The Mission Matters

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.

What is really happening inside Iran right now, and how should the Church respond?In this episode, Ted and Matthew sit down with Sasan Tavassoli, an Iranian pastor and leader who came to faith in Christ after being raised in a Shiite Muslim home. Now serving the Iranian underground church, Sassan shares firsthand insight into one of the most significant spiritual movements in the world today.Despite decades of oppression, suffering, and unrest, many Iranians are searching for truth—and encountering Jesus in powerful ways. This conversation is a needed reminder: God is at work in places we often overlook—and the Church must learn to listen before it speaks.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.https://www.instagram.com/drsasantavassoli/?hl=enwww.youtube.com/@pastorsasanhttps://sasantavassoli.com/Chapters00:00 Intro01:34 Sassan’s journey from Islam to Christ05:01 Why many Iranians are disillusioned with the current regime08:30 The surprising growth of the underground church08:46 The role of media and discipleship in reaching a closed nation13:19 How Iranian believers view the current conflict18:58 What the global Church often misunderstands22:12 How we can pray, support, and stand with our brothers and sisters in Iran23:48 Challenges to the Iranian Church in a regime change28:21 How to get connect with Sasan

Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler welcome Michele Okimura, founder of Explicit Movement, to discuss sexual integrity as a critical and often overlooked issue in global missions. Michele shares her background as a teacher, church planter, and nonprofit leader, and explains how her ministry equips youth, parents, church leaders, and missionaries to address topics that are frequently avoided, including pornography, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, gender and LGBTQ questions, healthy dating, and God’s design for sex within marriage. Central to her approach is grounding identity in Christ, creating safe and vulnerable spaces for healing, and providing practical tools that help the body of Christ walk in both grace and truth.The conversation highlights how sexual brokenness affects missionaries, church leaders, families, and entire communities worldwide, and why addressing root causes such as trauma, shame, and loneliness is essential for long-term freedom. Michele shares powerful testimonies of transformation among youth, pastors, and families, emphasizing that healing comes not only through accountability but through encountering God’s goodness and embracing His design. She also introduces her “Brave” and “Raven” curriculum series, developed for teens and schools in both faith-based and non-faith versions, which is gaining global interest as a platform for discipleship and prevention. The episode closes with a call for mission agencies and churches to cultivate cultures of wholeness, where leaders and members alike can pursue healing, joy, and holiness for the sake of the gospel.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: Joshua's 20 minute testimony: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/uu1z9epcvutlsseti0gf5/20-min-JOSHUA-KAINA-GENDER.mp4?rlkey=tmmks5nae1eb22qj50lhq2qow&st=k0q7ukx1&dl=0Michele on Sexuality in Missions on the Modern Day Missions Podcast: http://modernday.org/podcast/sexuality-in-missions-with-michele-okimura/Brave and Beautify book series:https://www.thebraveseries.com/Explicit Movement:https://www.explicitmovement.org/

In this episode of The Mission Matters, Matthew and Ted are joined by Bradley Bell, Executive Director of Upstream Equipping, to discuss Bradley and Ted's newly released book, Missiology for Mission Pastors.Written specifically for those leading missions within the local church, this book addresses a growing gap. Many missions pastors and directors find themselves in the role with deep passion but little formal missiological training. Rather than offering a dense academic textbook, this collaborative volume provides a gospel-centered, biblically grounded, and practically applicable framework for missions leadership.Bradley and Ted unpack why this book was needed now, how missions leaders are currently being formed, and why mobilization inside the local church is just as critical as engagement with the field. Drawing from diverse voices, including global perspectives, the book equips missions leaders to think clearly, act wisely, and steward their role faithfully.This conversation also explores the internal and external responsibilities of missions pastors, the role of lead pastors in shaping missions culture, and why mobilization should be viewed not as recruitment, but as an invitation into God’s redemptive story.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.

Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler close out the year on The Mission Matters podcast by reflecting on key missions trends in 2025 and their most-listened episodes. They revisit a controversial conversation on borders and immigration with Alex Kocman, an innovation-focused episode with Tyler Prieb of Missional Labs, and their highly viewed discussion with Mary Ho on the documentary The Other Side of the Mission and the ongoing debate about missions and colonialism. From there, they zoom out to examine the rising cost of discipleship, citing research that martyrdom is increasing again, especially in places like Nigeria, and argue that the church must recover a robust theology of risk rather than be ruled by safety. Matthew and Ted celebrate emerging collaboration and coalitions among churches, agencies, and funders, push back on simplistic narratives about a decline in missionary sending, and note the complexity created by thousands of small “micro-missions.” They close with hopeful signs of spiritual awakening among young people in the U.S. and the UK, looking ahead to Urbana 2025–26 and urging churches to become sending churches with “sending shepherds” ready to disciple and release a new generation to 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.

