The Coworkers Podcast

We continue our series on norms in the early church with "The Word." The Word (or a synonym for the Word) is mentioned at least once in every chapter in Acts 1-20. The Word was increasing; the Word was preached boldly, broadly, and consistently; preaching the Word was the main work of sent-out-ones. Whatever we are doing, let's saturate it with the Word.  Three Themes on the Word in Acts:  The Word of God increased and multiplied – in and out of Jerusalem, Samaria, Ephesus, and surrounding regions. The Word is powerful and has a power of its own, almost like the HS. Examples: Acts 6:7: And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem . . . (Jerusalem) Acts 12:24: But the word of God increased and multiplied. (Samaria and beyond) Acts 19:20: So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (Ephesus) This should encourage us and build up our faith in the inherent power of the Word, apart from our own abilities! The Word went out broadly and boldly, publicly, and consistently. Many examples of public, bold proclamation (4:13, 29, 31; 9:27, 28; 13:46; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8; 26:26; 28:31). Paul and his teammates (missionaries) had an extremely high level of commitment to preaching and explaining the Word. This is what Paul did in every place, day after day, for hours, in different contexts. It's very clear in Acts 13-20 – preaching the Word was the work that Paul did. He was persuading and proving that Christ was Lord. He explained the Word with the goal of people responding. 3 Suggestions for application: Make sure everything we do is saturated with the Word. Always make the Word of God your main content! Not your own experience. Yes, you need to connect with your audience and teach in a way that they understand, but you don't have to be super creative. Get them connected to God's Word. Tools: We have tools now that put God's Word into people's hands more easily than at any other time in history. Do a heart check. Paul's heart was very involved.  Is my goal to just share the gospel so I can feel like I'm doing my job? Or is my heart's desire to see people believe? To convince them to completely change their minds? Am I content to just walk away after a 3-minute conversation? When I have the opportunity, am I willing to share with a nonbeliever daily? Or for a complete hour? How do we get the gospel out more? We must always be asking this question. This is not only or even mainly a pulpit ministry. How do we get the gospel out boldly, broadly, publicly, and consistently? How many people in my city are hearing the gospel today? How often am I preaching the Word? What opportunities are right in front of me? Spirit-filling results in bold proclamation. If you want Spirit-filling, then put yourself in positions of preaching the Word, and the Holy Spirit will be more likely to show up! Book referenced in this episode: Paul's Understanding of the Church's Mission by Robert L. Plummer. Connect with us: The Coworkers Podcast website Instagram: thecoworkerspodcast Email: coworkersstudy@gmail.com  

Listen in as we continue our series on norms in the early church according to the book of Acts. The filling of the Holy Spirit is a prominent theme in the early church and the advance of the gospel. In this episode, we share insights from Acts into how to be filled with the Spirit.  Spirit-filling is mentioned at least 10 times in Acts. These instances fall into two categories:  - A general character trait about a person. Examples: The 7 chosen to serve (Acts 6:3-5); Stephen (Acts 6:8); Barnabas (Acts 11:23-24). - A special filling at a specific moment in time that resulted in special power – often boldness in gospel proclamation.  Examples: *Acts 2- Believers spoke in tongues, testifying to mighty acts of God; 3000 saved.*Acts 4:8-12- Peter, filled with the Spirit, preaches with boldness. *Acts 4:29-31- All believers praying for boldness and signs and wonders; place shaken and they were all filled with Spirit and continued to speak the word with boldness.  *Acts 7:55- Stephen, full of Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God. *Acts 13:9- Paul and Barnabas on Cyprus during the first missionary journey, proclaiming the word of God, and this magician/false prophet was opposing them and trying to keep the proconsul from believing. Paul made Elymas blind, resulting in the proconsul believing when he saw what occurred. *Acts 13:52- Disciples filled with joy and Holy Spirit. -Eph. 5:18 – “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” Books Referenced: The Ministry of Intercession by Andrew Murray.The Baptism and Gifts of the Spirit by D. Martin Lloyd-Jones. Connect with us: The Coworkers Podcast website Instagram: thecoworkerspodcast Email: coworkersstudy@gmail.com

