• #112. There's No Shortcuts in Compassion
    Oct 22 2024

    Anita Rahma currently lives with her family in the slums of Jakarta, Indonesia. She discusses discipleship, incarnational urban ministry, and loving Muslim neighbors.

    Book: Downward Discipleship

    Book: Beyond Our Walls

    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
    • Definition of "slum"
    • What downward discipleship is
    • Building relationships in Jakarta

    ABOUT THE GUEST:

    Anita’s high school years were spent as an American TCK in the Philippines. For the past decade, Anita and her husband and two children have lived and served in a slum in Indonesia. She enjoys learning piano, playing in the rain, and devouring good books. She is the author of Beyond Our Walls: Finding Jesus in the Slums of Jakarta and Downward Discipleship: How Amy Carmichael Gave Me Courage to Serve in a Slum.

    RELATED LINKS:
    • Servants Asia Website
    • Email Anita Rahma

    TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

    00:39 - Introducing Anita Rahma

    03:22 - Anita's choice to live in the urban slums of Jakarta

    03:33 - ...grew up in the US as a child of pastors in a modern Mennonite home

    03:49 - ...loving God could not be separated from loving those struggling with poverty

    03:56 - ...moved to the Philippines during high school

    04:06 - ...God working on her heart - her middle-class life vs the homeless around her

    04:27 - ... felt that Jesus was saying that He is with the homeless

    04:36 - ...desire to return to encounter Jesus while serving the poor

    04:51 - ...in college years, went to Urbana Missions Convention, Servants to Asia's Urban Poor

    05:10 - ...God is with the poor; we want to be too

    05:24 - ...over 1B people live in urban slums

    05:59 - Definition of "slum" and why live there

    07:06 - ...incarnation: live in the community in which you are serving

    07:21 - ...really experience the community to know their needs

    07:38 - ...follow Jesus to serve the poor

    07:58 - ...great place to learn the language and culture

    08:13 - What in Anita's background helped her connect with impoverished people?

    09:12 - ...initially, did not want to leave the Philippines and return to America

    09:36 - ...God taught a lot about poverty in America

    10:09 - ...felt God calling her back overseas

    12:19 - Explanation of "downward discipleship"

    12:30 - ...bombardment of messages to seek success

    12:47 - ...Jesus sets an example of downward mobility - left heaven for earth

    13:21 - ...taking the position of a servant

    13:37 - ...a disciple is someone who follows

    13:55 - Anita's books

    13:58 - ...First Book: Beyond Our Walls: Finding Jesus in the Slums of Jakarta

    14:04 - ...Second book: Downward Discipleship: How Amy Carmichael Gave Me Courage to Serve in a Slum

    14:09 - ......tying in stories of Amy Carmichael

    14:44 - ......the struggle of downward discipleship in the American church context

    14:57 - ......discipleship happen overseas in the process of learning

    15:05 - How to communicate the concept of downward discipleship to the local church

    15:27 - ...moving from the need to control to compassion

    15:58 - ...compassion means to suffer with

    17:23 - Some of the...

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    36 mins
  • #111. Commissioning Missionaries: Starting Point or Finish Line?
    Oct 8 2024

    Dr. Ryan Martin discusses the importance caring for our missionaries well and how to engage the local church.

    Book: Holding the Rope

    Blog: The Upstream Collective - Cultivating Missions Awareness

    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
    • When does missionary care start
    • Practical ways the local church can care for their missionaries
    • How pastors can help their congregation be aware of the missionaries' needs

    ABOUT THE GUEST:

    Ryan serves as Director of Missions and Operations with Lightbearers Ministries. He graduated in 2022 with a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological seminary, where he also serves as a trustee. He has received a MDiv in Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2008), and an undergraduate degree (2005) from Union University in Jackson, TN. Prior to joining Lightbearers, he served for thirteen years as a missions pastor in the local church. Ryan lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Rebekah, and three children: Hudson, Annie, and Hattie.

    RELATED LINKS:
    • Website: Lightbearers.com
    • Twitter: Ryan Allen Martin
    • Email: Ryan Martin

    TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

    02:02 - Introducing Dr Ryan Martin

    02:58 - Motivation for writing a book on missionary care

    04:07 - ...addressing needs of missionary families

    04:34 - ...giving and not being poured back into and filled up

    04:41 - ..almost reaching the point of burnout

    05:16 - How do we care for them?