Ted Esler defines 'deconstruction' as ideas and practices that dilute a Great-Commission focus on discipling the nations. He argues critical reflection is healthy, but postmodern habits and critical-theory framings can overcorrect, obscuring biblical priorities. Ted outlines four current lanes or areas in which deconstruction is apparent: “When everything is missions”; “It’s somebody else’s job”; "Diaspora as replacement"; and "Ideological distortions." Ted closes with a call to long-term, multi-generational faithfulness (not quick fixes) and a rediscovery of Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations.You can read more from Ted Esler at https://tedesler.substack.com/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.

Matthew and Ted sit down with Al Mueller, President and Founder of Excellence in Giving (EIG), to explore what makes Kingdom philanthropy effective. It all started with a midnight call from God; Al traces his journey from Wall Street to advising high-capacity families and explains EIG’s model: rigorous research, transparent relationships, and reporting that fuels celebration and renewed generosity. The conversation covers donor advised funds, outcome measurement, balancing trust and accountability, collaborative giving funds, and why long horizons matter for work among the unreached. Practical insights abound for donors and ministries alike.https://excellenceingiving.com/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.

In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, hosts Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler welcome Dr. Matthew Elliott, President of Oasis International and publisher of the Africa Study Bible. Elliott shares his journey from serving with George Verwer to leading Oasis International, a ministry devoted to contextualizing discipleship resources for Africa. With over 350 contributors from 50 countries, the Africa Study Bible was designed to address the reality that over 80% of pastors in Africa lack formal training and access to solid biblical resources. Elliott explains how cultural disconnects (e.g. pastors using Western illustrations they’ve never experienced) underscore the urgent need for biblically sound, culturally relevant tools for leaders across the continent.The conversation explores “Bible poverty,” not merely as a lack of translation into heart languages, but as a growing crisis where millions of students are being taught the Bible in English without access to a physical copy. Elliott challenges the status quo of “toxic Bible charity,” advocating instead for building sustainable, local economic infrastructure that allows Africans to access affordable, printed Bibles. He also reflects on how African theologians and pastors offer the global church vital insights into community, generosity, and a more culturally attuned reading of Scripture. 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.

In this episode of The Mission Matters podcast, Ted Esler welcomes guests Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters from Sixteen:Fifteen to discuss their new book, The Sending Shepherd: Leading Churches to Disciple All Nations. The book emerges from a Barna study commissioned in partnership with Pioneers, which surveyed over 400 U.S. Protestant pastors about their understanding of missions. The results reveal concerning trends: missions is rarely taught or preached, the definition of missions is widely diluted, and there’s a significant disconnect between pastoral passion for the Great Commission and actual church engagement in global missions. The authors argue that pastoral leadership is critical to reversing this decline and sparking a new missions mobilization movement in the American Church.Despite the challenges, the research also points to encouraging opportunities. While only 27% of pastors report strong passion for global missions, 74% affirm the importance of the Great Commission, and 98% see missions as a biblical mandate. Matthew and Denny emphasize that this gap is a strategic opportunity. We can start to address it with clear definitions, scriptural teaching, and equipping pastors to become "sending shepherds." They encourage church leaders to connect local outreach passions with global needs and to shift from consumer-driven topical teaching to narrative-rich biblical exposition. The book offers a compelling, data-driven call to action for pastors, missions leaders, and mobilizers alike.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.thesendingshepherd.com1615.org/sendingshepherd

In this episode of the Mission Matters podcast, Matthew Ellison and Ted Esler welcome Mark Luckey, Executive Director of Every Child Ministries (ECM), to discuss how the face of missions in Africa is changing. With decades of firsthand experience, Mark shares how improved infrastructure, evolving government involvement in child welfare, and a stronger local church have transformed both the needs and opportunities in African communities. ECM’s mission to serve the most vulnerable children has shifted from a traditional child sponsorship model toward a more holistic, family-empowering approach. This change stems from a desire to move beyond relief and toward lasting community transformation by partnering with local families and churches.Mark Luckey is no stranger to Every Child Ministries, having served as one their own missionaries in Uganda with the Afayo Project. After more than fifteen years of missionary service in four African countries, Mark became the International Executive Director of Every Child Ministries in January 2015. Mark and his wife Stacy have six children and nine grandchildren.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.

