Unconventional Ministry

Telling Stories That Shape One’s Imagination with Heather Pubols S4 EP #141

In this episode, learn from guest Heather Pubols as we discuss the role of the Christian nonprofit in telling stories that shape one’s imagination.

Heather Pubols is an experienced nonprofit communications leader, a passionate storyteller, the founder of Le Motif, and editor of Missio Nexus’ Evangelical Missions Quarterly (EMQ).

How does telling stories shape one’s imagination? What is the storytelling role of the ministry nonprofit? Heather shares about the lack of funding for good storytelling in mission agencies and churches, emphasizing the importance of stories in transforming people's imagination and involvement in missions.

Learn how to revitalize global ministry and engage the Church with stories!

Several recent podcasts focused on the Middle East. Here are the links:

• EP #139 Resiliency in the Midst of Crisis – A Holy Land Update with Pastor Hanna Massad. In this episode, Dr. Hanna Massad discusses the challenges faced by Christians in Gaza, including limited resources and persecution. He emphasizes that despite these difficulties, the Christian community remains strong in their faith and support for one another.
• EP #138  Unique Firsthand Perspectives of the Iranian Church with Rev. Tat Stewart. Rev. Tat Stewart masterfully and humorously tell the story of how God wove the details of his life together and raised him up to become an influential part of the spiritual awakening in Iran in the 1970s. At a time when few foreigners could observe the impact of the Iranian Revolution, Tat, being no stranger to the people of Iran, was given a unique window to see firsthand how the Gospel spread like wildfire there.

A Soccer Ball with a Goal with Mike Morris S4 EP #140

In this episode, learn from Mike Morris, founder of Children's Evangelistic Ministries (CEMI) and creator of the multicolored soccer ball. Mike’s goal was to energize the world's children with the Gospel message. Learn how God put an innovative idea in their mind, resulting in a multicolored soccer ball in their hand to reach their goal.

The multicolored soccer ball was inspired by Mike’s 20 years working for CEF and using The Wordless Book. The Wordless Book works as a powerful evangelism tool, using colored pages to share the Gospel with children – even with no words! Evidence points to it being invented by the famous London Baptist preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon in a message given on January 11, 1866, to several hundred orphans regarding Psalm 51:7.

To order multicolored soccer balls, hacky sack balls, soap, and handmade bracelets, visit the website Energia Products to learn more and order products. Energiaproducts.org is the product arm of CEMI, developed to make it easier to obtain Energia products.

Please consider ordering some soccer balls for your church, ministry, kids club, or Sunday school class. If you type into the discount code at checkout SAT723 you will receive a 10% discount on all products until the end of the year. 

Resiliency in the Midst of Crisis – A Holy Land Update with Pastor Hanna Massad S4 EP #139

Pastor Hanna Massad was born and raised in Gaza and is the first from Gaza to pastor Gaza Baptist Church. In this episode, Dr. Hanna Massad discusses the challenges faced by Christians in Gaza, including limited resources and persecution. He emphasizes that despite these difficulties, the Christian community remains strong in their faith and support for one another.

Pastor Hanna, Founder and CEO of the Christian Mission to Gaza, provides practical and spiritual assistance to persecuted Christians, refugees, orphans, and widows, not only in Gaza, but also in the West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon. For more information on the Christian Mission to Gaza, contact Dr. Hanna Massad via email at hannamassad@cm2g.org​

Check Out Previous Podcast Episodes:

• EP #135 The New Center in Global Christianity – Now What? with Dr. Allen Yeh. In this episode, learn about how the global center of Christianity has shifted away from America and is now represented by young, female, black, or brown individuals from the Global South who are poor and uneducated. This shift impacts how missions should be approached, with a focus on equipping and training rather than traditional evangelism.
  
  
• EP #137 Writing the Book You Always Wanted to Write - Gary Brumbelow In this episode, Gary Brumbelow shares about his journey to write a novel, sharing helpful hints as well as some challenges. He discusses why many books are abandoned by readers, emphasizing the importance of crafting believable and relatable stories.

 

Unique Firsthand Perspectives of the Iranian Church with Rev. Tat Stewart S4 EP #138

In this episode, listen to Rev. Tat Stewart masterfully and humorously tell the story of how God wove the details of his life together and raised him up to become an influential part of the spiritual awakening in Iran in the 1970s. At a time when few foreigners could observe the impact of the Iranian Revolution, Tat, being no stranger to the people of Iran, was given a unique window to see firsthand how the Gospel spread like wildfire there. Learn how his experience of living among Iranians prepared him to be an effective shepherd for a whole new generation of Iranian Christians as an influential leader and teacher in the Iranian Church. Rev. Tat Stewart recently published his new book "No Stranger: to Iran, its People, and its Church," available on Amazon.