    05:59 - ...the local church sensed that more tools were needed to care for missionaries well

    09:06 - Book - Holding the Rope : How the Local Church Can Care for Its Sent Ones

    09:10 - ...Metaphor for the title, "Holding the Rope"

    09:21 - ...William Carey sermon

    10:28 - Importance of caring for missionaries

    11:12 - ...commissioning a missionary is the starting point, not the finish line

    11:44 - When does missionary care start?

    12:02 - ...getting to know the missionary as he is being trained and developed

    12:26 - ...understand where the pressure points might be

    12:55 - ...debrief points when the missionary returns

    13:16 - ...areas of struggle will be exposed in the field

    13:51 - What are practical ways that a church can care for their missionaries?

    14:09 - ...evaluate missionaries' readiness

    14:16 - ......The Upstream Collective has resources

    14:39 - ...pre-field stage

    15:07 - ...on the field care

    16:04 - ...returning from the field

    16:26 - How can pastors help their congregation be aware of their missionaries' needs?

    16:32 - ...get to know the missionaries

    17:12 - ...look for ways to bring the missionaries before the congregation

    17:58 - ...visit missionaries in the field

    19:13 - How do we care for missionaries' kids?

    20:44 - ...show the children their role and how they can help

    21:03 - ...dealing with different ages

    21:37 - ...children and teen ministries to pray for missionary kids

    21:46 - ...send families with children to visit them in the field

    22:24 - ...dealing with abuse and crisis situations

    23:33 - ...issues are worldwide, not just isolated

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    32 mins
  • #110. The Nations Are Here Within Our Reach
    Sep 24 2024

    Dr. Ryan Martin discusses the importance of missional awareness in the local church, particularly through local international ministry.

    Book: Holding the Rope

    Blog: The Upstream Collective - Cultivating Missions Awareness

    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
    • What missional awareness is
    • Three practical suggestions for engaging the local international community
    • What missional discipleship looks like

    ABOUT THE GUEST:

    Ryan serves as Director of Missions and Operations with Lightbearers Ministries. He graduated in 2022 with a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological seminary, where he also serves as a trustee. He has received a MDiv in Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2008), and an undergraduate degree (2005) from Union University in Jackson, TN. Prior to joining Lightbearers, he served for thirteen years as a missions pastor in the local church. Ryan lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Rebekah, and three children: Hudson, Annie, and Hattie.

    SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:
    • John 20 : 21
    • Acts 17 : 26

    RELATED LINKS:
    • Website: Lightbearers.com
    • Twitter: Ryan Allen Martin
    • Email: Ryan Martin

    TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

    00:09 - Introducing Ryan Martin

    03:26 - What is missional awareness?

    03:40 - ...The unreached are now within arm's reach

    04:14 - ...John 20 - 21 - sent by Jesus to be ambassadors into the world

    04:32 - ...The nations are here within our reach

    05:01 - ...The Great Commission is not just for the paid professionals

    05:22 - ...Make disciples and be disciples who make disciples

    05:29 - How does missional awareness tie into our growing international community?

    05:59 - ...Acts 17 - 26 - God has determined our dwelling places

    06:12 - ...God has brought the nations to us and to recognize that we need to live that theology

    06:50 - ...Recognize the need to take the gospel to our local people groups

    09:47 - Planting seven churches over the next ten years

    10:22 - ...First, Hispanic church plant and Second, South Asian

    10:27 - ...Next, Hmong and South East Asian population

    10:47 - ...and global partners to train and sent out

    11:15 - ...Resourced by local church budget

    11:42 - Practical Suggestions for engaging with the local international community

    12:15 - ...Local church being missionally aware

    12:34 - ...Visit world religion sites and learn about other religions

    14:08 - ......Look for avenues to gospel conversations

    14:14 - ......Read up on basics before visiting

    15:05 - ...Frequenting ethnic establishments

    15:17 - .....Food is a great way to break down barriers

    16:20 - ...International students

    16:54 -...

