Is it true that the "blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church"?

In this episode, Alex and Scott challenge the popular belief that persecution is inherently good for the church. Drawing from Ronald Boyd-MacMillan’s article Does Persecution Always Bring Growth?, they argue that while persecution can refine believers, history shows it often destroys the local church entirely. They distinguish between short, intense persecution that may spark renewal and long-term systemic persecution that weakens or eliminates the church altogether.

Alex and Scott discuss that Christians should not romanticize suffering and realize that persecution is a valuable tool that Satan uses against God's people. They stress the importance of religious freedom, both for evangelism and human dignity, urging Christians to defend it globally, and ultimately, they conclude that while God can bring good from persecution, it should never be desired or celebrated.

• Misconceptions about persecution as beneficial for church growth
• Historical examples where persecution led to church extinction (e.g., Uyghur, Arabic, and Mongol eras)
• Distinction between short-term vs. long-term persecution effects
• The role of religious freedom in advancing the gospel
• Biblical and historical perspectives on persecution and faithfulness

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Does your pastor adequately prioritize missions at your church?

In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex interviews Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters from 1615 Missions Coaching about their new book, The Sending Shepherd: Leading Churches to Disciple All Nations. Drawing from a Barna study, the conversation centers on the vital role of church leadership in global missions. They argue that effective mobilization starts with senior pastors embracing a “sending shepherd” mindset—reintegrating God’s global purpose into preaching, discipleship, and church culture rather than treating missions as an optional program.

They encourage pastors to see missions not as one ministry among many, but as the core narrative of Scripture shaping every believer’s role in God’s redemptive story. The discussion closes with success stories of integrating missions into the church, practical encouragement for pastors, and a reminder that mobilizing for the Great Commission is both essential for the world and for the church’s spiritual health.

• Findings from the Barna “U.S. Pastors and Missions Survey”
• The problem of “when everything is missions, nothing is missions”
• Leadership’s critical role in shaping global vision (Antioch model from Acts 13)
• The difference between marginalizing missions and integrating it into the church’s DNA
• Importance of defining and distinguishing evangelism, outreach, and 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.

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

How does the Nicene Creed unite believers from East and West?

This episode of The Missions Podcast—in collaboration with Cedar Crest Bible Fellowship Church’s Captivate & Conform podcast—features Dr. Don Fairbairn, a theologian and former missionary to Soviet Georgia. The conversation explores the intersection of missions, theology, and church history, particularly how the Nicene Creed and patristic theology offer transcultural insight for modern missiology. Dr. Fairbairn shares his journey from seminary to the mission field and how his time in Eastern Europe reshaped his academic focus on Eastern Orthodoxy and early church thought.

He emphasizes that the early church’s theology was already multilingual and multicultural, forged by African and Asian theologians rather than Europeans—a reminder that Christianity’s foundations are inherently global. Fairbairn advocates for retrieving the transcultural truths of the Nicene Creed and a deeper understanding of the relational nature of salvation.

Key Topics:

• The transcultural and multilingual origins of the Nicene Creed
• Differences between Eastern Orthodox and Western (Protestant) theology
• The concept of divine acceptance vs. human striving for God
• How patristic theology informs modern missiology
• The importance of understanding the Trinity in global missions

Do you love The Missions Podcast? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!

Premium Subscribers get access to:

• Exclusive bonus content
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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.