How does the gospel transcend cultural understandings like guilt/innocence, honor/shame?

In this episode, Alex is joined by longtime friend of the show, Dr. E.D. Burns, a missionary, author, and ABWE’s Executive Director for Training & Development. E.D. argues that many modern missionary methods fall into error by beginning with culture rather than Scripture. When missionaries adapt the message to perceived cultural needs: fear of spirits, desire for honor, community belonging, they risk redefining the gospel according to those felt needs instead of the Bible's central categories of sin, wrath, substitutionary atonement, and the imputed righteousness of Christ.

Dr. Burns illustrates how hyper-contextualized approaches can subtly blend works and faith, especially in cultures comfortable with karmic or performance-based religion. True gospel communication, he argues, must highlight penal substitution, justification by faith alone, and the supernatural transformation of the heart.

• The danger of culture-first vs. Bible-first missionary methods
• How methodology reveals underlying theology on the mission field
• The insufficiency of presenting the gospel only through honor/shame or fear/power lenses
• The centrality of penal substitutionary atonement and imputed righteousness
• The perennial battle to preserve faith alone in cultures predisposed to works-based religion

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In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex Kocman and ABWE President, Paul Davis, interview Ted Esler, president of Missio Nexus, on the global state of Christian missions. Esler explains that although the global church is experiencing slow and steady growth, many evangelical churches lack a strong understanding of lostness which has contributed to a decline in missionary sending and passion. Cultural pressures, including accusations of colonialism and a general decrease in missions literacy, have also shaped a generation of believers who are less aware of the biblical and historical urgency of reaching the nations.

Ted emphasizes that missions is woven throughout the entire biblical narrative—from Genesis to Revelation—and that God’s heart for diverse peoples should dismantle misconceptions of missions as cultural imperialism.

• The need for a renewed understanding of lostness in evangelical churches
• How cultural narratives about colonialism affect missions engagement
• The redemptive arc of Scripture as essential for missions literacy
• A biblical theology of the nations and God’s purpose for cultural diversity
• The importance of knowing the current global state of missions

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The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

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What's happening with persecuted Christians in Nigeria?

In this episode of the Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with Larry Alex Taunton, an author and apologist, who shares his firsthand experience witnessing Christian persecution in Nigeria. Taunton recounts his journey to the country’s northern region, where he saw the devastating effects of what he calls a “genocide against Christians.” He describes traveling through burned villages, military checkpoints, and communities living in constant fear of attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani militants.

Through personal experience, Taunton highlights the courage of Nigerian Christians who remain steadfast in their faith despite extreme danger. His central message is that the Western church has largely ignored this persecution, and that believers in safer nations must recognize their responsibility to speak out and advocate for action. Alex and Scott end with a call to combine compassion, truth, and courage—to both confront injustice and advance the mission of Christ.

• Larry Taunton’s firsthand experience in northern Nigeria and exposure to Christian persecution.
• The role of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen in anti-Christian violence.
• The silence and suppression of the issue by Western media and international organizations.
• The moral and spiritual responsibility of the Western church to respond.

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The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.