The Same Commission
Echoes International podcast

A difficult topic today for The Same Commission podcast as we look at what it means to suffer as a Christian. Shahbaz shares from his experiences in Pakistan, mentioning in particularly recent events affecting believers in the Punjab province. It might not be a subject we like to dwell on, but suffering has long characterised the Christian’s life and Shahbaz, Jim and communications manager Lesley (standing in for our missions director Matt Pitts) reflect on why suffering isn’t in vain.

The Same Commission podcast focuses on aspects of mission you might not have considered before. Whether you are thinking about mission for the first time or you’ve been faithfully serving in or supporting mission – this is the podcast for you! Echoes International’s Jim Armstrong and Matt Pitts meet a new guest each week from the world of mission, learn about a new topic and hear ways in which we can pray effectively. Find out how God is moving across His world and be inspired to follow God’s leading.

Season 1
Episode 9

SUFFERING

with Shahbaz Masih Boota, Pakistan

Shahbaz Masih Boota has been a full-time church leader in the Brethren church in Pakistan for around 10 years. He then joined Zarephath Bible Seminary (ZBS) in 2008 and has served at ZBS in different roles, such as lecturer, Associate Dean, and President of the Seminary until 2022. He is now studying for his Ph.D. He teaches and speaks on Christian Theology in Context, looking particularly at the theology of suffering and persecution in a minority context.

“By suffering, churches are more motivated, more revived, more strengthened, more focused on prayer and fasting – the church is united!”

A difficult topic today for The Same Commission podcast as we look at what it means to suffer as a Christian. Shahbaz shares from his experiences in Pakistan, mentioning in particularly recent events affecting believers in the Punjab province. It might not be a subject we like to dwell on, but suffering has long characterised the Christian’s life and Shahbaz, Jim and communications manager Lesley (standing in for our missions director Matt Pitts) reflect on why suffering isn’t in vain.

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Lesley de Blieck, Communications Manager, Echoes International and Shahbaz Masih Boota, Pakistan

Resources: https://www.youtube.com/@ShahbazMasihBoota
Opal International: https://www.opalinternational.org/news/suffering-for-christ

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905
Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational
Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Believers; Prayer; Missionaries; Faith; Pakistan; Asia; Christianity; Suffering; Pain; Violence; Response; Churches; Church; Unity; United; Pray; Minorities; Persecution; Assemblies

Bringing his many years of experience on the mission field encouraging microenterprise and setting up humanitarian aid projects, Allan considers whether BUSINESS AS MISSION is just something for the entrepreneurial types among us. Jim and Matt quiz him on the advice Allan would give to new mission partners setting out and they all reflect on how to keep mission as your primary goal in business.

The Same Commission podcast focuses on aspects of mission you might not have considered before. Whether you are thinking about mission for the first time or you’ve been faithfully serving in or supporting mission – this is the podcast for you! Echoes International’s Jim Armstrong and Matt Pitts meet a new guest each week from the world of mission, learn about a new topic and hear ways in which we can pray effectively. Find out how God is moving across His world and be inspired to follow God’s leading.

Season 1
Episode 8

Season 1
Episode 8

BUSINESS AS MISSION

with Allan Bussard, MSC Canada mission partner

Allan Bussard is chair and managing director of Integra Cooperative, a social venture capital fund active in Eastern Europe and East Africa and founding partner of Integra Foundation, a microenterprise development and SME business development agency. Allan, with his wife Caulene, ministers through discipleship in Central and Eastern Europe, economic development (poverty alleviation) programmes in Central and Eastern Europe and East Africa and work with children at risk and are listed by our sister support group in Canada, MSC.

“There’s a wide range of skills that can be employed, for example engineers and technicians and logistics people - and so who is it that God has made you to be and how can that fit into a bigger picture?”

Bringing his many years of experience on the mission field encouraging microenterprise and setting up humanitarian aid projects, Allan considers whether BUSINESS AS MISSION is just something for the entrepreneurial types among us. Jim and Matt quiz him on the advice Allan would give to new mission partners setting out and they all reflect on how to keep mission as your primary goal in business.

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Allan Bussard, MSC Canada mission partner

Resources: Allan and Caulene Bussard, MSC Canada https://msccanada.org/donee/bussard-allan-and-caulene/ Integra: https://integra.sk/en/o-nas/

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905
Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational
Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Believers; Prayer; Missionaries; Faith; Business as mission; Microenterprise; Humanitarian aid; Christianity; Small and Medium Sized Enterprise; SME; Business; Business Development; Central Europe; Eastern Europe; Skills; East Africa; Economic development; Poverty; Poverty alleviation; Support; Assistance; Assemblies

Anne-Laure shares about TEACHING AND TRAINING FOR WOMEN, looking in particular at the training course she leads for women. She muses what impact there is on the local church when women receive theological training. Jim and Matt ask her about the challenges facing women as they learn and why this should be an important issue for the whole church to support.

The Same Commission podcast focuses on aspects of mission you might not have considered before. Whether you are thinking about mission for the first time or you’ve been faithfully serving in or supporting mission – this is the podcast for you! Echoes International’s Jim Armstrong and Matt Pitts meet a new guest each week from the world of mission, learn about a new topic and hear ways in which we can pray effectively. Find out how God is moving across His world and be inspired to follow God’s leading.

Season 1 - Episode 7

TEACHING AND TRAINING FOR WOMEN

with Anne-Laure Mostacero, Echoes International mission partner

Originally from France, Anne-Laure Mostacero has served on OM ships and in Peru and has been trained in Northern Ireland and the United States. She and her husband Luis are now based in Spain and they are mission partners associated with Echoes International. Anne-Laure serves the Lord through writing, teaching, and mentoring women living and serving in 18 different hispanic countries.

“It’s about women who do understand their new identity in Christ and are active in their gifting and serving the church, serving in mission. It’s about women being in the Word and that changes their circle of influence” Anne-Laure Mostacero, Echoes International mission partner

Anne-Laure shares about TEACHING AND TRAINING FOR WOMEN, looking in particular at the training course she leads for women. She muses what impact there is on the local church when women receive theological training. Jim and Matt ask her about the challenges facing women as they learn and why this should be an important issue for the whole church to support.

Podcast participants: Jim Armstrong, General Director, Echoes International, Matt Pitts, Missions Director, Echoes International and Anne-Laure Mostacero, Echoes International mission partner

Resources: https://www.echoesinternational.org.uk/portfolio-items/spain-luis-anne-laure-mostacero/

Ancladas https://ancladas.org/testimonios/anne-laure/

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk/commission
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-same-commission/id1735900905
Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/be7b52bc-c722-41d2-a211-2cd958f6b7eb/the-same-commission
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LlwFSwHrVeYrJlhfcvJy2?si=b78369ad3f5945e5

SOCIAL:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echoesinternational/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/echoesinternational
Website: www.echoesinternational.org.uk

KEYWORDS: Mission; Mission partners; Gospel; Christian; Brethren; Believers; Prayer; Missionaries; Faith; Woman; Woman; Theology; Theological Training; Training; Ladies; Church; Assemblies;