In this episode of the Know and Follow podcast, Pastor Addison Roberts sits down with Kendall Keeler from Serve Now to explore how God is working around the world through local churches and indigenous Christian leaders. Kendall shares his journey into global missions, how Serve Now partners with believers in over 30 countries, and why discipleship in a heart language is essential for gospel growth. This conversation offers a compelling vision for missions that is relational, empowering, and deeply rooted in partnership.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- What makes Serve Now’s global missions approach different from traditional models
- Why empowering local Christians leads to sustainable gospel impact
- The hidden challenge of discipleship materials not existing in heart languages
- How translation work helps pastors grow without Westernizing their faith
- The story behind Serve Now’s partnership with churches like Grace Community Church
- How water projects, microenterprise, and education flow out of discipleship
- Why generosity and perspective grow when we partner with the global church
Key Quotes:
“We don’t send American missionaries. We empower the Christians who already live within these countries.” — Kendall Keeler
“Most of the pastors we partner with don’t have access to biblical training or Christian resources like we do.” — Kendall Keeler
“If you imagine trying to follow Jesus without access to discipleship materials, it changes how you view the global church.” — Pastor Addison Roberts
“Don’t underestimate what God can do with the bread and fish that you place in His hands.” — Kendall Keeler
Ways to Get Involved / Resources Mentioned:
- Serve Now: Serve Now partners with local Christian leaders in over 30 countries to provide discipleship resources, training, and community development through churches already embedded in their cultures.
- Discipleship Translation Initiative: Serve Now has translated discipleship materials into more than 70 languages and continues expanding access so pastors and believers can grow in their heart language.
- Serve Now App: A free app providing access to translated discipleship materials for individuals and churches around the world.
- Grace Community Church Partnership: Ongoing collaboration including water projects, translation efforts, and global missions engagement.
About the Guest:
Kendall Keeler joined Serve Now in 2020 after years of leadership experience in both for-profit and non-profit organizations, including Black Rock Retreat, Herr’s, Mt. Vernon Church, and Water Street Mission. A graduate of Lancaster Bible College, Kendall also performed as a Sight & Sound actor and has a passion for helping individuals and organizations reach their full potential through problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, and communication.
Kendall is the author of Your Last 24 and leads with the philosophy Create · Connect · Inspire. He believes generosity helps us become more like God and has been married to his wife for over 25 years. Together, they have three daughters.
About the Know and Follow Podcast:
The Know and Follow podcast is a production of Grace Community Church of Willow Street, located at 212 Peach Bottom Road in Willow Street, Pennsylvania. Join us for weekend services on Saturdays at 6 PM, Sundays at 8 AM, 9:15 AM, and 11 AM. Learn more at gccws.net.