Journey Podcast

AGWM Mobilization

This is the Journey Podcast — where we take missiology off the shelf and bring it to life, because you deserve to be equipped for the call. Hosted by Christi Trimbur and Bill Snider, each episode turns real missiological research into practical, personal, and accessible wisdom for missionaries. Whether you're on your first term or your fourth country, this is your resource for lifelong learning — no assignments, no pressure. Pull up a chair, pour your coffee, and join us on the journey.

Episodes

  1. Oct 28

    How we Align

    In the final conversation of this three-part series, Christy Trimbur, Bill Snider, and Scott Strickland explore how every missionary assignment can contribute to God’s global mission. They discuss pioneering ministry, strengthening emerging movements, and partnering with established churches, emphasizing that different callings serve one shared mission. The conversation considers identity beyond a ministry role, healthy partnerships, prayer, and practical ways to connect everyday ministry with gospel access. Listeners are encouraged to adopt and learn about an unengaged people group, identify people nearby who lack access to the gospel, and mobilize others to participate. Questions for small group, team, or individual discussion and contemplation: 1.        The AGWM paper speaks of pioneer work and apostolic function. Which best describes your current ministry, and why? 2.        How can theological education, leadership development, and work with national churches contribute to reaching unengaged peoples? 3.        What would it look like for your ministry to be more intentionally aligned with the shared mission of the global Church? 4.        If the unreached are the shared responsibility of the whole Church, what might God be asking of you next? Recommended Resources: https://team.agwm.org/cms-data/depot/hipwig/Defining-Unreached-People-Groups-Executive-Summary.pdf https://mcusercontent.com/f4f9bec2953d55a9e6abc61c4/files/281ca940-2f75-6d89-a1cb-58cfba3a879f/Gospel_Access_Core_Messaging_Guide.pdf https://agwm.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f4f9bec2953d55a9e6abc61c4&id=4452a4114d&e=884d3e1c14 https://agwm.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f4f9bec2953d55a9e6abc61c4&id=0e80e15ea1&e=884d3e1c14 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/026537880802500405?casa_token=oLoEBJ7eWLsAAAAA:sg2OixxyeuwG0Llx4v7TqC9bFYn2-_kauShfndHBXahiBjx91Vo2iROA8HEQXihSd8pbliGIG8EJ

  2. Oct 28

    Who Still has no Access

    In this episode of The Journey Podcast, Bill Snider, Christy Trimbur, and Scott Strickland discuss reached, unreached, and unengaged people groups and what it means to provide gospel access. They describe gospel access as a credible opportunity to hear, understand, and respond to Jesus. The conversation explores intentional relationships, language learning, prayer, and adopting people groups, alongside collaboration with Assemblies of God partners around the world. They also discuss global alignment and the patience, humility, and lasting relationships needed to mobilize churches toward people who have little or no opportunity to hear the gospel. Questions for small group, team, or individual discussion and contemplation: 1.       Why do you think AGWM is shifting its language toward gospel access? What does that add to the conversation? 2.       How can we help our supporting churches understand the difference between someone being lost and someone having little or no access to the gospel? Why does that distinction matter? 3.       What responsibilities does the global Church have toward people who currently have no credible opportunity to hear the gospel? 4.       What barriers—spiritual, cultural, political, or practical—make it difficult for UUPGs in your area of ministry to be engaged? 5.       How can we, as individual global workers, teams, and as AGWM, encourage and equip more global workers from all of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship so that we become all peoples reaching all peoples? What does this look like practically? Recommended Resources: https://team.agwm.org/cms-data/depot/hipwig/Defining-Unreached-People-Groups-Executive-Summary.pdf https://mcusercontent.com/f4f9bec2953d55a9e6abc61c4/files/281ca940-2f75-6d89-a1cb-58cfba3a879f/Gospel_Access_Core_Messaging_Guide.pdf https://agwm.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f4f9bec2953d55a9e6abc61c4&id=4452a4114d&e=884d3e1c14 https://agwm.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f4f9bec2953d55a9e6abc61c4&id=0e80e15ea1&e=884d3e1c14 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/026537880802500405?casa_token=oLoEBJ7eWLsAAAAA:sg2OixxyeuwG0Llx4v7TqC9bFYn2-_kauShfndHBXahiBjx91Vo2iROA8HEQXihSd8pbliGIG8EJ

