in Christian discipleship and missions as well as emphasizing the importance of Bible translation and storytelling in making the gospel accessible.

Key Topics:

• The value of fiction in mobilizing Christians for missions.
• Summary of Taking You Under My Skin, Newell's fiction novel set during the Vietnam War.
• Use of redemptive analogies to communicate the gospel cross-culturally.
• Fiction and Non-Fiction Book recommendations for missions-minded believers and missionaries.

Download the transcript for this episode.

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In this special extended episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and ABWE president Paul Davis engage in a wide-ranging, deeply reflective conversation with Paul Washer of HeartCry Missionary Society. Washer recounts the founding and growth of HeartCry, emphasizing the importance of supporting both indigenous and cross-cultural missionaries. He stresses that indigenous missions must be grounded in strong local churches with biblical eldership and doctrinal integrity.

Paul Washer also tackles how local churches can develop missions strategies, emphasizing prayer, discernment, and doctrinal clarity over formulaic planning. Washer calls for renewed focus on developing biblically qualified leaders through discipleship and robust prayer life.

Key Topics

• Origins and philosophy of HeartCry Missionary Society
• The role of indigenous vs. cross-cultural missionaries
• Biblical qualifications of missionaries
• How churches can prayerfully discern mission priorities
• Practical discipleship for young men sensing a call to ministry
• The dangers of performance-driven or celebrity church culture

Download the show transcript

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Should Christians reject or embrace wealth and prosperity?

In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Scott talks with Josiah Stowe, co-founder of Dominion Wealth Strategists, on the often-overlooked yet vital subject of money and prosperity theology in the context of missions and ministry. Their conversation explores the tensions missionaries face regarding finances—especially retirement planning, family provision, and legacy—while challenging the assumption that piety must equate to poverty.

Josiah argues that wealth-building can and should align with biblical stewardship and that Christians are called to be faithful stewards who multiply their resources for God’s glory and the good of future generations. Their discussion critiques both the prosperity gospel and the poverty gospel, emphasizing a balanced, exegetically rooted theology of money. Finally, Josiah emphasizes the importance of legacy planning—wills, trusts, insurance, and investments—as essential tools for sustaining ministry impact across generations.

• Misconceptions about wealth in missions (piety vs. poverty)
• Biblical foundations for wealth building
• Distinction between biblical stewardship and prosperity gospel teachings
• The moral imperative for Christians to build and steward wealth wisely
• The need for long-term financial planning including retirement and legacy

With over 3 billion people in the world who have never heard of Jesus, the global need is tremendous for workers to go into the harvest fields (Matthew 9:37-38). Is God calling you to missions? We'd love to have a conversation with you on how you can use your gifts and talents to advance the Great Commission at home and abroad. Visit abwe.org/SendMe for more information and to take your next step in missions.

Show Transcript

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Has modern evangelicalism forgotten about key aspects of who God is?

In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott welcome Dr. Peter Sammons, Associate Director of Academic Development at Founders Seminary, to discuss the "forgotten attributes" of God—those less-discussed incommunicable aspects of God's nature. Sammons argues that modern Christians tend to focus on God's relational and communicable attributes (like love and kindness) because they are easier to grasp and more emotionally resonant. Sammons stresses that a proper understanding of God's essence and metaphysical attributes is crucial for true worship and doctrinal precision.

The discussion also explores why understanding God's immutable nature is essential, especially in missions. Many pagan and world religions depict gods as moody and human-like, but the Christian God stands apart as wholly other, unaffected by human emotion or manipulation. This, Sammons emphasizes, highlights the necessity of theological depth for missionaries. Without it, missionaries risk portraying God as just another tribal deity.

• Forgotten Attributes: Focus on God's immutability, impassibility, and aseity, which are often overshadowed by more "relatable" attributes.
• Essence of God: Importance of understanding God's essence versus merely his relational attributes.
• Modern Challenges: Cultural and intellectual laziness has led to theological illiteracy and avoidance of difficult doctrines.
• Missional Importance: Proper theological understanding is critical for distinguishing the Christian God from false deities in missions work.
• Training Solutions: Founders Seminary offers a Master of Arts in Cultural Apologetics and Missions to deepen theological literacy for missionaries, even remotely.

