Worthless Servants

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Luke 17:1-10 talks about the importance of being a worthless servant. This is the way we view our journey with Christ. We hope to offer discussions during this bi-weekly podcast on issues about mission, culture, and the Church. Episodes are typically recorded in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic whe…

Mesoamerica Genesis and The Church of the Nazarene


    • Aug 22, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 28m AVG DURATION
    • 176 EPISODES

    5 from 16 ratings Listeners of Worthless Servants that love the show mention: worth, hearing, good.


    Ivy Insights

    The Worthless Servants podcast is an incredibly insightful and thought-provoking show that delves into the minds of missionaries and explores the realities of their experiences. This episode in particular addresses some of the questions that have been swirling in my mind, and I am grateful to the World Economic Forum for shedding light on these topics. The podcast brings clarity to subjects that are often misunderstood or overlooked, offering a refreshing perspective on missionary work.

    One of the best aspects of The Worthless Servants podcast is its ability to present authentic voices and stories from missionaries themselves. The hosts do an excellent job of allowing their guests to share their experiences, both the good times and the tough times. It is truly a joy to listen to these missionaries speak passionately about their work and why it is worth it all. The podcast captures the true essence of the journey, evoking moments of laughter, sniffles, and genuine emotion that make it a unique listening experience.

    While there are many positive aspects to this podcast, one potential downside is that it may not be for everyone. Some individuals may find the subject matter too specific or niche for their interests. Additionally, those who are not familiar with missionary work may struggle to fully connect with or relate to some episodes. However, for those who are curious about missionary life or have an interest in global issues, this podcast offers valuable insights and perspectives worth exploring.

    In conclusion, The Worthless Servants podcast stands out as a compelling show that sheds light on the realities of missionary work in a way that reality TV shows cannot compare. It provides listeners with an opportunity to hear firsthand accounts from missionaries themselves and gain a deeper understanding of their experiences. Although not everyone may resonate with every episode, this podcast offers a valuable platform for sharing stories and discussing important topics related to global missions.



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    Latest episodes from Worthless Servants

    10. Nazarenes and the City

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 27:29


    In this episode,, our series concludes with a specific look at the Church of the Nazarene. Why was the founding of our denomination so explicitly urban? Have we gotten away from our urban roots in many countries? What are some examples of effective Nazarene ministry in the hearts of global cities?

    9. Urban Spirituality

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 30:58


    In this episode, we talk about what we're calling “Urban Spirituality.” Is growing closer to God in rural areas different from doing so in urban areas? In the midst of the city, how do we care for our souls? How do we help others to do the same?

    8. Transformation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 27:03


    We're dedicating the whole episode to stories of city impact and transformation. Our hope is that by the end, you'll know God is still at work in the city, and his Church is, too.

    7. Strategy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 32:02


    In this episode, we offer a wide array of strategies for impacting the city. What seems to NOT be working in urban areas? What are some examples of churches bearing fruit through creative ministry methods? In many ways, our entire season has built to this! How can we as the body of Christ be agents of change in the city?

    6. The Dark Side

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 28:41


    This episode takes a bit of a dark turn…well, in the sense that we directly confront the dark side of the city. But don't worry. We believe the Church is the perfect entity to make a difference in the midst of evil…

    5. Genesis: Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 26:57


    This episode is in many ways a continuation of the previous one. How can we bring a genesis – a new beginning – to our cities? Are there traits that would define a church that is effectively ministering to the city? Here are five more areas we can use to measure ourselves as we reach out in urban contexts…

    4. Genesis: Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 25:36


    In this episode, we introduce Genesis, a ministry that is impacting the cities of Latin America and the Caribbean. What does a Church that actively loves and serves her city look like? For starters, we should begin with these five characteristics…

    3. The Good & The Bad

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 24:27


    In this episode we acknowledge that city work is inherently hard…but also rewarding. By the end, it's clear we believe that we must truly love in order to see change in the urban jungle.

    2. The Heart of God

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024 19:03


    In this episode, we try to tap into the heart of God. Is there a special place in God's heart for cities? Does the Bible have anything to say about his passion for cities?

    1. The Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 19:52


    In this episode, we talk about the growing urbanization of the world, and what difference that should make for us as Christians. The future is truly urban. But maybe the present already is as well.

    Testing

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 0:05


    Testing

    165. The Last Hurrah…As We Know It

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2023 41:01


    After 6 consecutive years of sharing topics about missions, culture, and healthy church, the Worthless Servants say goodbye to this version of the podcast and announce some changes that might take place in the future.

    164. Scripture Spotlight: Ezekiel 37:1-14

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2023 27:50


    Have you ever had to prophesy victory, healing, or life over a situation where there was none? This week's passage tells us of Ezekiel's classic vision of dry bones and shows us God's power to restore and bring new life.

