The Mission Matters

The Mission Matters
  • 4.7 (13)
  • Christianity
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The Mission Matters Podcast discusses the mission of God and the matters of the mission. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. It's hosted by Matthew Ellison, president of Sixteen:Fifteen, and Ted Esler, president of Missio Nexus.

  1. Jul 22

    Barnabas: The Overlooked Missions Leader

    What can churches and missions leaders learn from Barnabas in today's rapidly changing global missions landscape? In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, hosts Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler sit down with Josh Irby, author of The Barnabas Factor: How Cross-Cultural Partnership Amplifies Global Mission, to explore the future of missions in a world where the gospel is moving from everywhere to everywhere. Josh shares insights from interviews with 60 global mission leaders and explains why Barnabas may be a more relevant model for modern missions partnership than we realize. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. 00:00 Introduction 01:01 Meet Josh Irby & The Barnabas Factor 03:38 Why Barnabas Matters for Missions Today 06:06 The Shift to “From Everywhere to Everywhere” Missions 08:22 When Western Churches Become Discouragers Instead of Encouragers 12:42 Money, Methods, Materials, and Meetings 13:05 The Challenge of Money in Global Partnerships 17:31 Capacity Building vs. Dependency 19:47 Making Yourself Dispensable as a Leader 25:24 Barnabas, Paul, and Being Called Out 29:50 Josh's Biggest Leadership Reversal 33:15 Faithful Farmers, Not Spiritual Engineers 35:37 Final Thoughts & The Barnabas Factor 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨Book: The Barnabas Factorhttps://www.amazon.com/Barnabas-Factor-Crosscultural-Partnership-Amplifies/dp/1514015765

  2. Jul 8

    Can Women Lead in Missions? With Michelle Atwell

    Women make up the majority of the global missionary workforce, yet their voices and leadership experiences are often overlooked in conversations about missions. In this episode of The Mission Matters Podcast (with hosts Ted Esler and Matthew Ellison), SEND U.S. CEO Michelle Atwell shares her personal journey into missions leadership, the unique challenges women face in mobilization and church-planting organizations, and the vital contributions women bring to advancing the Great Commission. From cross-cultural ministry among unreached peoples to leadership development, collaboration, and discipleship, Michelle offers practical wisdom for aspiring missionaries and leaders while reminding listeners that God has always used women to help build His Church and expand His Kingdom. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. Links: https://send.org 00:00 Video Introduction00:39 Introduction: Michelle Atwell and SEND International03:00 What SEND International Does and Why It Exists04:43 Women in Missions: Unique Leadership Challenges06:03 Why Many Women Hesitate to Step Into Leadership10:40 Navigating Theology, Leadership, and Gender Expectations13:03 The Unique Strengths Women Bring to Global Missions16:43 How Missions Organizations Are Supporting Women Better18:27 Vulnerability and Trust in Leadership22:04 Building Your Personal Leadership Board25:32 How Men Can Champion Women in Missions26:40 Advice for Young Women Exploring a Missionary Calling29:55 Why God Continues to Use Women in Missions30:44 Final Thoughts

  3. Jun 24

    Vulnerable Mission: The Radical Shift Missions Needs Today

    In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast with hosts Ted Esler and Matthew Ellison, guest Jim Harries challenges traditional Western missions models through the concept of “vulnerable mission.” Drawing from decades of ministry experience in East Africa, he argues that missionaries often maintain power through the English language and financial resources, unintentionally creating barriers to authentic relationships and contextualized ministry. Instead, he advocates for missionaries to operate using local languages and local resources whenever possible, allowing deeper trust, humility, and genuine partnership to develop. The conversation explores how language, money, and cultural assumptions shape ministry effectiveness around the world. Through stories from Bosnia, India, and Africa, the discussion highlights the difference between ministry done from positions of control versus ministry rooted in dependence, listening, and long-term relational presence. Harries also challenges mission agencies to create space for missionaries willing to embrace slower, more vulnerable approaches that prioritize contextual understanding over visible metrics of success. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬00:00 – Intro00:40 – Introducing Jim Harries and Vulnerable Mission01:58 – What Is Vulnerable Mission?03:15 – How English and Money Create Power Dynamics07:22 – Why Language and Resources are Tied Together08:01 – Should Missionaries Stop Funding Local Ministry?10:03 – The Biblical Case for Vulnerable Mission12:16 – Lifestyle, Simplicity, and Living Among the People14:12 – Vulnerable Mission as True Contextualization15:45 – How to Train Missionaries for Cross-Cultural Ministry18:50 – Why Some Missionaries Resist Vulnerable Mission20:42 – What Sending Agencies Should Do Differently25:40 – The Hidden Cost of Generosity in Missions27:17 – Resources for Learning More About Vulnerable Mission𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒• Vulnerable Mission website: vulnerablemission.org• Book - 𝙑𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨https://www.amazon.com/Vulnerable-Mission-Practitioners-Challenging-Guide-Cross-cultural/dp/B0F8J9Z5ZN

