Advertise on podcast: The Mission Matters

What if the next great missions breakthrough isn’t limited by geography, travel, or even access to a physical church? In this episode of The Mission Matters Podcast, Jamie Radtke, president and CEO of Explore God, shares how digital evangelism is opening doors for gospel conversations across Africa, India, the Middle East, and other hard-to-reach regions. From 3 billion online gospel presentations to growing spiritual hunger among younger generations, Jamie explains how human-centered AI, online missionaries, and digital discipleship are helping people move from spiritual questions to real relationships with believers—and why the local church has an unprecedented opportunity to mobilize ordinary Christians for global mission without ever leaving home. Join Ted Esler and Matthew Ellison as they host this mobilizing conversation. Links: exploregod.com The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.

In Bolivia, women caught in sexual exploitation often face layers of poverty, abuse, manipulation, and limited opportunity—but Project Suma is walking alongside them with compassion, practical support, and the hope of Christ. In this episode of Mission Matters, Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler talk with leaders from Project Suma about the realities of trafficking and exploitation, the long road toward healing and restoration, and the vital role local churches can play in becoming safe, compassionate communities for vulnerable women. Hear how this ministry is building relationships in Bolivia’s red-light districts, helping women pursue a different future, and trusting God to bring freedom and transformation in some of the darkest places. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. Links: www.projectsuma.org FB @projectsumabolivia

What does church planting look like in one of the least-reached English-speaking countries in the world? In this episode of The Mission Matters Podcast, Ted Esler talks with Irish church planter, researcher, and writer Jonny Pollock about the changing spiritual landscape of Ireland, rapid secularization, immigration and the growth of diaspora churches, and the challenges of cross-cultural missions in a post-Catholic context. Jonny also shares the story behind Glúnta, a mapping project identifying evangelical churches and communities with little or no local church presence, and explains how better research can encourage strategic church planting, collaboration, prayer, and sustainable ministry for generations to come.The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.Links:https://map.glunta.comChapters:00:00 Introduction00:49 Meet Jonny Pollock02:25 Jonny’s Journey to Church Planting in Ireland05:07 Ireland’s Rapid Shift to a Post-Catholic Culture06:43 Immigration and the Growth of Diaspora Churches08:15 Irish Language, Culture and Christian Faith09:35 The Story Behind the Gluinta Church Mapping Project11:39 Where Ireland’s Churches Are—and Aren’t14:42 Why Mapping Matters for Church Planting16:40 Planting Churches with Limited People and Resources19:02 Foreign Missionaries and the Challenge of Irish Culture21:24 How Outsiders Can Best Support Mission in Ireland24:01 Collaboration and Unity Among Irish Churches26:22 Prayer for Ireland, Pastors and the Next Generation29:27 Closing

For more than 50 years, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement has helped Christians see the Bible—and their own lives—through the lens of God’s global mission. In this episode, Perspectives president James Mason joins Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler to unpack why the course has had such lasting influence, what new Barna research reveals about its impact, and what’s changing in the newly released fifth edition of the Perspectives Reader. They also explore the challenge of deep formation in a soundbite culture, the growing role of the Majority World and multilingual communities, and why missions mobilization begins not with asking, “What should I do?” but with understanding what God is doing in the world. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. Links:https://perspectives.orgIG: https://www.instagram.com/perspectivesusaFB: https://www.facebook.com/perspectivesusa Chapters: 00:00 Introduction00:44 Meet James Mason of Perspectives02:20 What Is the Perspectives Course?06:39 What Makes Perspectives Different?11:04 The Global Impact of Perspectives12:31 Is Perspectives Only for Missionaries?14:02 What the Barna Research Revealed21:18 Inside the New Fifth Edition29:45 Can a 15-Week Course Survive a Soundbite Culture?34:33 The Future of Perspectives38:42 How to Get Involved

What happens when church growth becomes more about bigger buildings, larger budgets, and better programs than making disciples who make disciples? In this episode of the Mission Matters podcast, Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler talk with Todd Wilson, founder of Exponential and author of How Did We Get Here?, about the 75-year evolution of the modern church growth movement. Todd explores how the American church shifted from gospel saturation and church multiplication toward a consumer-driven model—and why the future may belong to bivocational leaders, microchurches, everyday missionaries, and simple, reproducible disciple-making movements. This candid conversation challenges pastors and missions leaders to rethink how they measure success, mobilize believers, and prepare the next generation to lead. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒Get the book, How Did We Get Here?, for free!https://church-growth.org 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒0:00 Intro0:45 Welcome and Episode Introduction1:31 Meet Todd Wilson4:30 How Did We Get Here?5:15 How the Church Growth Movement Changed10:25 The Consumer-Driven Church Flywheel13:07 Does Discipleship Happen from the Pulpit?15:04 Why Churches Have a Disciple-Making Problem20:06 What Actually Makes a Church?21:44 Why the Missional Movement Lost Momentum28:27 Passing the Torch to Younger Leaders31:30 “You Can Do It—How Can I Help?”33:51 Is the Megachurch the Future?36:06 Rethinking Success in Churches and Missions39:28 Measuring Disciple-Making and Gospel Saturation42:19 How Missionaries Reshaped the American Church43:07 Todd Wilson’s Book and Free Resources43:49 Final Encouragement