  3. Oct 28

    Why People Groups matter

    In this episode of The Journey Podcast, Christi Trimbur and Bill Snider join Scott Strickland to explore why people groups matter in God’s mission. They trace the biblical theme of all nations and discuss how shared language, culture, and identity can shape access to the gospel. Through examples from Turkey, Germany, Egypt, Myanmar, and Indonesia, they explain why geographic proximity does not always mean gospel access. The conversation also considers how global workers can help reach unreached peoples through teaching, prayer, mobilization, and equipping local churches. Questions for small group, team, or individual discussion and contemplation: 1.       When you think about God’s mission, do you naturally think in terms of places or peoples? Why? 2.       Why do you think Scripture emphasizes “all peoples” from Genesis to Revelation? What does that tell us about God’s heart? 3.       How does understanding people groups change the way we think about the unfinished task of mission? 4.       The AGWM UPG paper emphasizes that proximity does not equal access. Where do you see that reality in the world today—or in your own context? 5.       How does your understanding of your own calling shift when you realize that the mission of God is both personal and collective? Recommended Resources: https://team.agwm.org/cms-data/depot/hipwig/Defining-Unreached-People-Groups-Executive-Summary.pdf https://mcusercontent.com/f4f9bec2953d55a9e6abc61c4/files/281ca940-2f75-6d89-a1cb-58cfba3a879f/Gospel_Access_Core_Messaging_Guide.pdf  https://agwm.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f4f9bec2953d55a9e6abc61c4&id=4452a4114d&e=884d3e1c14 https://agwm.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f4f9bec2953d55a9e6abc61c4&id=0e80e15ea1&e=884d3e1c14  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/026537880802500405?casa_token=oLoEBJ7eWLsAAAAA:sg2OixxyeuwG0Llx4v7TqC9bFYn2-_kauShfndHBXahiBjx91Vo2iROA8HEQXihSd8pbliGIG8EJ

  4. Jun 24

    What does this Mean to Modern Missions – Urgency

    In this final episode with David and Margot Woodworth, Christi and Bill tackle what collective calling actually looks like on the ground today, from resisting the pull of quick results and hyper-individualism to knowing when it might be time to hand something off and say yes to something new. Questions for small group, team, or individual discussion and contemplation: Which of the three modern challenges discussed in the episode—distance from founders, expansion of mission structures, or the social turn—do you think most affects missions today? Why?Why is the presence or absence of a viable gospel witness such an important factor in defining missionary priorities?How can missionaries remain faithful to both compassion ministry and gospel proclamation without losing focus?What practical questions can individuals or teams ask to evaluate whether they are aligned with God’s mission?If an outside observer examined my time, energy, and resources, would they conclude that my ministry is helping bring the gospel to people who still lack access to it?Recommended Resources:  Collective Call paper   Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis by William Webb   Apostolic Function by Alan Johnson  Bonhoeffer’s Missional Ecclesiology by Patrick Franklin  Missions in the Age of the Spirit by John York   Autopsy of a Church by Thom S Rainer   Announcing the Kingdom by Arthur Glasser

  5. Jun 22

    Where does Collective Calling Come From Biblically – Authority

    The collective calling of missionaries isn't a modern idea — it's woven into Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. In this episode, Christi and Bill continue their conversation with missionaries David and Margot Woodworth, tracing the biblical thread of God's mission and exploring what happens when the church loses the big picture. Answering why Spirit-led mission will always outrun strategy-driven mission, and what it means to keep going faithfully when the fruit feels far. 📎 Show notes and the full paper are linked below. Questions for small group, team, or individual discussion and contemplation: How does viewing Scripture as one unified mission story change the way you read the Bible?What does God’s call of Abraham teach us about the relationship between blessing and mission?How does Acts 13 demonstrate both the role of the Holy Spirit and the role of the church in missionary sending?Which biblical example in this episode most clearly demonstrates the idea of collective calling? Why?What changes might be necessary when a missionary realizes they are called by God but currently misaligned with the larger mission?Recommended Resources: Collective Call paper Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis by William Webb Apostolic Function by Alan JohnsonBonhoeffer’s Missional Ecclesiology by Patrick FranklinMissions in the Age of the Spirit by John York Autopsy of a Church by Thom S Rainer Announcing the Kingdom by Arthur Glasser

  6. Jun 17

    What is a Missionary – Function

    You know who you are. Now what do you actually do all day? In part two of this series, Christi, Bill, and Amy Jacobs dig into the everyday function of a missionary — from church planting and training local leaders to compassion ministry and the supporting roles that make it all possible. The key question isn't whether your role is important.  It's what your role is serving. They also unpack the power of apostolic teams, staying aligned with core priorities, and why multiplying into others may be the most significant thing a missionary can do for the long haul. Reflection Questions: 1. How does your role contribute to: - Church planting? - Leadership development? 2. Where do you feel alignment—or misalignment? 3. Do you clearly understand your role on your team? 4. How does your team function toward shared mission? 5. What is one adjustment you need to make to better align with Series Wrap Up: 1. How are missionary identity and missionary function connected? 2. Which is easier to lose over time: clarity about who you are or clarity about what you do? Why? 3. How has your understanding of missionary calling matured since arriving on the field? 4. What assumptions about missions were challenged by these episodes? 5. Where do you currently sense the greatest need for growth: identity, function, alignment, resilience, teamwork, or something else? 6. What is one practical step you can take this month to live more intentionally as a Spirit-called, church-sent missionary? 7. How can your team help one another remain aligned with both missionary identity and missionary purpose over the long term?   Recommended Resources: - What is a Missionary Paper  - The Mission of God’s People by Christopher Wright - Transforming Mission by David Bosch  - Crossing Cultural Frontiers by Andrew Walls - Cross-Cultural Servanthood by Duane Elmer

About

This is the Journey Podcast — where we take missiology off the shelf and bring it to life, because you deserve to be equipped for the call. Hosted by Christi Trimbur and Bill Snider, each episode turns real missiological research into practical, personal, and accessible wisdom for missionaries. Whether you're on your first term or your fourth country, this is your resource for lifelong learning — no assignments, no pressure. Pull up a chair, pour your coffee, and join us on the journey.