The Missions Pastor Podcast

Today’s conversation is with Robin Popplewell. Robin is the missions pastor at Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee. Englewood Baptist sees church planting as a central focus of its missions work - both domestically and globally. Robin share why this important and the lessons they've learned along the wayWant to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, everything in church planting hinges on prayer. You can’t be effective in sharing the Gospel if God doesn’t open the right doors. And you can’t walk through those doors if you aren’t truly listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying. Second, look for the right people and ask them about becoming involved. So often, people are waiting for someone to ask for them before they take that first step. And finally, learn to lead from the back. Provide oversight and advice, but remember that the Holy Spirit within you is the same Holy Spirit in the people in your church who are being called to become part of your church planting program.Learn more about Englewood Baptist ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Today’s conversation is with Ken Fifer, the missions pastor at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas. Bent Tree Bible Fellowship believes in missions and has many different opportunities for their members to engage in.  Ken shares how they work to help their members find their fit in missions while honoring the needs of the churches and communities they serve in. Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, they understand that each member of Bent Tree has a unique gift and calling. It’s not about trying to squeeze a member into a program. It’s about helping them find the right fit. Second, the churches and communities Bent Tree serves in aren’t one size fits all either. Bent Tree works to find ways to support and strengthen the local churches in these countries. And they’re OK with stepping away if they don’t see a way they can help without hurting. And finally, this approach requires both Ken and Bent Tree and the churches and countries they serve to take time to really let the Holy Spirit do His work. There’s no reason to try to force something to happen just to say there’s a partnership in place. Learn more about Bent Tree Bible FellowshipLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Kevin Duffy wears at The Village Baptist Church in Fayetteville, NC. One of those is Missions Pastor. Kevin has been serving there since 2005, and he has a lot of wisdom to share. He joins us to share about The Village Baptist Church's “Face to Faith” initiative. Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, Face to Faith began out of the heart of a member of The Village Baptist Church. The church released a member to step into what God had put on his heart. When we do this, something powerful happens. Second, context changes the way programs are implemented, but the Gospel is the same. Face to Faith may look slightly different in different countries, but the goal and foundation is till sharing Christ’s love. And finally, we can help kids and widows and the poor with clean water, food, medicine and schooling, but if we don’t share the Gospel we’re missing the whole point. The greatest form of poverty is Spiritual Poverty. We have to remind ourselves of this every day.Learn more about The Village Baptist ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

This week's episode is with Tony Arnett. Tony is the missions pastor at Central Church in Charlotte, NC. Central Church believes that the Great Commission should be taken literally, and this impacts everything they do from the nursery to the senior citizens and everything in between. Tony shares how this has impacted both the church as a whole, the missionaries they serve alongside, and the individuals within the church. Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, missions isn’t a ministry of the local church; it’s THE ministry of the local church. It permeates and guides everything from the nursery to the senior citizens. Second, when this reality sets in, the focus of every ministry in the church becomes more clear and the results are indescribable. And finally, these results aren’t measured by dollars given, but by lives changed. A good reminder is the story of the widow who gave two mites at the Temple. The financial gift she provided was insignificant but the offering was great.Learn More About Central ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

This week's episode is with Nathan Nelson, the Pastor of Mission & Outreach at Bethany Community Church in Seattle, Washington. Nathan is also a contributor to Re-Imagining Short-Term Missions, where he shares his insight into why partnership in missions is a better way. Nathan joins us to discuss how integrating missions locally and globally that takes into account the strengths of our missions partners creates a healthier, long lasting approach to missions and outreach. Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, the issue of poverty is complex and doesn’t have simple solutions. Rather than expecting quick fixes and programmatic responses, we need patience to make lasting improvement over time.Second, the issues people face on the other side of the world are the same issues that we face in our own communities. Having a strategy that takes this into account will result in a more healthy, integrated ministry.And finally, take a step back and look at your global partners to see what they’re doing well, and then find ways to learn from them. There is so much wisdom around us if we are open to it.Learn More about Re-Imagining Short-Term MissionsLearn More about Bethany Community ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Susanne Klovdahl, the Missions & Outreach Ministry Director at Northwest Church in Federal Way, Washington shares how Northwest Church has learned that intentional prayer for missionaries they support begins with strengthening the relationships with these missionaries first. Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, missionaries need more than prayer support; they need support in many other very practical ways. Training. Resources. Reentry assistance are all a part of how your church can put actions to your prayers. But sometimes, the most important thing you can do is just truly get to know them.Second, ministry has changed, and that’s OK. God uses these changes to lead us into new opportunities. Don’t feel the pull to go back to the way things used to be in your missions ministry. Instead, seek what God wants going forward.And finally, missionaries aren’t the only ones who need relationships and support - you do too. Seek to build relationships around you with those who also help build you up and encourage you.Learn More About Northwest ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Casey Norkett, the Missions Pastor at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, shares how Hickory Grove has become an overwhelmingly generous to missionaries and ministries around the world. That’s all possible because of the commitment the church members have to giving above and beyond their regular tithes to help fund this outreach. And it all started with what the church calls the “Plus 1 Missions Challenge.”Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, a little extra can go a long way. As members commit to giving just 1% more of their income, they see lives changed and the church grows. And this continues to bring in more giving and more impact. It’s exponential. Second, for this type of approach to work, the local church must also provide opportunities for those giving to pray and serve. And finally, it's critical to put a name and a face with what people are giving to. Let them see the impact and even become a part of it. Otherwise, missions just becomes a line item in the budget.Learn More About Hickory Grove Baptist ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Edgar Aponte is the Minister of Global Missions at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida. But he's also spent years teaching on missions and outreach in seminaries and leading the missions efforts of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention - the world's largest missions sending organization. Edgar shares his learnings from these roles. Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, missions in the local church will only work if the lead pastor of the church is fully committed to it. Without that, you’re fighting a battle you probably won’t win.Second, if the church views missions as something done for one weekend a year at a missions conference or for a few days in the summer on a trip, we are failing. Missions is a part of the life of the church and should be emphasized as such year round. And finally, if a church is challenging its people to be involved in missions, the church must also equip them to fulfill that challenge. Otherwise, it’s a lot of empty talk.Learn More About Idlewild Baptist ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Chris Conner is the Missions And Outreach Pastor at Mountaintop Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama. But that’s not the role Chris was originally hired for. Chris began his ministry and Mountaintop Community as the Youth Pastor. He shares the lessons he's learned through this transition.Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, keep your expectations realistic. It’s great to dream big. And we serve a God who does big things. But we also need to understand that He’s working a plan that’s bigger than us and our church. So, we can dream big, but plan realistically. Second, embrace the unexpected. Chris had no idea that a fourth of his first year in this role would be functioning as a general contractor for another church’s vision of opening a coffee house for their community. But I know Chris wouldn’t trade that experience for following the plan he had in place when the year began.And finally, take time at the end of every year to look back, and adjust your expectations and plans going forward. There are great lessons to be learned when we see what God has done and prayerfully ask what He wants us to do moving into the future.Learn More About Mountaintop Community ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Laurel Fishbook has worn a lot of hats at over the years at Christ the King Church in Bellingham, Washington - most recently as Director of Missions. One of Christ the King’s primary values is being outward focused, and to see every person who attends involved in missions and outreach. Laurel shares how she became Director of Missions and how she's helped transition the church to a different model of outreach.Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, be willing to change. Just because something has worked for years doesn’t mean it’s the right way to keep doing things in the future. These changes may breathe new life into your missions ministry. Second, serving in missions can grow someone’s heart for missions. Laurel always understood how important missions is, but didn’t really become passionate about it until she began leading this ministry. The same thing can happen for anyone in our churches. And finally, the end goal of all of this should be relationships. Our missionaries and those serving in outreach need to know they’re loved and cared for. Anything we can do to deepen those relationships is critical to their health and the health of our outreach ministries.Learn More About Christ the King ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Brent Altman, the Director of Missions at Grace Family Church in Tampa, Florida, is committed to seeing the missions and outreach of Grace Family flowing through local church partners around the world. Brent shares some of the lessons he's learned and the advice he believes can help churches move toward this focus. Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, working through local church partners takes time, but it's well worth it. When you partner with local churches to support and strengthen the work they’re doing in their own context, great things happen. Second, these partnerships require you to let go of some control. This isn’t easy for any of us to do. But we can’t expect these local church partners to be effective if we’re micromanaging them every step of the way. And finally, find other missions pastors and churches who are seeking to work through local churches, and learn from them. The greatest teacher is someone else’s experience.Learn More About Grace Family ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Travis Janousek, the Serve Pastor at New City Church in Charlotte, NC, believes that all missions partnerships should begin with the goal of being "mutually beneficial." He shares what that means, why its important, and how a big part of that means letting go of control. Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, don’t be afraid to "chase the wild goose." Hold your plans loosely. Look for where the Holy Spirit is leading and then follow; even when it doesn’t make sense. Second, remember that you don’t have all the answers. Mutually beneficial ministry requires humility and a willingness to listen. And finally, look for missions partners who have shared values. You can’t develop mutually beneficial missions ministry if one side has a completely different framework for ministry.Learn More About New City ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Liberty Bible Church is a historic church that has existed for nearly 100 years. For any church to thrive over such a significant period of time, there has to have been lots of changes and growth. Kevin Cram, Pastor of Global & Local Engagement, shares how a church like Liberty has remained committed to keeping their members engaged with missions for so long.Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, the goal we should focus on is keeping our members engaged in missions, not continuing to do it the same way we’ve always done it. Our focus needs to stay on what we’re trying to accomplish and not so much on how we’re doing it. Second, gather a team around you to help you in engaging the church in missions. You don’t have to it alone. God has already brought some supporters into your church who want to help you. Look for them and ask for their help.  And finally, constantly keep your pastor engaged. In reality, your senior pastor should be the first person you are working to engage in missions. Keep them updated. Bring them on short term missions trips. Let them hear stories of exciting things God is doing on the mission field. The church will only be as engaged in missions as the senior pastor.Learn More About LIberty Bible ChurchCheck out GO: A Great Commission PodcastLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Today's conversation is with Dr. Jay Madden, the Executive Pastor at Peachtree Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Rush Creek doesn’t really have a missions program. One of the most common ways for churches to engage in missions is through short-term missions trips. But the pandemic slammed the door shut on most of these trips for several years. Dr. Madden is passionate about seeing Peachtree and other churches re engage in these efforts, and she shares his advice on how to do that effectively.Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!First, we all love the lessons we learned during the pandemic about how to utilize communications advances to improve our relationships with our missions partners. But nothing is better than being present with those partners for a few days. Dr. Madden reminds us that short term ministry trips are critical for healthy missions relationships.  Second, don’t just restart missions trips by going back to the way your church did them before the pandemic. See this as an opportunity to evaluate what you want your short term missions program to be and how it can benefit both your church and your missions partners.  And finally, always seek to add real value to your missions partners when you plan to bring a team to serve alongside them. Dr. Madden reminds us that the first rule of the Hippocratic Oath should also be the first rule of missions partnership: do no harm.Learn More About Peachtree ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!

Today's conversation is with Brian McFadden, the Compassion Pastor at Rush Creek Church in Arlington, Texas. Rush Creek doesn’t really have a missions program. Rush Creek truly believes that everything they do is about outreach both locally and globally. And that means that every member needs to be engaged in sharing the Gospel every day.Want to learn how your church can partner with OneChild to bring HOPE to kids living in hard Places? Click Here!Brian passionately share that when a church fully commits to the Great Commission, amazing things happen. And that results in transformation both internally and externally.Brian also helps us understand that missions trips don’t have to be for individuals. There’s something very powerful that can happen when whole families engage together in serving in a foreign context together.  And finally, Brian shows that missions doesn’t have to be something done only through a third party organization. While Rush Creek’s child sponsorship program started with a ministry like OneChild, it grew into something that the church took on completely by itself in order to become even more connected to it.Learn More About Rush Creek ChurchLearn more about OneChild HERE!