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    40 mins
  • #109. Welcoming and Loving the Stranger
    Sep 10 2024

    Dr. Mark Glanville discusses how churches can love the stranger because Yahweh loves the stranger so you are to love the stranger.

    • Book: Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul
    • Book: Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics

    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
    • Yahweh loves the stranger so you are to love the stranger
    • Challenging the fear-based ethic approaches to refugees
    • Banal, Sterile Life vs A Rich Feast

    ABOUT THE GUEST:

    Dr. Mark Glanville trains pastors at Regent College, Vancouver, and is an Old Testament scholar.

    Prior to coming to Regent, Mark pastored for 14 years in both Vancouver and Australia in urban, justice seeking churches.

    Mark has been bi-vocational– combining reflective pastoring with biblical scholarship and is a trained jazz pianist, active on the Vancouver jazz scene.

    SCRIPTURE RELATED TO EPISODE:
    • Deuteronomy 10 : 18-19 - Love the stranger

    RELATED LINKS:
    • Dr. Mark Glanville's website

    TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

    02:02 - Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics

    02:46 - Christians need to be different

    03:12 - Book looks deeply into the questions and pushback of welcoming refugees

    04:15 - Deuteronomy 10 : 18-19 Biblical scholarship on love the stranger

    04:40 - Yahweh loves the stranger so you are to love the stranger

    05:17 - Welcoming a stranger is very common in Old Testament ethics

    06:10 - Mirroring the love and character of God

    06:16 - Hebrew word for love = steadfast covenant loyalty

    07:53 - Challenging the fear-based ethic approaches to refugees

    08:16 - ...Preaching the scriptures very clearly

    08:35 - ......not prooftexting, but displaying the gospel in our local neighborhood

    09:07 - ......recovering every aspect of what it means to flourish

    09:33 - ......the whole biblical story and playing our part faithfully

    09:45 - ......choosing love & tenderness

    09:58 - ...Proximity

    10:02 - ......having real life experience with people who have a refugee story

    10:20 - ......dispelling false fears

    10:45 - ......not just the resilience, but the brilliance, of regufees

    11:28 - .....live life in diversity and sharing lives

    11:50 - ......partner with Christian refugee-welcoming organization

    13:20 - Engaging the community in New York over food

    14:25 - Banal, Sterile Life vs A Rich Feast

    16:02 - ...as contrasted in a musical example of "Jesus Loves Me"

    18:30 - the body of Christ exercising all their gifts

    19:36 - Amazing Grace

    21:46 - To get in touch with Dr. Glanville: glanville.org

    22:33 - This is the Day the Lord Has Made

    DID YOU APPRECIATE THIS PODCAST?

    Checkout previous episodes, leave a review, drop us a note or support the mission here: oururbanvoices.com

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    25 mins
  • #108. Improvising Church: Love, Beauty, Art, Music
    Aug 27 2024

    Dr. Mark Glanville discusses how churches can adapt to and impact their own neighborhoods in a post-Christian world.

    • Book: Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul
    • Book: Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics

    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
    • Christian vs Post-Christian Culture
    • Four Key Questions of Scripture
    • Beauty is a Glimpse of God

    ABOUT THE GUEST:

    Dr. Mark Glanville trains pastors at Regent College, Vancouver, and is an Old Testament scholar.

    Prior to coming to Regent, Mark pastored for 14 years in both Vancouver and Australia in urban, justice seeking churches.

    Mark has been bi-vocational-- combining reflective pastoring with biblical scholarship and is a trained jazz pianist, active on the Vancouver jazz scene.

    RELATED LINKS:
    • Dr. Mark Glanville at Regent College

    TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

    00:38 - Introducing Dr. Mark Glanville

    03:19 - Mark's background and his approach to doing church

    03:30 - 4-note chord: pastoring, scholarship, teaching, jazz music

    04:13 - Exited seminary to a government housing area in western Sydney, Australia

    04:33 - High crime, high poverty, high community

    05:12 - Then to Vancouver, very post-Christian city

    06:31 - Impoverished cities

    06:50 - Impoverished, underprivileged areas are higher in community

    07:31 - See Christ in the faces of those who are marginalized

    07:45 - Deuteronomy 24 - God hears the prayers of the marginalized people

    09:12 - Definition of a Christian culture

    09:52 - Definition of post-Christian culture

    10:30 - Should the church fight post-Christian culture or go deep into our identity as Christians and mirror Christ?