    163. Creative Access

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2023 29:26


    How can we pray for missionaries and believers in Creative Access areas around the world? In this episode the cast gives us some clues. Also, without revealing names, they share stories and realities that some of these missionaries face.

    162. Scripture Spotlight: Acts 16:16-40

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2023 34:43


    The exploitation and enslavement of people is nothing new. This week's passage leaves us with a series of teachings on how obedience to God's will and the testimony of his servants brought liberation to a girl, a jailer, and an entire family.

    161. Ministry in a Mobile World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023


    https://missiodeijournal.com/issues/md-8-1/authors/md-8-1-looney

    160. Scripture Spotlight: Acts 16:6-15

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 31:15


    In Acts 16, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke encounter significant opposition as they share the gospel. But this time it's God himself blocking their ministry path! Have you ever felt “forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word” or minister? What could this story teach us about obedience and fulfilling God's mission?

    159. Humility

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2023 30:15


    Does society today give importance to being humble? Why is humility so essential for a Christian? In this episode, the Worthless Servants talk about this quality and share some characteristics and examples of humility, helping us to think of practical steps or actions that can help rid us of pride.

    158. Speed-boat Leadership and “Forced” Evangelism

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2023 34:42


    In this episode, Nathalie shares how she was challenged recently to push, “force”, and never get tired of sharing the gospel. Then, Scott somehow leads us to reflect on our leadership styles using different images of aquatic transportation.

    157. Missions, Family, and End Times

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 32:48


    This week Dario helps us see family time through the lens of a busy missionary travel schedule. And look out! Emily wonders when current events can be interpreted through “end times” theology and when we just need to say an earthquake is an earthquake.

    156. Missions Mobilization

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023 23:57


    https://transformtheglobe.com/2023/03/04/from-global-missions-to-missions-mobilization/

    155. Scripture Spotlight: Psalm 22

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2023 24:10


    This week the Worthless Servants examine perhaps one of the most misinterpreted passages of Scripture: Psalm 22. Did God the Father really forsake Jesus on the cross? What does this psalm say to us as we approach Holy Week? As you might expect, we highlight several missional implications as well.

    154. Level 5 Leadership and “Discover Missions”

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2023 24:07


    In this episode, two members of our cast share what's been on their minds lately. Nathalie received a training on the famous book “Good to Great” and her main takeaway was the concept of Level 5 Leadership. Scott is excited about a new event taking place in the Dominican Republic in a few months that could have historic ramifications.

    153. Seasons and Balance

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2023 26:06


    We didn't plan it this way, but two members of our crew have been dealing with some very similar things recently. Emily starts the discussion with an analogy of how she is learning to have balance between work, family, and more. Then Dario explores what seasons and stages of life have to do with us personally and in ministry.

    152. Sports Ministry: Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2023 32:42


    As a continuation of our previous episode, this time we share testimonies of transformation through "Play and Witness” and other sports initiatives. Listen to stories of people who have come to know Christ and communities impacted, and also testimonies of many who've grown in their discipleship and leadership.

    151. Sports Ministry: Part I

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2023 27:44


    A huge benefit of having Dario Richards as a part of our cast is that he is an expert in Sports Ministry! Why is this field so important? What can ministry with sports and gaming look like and what can it achieve? Why are sports uniquely positioned to reach the masses?

    150. MissioNexus 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2023 34:45


    Scott and Emily attended and greatly enjoyed the MissioNexus Conference in 2022, and came back with some new vocabulary and insights. Join them as they highlight workshops dealing with involving Gen Z in missions and much more.

    149. An Update on Genesis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2023 21:59


    In this brief episode, Scott and Emily fill us in on new sites that we are entering with the Genesis initiative, and new missionaries who are being sent there this very month! They also take us behind the curtain to see what training and sending missionaries looks like post-pandemic.

    148. Max 22

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2022 34:45


    The Church of the Nazarene recently celebrated its first Mesoamerica Regional Conference since before the pandemic, and many of the Worthless Servants were there. Listen to some of what God did in Panama, and enjoy insights from our special guest, Timmeon Spencer, as well.

    147. Scripture Focus: Philippians 4:10-13

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 22:20


    This week's passage helps us to reflect on the attitude that Christians should have in the face of the difficult situations that come at us in life. The apostle Paul learned the secret of contentment in the midst of persecution, suffering, and prison. We invite you to listen to this full episode and learn what the Worthless Servants discovered as they delved into these scriptures and shared their stories.

    146. Why Missionaries Should Never Just Show Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2022 21:09


    In this episode the Worthless Servants share 7 reasons why missionaries (or any speaker) should never just show up at the worship service. Benefits such as spiritual formation, opportunities to serve the sending church, valuable time with children and youth, and the ability to engage with the community as much as possible are unlikely to be produced by “doing the minimum” and “merely” preaching a message.