  4. Jun 10

    The Future of Missions and Gen Z Faith with Mark Matlock

    Why are so many Gen Z students turning to tarot cards, crystals, mindfulness, and alternative spirituality while walking away from the church? In this thought-provoking conversation, Mark Matlock, Executive Director of Urbana and Senior Fellow at Barna Group, unpacks what younger generations are really searching for and why many are asking not just “Is Christianity true?” but also “Is it beautiful?” From global missions trends to the church’s discipleship crisis, this episode explores the spiritual hunger shaping Gen Z, the future of missions mobilization, and what it will take for Christians to authentically reflect the transforming beauty of Jesus in a skeptical culture.Mark Matlock joins Ted Esler and Matthew Ellison on the Mission Matters Podcast to discuss Gen Z, discipleship, and the future of global missions through the lens of decades of ministry experience and research. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬•Book: Faith for the Curioushttps://shop.barna.com/products/faith-for-the-curious?srsltid=AfmBOoq6DPY3x6LRWjJfMpobny3NW8WMklDY9jOKvz6xxgzDqZ3jMNfY•Urbana https://www.urbana.org/Chapters00:00 — Intro 00:37 — Introducing Mark Matlock and His Ministry Journey 03:05 — From Missionary Aspirations to Youth Ministry 06:07 — Why Youth Ministry Matters in Global Missions 10:08 — What Global Research Reveals About Gen Z 11:10 — Gen Z, Spiritual Curiosity, and Practical Faith 14:01 — Boomers Ask “Is It True?” Gen Z Asks “Is It Beautiful?” 15:55 — Revival, Retreat, and the Spiritual Hunger of Gen Z 19:55 — The Church’s Discipleship Crisis 20:22 — Why Real Discipleship Takes Time 22:28 — “Discipleship Doesn’t Scale” 25:04 — Lessons from the Decline of the Student Volunteer Movement 28:30 — Mid-Z, AI, and the Search for Wisdom 31:09 — What God Did at Urbana 34:53 — Building a Global Missions Movement Through IFES 36:14 — Beautiful Christianity and Reaching the Next Generation 37:35 — Orthodoxy, Orthopraxy, and Orthocardia 39:17 — Moving from Defending Jesus to Introducing Jesus

  5. May 27

    Can You Be Jewish and Follow Jesus? A Powerful Conversation with Aaron Abramson 

    Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler sit down with Aaron Abramson, CEO of Jews for Jesus, to explore the organization’s mission of reaching Jewish people with the gospel while honoring their cultural and historical identity. Abramson explains how Jews for Jesus operates globally by prioritizing local, indigenous believers rather than relying on traditional sending models, creating long-term, culturally rooted ministry.  There is a perceived tension between Jewish identity and faith in Jesus, which often requires thoughtful, contextual conversations that connect the message of the gospel to Jewish history, tradition, and Scripture. Jews for Jesus has had some significant strategic shifts recently, particularly moving from a one-size-fits-all approach to an “audience-first” model shaped by listening, empathy, and cultural understanding. Abramson shares how this shift has led to greater innovation and effectiveness in ministry, as well as deeper engagement with Jewish communities worldwide. Drawing from personal experience, including his time in the Israeli military, he emphasizes the transformative power of the gospel in fostering reconciliation, even in deeply divided contexts. Amid rising global anti-Semitism and instability, Abramson points to a growing spiritual openness and underscores that true hope and lasting change come through the message of Jesus, which has the power to heal identity struggles and restore broken relationships.The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.Aaron's book Mission Design https://a.co/d/08Gcsf0xJews for Jesus https://jewsforjesus.org/