    11:02 - We are authorized to embody Christ's tenderness and love

    11:37 - Book: Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul

    12:15 - Be aware of the things we do as a church that are culturally Christian and discerning what is the Spirit forming us to do

    12:57 - How can we be a church that is genuinely local?

    13:31 - Beauty is a part of witnessing Christ

    14:29 - Phrase: Incarnational communities

    14:55 - Church: a people that is receiving and extending the healing of Jesus

    15:23 - Incarnational Communities as a Sentence: An incarnational community is full of the Spirit, shaped by Scripture, and seeking to embody the love of Jesus and receive and display it in a particular neighborhood.

    15:47 - Incarnational Communities as an Image: Incarnational church seen as blues musicians

    18:17 - Unpacking four key questions of Scripture...

    18:55 - ...Biblical story

    19:14 - ...gospel

    19:53 - ...witness

    20:21 - ...Biblical ethics

    20:57 - The need for churches to truly belong to their neighborhoods

    21:14 - Scripture is related to place

    22:02 - Reconceive "witness" as loving a place in the name of Jesus

    22:50 - ...photos of loved places in the neighborhood

    24:49 - ...prayer for revival

    30:11 - Churches should give their attention to beauty, aesthetics, and the

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    35 mins
  • #107. Would Anybody Even Know If Your Church Ceased to Exist?
    Aug 13 2024

    Dr. Darren Hercyk discusses the local church developing a heart for mercy ministries.

    Dr. Hercyk is an Assistant Professor at Liberty University School of Divinity and the program director for the online Masters in Humanitarian Action and Human Right

    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
    • The balance between social gospel and evangelism
    • Ministering to the community in which you are placed
    • Broadening the impact of the church

    ABOUT THE GUEST:

    Dr. Darren Hercyk is an Assistant Professor at Liberty University School of Divinity and the program director for the online Masters in Humanitarian Action and Human Rights. Prior to serving in higher education, he had 18 years of international cross-cultural experience living in 10 countries. While overseas, the service spanned from child evangelism to responding to emergencies to long-term development programs. Through all these countries and experiences, a priority was placed on partnering with the local church.

    RELATED LINKS:
    • Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian Action & Human Rights – Law and Policy
    • Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian and Human Rights – Disaster Relief
    • Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian Action & Human Rights – Woman and Child Advocacy
    • Email Dr. Hercyk

    TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

    Spreadsheet to create time stamped show notes

    01:53 - Majority World Church's view on humanitarian training

    01:59 - Realms of society: private sector, civil society, public sector

    02:26 - Majority World Church tends to be the largest provider of education, healthcare...

    02:47 - ...out of the absence of these services

    03:07 - ...not a lot of assets, but involved in people's daily lives

    03:39 - ...church leaders have enormous moral authority

    03:58 - As a developed society, we don't have that role-- we just evangelize

    04:20 - ...sometimes we miss the balance between social gospel and evangelism

    04:51 - ...5 times where Jesus took care of a physical need but didn't share a truth

    05:00 - ...58 times where Jesus shared a truth but didn't take care of a physical need

    05:05 - ...99 times when Jesus did both

    05:26 - Generation Z is one of the most cause-oriented generations...

    05:35 - ... be mindful to engage them

    06:56 - Ministering to the community in which you are placed

    07:40 - ...understanding their "Jerusalem"

    07:49 - ...know my neighbor before I love my neighbor

    08:02 - Broadening the impact of the church

    08:09 - Faith Integration - connect heart and hands

    08:34 - ...be involved - help, know people, bring the gospel

    08:59 - ...look for ways to bring the youth

    09:10 - ...build a bridge to people to whom you wouldn't normal engage

    09:27 - A frightening question --

    09:29 - ...Would anybody even know if your church ceased to exist?

    09:56 - Mercy ministries in your own community

    11:06 - ...getting it to the church level about being New Testament believers

    11:43 - Preparing for missions trips through prior local engagement

    12:22 - ...learn...