Rev. Stewart has a weekly Farsi language program, answering viewers' questions on the SAT-7 PARS Farsi satellite channel.

Rev Stewart is also the Founder and Editor of SHABAN MAGAZINE, a Farsi pastoral journal for Farsi-speaking ministers. You can reach Rev. Tat Stewart through his email tatstewart@comcast.net.

Recent Unconventional Ministry podcast episodes you will enjoy: 

• S4 EP #131 The Social Media Phenomenon in the Asbury 2023 Revival - Dr. Mark Elliot. Hear Dr. Mark Elliot's firsthand perspectives on what he personally observed and learned during the Asbury University revival in February 2023. Learn about the social media phenomenon that was unique in the Asbury 2023 Revival.
• S4 EP #134 Empowering Women in International Ministry - CJ Callahan. In this episode, a volunteer worship leader with Thrive Ministry discusses the purpose and unique aspects of the organization. Thrive Ministry aims to provide spiritual resources and support for North American women doing ministry overseas. CJ shares her personal experience as a worship leader at these retreats and highlights how they have positively impacted the missionary women.  

 

Writing the Book You Always Wanted to Write - Gary Brumbelow S4 EP #137

In this episode, Gary Brumbelow shares about his journey to write a novel, sharing helpful hints as well as some challenges. He discusses why many books are abandoned by readers, emphasizing the importance of crafting believable and relatable stories. Gary also reveals his passion for outdoor adventures and rural upbringing that inspired his own novel, "Someplace North, Someplace Wild," set in Canada's wilderness. The story follows a protagonist who faces suspense, love, and false murder charges who must decide whether to submit to an unjust system or prove his innocence. Gary interweaves his biblical values into this suspenseful tale.

Gary Brumbelow spent ten years in ministry in four Canadian provinces. He has a master’s degree from Wheaton College. He worked for fifteen years as the executive director of a missionary-sending organization, and for the last 12 years he held the role of a local church pastor.

Recent podcast episodes you will enjoy:

• Ep #128 Retirement – Moving from Conventional to the Extraordinary Learn why retirement is not a finish line but a starting point: a moment to transition from the conventional to the extraordinary, from passive years to a period of active service in God's Kingdom. My guest is Bruce Bruinsma, Founder and CEO of The Retirement Reformation.
  
  
• EP #129 Calvary University’s Innovation in Christian Higher Education - John McGee. Learn how Calvary University's innovation is helping the university navigate the waters of the current culture and climate. Society plummets further into moral decay as truth becomes relative and biblical values are pushed by the wayside. The importance and role of Christian higher education cannot be overstated! My guest is John McGee, Chief Development Officer of Calvary University.

The New Center in Global Christianity – Now What? with Dr. Allen Yeh S4 EP #135

In this episode, learn about how the global center of Christianity has shifted away from America and is now represented by young, female, black, or brown individuals from the Global South who are poor and uneducated. This shift impacts how missions should be approached, with a focus on equipping and training rather than traditional evangelism.

Dr. Allen Yeh, Professor of Intercultural Studies and Missiology at Biola University, discusses this shift in global Christianity and emphasizes the importance of understanding world Christianity as a subject. The trends that led to this change include the separation of colonialism from missions and the three-self movement, which promotes self-sustaining, self-propagating, and self-governing local churches.

Dr. Yeh explains how the Western Church should think differently about missions in light of this new paradigm.

Recent podcast episodes you will enjoy:

• EP #126 Six Practices to Healthy Venting  In this podcast, you will learn six practices to healthy venting. Venting your feelings can be healthy and helpful, but it does not always work this way. While sweeping emotions under the carpet is not healthy in our personal or professional lives, neither is the toxic environment of oversharing and venting our feelings.

• EP #127 Building Blocks for a Culture of Trust  In nearly all industries, over the last few years, research shows there's been a decline in trust. In this episode, learn from TrustCentric Consulting Founder and CEO Cory Scheer about the building blocks of trust. With proven strategies to help you build back trust and thrive in a trust-declining culture.

Empowering Women in International Ministry - CJ Callahan S4 EP #134

In this episode, CJ Callahan, a volunteer worship leader with Thrive Ministry, discusses the purpose and unique aspects of the organization. Thrive Ministry aims to provide spiritual resources and support for North American women doing ministry overseas. The ministry offers retreats that focus on spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being through various activities like counseling and self-care services. CJ shares her personal experience as a worship leader at these retreats and highlights how they have positively impacted the missionary women. She also mentions the importance of volunteers in running the organization and explains their fundraising process.