Today, we are sharing a new lesson God has been teaching us about living in light of the Great Commission as God's people. God has increased our desire to really LIVE in light of eternity and to be willing to change maybe old habits and comfortable routines to line up with what we see in the New Testament.  So, we are looking at the Scriptures and asking the question- what was normal life like for the early church? What characterized their lives?  In this episode, we highlight one important theme that we have found. Listen to these 9 Scriptures and see what theme emerges: 9 examples in the book of Acts: Acts 2:46: “day by day, attending the temple and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.”  Acts 2:47: “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 5:42: “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” Acts 6:1: “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.”  Acts 16:5: “So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.” Acts 17:11: “…they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Acts 17:17: “So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.” Acts 19:9: “…he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrranus.” Acts 20:31: “Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.” In the New Testament church, there was: Daily outreach (proclamation, reasoning with others) Daily time in the Word (teaching, examining) Daily fellowship (breaking bread in homes) Daily ministry (distribution for the widows) Daily increase A few ideas for your own action steps: 1- Every morning surrender your day to God and ask for opportunities to share the gospel and serve and encourage others. 2- Pray for the lost daily. Our team in our city prays for the lost in our city every day at 12:12 pm – if you want to join us, please email us. 3- If you're not already reading the Word daily, there are plenty of great daily reading plans online, or you can use the YouVersion app. 4- How often are you getting real Christian fellowship? Not just tuning into an online church service, but having real conversations about God and how you're doing. 5- Use your online presence to share biblical encouragement! Think about the people who follow you and how you can use that platform to speak about Christ and give people hope.  Find the full study on our webpage. Connect with us: The Coworkers Podcast website Instagram: thecoworkerspodcast Email: coworkersstudy@gmail.com

I (Shanee) am sharing one of my biggest lessons from studying the Psalms in 2021- God is our refuge and wants us to run to Him with our guilt, shame, fear, and every negative emotion and need, so that He can minister to us with His steadfast love. We should not try to shut down our emotions or shame ourselves for being needy; instead we should take them to God, confident that His response is ALWAYS steadfast love and faithfulness for His children. He's always saying, "Come closer!" Scriptures on God as our refuge:  -Ps. 18:30- “He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.” -Ps. 31:7, 10- “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance… Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.”  -Ps. 37:39-40- “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, b/c they take refuge in him.” -Ps. 46:1-2- “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” -Ps. 61- “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!” Ps. 62- “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken…Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” -Ps. 91- He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shade of the almighty. I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress…B/c He holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, b/c he knows my name…I will rescue him and honor him.” -Ps. 119:114- “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” Scriptures on God's steadfast love: -Ps. 5:7- “But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.” -Ps. 5:12- “For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”  -Ps. 17:7- “Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.”  -Ps. 18:19- “He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me, b/c He delighted in me.” -Ps. 25:10, 13-14- “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies… His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”  -Ps. 26:3, 8- “For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness…O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.”  -Ps. 31:16, 19, 21- “Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love…Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you… Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city.”  -Ps. 33:18-22- “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love." -Ps. 36:7-10- “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” -Ps. 40:11- “As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!"  -Ps. 63:3- “B/c your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” -Ps. 86- “Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you…" -Ps. 90:14- “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” -Ps. 94- “When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.” -Ps. 103- “Bless the Lord, O my soul…and forget not all his benefits… who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's…The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him.” -Ps. 107:8-9, 40- “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things…Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.” -Ps. 119:76- “Let your steadfast love comfort me, according to your promise to your servant.” -Ps. 136- “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever…” (repeats, “for his steadfast love endures forever” 26X). Connect with Us: The Coworkers Podcast website Email: coworkersstudy@gmail.com

Listen in as missionary leaders Samantha G and Julie P share from their 10+ years of field experience on how singles can serve, lead, and thrive on the field, and how married teammates and leaders can foster that.

Over the last several years, God has been saving thousands of people in one state in South Asia - all glory to God! Glenn and Rhonda have led out in this work, and have some helpful keys that contributed to this growth. Two keys in particular are easy access to the Scriptures (in audio form on SD cards) and extraordinary prayer. Also listen in to hear how simple tracking methods are not primarily used to "count churches," but in order to provide a road map for believers, and a symbol of their significance in God's Kingdom. Ordinary believers are empowered to know God's Word well, mature in their faith (including practice and theology), and lead many others to faith in Jesus Christ. Praise God for how HE is working to seek and save the lost. Glenn and Rhonda have some excellent resources to share (in English, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujrati, and Nepali). For access to their Ek Rasta materials (story set from Creation to New Creation), and to learn more about their reporting technique using simple church circles, visit their website: https://southasiansands.wixsite.com/ekrasta 10-minute video of Rhonda explaining the simple church mapping tool:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IFnYlwYiO3UPxY3s92brEN5leejdNYm_/view?usp=drivesdk Free Ek Rasta app downloads for your Apple or android devices:https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ek-rasta/id1517191653 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.rajasthan.ekrasta.multi   Connect with us: The Coworkers Podcast website Email: coworkersstudy@gmail.com

