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PODCAST

The Missions Show

Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford

The Missions Show answers hard questions about theology, missions, and practice to help goers think and thinkers go. We are conservative, evangelical, and gospel-centered. The Missions Show is powered by ABWE International, a missions agency with a force of more than 1,000 workers serving across 90+ countries with a focus on evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.

religion & spirituality christianity

All Episodes

00:27:58

Reaching Muslim Refugees With the Gospel

The Missions Show ·

2026/03/15

In this episode of The Missions Show, Alex and Scott speak with ABWE missionaries “Will and Beth McAuliffe” (pseudonyms) about their long journey toward serving among Arabic-speaking people. After years of preparation and ministry in the Middle East, their plans were unexpectedly disrupted when their daughter was born extremely premature with significant medical complications. The experience forced them to leave the field and wrestle with whether their missionary calling had changed, ultimately

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00:28:42

Theology of Generalizations and Discernment

The Missions Show ·

2026/03/02

How do we exercise discernment on the mission field?In this episode of The Missions Show, Alex and Scott examine common misunderstandings about global persecution and why discernment is essential when evaluating reports of suffering in the church. Drawing from missionary experience, they explain that persecution is not always dramatic or violent, but often appears as marginalization, stigma, or family rejection. They caution against glamorizing persecuted believers or assuming their theology is

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00:28:07

What’s Happening in Iran? Protests, Crisis, and the...

The Missions Show ·

2026/02/23

How do believers respond to the situation in Iran? In this episode, Scott Dunford talks with “Sam,” an ABWE missionary serving Persian and Iranian communities, about the crisis gripping Iran. Looking at ancient Persia's biblical roots, home of Daniel and Esther, to the 1979 Islamic Revolution that installed a Shiite theocracy, Iran’s story is both historic and volatile. Sam explains the regime’s ideology, the nationwide uprisings across hundreds of cities, and the crushing reality facing ordinary

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00:29:53

Thailand: A Strategic Missions Hub With Benjamin Collins

The Missions Show ·

2026/02/09

Can reaching Thailand be the key to reaching all of Southeast Asia?In this episode of The Missions Show, Alex sits down with ABWE missionary Benjamin Collins to discuss gospel work in Thailand, a nation with long-standing missionary access yet less than one percent Christian. Ben shares about his role supporting church planters across the country and explains why Thailand remains a crucial missions field where evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development are all urgently needed. The

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00:29:47

Reforming Missions: A Conversation With Jerry Slate Jr.

The Missions Show ·

2026/01/26

Has global missions strayed from a biblical foundation?In this episode of The Missions Show, Alex and Scott talk with Pastor Jerry Slate Jr. to discuss the theological foundations and practical realities of faithful missionary work. The conversation centers on the question of what sustains missionaries through hardship, rejection, and long seasons of discouragement. Jerry, Alex, and Scott emphasize the central role of the local church in sending, vetting, and sustaining missionaries, warning

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00:32:51

Do You Believe in Miracles? What Acts Says With Dr....

The Missions Show ·

2026/01/19

Do you believe miracles can still happen? In this episode of The Missions Show, Scott is joined by Dr. Darren Carlson—pastor, author, and founder of Training Leaders International—to discuss the ongoing work of God as revealed in the book of Acts and experienced around the world today. Drawing from Carlson’s new book, Witness: Missional Devotions from the Book of Acts, the conversation explores whether Acts should be viewed merely as a historical account or as an invitation to expect God’s

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00:01:57

New Name, Same Show

The Missions Show ·

2026/01/09

New year, new name. The Missions Podcast is now The Missions Show.Why the change? We’re stepping into a video-first world. The show is now on NRBTV, with Lighthouse TV launching soon in central Pennsylvania. We’ve been on YouTube for some time, and this rebrand reflects a move beyond audio-only podcasting to serve a wider audience. What hasn’t changed is the heart of the show. We’ll keep the same format and the same purpose—answering hard questions in missiology, theology, and practice to

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00:30:43

Evangelism and Missions in India With Aaron Menikoff...

The Missions Show ·

2026/01/05

In this week's episode, Alex and Scott welcome pastor Aaron Menikoff (Atlanta, USA) and pastor Harshit Singh (Lucknow, India) to discuss how evangelism and missions function through the local church, particularly in the Indian context. Drawing from their book Prioritizing Missions in the Church, Menikoff and Singh argue that missions should not be treated as a side program but as an outflow of ordinary, faithful church life. They emphasize that preaching, prayer, discipleship, and the

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00:28:32

A Practical Theology of Persecution With Matt Rhodes

The Missions Show ·

2025/12/29

In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex welcomes returning guest Matt Rhodes—missionary, church planter among Muslims, and author to discuss his new book Persecution in Missions: A Practical Theology. Together they discuss that persecution is not an anomaly but a normative feature of Christian life and global missions, especially in unreached contexts.While Western Christians may experience lesser forms of opposition, believers in Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist-majority regions often face

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00:28:32

Church Planting From Bangladesh to NYC With Prodip Das

The Missions Show ·

2025/12/15

What's the spiritual climate like in Bangladesh?In this week's episode, Scott interviews Pastor Prodip Das, a Bengali church planter in New York City with ABWE's EveryEthne ministry. Together, they discuss the unique nature and conflict of Christianity and Islam within Bangladesh. Prodip tells his personal testimony and what it is like growing up in a Christian family in the country. Prodip also talks about his ministry within New York City and discipling Muslim-background believers. Key

