In today's episode, Josh interviews Chip Lamca on the positives and negatives of short-term mission trips. We learn how to make the most of short-term opportunities. Also, praying for peace in the Colombian class war.

LINKS:

• Colombia’s class war turns hot on the streets of Cali (The Guardian)
• God Loves Peru (Facebook Page)
• "From Venezuela to Peru: How One Majority World Church is Receiving Migrants from Venezuela" (Christianity Today)

What is the relationship between a passion for the glory of God and compassion for perishing sinners? In this episode, Josh walks through chapter 6 in "Let the Nations Be Glad" by John Piper and works out the answer. Also in this podcast: celebrating the "Apostle to Islam", Samuel Zwemer; and the UPG of the Week, the West Coast Bajau people of Malaysia.

LINKS:

• "Let the Nations Be Glad" by John Piper
• "Samuel Zwemer: Faithful Hero" Urbana.org
• "Samuel Zwemer" The Traveling Team
• "Brief Biography of Samuel Zwemer" by Roger S. Greenway
• The Bajau People by Joshua Project

So how does the mind of a missionary work? In this episode, Josh interviews missionary and author David Joannes (Within Reach Global). David shares how he began ministry in Asia, what it's like to live in Buddhist Thailand, and how we can mobilize a generation for missions. Also, in "Beyond the Headlines", Josh explains the current conflict in Israel and prays for the peace of Jerusalem.

In today's episode, our host Josh Matteson walks us through the fifth chapter of Piper's "Let the Nations Be Glad". We consider the question, "Is it biblical to define the missionary task of the church as reaching all the unreached peoples of the world? Or is it sufficient to say that missions is simply an effort to reach as many individuals as possible in places different from our own." (p. 159) Also, we remember the life and legacy of Dr. David Livingstone, the 19th century missionary, physician, explorer, and naturalist  who opened up the interior of Africa to Christian missions and contributed to the eventual end of the slave trade. And... the Unreached People Group of the Week: the Zaza-Dimli of Turkey.

LINKS:

• "Let the Nations Be Glad" by John Piper
• David Livingstone: The Pathfinder of Africa
• ​David Livingstone by Robert E. Speer​
• David Livingstone: Missionary-Explorer of Africa
• ​The UPG of the Week: The Zaza-Dimli People of Turkey

In this episode, 'Thinking Missions' host Josh Matteson interviews missionary Andy Messmer about his journey in and out of faith and his life on the mission field in southern Spain. Plus, in our 'Beyond the Headlines' segment, we will hear about the dire situation in India and pray for that nation as it struggles to keep thousands from dying.

LINKS:

• Email Andy Messmer
• ‘This Is a Catastrophe.’ In India, Illness Is Everywhere - New York Times
• India Covid: Delhi builds makeshift funeral pyres as deaths climb - BBC
• WHO blames ‘perfect storm’ of factors for India Covid crisis - The Guardian

Can a person today be saved by the work of Christ even if he or she does not have an opportunity to hear about it? In this episode of "Thinking Missions", our host Josh Matteson walks through chapter 4 of "Let the Nations Be Glad" and explores answers to three crucial questions that need to be answered when it comes to taking the message of Christ to the nations. Also... we celebrate the life and legacy of "Uncle Cam", William Cameron Townsend, who died on April 24th, 1982. Uncle Cam is best remembered as the founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators and SIL International. Plus, the Unreached People Group of the Week! We will meet the Moor people of northwestern Africa.

​Does suffering show the supremacy of God's worth more clearly to the world than all worship and prayer does? Our host Josh Matteson walks us through chapter 3 of "Let the Nations Be Glad" for answers. Also, the missionary heroism of James Chalmers and Oliver Tomkins and the UPG of the Week: the Azeri people of Azerbaijan.

Welcome to the Wednesday edition of 'Thinking Missions'! In today's episode, Josh goes beyond the headlines to talk about the Islamic festival of Ramadan. Why does should it matter to Christians and how can we be praying for the Muslim world? Also, Josh talks about life during lockdown with Andy Hodson - UK Director for Global European Mission (GEM) and Team Leader for Engage UK. Andy also explains how churches are approaching regathering post-lockdown and the lessons we need to learn about living on mission 24/7.

How did the Gospel get spread among the Korean people? In today's episode we will celebrate the life and legacy of Henry and Ella Appenzeller - the Protestant missionaries to whom Christians in Korea today can trace their roots. Josh shares from chapter 2 of "Let the Nations Be Glad" and we learn how and why prayer works as a walkie-talkie - and how and why it malfunctions for us when we go AWOL. Plus, the "Unreached People Group of the Week" - join us as we learn about and pray for the Wollo Amhara of Ethiopia.

LINKS:

• Missions History: ​"Henry Appenzeller"
• "Let the Nations Be Glad"
• UPG of the Week: Wollo Amhara People