evangelical 360°

Host Brian Stiller

A timely and relevant new podcast that dives into the contemporary issues which are impacting Christian life and witness around the world. Guests include leaders, writers, and influencers, all exploring faith from different perspectives and persuasions. Inviting lively discussion and asking tough questions, evangelical 360° is hosted by Brian Stiller, Global Ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance. Our hope is that each person listening will come away informed, encouraged, challenged and inspired!

  1. Ep. 68 / The Spirit in a Disenchanted Age: An Evangelical History with Bruce Hindmarsh

    2D AGO

    Ep. 68 / The Spirit in a Disenchanted Age: An Evangelical History with Bruce Hindmarsh

    Headlines love to shrink “evangelical” to a political label. In this episode we open the frame with historian and theologian, Dr. Bruce Hindmarsh. We journey all the way back to the Great Awakenings of the 1730s—when nominal churchgoers found living faith and began writing testimonies and hymns. We observe the rise of missionary societies, social reform and a global network that crossed denominational boundaries. Along the way, Dr. Hindmarsh shows how simple, portable essentials—conversion, the cross, Scripture, activism—helped the movement travel and translate across cultures and centuries. We explore the Spirit’s through-line often missed in quick takes. From John Wesley’s emphasis on sanctification to the Keswick movement, from the Holiness movement to Azusa Street and later charismatic waves. The story is one of re-enchantment in a disenchanted age. The Holy Spirit personalizes the work of Christ, gives assurance and commissions people into service—a pattern that explains both revival energy and sustainable mission. Dr. Bruce also names the turning point from “clouds of wonders” to institutions, as evangelicals built magazines, schools and agencies to keep the fire from becoming “the work of one generation.” We close by considering the contested name. Should we keep “evangelical”? Dr. Hindmarsh argues yes—because the word carries a living heritage of renewal and mission. If you'd like to learn more from Dr. Bruce Hindmarsh, you can go to his website or purchase his latest book.  And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube!  ____________________ ▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village ▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope" ▶ More Info: evangelical360.com #evangelical360

    47 min
  2. Ep. 67 / Searching for God in a Noisy Age: The Gen Z Revival with Stephen Adubato

    FEB 27

    Ep. 67 / Searching for God in a Noisy Age: The Gen Z Revival with Stephen Adubato

    Headlines love a big story about sweeping revivals, but the truth on the ground is quieter and far more interesting. In this episode we sit down with writer, theologian and cultural commentator, Stephen Adubato. He helps us explore a smaller, sharper movement among Gen Z: fewer people overall perhaps, but distinct in their favour for church, tradition and rigorous spiritual discipline. We press past the hot takes to ask what’s actually changing, and why a generation raised on relativism might be hungry for a faith that names sin, offers mercy and demands life.  Stephen shares why the data matters—and where it can’t speak to sincerity—before tracing the deeper forces at play: an exhaustion of nihilism, the limits of personal truth, and the appeal of strong communities that hold us accountable. We confront the pitfalls too, from turning belief into a political weapon, and mistaking online performance for spiritual growth. The algorithm may reward outrage, but the Gospel asks for sanctity.  Stephen closes the conversation with markers to watch for over the next five years: family formation, humane education that welcomes big questions, and a rediscovery of charity at the edges of society. If you’re ready for a grounded take on faith’s future—less spectacle, more substance—this conversation offers a clear map and practical hope.  If you'd like to learn more from Stephen Adubato, you can read his published works, listen to his podcast and follow him on social media.  And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube!  ____________________ ▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village ▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope" ▶ More Info: evangelical360.com #evangelical360

    33 min
  3. Ep. 66 / Another King: Why Religious Liberty Shapes Human Rights with Paul Marshall (Part 2)

    FEB 20

    Ep. 66 / Another King: Why Religious Liberty Shapes Human Rights with Paul Marshall (Part 2)

