Global City Mission Podcast

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Regular reflections and conversations about the obstacles and emerging best practices of cross-cultural urban ministry. Visit our website to find out more at http://www.globalcitymission.org/

Global City Mission Initiative


    • May 1, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 25m AVG DURATION
    • 68 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Global City Mission Podcast

    Episode 5: S5E5: Ongoing Reflections on 4th Lausanne Congress (7 months later)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 33:15


    Joey Durmire talks with Jared Looney, looking back on his participation in the 4th Lausanne Congress.  7 months later, they discuss some of the key highlights that continue to resonate with ongoing missiological reflection.  #greatcommission #lausannesport #lausanne #globalmission #gospel #globalchurch

    Episode 4: S5E4: Ministry in Post-Christendom: A Conversation with Ben Cheek

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 61:15


    In this episode Dr. Jared Looney talks with Ben Cheek about ministry in post-Christendom. They explore the increase of mistrust in institutions, discipleship, and evangelism among post-religious communities.  

    Episode 3: S5E3: Welcoming the Stranger

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 37:37


    In Matthew 25, Jesus says to welcome the stranger is the equivalent of welcoming Jesus himself.  In this episode, Dr. Jared Looney and Joey Durmire share a discussion with Mission Catalysts, Dave Smith & Gabriel Brazle, about the Christian practice of welcoming the stranger, what it's taught them about discipleship, and the power of hospitality. 

    Episode 2: S5E2: South Asians in Atlanta

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 20:05


    This episode dives into a conversation with Joey Durmire, Global City Mission's Director of Mobilization, on the need & opportunity for mission among South Asians in Metro Atlanta. Joey has zero background in South Asian outreach, but he recognizes the need.  Addressing a mission gap in mission in North America, Joey shares what he's been learning and some of his reflections as he seeks to address a new arena of mission in his ministry as a mobilizer. 

    Episode 1: S5E1: Equipping Church Members for Evangelism

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 26:18


    Evangelism in local churches in the U.S. can be described as a crisis.  However, in this episode we speak with two church leaders that have experienced training in healthy conversational evangelism and have seen their churches experience the fruit that has resulted from equipping their members. Moving from presentation to conversation, has empowered an evangelistic impact within their churches.  

    Episode 10: S4E1: New Thoughts On Planting House Churches

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2023 42:40


    Join Joey and Chris as we talk to GCMI board member Aaron Born about what it looks like to plant house churches from within the context of an urban mega-church. Check out the book BLESS that Aaron recommends during the podcast here. 

    Episode 9: S3 E9: How the Incarnation affects Mission and the Church.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 34:43


    In this week's very special Christmas episode, Joey and GCMI Executive Director, Dr. Jared Looney discuss the incarnation and how that affects ministry, mission and the church. 

    Episode 8: S3E8: Why Cities Matter and ICOM Debrief

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 38:08


    Joey and Chris talk about the 2022 International Conference On Mission (ICOM) and Why Cities Matter.

    Episode 7: S3E7: Missional Inroads - A continuing conversation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2022 45:29


    Join us as Chris and Joey unpack the previous episode on Cross-cultural Missional Inroads and continue the conversation about how to reach out missionaly in your community.

    Episode 6: S3E6: Cross-cultural Missional Inroads

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 14:34


    Join us as we look back to season one for another perspective on ethnography and reaching out cross-culturally in your city. This question of where and how to begin is one of the most asked questions we get.

    Episode 5: S3E5: The Importance of Contextualization

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2022 48:36


    Chris is joined by GCMI Executive Director Jared Looney to talk about Contextualization in ministry, how it shapes what we do at GCMI and how it can apply to other ministry contexts both in North America and around the World.

    Episode 4: S3E4: A Year In at GCMI

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2022 44:08


    Chris and Joey continue the conversation about mobilization as we reflect on Joey's first year on the team and our first year of having an official mobilization team member.