Lori was formerly the Director of Sending at Summit Church RDU, overseeing local and international missions, and is a gifted leader and passionate about reaching the lost. She has 14 years of corporate world business experience, and 4 years of missions experience in North Africa. Listen in as we discuss how the church and mission teams need to do a better job of developing female leaders and caring for single women on our teams. Listen in as Lori shares: -Examples of how the church is overlooking women in leadership development, often simply due to tradition. -Biblical truths relevant to developing women -Practical tips for giving women a seat at the table -What we miss out on by not including women -How to care for and empower single women To hear Lori share more on singleness, listen to Pastor JD interview her: https://summitchurch.com/message/gods-plan-in-singleness   Connect with us! Email feedback to us! Send us some topics you would like to hear us talk about.  The Coworkers Podcast website Instagram: thecoworkerspodcast Email: coworkersstudy@gmail.com-

We just completed our first year in Spain, a year full of changes, and have noticed many similarities we share with the Israelites when they were traveling into the Promised Land: They were prone to fear instead of faith; they were self-centered and unthankful; they struggled to trust God with all the changes in their lives. And we are the same! Listen in as we confess some sin and struggles during our last year of transition, and rejoice in Jesus, who never sinned and died for our sin, and empowers us to live in a way that honors Him. 

Bodo Park, church-planter in Frankfurt, Germany, has planted 3 churches and trained and sent out many church planters in Germany. Bodo and his wife have planted different types of churches, from more formal churches in rented halls targeting professionals to simpler house church models. Listen in and learn from this humble, influential church-planting leader.

Is the presence of a qualified elder required in order to plant a new church? Could a group of new believers without an elder identify as a church? While there are many opinions on this topic, listen in as we do our best to look at what the Scriptures teach on this crucial topic. 

John Wesley oversaw one of the most striking movements of God in Protestant history. Listen in to hear 7 keystones of his leadership that we can apply to our ministries today.

Many times, there are already local churches (though often few) in the places where we are planting new churches. Do we need the approval of local churches in in our city in order to plant new churches there? By whose authority do we plant new churches? Listen in as we discuss this crucial question.

Many times, we hide the hardest parts of our stories from others and miss a unique opportunity to proclaim God's goodness. We are not the heroes of our stories; Jesus Christ is. He is the Savior, the refuge, the rescuer; we are the needy, the weak, the rescued. Listen in as ministry leader and counselor Lori McDaniel shares biblical truth on how to share our deliverance stories to point to Christ. And check out Mike and Lori's soul care ministry at greatinvitation.org. 

Many times, people feel God stirring their hearts for missions, but don't feel "ready" to go for various reasons. Listen in as Jason Lim, experienced missionary leader and church planter with Greater Europe Mission, shares 3 common hesitations to getting involved in God's mission, and biblical wisdom for each! 

The diversity of European cities is a powerful factor in missions in Europe. How do we seize this opportunity to mobilize these peoples from all over the world, to reach Europeans and all kinds of people groups in Europe? Listen in as Kelly and Janice, experienced missionary leaders in Frankfurt, share how second generation immigrants are the "secret weapon" for making disciples in Europe. 

What happens when we share the gospel with someone, and they get saved? How do we disciple that person? Where do we start? Listen in as Shanee shares 3 simple tips to make discipleship do-able for all believers. 

How we respond when we fail reveals a lot about our hearts and how well we are believing and applying the gospel to our lives. Listen in as Jesse shares about how God unexpectedly used a recent "failure" in Jesse's life to reveal pride and shame in his heart, and to open up some powerful communication in our family on how we should respond when we fail.

How should we feel towards lost people, and in particular, when we don't share the gospel? How do we reconcile God's sovereignty and our responsibility to share? Jesus had compassion on the lost, and the Apostle Paul had unceasing anguish over the lost, and we should strive to have that same heart, and take responsibility to share the gospel with those around us. 

Missionaries on the field know that hosting short-term volunteer teams requires a lot of work. Is it worth it? Listen in as Scott M, a missionary leader in a megacity in South Asia, shares 4 reasons to host volunteer teams, and helpful tips in making those trips part of fruitful, long-term partnerships.

The second coming of Jesus was a part of the basic discipleship of the early church and a major theme of the New Testament, yet is often overlooked today. Listen in as we share the significance of this biblical truth for all believers and for missions.

What is the difference between hard work and workaholism? What are the root causes of workaholism? How can we overcome workaholic tendencies? Listen in as I discuss my struggles with workaholism and share biblical truth on this topic.