Additionally, she mentions her involvement with Paraclete, an organization that supports older missionaries in encouraging those currently serving abroad. Listeners are encouraged to visit Thrive Ministry's website for more information about their mission and opportunities to get involved.

Previous podcast episodes you will enjoy:

Episode #77 The Trauma of Unforgiveness with Pastor Mark Sowersby

Episode #76  Christian FM Radio in Beirut – A Country Desperate for Hope with Johnny Jalek

Episode #75 The Third Culture Kid (TCK) Cultural Adaptability in a Multicultural World with Brooke Wiens

Episode #74 Practicing a Customer Service Mentality in an Unfriendly World with Dr. Ron Johnson

 

Sustainable, Culturally Appropriate Theological Education with Brian Dix S4 EP #133

In this episode, Brian Dix shares about the Horizon Education Network, a Christ-centered learning community of theological educators from around the world that is changing the future of theological education today! Brian has 35 years of experience as a global church worker and speaks Portuguese.

The Horizon Education Network is an associate member of the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE), established by the World Evangelical Alliance.

Imagine a network of sustainable and culturally appropriate global centers for theological education. These centers create contagious learning environments where students, faculty, and administrators are continually growing in their faith.

Previous podcast episodes you will enjoy:

• Episode #83 When Change-Makers Don’t Fit Traditional Ministry Models with John Barcanic
• Episode #82 Barriers Women Face When They Embrace Leadership with Carolyn Moore
• Episode #81 Modeling Ministry in Non-church Venues with Jimmie Bratcher
• Episode #80 Does Every Pastor Need a Coach? with Rich Hooper
• Episode #79 A New Model for a Growing Church in West Africa with Joseph Camara

An Intentional Relationship-Focused Ministry Model with Nick and Alyx Scholl S4 EP #132

In the episode, learn from Nick and Alyx Scholl about their intentional relationship-focused ministry model in the country of Italy. The Scholls, serving with Greater Europe Mission, are building authentic relationships with their neighbors and connections through living life alongside their neighbors and new friendships. This is resulting in Gospel conversations resulting is new church plants.

The Good News has been present in Europe for over two thousand years. In Acts 16, we read about the first church ever planted on the European continent. Philippi in Macedonia was started by the Apostle Paul around AD 50 (Acts 16:6-15). Yet Europe today has less than 3% of Europeans who have a relationship with Jesus. The need for the Gospel in Europe has never been greater than it is now. Europe is a post-Christian continent where some churches sit empty and others preach a social Gospel with no mention of the life-changing power of Jesus Christ.

Previous podcast episodes you will enjoy:

• Episode #88 How Story-centric Discipleship Could Change Your Church with Tara Rye
• Episode #87 Why American Christianity Is in the Midst of a Precipitous Fall with Pastor Austin Wofford
• Episode #86 The Many Ways Technology Can Advance the Church and Discipleship with Ray Heinen
• Episode #85 Innovative Media Strengthening the MENA Church with Joe Willey
• Episode #84 How Generosity Reflects the Image of God with John Frick

The Social Media Phenomenon in the Asbury 2023 Revival - Dr. Mark Elliot S4 EP #131

In the episode, hear Dr. Mark Elliot's first-hand perspectives on what he personally observed and learned during the Asbury University revival in February 2023. What started with spontaneous worship and calls to renewal in the lives of college students turned into tens of thousands of pilgrims making their way to a small town in the middle of Kentucky, which then spilled over onto campuses across America and awakenings across the globe. In Taken By Surprise: The Asbury Revival of 2023, Mark R. Elliott writes as the seasoned historian he is—diving into the what, when, and how behind the revival that may very well be the first of its kind in our digital era. #asburyrevival

With a Ph.D. in modern European and Russian history, Dr. Elliot founded the  East-West Church and Ministry Report in 1993. He is now editor emeritus of the report (www.eastwestreport.org)

Previous podcast episodes you will enjoy:

• Episode #93 Listener-Centric Innovation in Christian Radio with David McIver
• Episode #92 Echoing God’s Glory: Where Faith and Fun Collide with Brynden Wiens
• Episode #91 Helping Organizations Grow Through Innovation with Dave Raley
• Episode #90 A Biblical Social Justice for the Orphan and Vulnerable Child with Herbie Newell
• Episode #89 Using Technology to Grow Disciples During the Great Reshuffle with Isaac Johnson