Advertise on podcast: Heart of Mission

S9E06-After nearly 20 years with CMS, including eight years as Executive Director of CMS Queensland and Northern New South Wales, Mark Fairhurst reflects on mission, the church and the privilege of helping people discern where God might be calling them. Mark shares the story of Adam and Helen, CMS missionaries in Japan, whose plans for ministry changed after a difficult season. Their story is a reminder that God can redirect our plans and use our gifts in unexpected ways. But this conversation is about more than missionaries. Mark challenges churches to see global mission as part of their core DNA—not simply something to be interested in or support, but something the whole church is called to embrace and actively send people into. He also explores what it means for CMS to remain a “society”: a fellowship of churches and Christians who share responsibility for the spread of the gospel. Missionaries are not lone-rangers, but are sent, supported and upheld by a wider community of believers. Mark reflects on the unique role of CMS Summer School, including the challenges of having three conferences cancelled in four years, and why these gatherings remain so important for encouraging, equipping and strengthening the church. As Mark prepares to finish his time with CMS, he leaves churches with a clear challenge: keep mission at the heart of church life, grow a vision for God’s heart for the world, and look beyond ourselves to people of every nation, language and culture.

S9E05-What does it look like to walk alongside Aboriginal people in the Top End and share the hope of Jesus? After more than seven years of ministry in Darwin, Derek and Rosemary Snibson are retiring from CMS service. In this episode of The Heart of Mission, they reflect on a ministry marked not by quick fixes or grand programs, but by relationships, patience, listening and a willingness to learn. Derek and Rosemary share stories of walking alongside people in hospitals, prisons, rehabilitation centres and local churches. Even amid significant challenges, they have found a surprising openness to God, the Bible and Jesus. God is at work in unexpected places—raising up Aboriginal leaders and opening hearts to his healing and grace through Jesus. Their ministry has also changed them. They speak honestly about learning to suspend judgment, listen deeply, respect cultural differences and recognise their own need for love and care from the community. Instead of trying to have all the answers, they have discovered the joy of standing alongside others in weakness, dependence and faith. You don't necessarily have to move across the country or become a full-time missionary. Every Christian can learn to step outside their familiar world, listen to others and discover what God is already doing.

S9E04-Matt and Bex serve high school students in Japan through camp ministries and after-school programs. Before Japan, the couple spent years leading the RICE movement in Melbourne, mobilising thousands of young Asian Australians toward faith — work that could easily have continued to "flourish" at home. Instead, they found themselves drawn toward Japan's much harder, slower mission field, where only 1% of the population is Christian despite 450 years of Christian history. Matt and Bex share the story of their calling, including Bex's breast cancer diagnosis just weeks after committing to full-time ministry, the strange grief of feeling like outsiders in a culture they physically resemble, and the deep encouragement of watching people like Jim, Kay, and Mia take steps toward Jesus in a culture where faith carries real social cost. At the heart of the conversation is a challenge for anyone discerning their own future in ministry: is your goal effectiveness, efficiency, success … or availability to God, wherever he calls? Matt and Bex don't pretend the answer is easy, but their story is a compelling picture of what it looks like to trust God's timing over your own sense of usefulness.

S9E03- What does it really take to share the hope of Jesus across cultures? For many people considering mission, language learning can feel like one of the biggest obstacles. Is it really necessary? Couldn't English be enough? But learning another language isn't simply a practical skill—it's a profound act of love. Joined by CMS language trainer Louise Simon and long-term missionaries Kay and Chris, this conversation uncovers how language opens the door to deep relationships, genuine belonging, and meaningful gospel conversations. You'll discover the significance of a person's "heart language" and why hearing the gospel in that language can have such a powerful impact. Louise also explains how CMS prepares missionaries for this journey, challenging the common myth that only naturally gifted linguists can learn another language. Language learning can be difficult. It takes persistence and humility. But as our guests remind us, learning someone's language isn't just preparation for ministry—it is ministry. And through that investment, lives are being transformed as people encounter Jesus in words that truly speak to their hearts.

S9E02-Louise and Greg spent years serving in Australia — Louise in kids' and women's ministry, Greg in database systems with churches, AFES and CMS — before relocating to a large international church in the Middle East with their three young children. In this episode, they share what it looks like when "database ministry" and frontline gospel work turn out to be deeply connected. Going from a small suburban Aussie church where everyone knows everyone to a church of a thousand people and 90 nationalities – how do you welcome, connect, and disciple everyone who walks through the door? Louise tells the stories of several people she's discipled: Marina, a South Asian ministry apprentice learning to teach the Bible rather than just "babysit" kids; Anna and her son Samuel, discovering the gospel afresh from a different religious background; and David and Joanne, a husband and wife drawn closer together through wrestling with a tricky Old Testament passage. While, Greg explains his role as executive pastor — building (and sometimes tearing down) the "trellis" of systems and structures that support real gospel growth.