What happens when people hear the Bible in their own heart language for the very first time? In this fascinating conversation, Morgan Jackson of Faith Comes By Hearing shares incredible stories from the frontlines of global missions—where entire villages encounter Jesus through audio Scripture, oral Bible translation is accelerating access to God's Word, and technology is helping bring the gospel to every tribe, nation, and tongue. From remote African villages to cutting-edge AI LLM translation tools, discover how spoken Scripture is transforming lives, preserving cultures, and advancing the vision of reaching every language on earth. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. 00:00 Intro00:39 Welcome & Missio Nexus Conference Update02:13 Meet Morgan Jackson02:29 What Faith Comes By Hearing Actually Does05:20 Oral Bible Translation Explained08:15 Bible Brain, Apps & Global Scripture Access10:08 Why Audio Bibles Are Reaching Millions11:04 What Happens When People Hear Jesus in Their Own Language15:56 Why Entire Villages Respond to Scripture16:11 The Genealogy Story That Changed Morgan's Perspective20:28 Mother Tongue vs. English in Global Missions27:37 Vision 2033: Bible Access for Every Language29:53 How Oral Translation Is Accelerating Bible Access31:11 AI and the Future of Bible Translation37:22 Why the Last 4,000 Languages Still Matter39:45 A Church Funds an Audio New Testament41:53 How Churches Can Adopt a Language Group43:17 How to Learn More About Faith Comes By Hearing44:06 Closing Remarks Links https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/

What can churches and missions leaders learn from Barnabas in today's rapidly changing global missions landscape? In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, hosts Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler sit down with Josh Irby, author of The Barnabas Factor: How Cross-Cultural Partnership Amplifies Global Mission, to explore the future of missions in a world where the gospel is moving from everywhere to everywhere. Josh shares insights from interviews with 60 global mission leaders and explains why Barnabas may be a more relevant model for modern missions partnership than we realize. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. 00:00 Introduction 01:01 Meet Josh Irby & The Barnabas Factor 03:38 Why Barnabas Matters for Missions Today 06:06 The Shift to “From Everywhere to Everywhere” Missions 08:22 When Western Churches Become Discouragers Instead of Encouragers 12:42 Money, Methods, Materials, and Meetings 13:05 The Challenge of Money in Global Partnerships 17:31 Capacity Building vs. Dependency 19:47 Making Yourself Dispensable as a Leader 25:24 Barnabas, Paul, and Being Called Out 29:50 Josh's Biggest Leadership Reversal 33:15 Faithful Farmers, Not Spiritual Engineers 35:37 Final Thoughts & The Barnabas Factor 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨Book: The Barnabas Factorhttps://www.amazon.com/Barnabas-Factor-Crosscultural-Partnership-Amplifies/dp/1514015765