What is the difference between hard work and workaholism? What are the root causes of workaholism? How can we overcome workaholic tendencies? Listen in as I discuss my struggles with workaholism and share biblical truth on this topic. 

Seth and Denise have been serving missionaries on the field through counseling for over 15 years, and in these 2 episodes, give us listeners an "emotional health tune-up." In part 2, we discuss marriage (how to love more and hurt less), and the importance of intentionally debriefing significantly difficult events that we experience as missionaries on the field. Listen in and be encouraged!

Seth and Denise have been counseling and helping missionaries serve in healthier ways on the field for over 15 years. Listen in as we discuss why it's so difficult for many people, and specifically missionaries, to experience the "abundant life" that Jesus offers, healthy rhythms for increasing our holistic health, and more!

As parents, our lives revolve around our children until they suddenly leave home after high school graduation. Even though this is the goal of our parenting, parents experience a mixture of grief, joy, and anxiety during this major life transition. Listen in as we discuss how to prepare for and make the most of the empty nest season, with wise missionary leaders in Europe, Jason and Caryn. 

Fasting is often seen as a practice reserved for spiritual giants or extremely desperate circumstances, and for the most part, optional for believers. However, the Lord Jesus spoke of fasting as a normal part of the Christian life, and promises to reward those who fast. What might we be missing by neglecting to fast? Listen in!

The global church is being mobilized to reach the unreached like never before in history! God is using the global reality of immigration to spread His Kingdom; God is calling out workers from Latin America, China, and Africa to reach the unreached; and we missionaries must not miss out on what God is around the world! Listen in as we learn about mobilizing cross-cultural coworkers from Alex and Jess, coworkers in Portugal. 

Missiologists have debated for years on how to interpret the book of Acts: Is it "descriptive" or "prescriptive?" We propose a third option for interpreting and applying Acts, what we call, "I want to be like that!" Listen in as we discuss the unique gift we have in the book of Acts, the divinely-inspired record of God's Spirit-filled people living out the Great Commission, and how that record should inspire, challenge, and inform our lives as believers and missionaries.

Missiologists have debated for years on how to interpret the book of Acts: Is it "descriptive" or "prescriptive?" We propose a third option for interpreting and applying Acts, what we call, "I want to be like that!" Listen in as we discuss the unique gift we have in the book of Acts, the divinely-inspired record of God's Spirit-filled people living out the Great Commission, and how that record should inspire, challenge, and inform our lives as believers and missionaries. 

Anyone who has been serving as a missionary for very long knows that missionaries disagree on many issues from time to time! We even find disagreements in the pages of the book of Acts. Listen in as we share 4 biblical principles to apply when we disagree with coworkers, and some practical tips we have learned over the years as well. 

How lost is Europe? Is it unreached, reached, post-Christian, or pre-Christian? Listen in as we discuss the shocking state of the gospel throughout Europe with Kit and Stacy Klein, missionary leaders in France. 

Some claim that we should no longer send American missionaries overseas, but instead should just send American funds to national ministry partners in unreached places. There are a variety of valid reasons for this thinking. Sending and supporting American missionaries is costly both in terms of funds and effort. We Americans have to learn new languages, procure visas, and face countless cross-cultural challenges. The picture of global missionary sending around the world is changing, and many other countries around the world are sending more missionaries now than ever. However, sending missionaries is biblical! Listen in as we discuss various reasons for the American church to keep sending missionaries. 

How should we think about the tempo of our ministry activities? How should we manage our time and plan our ministry rhythms? Listen in as we discuss this 6th "T" or stewardship of team leaders. 

Over the last 6 months, we have been transitioning from the end of a 19-year season of ministry in South Asia to a new leadership role in Europe. Listen in as we share a big life update: how we have grieved, how God has guided us, challenges we have faced, and the joy, peace, and excitement God is giving as we enter this new season.

We recently had the privilege of returning to our first-term home and city, where we served from 2005-2008, and reconnected with beloved national partners and friends. It brought up a lot of reflection on our first term, particularly things we are glad we did and things we wish we would have done! Listen in and be encouraged, whether you're in your first term, experienced coworkers, or anywhere in between!

We know the promise - God works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. But sometimes, this promise can feel trite or misused when we are suffering. And how exactly does God work every affliction for good? Listen in as we share 4 biblical, really good "goods" God works through suffering!

Our 5th and final episode in the 5T's of a Team Leader series! We share the value of having a team "toolbox," with a clear path and specific method or tool for each component of the missionary task. Please check the Tools tab on thecoworkerspodcast.com b/c we just uploaded 5 tools that we referred to in this series: 2 "yellow light" tools, 2 basic discipleship booklets, and an example of a team's missionary toolbox.