    Episode 3: S3E3: Mobilizing College Students for Mission and Ministry

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 40:07


    Chris and Joey discuss what it takes to mobilize college students in 2022 for both full-time missions work and for ministry in general. This is a conversation about where we are at... feel free to join the discussion. You can email Joey or Chris to jump into the conversation. joeydurmire@globalcitymission.org or chrismarsden@globalcitymission.orgCheck out the episode on Mobilization at https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/globalcitymission/episodes/2022-03-23T05_00_00-07_00

    Episode 2: S3E2: What does mission even mean?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 35:43


    Join us this week as Joey and Chris talk about the word mission, what it means, what GCMI means when we use it, and why we do mission the way we do.

    Episode 1: S3E1: We're Back

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 36:06


    We're back from a summer of conferences, camps, and time with the family. In this episode, Joey and Chris catch us up on all the busyness and talk a bit about campus ministry, diversity in missions, mobilizing Gen Z and a new season of ministry and the podcast.

    Episode 14: S2E14: Life and Ministry in a Global City: Brazle conversation part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2022 53:54


    This week we talk to Gabe and Sarah Brazle about living in a global city and the challenges and joys they've had as a young married couple, parent to 3 children, and cross-cultural missionaries in the city.

    Episode 13: S2E13: Moving to Philly - A conversation with Gabe Brazle - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 36:06


    Join us this week as Joey and Chris talk with Gabe Brazle about his experiences with GCMI in cross cultural ministry and his move to Philadelphia in 2019. This is part 1 or 2 with Gabe. Next time we are joined by his wife Sarah to talk about married life and parenting while learning how to be missionaries in New York and Philly. We are switching to a twice per month publishing schedule, so look for that next episode on June 15th.

    Episode 12: S2E12: Seeing Your City

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2022 39:39


    Join Chris and Joey as they talk to John Lancaster, Senior Minister at Huntsville Christian Church, about his experiences with GCMI and seeing his city through the eyes of Jesus.

    Episode 11: S2 E11: Church and Mission with Dave Smith GCMI Phoenix

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 37:59


    In this week's episode, we are introduced to Dave Smith. Dave is a member of our team in Phoenix. He has served associate pastor of Global Missions, Church planter, professor and now missionary. Dave shares a little of his story, gives us an update on what is happening in Phoenix, and offers his thoughts on how the local church and missionaries can support each other. If you are interested in any of the resources that GCMI offers, please check us out at globalcitymission.org

    Episode 10: S2E10: Equipping for Mission and Ministry

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 36:47


    Join us this week as Chris and Joey talk about getting equipped for mission and ministry.

    Episode 9: S2E9: Missions Training and Making Spiritual Statements

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 19:23


    Join us as we talking about missions training with a throwback to season 1, talking about making spiritual statements. 

    Episode 8: S2E8: Interview with Grant Haynes from GFM

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 25:18


    In this week's episode we are joined by GCMI partner and Director of Global Frontier Missions, Grant Haynes. Grant shares with us their mission training program, how ministries like GCMI partners with with them as well as offers advice for both missionaries and pastors to better work together. Learn more about Global Frontier Mission by going to globalfrontiermissions.org . 

    Episode 7: S2E7: Catalytic Missions

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 24:01


    In this episode, Chris and Joey discuss what it means to engage in Catalytic Ministry work, what the word Catalyst means, and why that matters. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LckhUpLadcc to see the YouTube video referenced in the episode.

    Episode 6: S2E6: Diaspora Missions

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 22:11


    In today's episode, Chris talks with GCMI Executive Director, Jared Looney, about Diaspora Missions. What does it mean, why does it matter, and what gets us excited about it?

    Episode 5: S2E5: Opening your eyes to the city around you

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 44:05


    In today's episode, Joey and Chris discuss the city of Orlando, Chris's history there, joining the GCMI team, and how to begin the process of opening your eyes to the diversity around you.

    Episode 4: S2E4: Urbanization and Mission

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 24:47


    Chris is joined by GCMI Executive Director, Jared Looney, to talk about urbanization, global trends, and the impact on both GCMI and ministry around the world.

    Episode 3: S2E3 - Why Mobilization Matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 22:14


    In this weeks episode Joey and Chris talk about Mobilization and why it matters, not only to GCMI, but to churches and ministries in your community.

    Episode 2: Season 2 Episode 2 - Seeing Your City as Mission

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 22:10


    In this Episode, Chris and Joey discuss Joey's new role with GCMI and how God opened his eyes to see his city as the mission field.