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29:56

The Reality of Missions in Japan With Bill Petite

The Missions Show ·

2025/12/08

Why is Japan the graveyard of missionaries?In this episode, Alex talks with veteran ABWE missionary Bill Petite, who reflects on 35 years of ministry in Japan. Bill gives an honest look at the spiritual, cultural, and emotional realities of serving in one of the world’s least-reached nations. Bill Petite also speaks candidly about the emotional and spiritual toll of long-term missions, sharing seasons of deep depression, discouragement, and even suicidal thoughts—contrasted with stories of

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31:38

The Transcultural Gospel With E.D. Burns

The Missions Show ·

2025/12/01

How does the gospel transcend cultural understandings like guilt/innocence, honor/shame?In this episode, Alex is joined by longtime friend of the show, Dr. E.D. Burns, a missionary, author, and ABWE’s Executive Director for Training & Development. E.D. argues that many modern missionary methods fall into error by beginning with culture rather than Scripture. When missionaries adapt the message to perceived cultural needs: fear of spirits, desire for honor, community belonging, they risk

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28:32

Behind the Numbers: What’s Really Happening in Global...

The Missions Show ·

2025/11/24

In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex Kocman and ABWE President, Paul Davis, interview Ted Esler, president of Missio Nexus, on the global state of Christian missions. Esler explains that although the global church is experiencing slow and steady growth, many evangelical churches lack a strong understanding of lostness which has contributed to a decline in missionary sending and passion. Cultural pressures, including accusations of colonialism and a general decrease in missions literacy,

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31:35

Is Persecution a Good Thing?

The Missions Show ·

2025/11/10

Is it true that the "blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church"?In this episode, Alex and Scott challenge the popular belief that persecution is inherently good for the church. Drawing from Ronald Boyd-MacMillan’s article Does Persecution Always Bring Growth?, they argue that while persecution can refine believers, history shows it often destroys the local church entirely. They distinguish between short, intense persecution that may spark renewal and long-term systemic persecution that

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28:31

Collab: Nicene Creed and the Transcultural Gospel...

The Missions Show ·

2025/10/26

How does the Nicene Creed unite believers from East and West?This episode of The Missions Podcast—in collaboration with Cedar Crest Bible Fellowship Church’s Captivate & Conform podcast—features Dr. Don Fairbairn, a theologian and former missionary to Soviet Georgia. The conversation explores the intersection of missions, theology, and church history, particularly how the Nicene Creed and patristic theology offer transcultural insight for modern missiology. Dr. Fairbairn shares his journey

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28:32

Your ‘World View’ Is Wrong: The Challenge and...

The Missions Show ·

2025/10/19

How does a visual representation of the world affect your overall world view?Alexand Scottdiscuss the spiritual and practical significance of maps in missionary work, exploring how maps not only display geography but also influence how Christians perceive the world’s spiritual landscape. They trace the history of missionary mapping from figures like David Livingstone and William Carey, reflecting on how visual tools like the 10/40 Window have historically mobilized believers toward unreached

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28:32

If Bible Colleges Close, What Happens to Missions?...

The Missions Show ·

2025/10/05

Are small Bible colleges on life support in America? In this week's episode, Alex and Scott welcome Dr. Jim Lytle, former president of Clarks Summit University and former ABWE missionary to South Africa, to discuss the enduring importance of Christian institutions and the plight facing Bible colleges today. They explore how Bible colleges have historically served as crucial training grounds for mobilizing missionaries, shaping young believers’ worldviews, and fostering a heart for cross-cultural

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28:32

Bringing Christ to the Frontlines: Stories From North...

The Missions Show ·

2025/09/28

What does being a missionary look like among a totally unreached Muslim majority people group? In this week's episode, Alex and Scott sit down with Alan, an ABWE missionary serving in North Africa, who shares his experience of seeing God work in incredible ways among an unreached people group. Despite having a lucrative career in corporate America, Alan felt the call to go preach the gospel to unreached Muslim people, all at the age of 50. Alan shares personal stories about the risks and

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29:25

AI Translation, Culture, and the Myth of Missions...

The Missions Show ·

2025/09/21

Can AI technology shortcut language barriers for the gospel? Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford explore the connection between language, culture, and gospel communication. They discuss Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3 with Live Translation and explain why technology can’t replace the slow, intentional work of learning a language. Scott shares personal stories from learning Mandarin, showing how culture shapes meaning and how simple translation can miss the point. They also warn against reductionistic

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29:19

The Sin of Empathy? Leadership, Sabotage, and...

The Missions Show ·

2025/09/14

Can empathy be a bad thing? This week, Alex and Scott sit down with Joe Rigney, Fellow of Theology at New Saint Andrew's College and pastor, as they explore the challenges of Christian leadership, ministry, and missions, and the dangers of emotional sabotage and untethered empathy. Rigney explains that in times of turmoil, leaders must maintain mission clarity and resist being derailed by reactive or manipulative pressures within their organizations. Joe Rigney discusses that rather than being

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