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Are we thinking about persecuted Christians incorrectly? What should our and the church's response be?

In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with Andy Coleman, president of the Christian Emergency Alliance and author of the new book In Days of Darkness: A Manual for Ordinary Christians Facing Unusual Times. The discussion explores the realities of Christian persecution worldwide, especially in regions like Syria and Nigeria, and how Western believers should respond both spiritually and practically. Coleman, who has years of on-the-ground experience in conflict zones, offers a measured, informed perspective that resists both sensationalism and apathy.

Coleman emphasizes the need for “connective tissue” in the global Church—awareness, prayer, and meaningful support between believers in safer contexts and those in peril. He discusses the nuanced and often hidden complexities of persecution, where violence is often localized, and government complicity or neglect plays a key role. The conversation also introduces his book, which seeks to equip everyday Christians to stand firm and act faithfully amid increasing pressures, both abroad and closer to home.

• Understanding Persecution Without Sensationalism
• What’s Happening to Christians in Syria
• Analyzing the Intense Persecution Crisis in Nigeria
• The Role of the Church with Persecuted Brothers and Sisters
• Book Highlight: In Days of Darkness: A Manual for Ordinary Christians Facing Unusual Times

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The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

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How can missionaries use the prevailing cultural narratives and longings of the heart to awaken others to the gospel without sacrificing the truth?

In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott continue their conversation with Dr. E.D. Burns, focusing on cultural apologetics and its application in missionary work. E.D. shares insights into different approaches to apologetics, including cultural, presuppositional, classical, and evidential apologetics. He emphasizes the importance of appealing to the imagination and “longings of the soul” to awaken a deeper interest in Christianity. Finally, E.D. details how the Celtic Sun Cross is a great historical perspective of cultural apologetics.

Key Points:

1. Distinctives of apologetic approaches
2. The importance of asking good questions to uncover worldview inconsistencies
3. The universal longings of the soul for home, belonging, and truth
4. Historical examples of cultural apologetics with the celtic cross
5. Application of cultural apologetics for missionaries

When was the last time your church did a missions conference, and how did it go? ABWE wants to help your church do a missions conference that will challenge your congregation to send. It's called Send Sunday. Click here to download your free resources including: sermon notes, small group discussion questions, song selections, children's activity pages, and more! Join with ABWE and other churches on Pentacost Sunday to pray and ask God to send someone from your church.

With over 3 billion people in the world who have never heard of Jesus, the global need is tremendous for workers to go into the harvest fields (Matthew 9:37-38). Is God calling you to missions? We'd love to have a conversation with you on how you can use your gifts and talents to advance the Great Commission at home and abroad. Visit abwe.org/SendMe for more information and to take your next step in missions.

Do you love The Missions Podcast? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!

Premium Subscribers get access to:

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The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

How can missionaries and apologists connect the gospel to the longings of the human heart—without watering it down?

In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford sit down with Dr. E.D. Burns—missionary, author, and professor—to unpack the concept of cultural apologetics. Drawing from the legacy of C.S. Lewis, Dr. Burns explains how cultural apologetics appeals not merely to logic but to the imagination and desires of the soul.

He contrasts this approach with evidential, presuppositional, and classical apologetics, emphasizing how cultural apologetics helps us engage the heart without compromising biblical truth. Sharing stories from his years on the field in Thailand, Dr. Burns shows how this method resonates in honor-shame contexts and how missionaries can faithfully and compellingly contextualize the gospel message.

This conversation explores the importance of storytelling, the beauty of the gospel in every culture, and the role of imagination in helping others see the glory of Christ.

Key topics:

• What sets cultural apologetics apart
• How C.S. Lewis shaped modern apologetics
• Practical strategies for contextualization in missions
• Why storytelling and beauty matter in gospel proclamation
• Avoiding syncretism while engaging the heart

God has already called many people to the mission field, but they need your support to get there. Help someone in Prefield get to where God is calling them by prayerfully supporting their ministry at abwe.org/Prefield.