    Episode 1: Season 2 Episode 1 - Global City Mission Podcast Relaunch

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 15:48


    Welcome back to the Global City Mission Podcast. We talk about a new season of the podcast, a new season of ministry, and what we've been up to at Global City Mission over the last couple of years.

    Episode 1: Season 2 Teaser

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 1:21


    A new season of episodes are coming, March 9th!! New episodes will be out every Wednesday!! 

    Episode 38 - Things I Wish I Knew (Interview with Manny Dominguez)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2019 19:06


    Cross-cultural youth minister, Manny Dominguez, joins us again on the podcast to discuss what he wishes he had known starting out in ministry. Specifically he discusses the difficulty of metrics in ministry and the need to find and establish mentors.

    Episode 37 - Cross-Culturally Ministering to an Anglo Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2019 21:08


    Manny Dominguez joins us on this episode to talk about working cross-culturally as a Latino minister at a historically white congregation. He discusses his and his wife's experience of moving from their Dominican community of origin in NYC to Fort Worth, Texas and the important lessons about transition and church life that have accompanied their time working there.

    Episode 36 - Things I Wish I Knew (Interview with Andy Johnson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2019 22:25


    Minister from Missions Resource Network, Andy Johnson, joins us again on the podcast to discuss lessons learned from 13 years working in Burkina Faso and through his families' transition back to the US. Specifically, he talks about learning how to manage expectations and transition both going to the field to make disciples and when returning home.

    Episode 35 - Developing Leaders Cross-Culturally

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2019 26:26


    Longtime missionary to Burkina Faso, Andy Johnson, joins on this episode to discuss their team's work in participating in a church planting movement. Specifically, he addresses the lessons learned from developing leaders across cultural boundaries for a network of hundreds of churches planted through their efforts in West Africa.

    Episode 34 - Forming Disciple-Makers for Ministry

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2019 32:29


    Kyle Mills from Forefront Experience and Cory Ozbun of KC Underground speak in this episode about the most important principles and areas of emphasis when forming people for making disciples in long-term ministry. Specifically they speak about getting beyond training tactics and about healthy ways to set metrics when developing disciple-makers.

    Episode 33 - What is a Person of Peace?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2019 39:25


    We are joined in today's episode (via phone recording) by Joe Reed of Exponent Group and Cory Ozbun of KC Underground to address the question "What is a Person of Peace?" And, more specifically, to discuss what this looks like in a North American context.

    Short Term Missions (STM) in Global Cities

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2019 16:26


    Today on the podcast we're joined by Courtney Schuler and Tyler Brittain, two of our summer interns in NYC. They discuss their experience of working for 8 weeks as cross-cultural evangelists in Queens and the learning they bring home from that ministry.

    Episode 31 - Missionaries and Mental Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2018 22:57


    In this episode of the Global City Mission Podcast, therapist and friend of GCMI Missy Gray (LPC & LPA) joins us to discuss the topic of mental health in the mission field. She talks about both the emotional well being of missionary workers as well as how to know when we're out of our depth in a ministry relationship and when to make a judgment call about referring others to a mental health professional.

    Episode 30 - Things I Wish I Knew (Interview with Randy Harris)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2018 18:37


    Theologian and spiritual director, Randy Harris, joins us again on the Global City Mission Podcast in this episode to discuss what he wishes he knew if he were to start over again in ministry. Specifically, he discusses how we might go about knowing which relationships to prioritize and how to evaluate one's own "success" as a minister or missionary.

    Episode 29 - Spiritual Formation for Ministers

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2018 18:01


    Spiritual director and theologian Randy Harris joins us in this episode of the Global City Mission Podcast to discuss spiritual direction and formation for missionaries and ministers. He discusses major needs and obstacles in our prayer lives as well as how to begin establishing a contemplative practice for those who have no previous experience or guidance in that tradition.

    Episode 28 - Teaching Vocational Missionaries

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2018 22:24


    Ben Langford - long-term African Missionary and now a professor of Missions at Oklahoma Christian - joins us again on the Global City Mission Podcast to discuss the priorities and challenges of teaching students who are preparing to enter the field as missionaries. Specifically, we discuss the importance of joining theology with methodology: which leads us to ask the question of not just "What works?" but "How do our beliefs about God shape us and our work?"