    Pressure is rising on believers worldwide, but the story is bigger than any single faith. In this episode we continue our conversation with Dr. Paul Marshall, a political theorist from Baylor University, who helps us trace threats to religious liberty all around the world. From a resurgent China tightening control, to Russia squeezing non-Orthodox churches, and jihadist networks migrating from the Middle East to African frontiers, as well as, religious nationalism hardening in South Asia. The result is a sobering map of persecution hotspots, from Nigeria and Sudan, to India’s volatile anti-conversion climate, and even Latin America’s democratic backsliding.  Amid the headlines, Dr. Marshall returns to a simple, subversive confession: we have another King. That allegiance explains why authoritarians fear genuinely independent churches, even when they are peaceful, and why conversion stirs backlash in traditional societies suddenly flooded with choice. We unpack how modernity and the possibility of new birth collide, creating both opportunity for the gospel and tension with guardians of inherited order.  From there, we draw a careful line between what Christians should expect from the state—protecting life, restraining violence, guarding basic liberties—to what the state must never attempt, such as shaping creeds and appointing religious leaders. Rather than chasing the allure of political persuasion or empire, the church should simply champion its traditional works of mercy: schools, hospitals, welcoming the immigrant, and caring for the poor. This is what bears witness to a different kingdom.  If you'd like to learn more from Dr. Paul Marshall, you can purchase one of his most recent books, go to his website or follow him on Facebook.  And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube!  ____________________ ▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village ▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope" ▶ More Info: evangelical360.com #evangelical360

    34 min
  4. Ep. 65 / Elbows Up: Canada's Rejection of the 51st State with Paul Marshall (Part 1)

    FEB 13

    Ep. 65 / Elbows Up: Canada's Rejection of the 51st State with Paul Marshall (Part 1)

    A throwaway line about Canada becoming the “51st state” lit a fuse that burns back centuries. In this episode we open the map to a rarely told story: English Canada was built by people who rejected the American Revolution, chose loyalty to the Crown, and embraced a social order they believed to be steadier. That choice set Canada on a communitarian path summed up by peace, order and good government, while the United States elevated individual liberty as its guiding star.  In conversation with Dr. Paul Marshall, a political theorist from Baylor University, we walk along the border where these ideals collide. From Loyalist flags and bishops founding universities, to Sunday closing laws and the Charter of Rights, we trace how Canada balanced personal freedom with social cohesion—and how it rapidly secularized, even as the U.S. wrestled with a renewed push to restore mid-century moral norms. We also unpack the contested label of Christian nationalism and focus on what most believers actually seek: protection for life, conscience and family; without confusing political power for spiritual authority.  For listeners who care about political theology, Canadian history, U.S. culture wars, and the future of faith in public life, this conversation offers clarity without clichés and history without hagiography. If you'd like to learn more from Dr. Paul Marshall, you can purchase one of his most recent books, go to his website or follow him on Facebook.  And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube!  ____________________ ▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village ▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope" ▶ More Info: evangelical360.com #evangelical360

    35 min
  5. Ep. 64 / A Faith that Holds in a Fractured World with Richard Mouw

    FEB 6

    Ep. 64 / A Faith that Holds in a Fractured World with Richard Mouw

    What if the word "evangelical" could mean conviction without coercion, and courage without cruelty? In this episode with sit down with Dr. Richard Mouw—philosopher, former president of Fuller Seminary, and one of the clearest voices in public theology—to explore how the gospel speaks to both the restless heart and a fractured society.  Dr. Mouw tells the story of how a simple hymn pulled him back to evangelical faith, not as a retreat into private piety, but as a public summons to engage race, war, gender and immigration with a cruciform-shaped imagination. We trace his path from preacher’s kid to philosopher, and how the Kuyperian vision—Christ claims every square inch—turns classrooms, labs, stadiums and city halls into places of discipleship.  Richard contrasts two familiar temptations in the modern evangelical story: disengage from culture or try to dominate it. He proposes a third way marked by persuasion over force, neighbourly partnerships, and a voice that is “softly and tenderly” truthful. The conversation cuts through culture-war noise to offer practical handles: ask about hopes and fears, build coalitions with Catholics, Muslims and Latter-day Saints on shared goods, and model a faith that can think deeply and love well.  If you’re hungry for a generous orthodoxy that is both intellectually serious and pastorally kind, this episode will meet you where you're at. To learn more from Dr. Richard Mouw, you can purchase one of his most recent books, find his bio online and follow him on Facebook.  And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube!  ____________________ ▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village ▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope" ▶ More Info: evangelical360.com #evangelical360

    52 min
  6. Ep. 63 / A Palestinian Lawyer and Evangelical Leader with Botrus Mansour