S9E01-What happens when the plans you've carefully made are put on hold? For Malcolm and Ainsley Purdy, preparing to serve in Chile meant facing months of unexpected uncertainty. What should have been a simple visa process stretched into a long season of waiting, leaving their family in limbo with four young children, an empty house on the other side of the world, and no clear answers. In this episode of Heart of Mission, Malcolm and Ainsley share how God met them in the waiting. They reflect on learning to trust God's timing, the sustaining power of prayer, and the surprising ways God provided when every human plan seemed to stall. Their story reminds us that mission is never ultimately built on our determination or perfect planning, but on the faithfulness of God. Whether you're serving cross-culturally, facing an uncertain future, or waiting for God to open the next door, this conversation offers encouragement to trust the One whose purposes always prevail.

How much focus on global missions is too much? As followers of Christ, we're called to engage in local communities while also embracing God's global purpose. But how do we strike the right balance between local and global mission in our everyday lives and ministries? Rowan Kemp is a long-serving staff team leader of the Evangelical Union (EU) at Sydney University. Rowan, who has spent decades shaping the hearts and minds of university students toward both local and global mission, brings invaluable insights from his experiences. He shares how his own journey into global mission was sparked at a young age. This early exposure fostered a love for God's worldwide mission that now fuels his leadership at the university. During the conversation, Rowan outlines nine key principles for promoting a global mission mindset at the local level (see below). He explains the importance of setting a ministry horizon that goes beyond our immediate context, thinking globally while leading by example. Rowan also stresses the need for clear theological thinking about global missions, ensuring that it’s not just an obligation but a joyful response to God's love. This episode will challenge and inspire leaders, church members, and anyone with a heart for missions to think deeply about how to raise up workers for God’s global harvest while maintaining a vibrant local ministry. Whether you're just beginning to explore global missions or looking for ways to encourage others to think beyond their local context, Rowan's practical advice and experiences will provide a helpful roadmap. Tune in as we discuss how you can nurture a global heart right where you are! Nine key principles for promoting a global mission mindset at the local level – listen to hear how Rowan explains and uses these: 1. Set ministry horizon 2. Lead by example 4. Theological clarity 5. Language to capture the vision 6. Empower some champions 6. Embed global mission into regular program 7. Increase firsthand exposure 8. Praise God for the wins 9. Failure is your friend Links: If you are interested in serving with or supporting CMS find out more at www.cms.org.au

S8E06 - Dan and Marg serve in the Middle East at a unique Christian international school. In a country where Christians make up only a small minority, this school provides a rare environment for children from more than twenty nationalities—many from families serving with NGOs, churches, and community organisations. Dan, the school principal, shares what it’s like to lead a deeply multicultural team, navigating different expectations, communication styles, and even the occasional visit from local tribal leaders. Through trial, error, and lots of wise advice from staff and board members, Dan has learned how to lead with humility and sensitivity. Marg reflects on the beauty of the school community, from multilingual worship nights to the quiet, daily acts of care that bind staff and families together. She also shares the rich connections they’ve formed outside the school—coffee with local mothers, prayer gatherings, and time spent with local believers who persevere in their faith despite opposition. Dan and Marg are also involved in the small local church, who are faithful, courageous and eager to learn.

S8E05 - Brett is a CMS leader whose life and ministry have stretched across continents, cultures, and seasons of profound change. Raised in Zimbabwe during a period of spiritual revival and civil war, he reflects on formative years shaped by a vibrant Christian community, the far-reaching influence of Scripture Union, and the sobering realities of conflict. His teenage move to Australia brought both disruption and new opportunities for growth. Not long after the fall of communism, Brett and his family served as missionaries in a region of the former Soviet Union. There they encountered a young church, full of new believers but with almost no theological grounding. Operating under the limits of an English-teacher visa and the watchful eye of state intelligence, Brett discovered the quiet strength of patient, side-by-side ministry. He tells how walking alongside a 23-year-old, untrained yet passionate pastor helped shape a congregation that remains faithful and growing today. Drawing on decades of cross-cultural ministry, Brett offers rich insight into navigating cultural differences, supporting missionaries, and sustaining hope when circumstances are uncertain. His reflections reveal the enduring value of long-term mission and a heart committed to using every opportunity God provides.

S8E04 - Join us as we hear powerful stories from life and ministry among refugee communities in the Middle East. Through Stu and Mary’s faithful presence, hope is shared both in the words of Jesus and through practical care for those experiencing deep poverty. They reflect on the people they have met and how, through patient, relational evangelism, they have seen God gently at work in individual lives and wider communities. Stu and Mary bring a long history of caring for their Muslim neighbours — from everyday conversations and ministry in southwest Sydney, through theological training, to a life-shaping call to serve in the Middle East. Along the way, they describe the profound reality of “gospel poverty”: people living within deeply religious cultures who have never truly heard who Jesus is or what he has done. Stu and Mary reflect on wealth, safety, and faith in Australia. Their experiences remind us that while circumstances may differ greatly, the longings of the human heart are the same everywhere — and that the call to follow Jesus remains worth everything.