    Episode 27 - Things I Wish I Knew (Interview with Ben Langford)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2018 20:43


    In this episode of the Global City Mission Podcast, teacher of missions and former African missionary Ben Langford joins us to discuss things he wishes he had known when he was starting out. Specifically, he discusses wishing he had better understood the difference between "the plan" for ministry and the unexpected moments open to embodying the gospel that - without the experience to see otherwise - can seem less "productive."

    Episode 26 - Syncretism vs. Contextualization

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2018 13:52


    Following up on our last episode, today we are addressing the line between good contextualization - in which we adapt ourselves and our message cross-culturally in a way that clarifies what we mean to say about the gospel - with syncretism: a practice in which we blur the lines between what Jesus calls us to and a cultural element at odds with that message. We first work to define the difference between these two activities and then visit a number of practical examples GCMI's NYC team has experienced, all while asking the question, "Is this good contextualization or syncretism?"

    Episode 25- Evangelism and Contextualization

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2018 23:58


    When we are seeking to share the gospel, we never escape the issue of culture. Whether it is our own tradition and experience, or that of our neighbor, communication and relationship always occur through the medium of culture: so how we make decisions about our methods of proclaiming the gospel inherently involves discernment about contextualization. In today's episode we discuss some important questions to consider before we try and communicate Kingdom cross-culturally and some pitfalls missionaries fall into when thinking about contextualizing evangelism in urban ministry.

    Episode 24 - Transitioning To and From the Mission Field

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2018 12:27


    The missionary life is full of transition and change, and that can be emotionally taxing on workers and their families. In today's episode, we discuss a tool we call the RAFT, which can help missionaries reflect on and prepare for the change of moving contexts and more readily adapt to their next location- whether that be coming to/leaving the field, or transitioning to a new city to continue the same disciple-making work.

    Episode 23 - Forming Emotionally Intelligent Disciple-Makers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2018 17:58


    When we are developing others for ministry, especially in pursuing a disciple-making movement (DMM) strategy as we do at GCMI, it is critical that we form in both ourselves and others a reflectiveness and capacity for empathy. In today's episode, we discuss the tool, SASHET, that our team uses to help form this type of emotional intelligence among those we disciple in global cities.

    Episode 22 - Things I Wish I Knew (Interview with Steve Miller)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2018 19:32


    Long-term missionary, ministry-team coach, and former president of World Team, Steve Miller, talks about things he wishes he had known if he were starting over in missions today. Specifically, he discusses the need to take a long-term perspective about field placement and personal development as well as the importance of developing one's own philosophy of ministry before choosing a team or work to join with on mission.

    Episode 21 - Mentoring Millennial Missionaries

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2018 23:34


    Long-term missionary and former World Team President, Steve Miller, joins us on the podcast today to discuss mentoring and coaching missionaries for the contemporary field. He shares about the ways that mentoring workers has changed with the newer generations of workers, and about helping missionaries learn to see the different placements and transitions in their work as stages of a life long journey on mission with God.

    Episode 20 - Things I Wish I Knew (Interview with Dan Bouchelle)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2018 17:04


    President of Missions Resource Network, Dan Bouchelle, discusses the things he wishes he had known starting out partnering with missions as a domestic church leader. Specifically, he talks about the need to develop leaders to take over the work of supported missionaries, and the need to be guided less by big picture structures and strategies than returning to the question "what does it mean to make disciples in this culture?"

    Episode 19 - Church and Missionary Partnership

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2018 22:37


    Dan Bouchelle from Mission Resource Network joins us in this episode to discuss how the changing landscape of missions - due to forces like urbanization, globalization, and increased communication through technology - are changing what it means for individual churches to participate in missions and how individual missionaries fit into the larger mission of the church in the world. You can learn more about MRN and how they help equip churches and missionaries at their website: https://www.mrnet.org/

    Episode 18 - Things I Wish I Knew: Interview with Dottie Schulz

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2018 21:41


    Reflecting on her long career in missions and in counseling missionaries both before and after they serve in the field, Dottie Schulz shares some of the things that she wishes she had known were she in the position of starting over again. Specifically, Dottie addresses the difficulty of missionary reentry and the struggle to feel relevant in connecting with a post-Christian culture.

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