  6. May 13

    Sexual Sin in Missions: A Better Way Forward for Agencies

    In this episode of the The Mission Matters Podcast, Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler sit down with  Dennis Martin (of One Challenge's Sexual Wholeness Initiative) to address a largely unspoken issue in global missions: sexual sin/brokenness. Drawing from both personal experience and global research, Dennis explains how silence, shame, and isolation have allowed struggles like pornography, abuse, and other sexual challenges to persist among missionaries. He highlights that these issues are far more widespread than many assume, often intensified by the pressures of cross-cultural ministry and lack of safe, honest community. The conversation points toward a different path forward—one centered on grace, honesty, and restoration rather than punishment. Dennis shares how mission agencies are beginning to shift their culture by creating safe environments, equipping leaders, and walking alongside individuals through long-term healing processes. Through practical examples and real stories, he emphasizes that freedom is possible when people are no longer alone. The episode challenges churches and mission leaders to break the silence, rethink their approach, and build communities where confession leads to healing, not exit.OC’s Sexual Wholeness Initiative (SWI), spearheaded by Dennis Martin, seeks to change the culture of silence and shame and, by bringing these secret struggles to light, offer freedom and restoration to those whose lives have been shackled by sin. By equipping our staff to create a climate of openness, safety, and redemption and integrating sexual wholeness into our ministry efforts, OC envisions a future in which generations of laborers live and minister out of sexual wholeness and relational health in Christ.The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. SWI@oci.orgRegister for the MissioNexus Mission Leaders Conference 26https://web.cvent.com/event/654a1d2b-f757-4491-a480-fc3f68a2ccc5/websitePage:42fd7167-2fba-4de5-9c38-1540ddbaed85?RefId=events

  7. Apr 22

    What Is Missio Dei? Understanding God’s Mission with Ed Stetzer

    Matthew and Ted's conversation with Dr. Ed Stetzer explores the meaning and history of missio Dei (the idea that mission originates from God, not the church). He traces how missions thinking has shifted over the past century, from “the Church has missions” to “God’s mission has the Church,” and highlights both the biblical strength and the theological risks of that shift. While affirming that God is actively at work in the world and invites His people to join Him, the discussion emphasizes that mission must remain grounded in Scripture, with the church playing a central role in proclaiming the gospel.The episode also addresses a growing tension in evangelical missions today: the pull between a broad, holistic view of mission and the need to prioritize evangelism and reaching unreached people groups. Stetzer warns that when everything is labeled “mission,” the urgency of gospel proclamation can fade. The conversation calls for a balanced approach-one that embraces both gospel demonstration and proclamation, while ensuring that the church does not lose focus on its core calling to make disciples among the nations. The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.

  8. Apr 8

    Are Western Missionaries Still Needed? A Global Missions Perspective

    In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Sarah Breuel shares her experience as a Brazilian missionary serving in Rome and leading a university student movement across Europe. With nearly 20 years in cross-cultural missions, she discusses the growth of the Global South in missions, the rise of Brazilian missionaries, and what it looks like to reach secular, post-Christian contexts like Italy. Sarah also shares her personal calling story and how the gospel reached her family through earlier missionaries, highlighting the ongoing importance of sending and going.The conversation addresses key questions many church and missions leaders are asking today: Are Western missionaries still needed? Has missions become outdated or harmful? Sarah offers a clear, biblical perspective on the continued need for cross-cultural missions and challenges leaders to call the next generation to sacrificial obedience. Drawing from her work with university students, she explains why Gen Z is more open to missions than many assume and why churches must raise the bar in discipleship, calling, and global engagement.The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.

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The Mission Matters Podcast discusses the mission of God and the matters of the mission. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission. It's hosted by Matthew Ellison, president of Sixteen:Fifteen, and Ted Esler, president of Missio Nexus.

Information

  • Creator
    The Mission Matters
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Mission Matters
  • Show Website
    The Mission Matters