The Ethnos360 Podcast

Ethnos360

Vital topics, honest conversations and unpacking the Great Commission Curious about missions? Wondering what it really takes to reach the unreached? The Ethnos360 Podcast is your front-row seat to honest conversations with people who’ve been there. From practical tips to powerful testimonies, we’ll help you navigate the questions, challenges and joys of stepping into God’s global plan — whether you’re just exploring or already on the journey.  You'll hear: About God's Word and its role in missionsAbout cross-cultural living and ministryFirst-hand accounts from Bible school students and teachersPractical steps for serving with familiesHow to plant churches that endureHow to support the missionaries in your lifeHow to stay involved when you can't go ... yet Our podcast is made up of three distinct shows: Real People, Real Stories: Unscripted conversations that help you see how God uses the willingness of people like you to do incredible things for His glory. Though the stories and places our guests have served all sound different, the theme running through every conversation is God’s faithfulness. Rooted & Mature: Dive into the choices made, the values held and the methods used by us and our Global Partners, talking honestly about the successes and failures we’ve seen. The Bible & Missions Podcast: Alan McDole interviews missionaries, Bible Institute professors and students to explore biblical missions and inspire the next generation to get involved in what God is doing around the world. You can find more details as well as our podcast policies at here: Podcast - Ethnos360

Episodes

  1. 14 Jul

    The Missionary Roles People Don’t Talk About

    When most people think of missions, they picture Bible translators or church planters living in remote locations. But what if reaching the unreached requires an entire team of people serving in roles you've never considered?     In this episode of the “Bible & Missions Podcast,” Alan sits down with Joel Potter to hear his journey from missionary kid to serving in communications and media at Ethnos360. Together they explore why support missionaries are essential to the Great Commission, how God uses people's unique gifts — from videography and photography to aviation, HR, finance and cooking — and why there is no "second-class" missionary role.     Whether you're considering missions, wondering how your career could be used for God's kingdom or simply want to understand better how missionaries are supported, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.     If you've ever thought, "I don't think I have the skills to be a missionary," this episode is for you.     Time Stamps:  0:00 Intro  1:18 Joel’s parents became missionaries later in life  2:25 How Joel became a missionary  4:06 Joel’s experience at Ethnos360 Bible Institute  7:11 Deciding how to be involved in missions  10:16 Coming back to the USA  11:26 Bicycle spokes analogy  13:28 Examples of support roles  18:45 Support raising almost kept Alan from missions  19:22 Joel’s current role  21:01 Support roles needed right now  23:01 Is lack of money going to stop God’s mission?  26:51 Why is there a need for a mission organization instead of just churches sending?    “The Bible & Missions Podcast,” an Ethnos360 Podcast.     Alan McDole interviews missionaries, Bible Institute professors and students to explore biblical missions and inspire the next generation to get involved in what God is doing around the world.     Find the Ethnos360 Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube!  -- Find out more about the Ethnos360 Podcast as well as our policies at: Podcast - Ethnos360

    The Missionary Roles People Don’t Talk About
  2. 16 Jun

    The Cultural Mistake That Nearly Ended Their Mission Work

    What happens when one misunderstood conversation nearly gets missionaries kicked out of an unreached people group?   In this episode, missionary Luke Thek shares what it’s really like learning the language and culture of the Uruwa people in Papua New Guinea. From painful cultural misunderstandings to the massive importance of Bible translation, Luke explains why missionaries spend years learning the heart language before teaching Scripture. He tells the shocking story of how one direct response created a broken relationship, public shame and even danger for a mission plane — all because he didn’t yet understand the culture.   Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro to podcast 0:26 Intro to Luke Thek’s ministry in Papua New Guinea 0:44 Why learn the national language? 1:26 Why the gospel must be shared in the heart language 2:45 What is the hardest part of learning culture & language? 5:11 The cultural mistake that nearly ended their mission work 12:40 How long is it going to take to plant a church? 14:45 How learning a people group’s culture & language is a spiritual process 16:57 What are you looking forward to when you go back into the village?    The Bible & Missions Podcast, an Ethnos360 Podcast.   Alan McDole interviews missionaries, Bible Institute professors and students to explore biblical missions and inspire the next generation to get involved in what God is doing around the world. -- Find out more about the Ethnos360 Podcast as well as our policies at: Podcast - Ethnos360

    The Cultural Mistake That Nearly Ended Their Mission Work

About

Vital topics, honest conversations and unpacking the Great Commission Curious about missions? Wondering what it really takes to reach the unreached? The Ethnos360 Podcast is your front-row seat to honest conversations with people who’ve been there. From practical tips to powerful testimonies, we’ll help you navigate the questions, challenges and joys of stepping into God’s global plan — whether you’re just exploring or already on the journey.  You'll hear: About God's Word and its role in missionsAbout cross-cultural living and ministryFirst-hand accounts from Bible school students and teachersPractical steps for serving with familiesHow to plant churches that endureHow to support the missionaries in your lifeHow to stay involved when you can't go ... yet Our podcast is made up of three distinct shows: Real People, Real Stories: Unscripted conversations that help you see how God uses the willingness of people like you to do incredible things for His glory. Though the stories and places our guests have served all sound different, the theme running through every conversation is God’s faithfulness. Rooted & Mature: Dive into the choices made, the values held and the methods used by us and our Global Partners, talking honestly about the successes and failures we’ve seen. The Bible & Missions Podcast: Alan McDole interviews missionaries, Bible Institute professors and students to explore biblical missions and inspire the next generation to get involved in what God is doing around the world. You can find more details as well as our podcast policies at here: Podcast - Ethnos360