S8E03 - What happens when local church leaders are given the time and space to step back from the demands of ministry and engage deeply with global mission thinking? In this episode, we hear from Ben Woodd and Shane Ellery, two Adelaide Senior Ministers who took part in a week-long intensive at St Andrew’s Hall, Melbourne. This intensive became a unique opportunity for Australian ministry leaders to reflect on mission, culture, and the local church in today’s complex and changing world. Ben and Shane describe the experience as a gift — a rare chance to slow down, learn alongside leaders from different contexts, and engage with rich theological teaching. From daily devotions to sessions on worldview, poverty, and mission in the 21st century, the intensive challenged familiar assumptions and encouraged deeper reflection. Reflecting on their own ministry contexts, both pastors share how the intensive prompted fresh eyes toward their local communities and congregations. They discuss the tension between belonging and openness, and what it might look like for churches to be a foretaste of God’s kingdom — a community shaped by every tribe, tongue, and nation. This episode offers thoughtful insight for anyone seeking to lead faithfully in cross-cultural, post-Christian contexts.

S8E02-In this episode, we explore what God is doing in Namibia through the work of Dan and Liv. Liv is using her skills as a physio and Dan teaches at NETS (Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary). They share stories that reveal both the beauty and the challenges of ministry in a country marked by strong nominal Christianity, deep spiritual need, and significant social and economic contrasts.  We hear about the remarkable journey of Tom, a police officer whose bold evangelism has led to churches springing up in remote villages—and how theological training is now equipping him to return and strengthen those churches with a deeper understanding of God’s word.  Liv gives insight into everyday life in Namibia and her physiotherapy work among women and people with disability. Through stories she highlights how her expertise and compassionate care offered in Jesus’ name can transform lives.  Dan reflects on the role of NETS in shaping future Christian leaders, the joy and challenge of discipling students from diverse backgrounds, and the ongoing need for workers who can support grassroots training and pastoral formation.  Whether you’re interested in mission, theological education, or the lived reality of serving overseas, this episode offers a grounded and encouraging look at how God is at work in Namibia.

S8E01- “They really do cry out to our Father in heaven because they have no one else to cry out to” – Keith Birchley  Keith, and his wife Marion, have spent ten years serving university students in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.  The people of PNG live with a trust in God that is both humbling and deeply instructive for the average Aussie Christian.  In this episode Keith unpacks what it means to follow Jesus in a context where poverty, corruption, tribal tension, and political unrest can interrupt daily life. He also reflects on the slow, patient work of coming alongside to support the rebuilding of a student movement. We hear how good theology can anchor and bolster student ministry while still valuing sharing experiences, song, and relationships.  This conversation offers an honest glimpse into the faith of our nearest neighbours - where God shines through the their hope and dependence in Him.

S7E06 - Chris and Stef Overhall, have been serving in Chile for seven years. They share the challenges and joys of cross-cultural ministry, from learning a new language to raising children in a foreign context. Chris discusses his work teaching theological education in Spanish through the Center for Pastoral Studies (CEP), highlighting the value of slow, humble service in gospel training. Stef reflects on how vulnerability in language and culture has reshaped their ministry approach—slowing them down, fostering deeper relationships, and teaching them to listen and ask better questions. Through stories of friendship and discipleship with local women they reveal how everyday gospel conversations can flourish in an unfamiliar context. They also explore shifts in Chilean society with growing secularism, stress, and spiritual hunger—and how the local church continues to hold out Christ. This episode offers a moving glimpse of faithful mission shaped by dependence, long-term investment, and the transforming power of God’s word.

S7E05 - Meet David and Jenny, serving with CMS in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite the region’s ongoing conflict, instability, and poverty, they paint a picture of vibrant faith, rich community, and deep thankfulness among the Congolese people. Jenny shares her ministry with women—widows and church groups—where relationships, prayer, and practical service flourish even amidst hardship. Learning Swahili, she now teaches on the character of God to help ground women's heartfelt cries in biblical truth. David focuses on training church leaders and evangelists, bringing clarity around the gospel of grace in a context shaped by legalism and spiritual fear. They reflect on challenges—security risks, navigating cultural expectations, and language barriers—and the joys of seeing hearts transformed by God's Word. Their story is one of long-term faithfulness, humility, and a willingness to serve where the needs are great. The episode offers a glimpse into life and ministry in the DRC and invites others to consider joining the work. With over half the population under 16 years old and churches full of young people, the opportunities are wide open—and the harvest is plentiful.