Why does the spread of the gospel so often depend on local leaders? In this episode of the Joshua Project Podcast, we sit down with Daniel Drewski to talk about what it takes to raise up leaders who go on to train others.

Daniel is President and CEO of the International Leadership Institute (ILI), a global movement that trains leaders of leaders in more than 100 nations. Before ILI, he worked in business, politics, Christian education and student ministry, so he has seen firsthand how leadership shapes every part of life. He also co-hosts the History Makers Leadership Podcast.

Daniel walks us through ILI’s eight core values of a faithful Christian leader and explains why they apply to everyone who leads, whether in a church, a boardroom, a government office or the family living room. He also talks about the leaders now coming out of the Global South and how God is using believers from everywhere to reach everywhere. Along the way, he tells stories of men and women from many cultures and backgrounds whose faithful leadership is changing their communities and pointing people to Christ.

As you listen, think about the leaders God has placed in your life and pray for one of them by name this week. You may find there’s a leader in you too.

Learn more about ILI at https://iliteam.org/

Listen to the History Makers Leadership Podcast at https://iliteam.org/podcast

Or check out their YouTube channel to see some inspiring stories of leaders from around the world https://www.youtube.com/@ILI_Team

Thanks again for watching!

There are roughly one million international students in the United States, and most of them come from the 10/40 Window. Yet, as Tyler Ellis shares, 80% of them will never be invited into an American home or a Christian church. That gap represents one of the most strategic and overlooked mission opportunities in front of the Church today.

Tyler began his missions journey at 19 through a two-and-a-half-year apprentice missionary program, serving in Samoa and Australia and traveling to nearly 10 countries. He went on to serve for 14 years as a college minister, where he saw firsthand the opportunity international students present for reaching the unreached. Today, he is the creator of English With Friends, a resource that equips local churches to reach their international neighbors through hospitality, friendship, and conversational English using Bible-based workbooks.

In this episode, Tyler talks about why international students matter so much for reaching the nations and how ordinary believers and local churches can step into that opportunity. He also shares about Xenomaniacs and Xenomaniacs Music, two YouTube channels he launched as companion guides to help introduce people to the nations, including his Poetic Prayers for the Nations music series. Finally, he opens up about his role as a father and how he works to cultivate a missional heart in his children.

Whether you're a pastor, a parent, or simply someone who wants to love the nations well, this conversation will help you see that the nations may be closer than you think.

The nations are already in your neighborhood. Learn how to welcome them at https://www.englishwithfriends.org/, and bring the whole family along on the journey at https://www.xenomaniacs.com/.

Xenomaniacs YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@XENOMANIACS

See the top UPGs living in major US cities

Light the Nations Prayer Map

What is the local church's role in reaching the world's least-reached peoples, and how does that role come alive in ordinary congregations? In this episode, we sit down with Drew Remke, Vice President of Engagement for Pioneers USA, to explore how everyday churches can move from spectators to senders in God's global mission.

Pioneers is a movement of more than 3,000 missionaries from over 100 countries, planting churches among the least-reached places on earth. Drew's teams partner with the 3,400 sending and supporting churches connected to Pioneers USA, helping them grow strong in their calling to reach the unreached. Before joining the executive team, Drew and his wife Jordan spent twelve years serving across the Arabian Peninsula—planting and pastoring international churches, launching businesses, building leadership development programs, and overseeing missionary teams. They now live in San Antonio with their three daughters and Jordan's parents. Both were founding members of Redeemer Church of Lubbock, which has sent more than 100 long-term missionaries to the nations since 2008.

Drew shares his own story of coming to faith and being called to missions, then unpacks the vision of Pioneers and the vital, God-given place of the local church in the Great Commission. We dig into practical questions every church wrestles with: How does a congregation get involved in cross-cultural missions? How do we cultivate a genuinely missional heart? What does it look like for the local church and a sending organization to work together to prepare, equip, and send missionaries well?

We also spotlight an exciting partnership: how Pioneers and Joshua Project are working together to help churches adopt unreached people groups—what people group adoption looks like, the role Pioneers plays in the process, and how adopting churches can lock arms with sending organizations to see their group reached.

Drew closes with encouragement for churches still on the fence about adopting a frontier people group, and shares how you can connect with him and get involved with Pioneers.

Whether you're a pastor, a missions leader, or simply someone longing to see your church step deeper into God's heart for the nations, this conversation will both challenge and equip you.

Visit Pioneers.org to learn more and discover ways you can serve cross-culturally.

Visit Joshuaproject.net/adopt today to adopt a Frontier People Group, or register your organization to become a facilitator.