Join in our last episode on the 5 T's of a Team Leader. We've covered Targets, Training and Tools, Teaming, and now we discuss Tracking with Jimmy. How do we track in a way that honors the Lord and furthers the work? How do we track for both fruitfulness and faithfulness? What are simple, best practices to make tracking more doable? Listen in - there's so much goodness in this episode!

Continuing with our series on the 5 "T's" or stewardships of team leaders, we discuss teaming with missionary leaders Willie and Emily. Willie and Emily have been doing church planting work and leading teams in South Asia for over a decade, and share biblical principles and practical tips on how to team well- not for teaming's sake, but for the missionary task. How do we stay focused on the work, while also caring well for team members? Listen in.

Continuing our series on the 5 "T's," or 5 stewardships of team leaders, Jesse discusses Training and Tools with missionary leader Kenny B. Listen in as Kenny shares key principles for effective training and practical tips for creating and conducting your own training and tools in your context. This is a must-listen for every missionary!

Every Team Leader needs to steward 5 "T's:" Targets, Teaming, Tools, Training, and Tracking. Listen in as Jesse and Jimmy discuss the necessity of clear targets - a people or place with a common language and culture - that the team focuses on with a clear church-planting strategy. Jesse and Jimmy discuss the process South Asia leaders went through to divide South Asia into 104 "megasegment" targets, the value of tracking stages of progress in every people group, and CELEBRATE progress among 2400 South Asia people groups! This is an exciting episode - listen in!

How much travel is too much? How can parents think rightly, consider their own limitations, priorities, and the needs of their children and ministry targets, and make these decisions? Listen in as Shanee discusses best practices for families thriving in busy travel seasons with experienced missionary leaders Laura G and Debbie M.

How much travel is too much? How can parents think rightly, consider their own limitations, priorities, and the needs of their children and ministry targets, and make these decisions? Listen in as Shanee discusses best practices for families thriving in busy travel seasons with experienced missionary leaders Laura G and Debbie M.

There is a lot of discussion in the missions world on "multiplication vs. maturity" or "movement vs. healthy church." How should we think about these 2 different emphases in the work? Which is more important? Listen in as Jesse shares from Colossions that all missionaries must be furiously committed to both. 

There is more talk in the missions world recently about sending churches and organizations requiring new missionaries to have the same training and qualifications as pastors. While we appreciate the emphasis on preparing prospective missionaries well, we share 7 reasons that missionaries should not be required to have the same training and qualifications as pastors. This has important ramifications for sending out new workers - listen in!

The new year is a chance for a fresh start. Additionally, our family and many of our coworkers are preparing for unexpected, fresh beginnings in new ministry this year. We want to begin with the final day in mind. Listen in as Jesse shares from Paul's account of his service in Ephesus. Paul served wholeheartedly, testified unceasingly, and lived generously.

When we feel called to serve as missionaries, it can be difficult to discern where God is sending us! Listen in as we share a few questions you can ask yourself to help you make this important decision. 

Should we use methods and tools in our evangelism, discipleship, and church planting work, or are methods "pragmatic?" Listen in to hear what the Bible says about methods, necessary traits of good methods, and dangers of methods. 

Many times we subconsciously have wrong beliefs about grief, such as that crying is weak or that self-reflection is self-centered and unproductive, which leads us to avoid, stuff, or deny uncomfortable emotions, and miss out on the abundant life the Lord Jesus offers to us. Listen in as we share 6 reasons you should intentionally work to grow in healthy emotional expression.

Many times we subconsciously have wrong beliefs about grief, such as that crying is weak or that self-reflection is self-centered and unproductive, which leads us to avoid, stuff, or deny uncomfortable emotions, and miss out on the abundant life the Lord Jesus offers to us. Listen in as we share 6 reasons you should intentionally work to grow in healthy emotional expression. 

We (rightly) study the book of Acts and particularly Paul's missionary journeys to learn the biblical pattern for mission work. However, in most missions contexts, we foreign missionaries shouldn't function as the "Apostle Paul." We are not the strategy! Instead, we should function in a catalytic role similar to Barnabas. Barnabas was an encourager, advocated for the Apostle Paul when other believers didn't trust him, went out with Paul on their first missionary journey, and then begins falling into the background as Paul becomes prominent. Similarly, missionaries' primary function, when possible, should be to advocate for, train, and catalyze local believers to be the "main doers" in their context.