How can the illiterate read the Scriptures? Through animation and heart-language engagement, iBIBLE connects deeply with both children and adults in remote areas—many of whom are seeing the Bible in their language for the very first time. In this episode of The Mission Matters, Matthew Ellison speaks with Steve Cleary, founder of Revelation Media and Executive Producer of iBIBLE, a groundbreaking animated series that brings the entire narrative of the Bible to life using Scripture-only scripts.Born out of a dream and a deep desire to impact world missions, iBIBLE is designed to be accessible, visual, and faithful to God’s Word—especially for people who speak minority languages or are unable to read. With translations underway in over 120 languages (including some with as few as 500 speakers), Steve shares how iBIBLE is transforming hearts in places where printed Bibles alone cannot reach.Steve underscores the growing need for visual Scripture in an age where literacy and language barriers keep many from accessing the Gospel. With a vision to complete the entire Bible in short, animated episodes, Steve and his team are pioneering a new frontier in missions—one where the Word of God is not just read or heard, but seen in the language people understand best. It’s not entertainment—it’s transformation through the unaltered power of Scripture.Steve started his work in missions in 1989 as a volunteer for The Voice of the Martyrs. He joined the staff in 1990 and soon after had the honor of traveling with VOM founders Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand. Being able to spend the last decade of their lives with them became the biggest blessing and honor of Steve’s life. He continues with VOM as a contractor and has traveled with them to hostile and restricted nations around the world, including Cuba, Sudan, Northern Nigeria, borders of North Korea and most recently Iraq during the Isis occupation.In 2015 Steve and Robert Fernandez began an animation studio in San Jose, Costa Rica. It was at this time he began to see both the tremendous need and opportunity of making films for the mission field. In January 2017 Steve officially founded and launched the ministry Revelation Media, which is committed to providing quality and culturally engaging media for the global missions community. His projects include the Tortured for Christ movie and animated The Pilgrim’s Progress, and now, he is working on a visual and interactive presentation of the entire Bible called iBIBLE.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.

Many people going to the missions field have little exposure to actually sharing the gospel and need significant training. Why? The church has a passion for evangelism but traditionally, there has not been much focus on how to do it for regular people. Christians generally know how to explain the Gospel, but there's fear and ignorance of how to get into spiritual conversations. How do you get to that moment? How do you bridge a conversation to get to those opportunities?Listen in to this conversation and be challenged in your evangelism. Ted Esler and Matthew Ellison dive deeper into Kevin King's new book Living Out Loud: Letting Your Love for God Flow into Your Everyday Language (https://a.co/d/iN39Rel) and reinvigorate the desire to live out loud.Kevin King is cofounder and president of International Project, a missions-sending organization focused on church planting among unreached people groups across the globe. International Project has a variety of teams in New York City, as well as in other cities in North America and internationally.Kevin has a BA in Bible, an MA in biblical counseling, and an MDiv. His passion for evangelism began when he gave his life to Christ in high school—and later intensified to focus on reaching people who have never heard the gospel. He then discovered the strategic advantage of working with international students and the people groups God was bringing to the US through migration.Kevin and his wife, Jeanne, moved to New York City in 1998 and began sharing the gospel on college campuses and in ethnically diverse neighborhoods. Through the people they've led to Christ, churches have been planted in multiple countries. In 2010, Kevin founded Equip, a ten-month program training cross-cultural church planters to start simple churches that will expand and multiply. A core element of the training is equipping Christians to live their faith out loud in everyday conversations. Workers from multiple missions agencies who have gone through the Equip training are now serving effectively around the world.Kevin enjoys overseeing the International Project teams, as well as engaging in and starting Bible studies with international graduate students through Jeanne's ongoing campus ministry. He also loves running, scuba diving, and hiking. Kevin and Jeanne live in Harlem, where they raised their two children, who are now grown.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.

How are American Christians thinking about engaging non-Christians in the United States? According to recent Barna research there are 60 to 80 million Americans who don't fit the paradigm that a lot of Christians have about those outside of the church. They are not really hostile to discussions about faith and spirituality and are actually spiritually curious at the right moments. Join Ted Esler's conversation with Mark Matlock, the Executive Director of the Urbana Student Missions Conference and also author of Faith for the Curious: How an Era of Spiritual Openness Shapes the Way We Live and Help Others Follow Jesus. Mark Matlock is a facilitator of innovation and impact, helping organizations adapt to changing times through turning research based insights into action. The founder of WisdomWorks LLC a consultancy helping churches and faith-based organizations leverage their collective wisdom and insight to innovate and adapt in changing times. Mark also works with Barna to assist clients with board training and on-site facilitation of research findings. Mark has been an advisor to organizations such as the Seed Company, Youth Specialties, Young Life, Awana, Brotherhood Mutual, Movement.org, BetterMan and has served as a board member of the American Bible Society. Mark is the author of more than 20 books for teens and parents, and in 2019 co-authored Faith for Exiles: Five Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon with Barna Group President David Kinnaman. Having initiated many research projects with Barna over the last two decades related to Next Gen studies, Mark’s research continues to provide insights into emerging generations and how to cultivate faithful disciples.Mark is an ordained minister, certified LifePLanner, LEGO Serious Play facilitator, and MCORE trainer and coach. Mark is also certified as a HopIn online platform agency. He’s been married for 30 years to his wife Jade. They have two adult children.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.https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Curious-Spiritual-Openness-Shapes/dp/0801018714https://www.urbana.org/