Women make up the majority of the global missionary workforce, yet their voices and leadership experiences are often overlooked in conversations about missions. In this episode of The Mission Matters Podcast (with hosts Ted Esler and Matthew Ellison), SEND U.S. CEO Michelle Atwell shares her personal journey into missions leadership, the unique challenges women face in mobilization and church-planting organizations, and the vital contributions women bring to advancing the Great Commission. From cross-cultural ministry among unreached peoples to leadership development, collaboration, and discipleship, Michelle offers practical wisdom for aspiring missionaries and leaders while reminding listeners that God has always used women to help build His Church and expand His Kingdom. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. Links: https://send.org 00:00 Video Introduction00:39 Introduction: Michelle Atwell and SEND International03:00 What SEND International Does and Why It Exists04:43 Women in Missions: Unique Leadership Challenges06:03 Why Many Women Hesitate to Step Into Leadership10:40 Navigating Theology, Leadership, and Gender Expectations13:03 The Unique Strengths Women Bring to Global Missions16:43 How Missions Organizations Are Supporting Women Better18:27 Vulnerability and Trust in Leadership22:04 Building Your Personal Leadership Board25:32 How Men Can Champion Women in Missions26:40 Advice for Young Women Exploring a Missionary Calling29:55 Why God Continues to Use Women in Missions30:44 Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast with hosts Ted Esler and Matthew Ellison, guest Jim Harries challenges traditional Western missions models through the concept of “vulnerable mission.” Drawing from decades of ministry experience in East Africa, he argues that missionaries often maintain power through the English language and financial resources, unintentionally creating barriers to authentic relationships and contextualized ministry. Instead, he advocates for missionaries to operate using local languages and local resources whenever possible, allowing deeper trust, humility, and genuine partnership to develop. The conversation explores how language, money, and cultural assumptions shape ministry effectiveness around the world. Through stories from Bosnia, India, and Africa, the discussion highlights the difference between ministry done from positions of control versus ministry rooted in dependence, listening, and long-term relational presence. Harries also challenges mission agencies to create space for missionaries willing to embrace slower, more vulnerable approaches that prioritize contextual understanding over visible metrics of success. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬00:00 – Intro00:40 – Introducing Jim Harries and Vulnerable Mission01:58 – What Is Vulnerable Mission?03:15 – How English and Money Create Power Dynamics07:22 – Why Language and Resources are Tied Together08:01 – Should Missionaries Stop Funding Local Ministry?10:03 – The Biblical Case for Vulnerable Mission12:16 – Lifestyle, Simplicity, and Living Among the People14:12 – Vulnerable Mission as True Contextualization15:45 – How to Train Missionaries for Cross-Cultural Ministry18:50 – Why Some Missionaries Resist Vulnerable Mission20:42 – What Sending Agencies Should Do Differently25:40 – The Hidden Cost of Generosity in Missions27:17 – Resources for Learning More About Vulnerable Mission𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒• Vulnerable Mission website: vulnerablemission.org• Book - 𝙑𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨https://www.amazon.com/Vulnerable-Mission-Practitioners-Challenging-Guide-Cross-cultural/dp/B0F8J9Z5ZN

Why are so many Gen Z students turning to tarot cards, crystals, mindfulness, and alternative spirituality while walking away from the church? In this thought-provoking conversation, Mark Matlock, Executive Director of Urbana and Senior Fellow at Barna Group, unpacks what younger generations are really searching for and why many are asking not just “Is Christianity true?” but also “Is it beautiful?” From global missions trends to the church’s discipleship crisis, this episode explores the spiritual hunger shaping Gen Z, the future of missions mobilization, and what it will take for Christians to authentically reflect the transforming beauty of Jesus in a skeptical culture.Mark Matlock joins Ted Esler and Matthew Ellison on the Mission Matters Podcast to discuss Gen Z, discipleship, and the future of global missions through the lens of decades of ministry experience and research. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬•Book: Faith for the Curioushttps://shop.barna.com/products/faith-for-the-curious?srsltid=AfmBOoq6DPY3x6LRWjJfMpobny3NW8WMklDY9jOKvz6xxgzDqZ3jMNfY•Urbana https://www.urbana.org/Chapters00:00 — Intro 00:37 — Introducing Mark Matlock and His Ministry Journey 03:05 — From Missionary Aspirations to Youth Ministry 06:07 — Why Youth Ministry Matters in Global Missions 10:08 — What Global Research Reveals About Gen Z 11:10 — Gen Z, Spiritual Curiosity, and Practical Faith 14:01 — Boomers Ask “Is It True?” Gen Z Asks “Is It Beautiful?” 15:55 — Revival, Retreat, and the Spiritual Hunger of Gen Z 19:55 — The Church’s Discipleship Crisis 20:22 — Why Real Discipleship Takes Time 22:28 — “Discipleship Doesn’t Scale” 25:04 — Lessons from the Decline of the Student Volunteer Movement 28:30 — Mid-Z, AI, and the Search for Wisdom 31:09 — What God Did at Urbana 34:53 — Building a Global Missions Movement Through IFES 36:14 — Beautiful Christianity and Reaching the Next Generation 37:35 — Orthodoxy, Orthopraxy, and Orthocardia 39:17 — Moving from Defending Jesus to Introducing Jesus

Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler sit down with Aaron Abramson, CEO of Jews for Jesus, to explore the organization’s mission of reaching Jewish people with the gospel while honoring their cultural and historical identity. Abramson explains how Jews for Jesus operates globally by prioritizing local, indigenous believers rather than relying on traditional sending models, creating long-term, culturally rooted ministry.  There is a perceived tension between Jewish identity and faith in Jesus, which often requires thoughtful, contextual conversations that connect the message of the gospel to Jewish history, tradition, and Scripture. Jews for Jesus has had some significant strategic shifts recently, particularly moving from a one-size-fits-all approach to an “audience-first” model shaped by listening, empathy, and cultural understanding. Abramson shares how this shift has led to greater innovation and effectiveness in ministry, as well as deeper engagement with Jewish communities worldwide. Drawing from personal experience, including his time in the Israeli military, he emphasizes the transformative power of the gospel in fostering reconciliation, even in deeply divided contexts. Amid rising global anti-Semitism and instability, Abramson points to a growing spiritual openness and underscores that true hope and lasting change come through the message of Jesus, which has the power to heal identity struggles and restore broken relationships.The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.Aaron's book Mission Design https://a.co/d/08Gcsf0xJews for Jesus https://jewsforjesus.org/

