If Only We Could See Part 2 w/ Jennifer Trafton

If Only We Could See Part 2 w/ Jennifer Trafton

From Amazon to the Himalayas by Paul Akin

May 27, 2026 · 22 min · Season 9 · Episode 78

About this episode

Paul Akin interviews Jennifer Trafton about Lilias Trotter’s impactful missionary work and her creative approach to ministry in North Africa.

Host Paul Akin interviews Jennifer Trafton about her book, If Only We Could See, highlighting missionary Lilias Trotter’s decades in North Africa and how she leveraged art and creativity for ministry. Trotter kept nearly daily illustrated journals for 40 years, shared them with supporters, and helped produce colorful Arabic publications shaped by the region’s visual language to help people “see” and therefore love and pray for the Arab people she loved. Trafton explains Trotter’s idea of a “beautiful possible life” marked by joyful adventure, surrender to the Spirit, and faithful, often hidden obedience rather than platform-driven success. The conversation emphasizes Trotter’s attentive compassion, her ability to dignify marginalized people by truly seeing them, and how studying her has shaped Trafton’s attentiveness, prayer for the Arab world, and perspective on calling. Mentioned in this episode: The Online PhD at Southern Seminary https://www.sbts.edu/online-phd/

People in this episode

Host: Paul Akin

Guest: Jennifer Trafton

Topics covered

  • missionary work
  • art in ministry
  • compassion
  • Arab culture
  • spirituality
  • calling

Keywords

  • Lilias Trotter
  • missionary
  • art
  • North Africa
  • spirituality
  • Arab world
  • creativity
  • prayer
  • compassion

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Southern Seminary

Books & works: If Only We Could See

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