    JAN 30

    Ep. 63 / A Palestinian Lawyer and Evangelical Leader with Botrus Mansour

    A global movement just turned toward Nazareth for its next chapter. In this episode we sit down with Rev. Botrus Mansour—Palestinian, evangelical, lawyer and lifelong reconciler—moments before his induction as Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA). Rev. Botrus' path runs through a journalist father writing in Hebrew, a mother formed by a Baptist school, a quiet conversion shaped by a teacher’s integrity, and decades of local service in law, church planting and nonprofit leadership. What emerges is a leader fluent in complexity, who sees unity not as uniformity, but as collaboration anchored in the gospel. Throughout the conversation, we dig into the essentials: what defines an evangelical and why the movement has surged from 90 million to 650 million. Botrus offers a grounded answer—grace-centered faith, the authority of Scripture, and a living witness—arguing that the gospel resonates because it meets the deepest ache of the human heart. That clarity informs how he understands the WEA’s purpose: not command-and-control, but convening and coordination that strengthen national alliances, fosters theological and missional forums, and enables the flourishing of the local church. All the way from Nazareth, a city many overlook, comes a conversation and reminder that God forms leaders in unlikely places. If you'd like to learn more from Rev. Botrus Mansour, you can purchase his most recent book, and you can learn about the WEA through their website and Facebook.  And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube!  ____________________ ▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village ▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope" ▶ More Info: evangelical360.com #evangelical360

    33 min
  7. Ep. 62 / Gen Z 's Quiet Renewal and Return to Religion with Daniel K. Williams

    JAN 23

    Ep. 62 / Gen Z 's Quiet Renewal and Return to Religion with Daniel K. Williams

    Headlines keep telling one story, but the numbers point somewhere else: a growing percentage of Gen Z is finding their way to church—and staying. In this episode we sit down with historian Dr. Daniel K. Williams to unpack fresh data, campus anecdotes and the cultural undercurrents drawing young adults toward a faith that feels rooted, communal and transcendent. We trace how pandemic isolation and a performance-driven culture left many young people hungry for more than achievement, sparking renewed interest in communities with clear beliefs and embodied practices. Dr. Williams connects the dots across Barna, Harvard and Pew, then reaches back to the Second Great Awakening and the 1950s boom to show how spiritual renewal often springs up when it defies elite expectations.  Along the way, we confront a notable twist: more young men are returning than young women, and many are landing in Catholic parishes and charismatic evangelical spaces. We explore why authority, liturgy and a global church identity resonate in a moment of rapid change. If you’re curious about why young adults are seeking God again, how to welcome them without losing the plot to politics, and what it takes to sustain renewal, this conversation offers clarity, hope and a roadmap.  If you'd like to learn more from Daniel K. Williams you can go to his website and purchase his latest book. And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube!  ____________________ ▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village ▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope" ▶ More Info: evangelical360.com #evangelical360

    51 min
  8. Ep. 61 / The Evangelical Rise of the Ethiopian Church with Girma Bekele

    JAN 16

    Ep. 61 / The Evangelical Rise of the Ethiopian Church with Girma Bekele

    What happens when a government locks church doors—and the church grows anyway? In this episode we sit down with, Rev. Dr. Girma Bekele, an Ethiopian scholar and missional leader who shares stories of prayer, perseverance and revival. From a call to preach at the age of 17, to helping plant eleven underground congregations, Pastor Girma has a testimony that blends lived experience with deep theological reflection.  Over the course of the conversation we unpack the long arc of Ethiopian Christianity—Orthodox heritage shaped by the Solomonic narrative, the legacy of the eunuch in Acts, and the third-century pivot under King Ezana—alongside the modern evangelical surge that accelerated under Marxist rule.  Pastor Girma also explains why pneumatology, fervent intercession and everyday evangelism fueled radical growth, and how diaspora churches now anchor vibrant communities across North America and Europe. The conversation also turns to discipleship, social ethics and the urgent need for contextual theology that holds Scripture and the Spirit together.  With the center of Christianity shifting and mission becoming polycentric, Ethiopia stands as both a sender and a learner—ready to partner with global churches and seminaries to cultivate depth, integrity and hope.  If you'd like to learn more from Girma Bekele you can purchase his book and follow him on Facebook.  And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube!  ____________________ ▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village ▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope" ▶ More Info: evangelical360.com #evangelical360

    44 min

Ratings & Reviews

About

A timely and relevant new podcast that dives into the contemporary issues which are impacting Christian life and witness around the world. Guests include leaders, writers, and influencers, all exploring faith from different perspectives and persuasions. Inviting lively discussion and asking tough questions, evangelical 360° is hosted by Brian Stiller, Global Ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance. Our hope is that each person listening will come away informed, encouraged, challenged and inspired!

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