    145. Second-class Missionaries?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2022 32:17


    In this episode we focus on a thought-provoking article written by missionary Amy Medina. She describes a trend she has seen in the Church to unconsciously categorize missionaries into different classes based on their assignments. Are some roles more mission critical than others? Is it right to value certain missionaries more for the work they do or the location where they serve? Should the church differ in the ways she endorses and supports through prayer and finances?

    144. Spiritual hygiene + Diaspora missions

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2022 26:59


    This week, Nathalie brings some unconventional tips that Lucas Leys recommends to any Christian desiring to maintain their "spiritual hygiene." In addition, Scott causes us to reflect on the dispersion of foreigners around our Mesoamerica Region and the great opportunity that the Church has to strategically promote the gospel throughout the world, even without having to travel to far-away nations.

    143. Caribbean Church Health + Discipling our Families

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2022 21:37


    This week we open up the mics to hear what some of our cast has had on their minds (and hearts) recently. Dario explores where our evangelical churches in the Caribbean are bearing fruit and where we still have work to do. Then, Emily reveals a personal project she has been involved in for the last year and how it has taught our entire family about discipleship and investing in our children.

    More Jesus in Evangelism

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2022 35:00


    https://mikefrost.net/jesus-take-the-wheel/

    141. Empowering Millennials & Gen Z

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 29:38


    Read "How Church Leaders Can Empower And Pursue Millennials and Gen Z" by Micah Davis.

    140. Story Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2022 33:39


    In this episode the Worthless Servants share their stories about missionary experiences in Haiti, miracles they have seen serving in the field, how culture influences sports, and more!

    139. Scripture Spotlight: Philippians 4:2-9

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2022 37:57


    Today's Scripture Spotlight is Philippians 4:2-9

    138. Post-Pandemic Challenges for the Global Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022


    Read Emily's blog, "Challenges for the Post-Pandemic Church: Part 2"

    137. Post-Pandemic Challenges for the Local Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022


    Read Scott's blog, "Challenges for the Post-Pandemic Church: Part 1"

    136. Ineffective Leadership + Two Unlikely Lessons from Paris

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022


    In this episode, Nathalie has been thinking about ineffective leaders and their effect on those around them. How can we assure that our actions and example will end up producing more Christ-like followers? Also, what might Reuben and Judah have to do with this? Scott has been thinking about something very different: what he surprisingly learned from his family's vacation to France.

    135. Generosity and Third Culture Kids

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2022


    For further reading on Third Culture Kids, we highly recommend "Third Culture Kids" by Pollock and Van Reken.

    134. 2021 Stats: Mesoamerica

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2022


    Read the Church of the Nazarene 2021 Statistics Report. You can also read Scott's blog or listen to Episode 128 of the Worthless Servants Podcast.

    133. Dario Richards

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2022 30:36


    This week we welcome Pastor Dario Richards from Barbados to the Worthless Servants' cast. He has been with us in previous episodes, but this time we interview him about his family, his ministry, his calling, his passions, and more. Stay tuned at the end for a description of why we are called The Worthless Servants (hint: it's biblical)!

    132. Fry Farewell

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 43:26


    After 5 years and 132 episodes, AJ and Chelsea say goodbye to the Dominican Republic. Although their ministry in Latin America comes to a close, they will be starting a new chapter in another urban district. The Worthless Servants asked them to reflect on their time in the D.R. as well as what they have enjoyed or will miss the most. They may be leaving the podcast and the D.R., but they will need your good wishes and continued prayer support in the States! Stay tuned for an epic surprise at the end of the episode, as well.

    131. Been Thinking…

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 34:46


    This week we share our thoughts on how to improve our Bible study, how we can become genuine servants, how prayer has changed in recent times, and much more. What about you? What have you been thinking?

    130. Scripture Spotlight: Philippians 3:12 - 4:1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2022 23:31


    This week's passage challenges us to see ourselves as true athletes. The apostle Paul likens the Christian life to a great race that requires focus, perseverance, and effort to reach the finish line. What are some tips we found to successfully run this spiritual race? What is the grand prize that we will get when we win? Paul's decision to persevere steadfastly to the end, despite his earthly afflictions, cause us to ask: where did his drive come from and what were his motivations?

    129. Beyond Just “Good”

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 27:49


    https://transformtheglobe.com/2022/02/22/christianity-is-more-than-just-being-a-good-person/

    128. State of the Global Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2022 35:15


    In this episode we share our observations on the 2021 statistical report of the Church of the Nazarene globally. How has COVID-19 impacted our denomination? What are some areas or findings that potentially alarm us or that we may need to improve? We dive into this and a whole lot more, so enjoy this episode!

    127. Story Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2022 32:18


    In this episode, the Worthless Servants share stories about some home assignment complications, gum samples, a baby dedication gone awry, and much more.

    126. 5 Leadership Questions about the Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022 32:52


    https://careynieuwhof.com/5-simple-questions-about-the-future-every-leader-should-be-asking-right-now/

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