Mission City

In this episode Michael talks to Dr. Bryan McCabe, pastor, author, and urban missiologist, about a wide range of issues related to urban impact and serving the city from the suburbs.

Mike and Jennifer Brungardt have lived and worked in Latin American cities for almost two decades. In this episode, Michael talks with them about the World Urban Forum, a global conference convened by UN-Habitat to discuss urban challenges.

In this episode we talk to Dr. Chris Swann, the Director of Church Planting for City to City Australia, about how to engage cities that have little memory of Christianity and where secularism has become the norm.

In this episode we talk with Dr. John Cheong, an associate professor of World Religion and Intercultural Studies at Grand Canyon University, about how cities in Asia are developing and how the church is responding. Dr. Cheong spent more than a decade as a senior lecturer and consultant in Missiology throughout Asia, and has written extensively on religion, contextual theology, globalization, diaspora missiology, and urban mission.

What good is an English-speaking multicultural church in Paris? This week we talk with Parker Windle, senior pastor of Emmanuel International Church, about how his church has found vital ministry serving and engaging English speakers from all around the world in this global city.

In this episode we talk to Dr. John White who has lived and worked in Ukraine for more than 20 years. Dr. White gives us insight into the rich history of Ukraine's cities and shares with us how the evangelical seminary where he teaches in Kiev is serving those in need during the war with Russia.

In this episode Michael talks to Saba Vasquez about diverse cities, how to equip church planters to reach these cities, and how he uses a Rubik's cube to describe and tackle the diversity of a city.

This week we join the staff of a young church plant in Birmingham, AL to hear how they aren't landing with a big plan, but instead working it out as a church community to cultivate a presence of intentionality and service in the urban core of their city.

This week join Kevin Baggett, former IMB missionary in Buenos Aires, and host Michael Crane as they discuss the legacy of Roger Greenway in urban missions.

Our guest this week is passionate about discipling young professionals in Kuala Lumpur. Massimo is co-planter and elder and Gospel City Church. He is also the Executive Director of Gospel City Network.

In this episode we hear from John Dongerdive. He is part of a multi-generational Christian ministry in south Asia. Over the the last five decades his ministry has been committed to leading an indigenous, Christian mission by saving one child at a time, and training and sending one native missionary at a time. They operate children's homes, Christian schools, train national pastors and serve the poorest of the poor.

Are global cities all the same? We know the answer is a firm "no," but then we often attempt to use the same templates and tools to train church planters in cities all around the world. Join us as we welcome Brandon J. O'Brien to the podcast. Brandon (Ph.D, TEDS) is the Senior Director of Content Development and Distribution for Redeemer City to City.

As we seek to plant churches in cities around the world, do we go fast or do we go deep? What models of church are most appropriate to the city context?

Mexico City has been dubbed the urban unfathomable. Rick serves with the International Mission Board as the city team leader for Mexico City. In this role, his challenge is to have a broad understanding of the spiritual and physical needs of the city, and work with churches, agencies, and believers from around the world to respond to those needs. A major part of this task is to create and implement strategies, as well as helping others do the same. In this episode, Rick Martinez is focused on serving in this urban unfathomable.

Cities and universities have long been points of convergence for people with diverse backgrounds. Urban universities are, in some ways, a glimpse of our urban future; to impact these spaces with churches is to impact the cities, which is to impact the world. Our guest on this episode is doing just that.

How do we think about engaging a city in a comprehensive manner? Cities, by definition, are complex human settlements. Jacob Boss shares ways to embrace the complexities of a city without getting bogged down by the complexity.

In order to love your city well you must know your city well. How does an urban pastor or ministry leader learn more about the city to which he or she is called? Minh Ha offers tools and practical tips in researching cities.

What is a smart city? EJ Smith is a Smart City Engineer based in South Eastern United States but works with organizations throughout the United States as well as South East Asia. He was raised in a rural environment where he came to appreciate simplicity and ingenuity but became fascinated with what a well-planned city can provide to its residents.

Dr. Matthew Watson is the pastor of teaching and outreach at Christ City Church in Washingon D.C. Listen in as he share his experience shepherding a mobile congregation in a global city. Matthew has worn a varety of ministry hats that has had him serving in Fresno, CA; Memphis, TN; Jos, Nigeria.

A conversation with Dr. Ash Barker who has been serving in underserved urban neighborhoods for nearly three decades. He is co-CEO of Seedbeds an organization committed to developing leaders in Birmingham, England.

When Dr. Linda Bergquist came to faith as a young adult, she naturally began planting churches. She has been doing so ever since and has been mobilizing and mentoring church planters in San Francisco. Dr. Bergquist combines her long experience and sharp insightful thinking for the sake of the kingdom.

It is estimated that Kibera has a population ranging from five-hundred thousand to two million people. Travel with us as we go into the heart of one of the world's largest slums to talk with church planters and local pastors about the challenges they face ministering among the urban poor.

In many cities, the church is engaging a portion of the population while neglecting smaller population segments. Brad shares from his work with the many different ethnic enclaves of New York City.

God is at work in cities that are traditionally seen as resistent to Christianity. Eddie Pate shares his experiences in a couple of major cities in North Africa.

A watershed moment in human history is the migration of populations to global cities. John Brady has served as the VP of Global Engagement with the International Mission Board and has observed many shifts in missions history. Listen in as he discusses the impact of cities in the missions landscape.

A movement of new churches in the Greater Los Angeles area have begun in an unlikely way. Kirk Overstreet tells the story of ex-convicts, addicts, and homeless being redeemed and transformed by Jesus, beginning a movement of new churches.

Research suggests 1 out of 7 people in the world lives in an urban informal settlement (slum). Dr. Viv Grigg has been a pioneer in church planting in informal settlements through his own ministry experience and in mentoring many others to do the same.

Johannesburg is a leading city in Africa, the continent with the highest rate of urbanization in the world. Kurt Holiday shares from his 20 years in the city seeking to love the people of the city and serve the needs of the church there.

Within the next 30 years, 7 out of 10 people, worldwide, will live in a city. Hosted by Michael Crane, Mission City features conversations about this urban revolution, and explores the role of global cities in missions. Follow us on Twitter @missioncitypod. This trailer was written by Michael Crane and Scott Slucher. It was produced by Scott Slucher and  Radius Global Cities Network.