In this episode of the The Mission Matters Podcast, Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler sit down with  Dennis Martin (of One Challenge's Sexual Wholeness Initiative) to address a largely unspoken issue in global missions: sexual sin/brokenness. Drawing from both personal experience and global research, Dennis explains how silence, shame, and isolation have allowed struggles like pornography, abuse, and other sexual challenges to persist among missionaries. He highlights that these issues are far more widespread than many assume, often intensified by the pressures of cross-cultural ministry and lack of safe, honest community. The conversation points toward a different path forward—one centered on grace, honesty, and restoration rather than punishment. Dennis shares how mission agencies are beginning to shift their culture by creating safe environments, equipping leaders, and walking alongside individuals through long-term healing processes. Through practical examples and real stories, he emphasizes that freedom is possible when people are no longer alone. The episode challenges churches and mission leaders to break the silence, rethink their approach, and build communities where confession leads to healing, not exit.OC’s Sexual Wholeness Initiative (SWI), spearheaded by Dennis Martin, seeks to change the culture of silence and shame and, by bringing these secret struggles to light, offer freedom and restoration to those whose lives have been shackled by sin. By equipping our staff to create a climate of openness, safety, and redemption and integrating sexual wholeness into our ministry efforts, OC envisions a future in which generations of laborers live and minister out of sexual wholeness and relational health in Christ.The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. [email protected] for the MissioNexus Mission Leaders Conference 26https://web.cvent.com/event/654a1d2b-f757-4491-a480-fc3f68a2ccc5/websitePage:42fd7167-2fba-4de5-9c38-1540ddbaed85?RefId=events

Matthew and Ted's conversation with Dr. Ed Stetzer explores the meaning and history of missio Dei (the idea that mission originates from God, not the church). He traces how missions thinking has shifted over the past century, from “the Church has missions” to “God’s mission has the Church,” and highlights both the biblical strength and the theological risks of that shift. While affirming that God is actively at work in the world and invites His people to join Him, the discussion emphasizes that mission must remain grounded in Scripture, with the church playing a central role in proclaiming the gospel.The episode also addresses a growing tension in evangelical missions today: the pull between a broad, holistic view of mission and the need to prioritize evangelism and reaching unreached people groups. Stetzer warns that when everything is labeled “mission,” the urgency of gospel proclamation can fade. The conversation calls for a balanced approach-one that embraces both gospel demonstration and proclamation, while ensuring that the church does not lose focus on its core calling to make disciples among the nations. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.

In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Sarah Breuel shares her experience as a Brazilian missionary serving in Rome and leading a university student movement across Europe. With nearly 20 years in cross-cultural missions, she discusses the growth of the Global South in missions, the rise of Brazilian missionaries, and what it looks like to reach secular, post-Christian contexts like Italy. Sarah also shares her personal calling story and how the gospel reached her family through earlier missionaries, highlighting the ongoing importance of sending and going.The conversation addresses key questions many church and missions leaders are asking today: Are Western missionaries still needed? Has missions become outdated or harmful? Sarah offers a clear, biblical perspective on the continued need for cross-cultural missions and challenges leaders to call the next generation to sacrificial obedience. Drawing from her work with university students, she explains why Gen Z is more open to missions than many assume and why churches must raise the bar in discipleship, calling, and global engagement.The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.

What is really happening inside Iran right now, and how should the Church respond?In this episode, Ted and Matthew sit down with Sasan Tavassoli, an Iranian pastor and leader who came to faith in Christ after being raised in a Shiite Muslim home. Now serving the Iranian underground church, Sassan shares firsthand insight into one of the most significant spiritual movements in the world today.Despite decades of oppression, suffering, and unrest, many Iranians are searching for truth—and encountering Jesus in powerful ways. This conversation is a needed reminder: God is at work in places we often overlook—and the Church must learn to listen before it speaks.The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.https://www.instagram.com/drsasantavassoli/?hl=enwww.youtube.com/@pastorsasanhttps://sasantavassoli.com/Chapters00:00 Intro01:34 Sassan’s journey from Islam to Christ05:01 Why many Iranians are disillusioned with the current regime08:30 The surprising growth of the underground church08:46 The role of media and discipleship in reaching a closed nation13:19 How Iranian believers view the current conflict18:58 What the global Church often misunderstands22:12 How we can pray, support, and stand with our brothers and sisters in Iran23:48 Challenges to the Iranian Church in a regime change28:21 How to get connect with Sasan