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    19 mins
  • #106. Preparing the Heart for Mercy Ministries
    Jul 30 2024

    Dr. Darren Hercyk discusses the importance of humanitarian training for missionaries and the heart for mercy ministries.

    Dr. Hercyk is an Assistant Professor at Liberty University School of Divinity and the program director for the online Masters in Humanitarian Action and Human Right

    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
    • What is humanitarian work?
    • Evangelism includes some type of humanitarian work
    • Developing the heart attitude for those in need

    ABOUT THE GUEST:

    Dr. Darren Hercyk is an Assistant Professor at Liberty University School of Divinity and the program director for the online Masters in Humanitarian Action and Human Rights. Prior to serving in higher education, he had 18 years of international cross-cultural experience living in 10 countries. While overseas, the service spanned from child evangelism to responding to emergencies to long-term development programs. Through all these countries and experiences, a priority was placed on partnering with the local church.

    RELATED LINKS:
    • Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian Action & Human Rights – Law and Policy
    • Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian and Human Rights – Disaster Relief
    • Liberty University - M.A. in Humanitarian Action & Human Rights – Woman and Child Advocacy
    • Email Dr. Hercyk

    TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

    00:38 - Introducing Dr Darren Hercyk

    03:06 - Work in Pakistan

    03:31 - 1998: overseas as an engineer

    03:45 - ...began working with a local church

    03:55 - ...transition to humanitarian work

    03:58 - ...to nine more countries

    04:43 - Program Director for Online Masters in Humanitarian Action & Human Rights at Liberty University

    04:56 - ...started in 2022

    05:08 - ...increase in emergencies

    05:16 - Leaders needed around the world with Biblical foundations and skills

    05:56 - ...work with the global church

    06:13 - ...Cross-cutting program - in School of Divinity, but with courses from government, law, behavior sciences

    06:41 - Evangelism includes some type of humanitarian work

    06:53 - ...take care of people's physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs

    07:19 - What is humanitarian work?

    07:41 - ...mercy ministries

    07:59 - ...emergency response

    08:23 - ...refugee crisis

    08:31 - ...human rights & trafficking

    08:59 - ...food aid

    09:05 - living on the streets

    09:28 - Prepare the heart for mercy ministries, for the needs around you

    09:52 - How do you get from the book to the heart?

    10:04 - ...develop the skills in your local community

    11:02 - ...connecting the head, heart, and hands

    11:30 - ...learn the skills to engage someone, hear their story, learn why God loves them so much

    11:53 - ...sometimes, God works from the hands, to the heart, to the head

    12:06 - ...realize your commonality with that person

    12:18 - ...everyone is created in God's image

    12:21 - ...read Scripture in an entirely new way

    12:40 - ...start where you are

    14:11 - Humanitarian training is crucial for missionaries

    14:15 - ...show the overseas country that you...

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    32 mins
  • #105. Offering HOPE to NYC and the World
    Jul 16 2024

    Pastor Drew Hyun, HOPE Church NYC, shares the unique challenges of leading and pastoring in urban settings as well as the importance of emotionally healthy leaders.

    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
    • What is Emotionally Healthy Discipleship?
    • New City Network (of Churches) Five Values
    • Unique needs and challenges faced by urban ministers

    ABOUT THE GUEST:

    Drew Hyun is the Founder and Pastor of Hope Church NYC, a family of diverse churches in and around NYC. Drew is also the Co-Founder of the New City Network, a network of urban churches that value multi-ethnicity, Spirit-filled ministry, emotional health, and mission. Drew is also part of the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship team, a movement that is dedicated to transforming church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed leaders and disciples. Drew loves cities, ESPN, and naps, and finds it a restful Sabbath when all three come together. He resides in New York City with his wife Christina and their son David and daughter Avery.

    RELATED LINKS:
    • HOPE Church Website
    • New City Network Website
    • Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Website
    • The Hub Website
    • Drew Hyun on Twitter

    TIMESTAMPED SHOWNOTES:

    02:24 - Introducing Pastor Drew Hyun

    04:01 - Founder of Hope Church NYC and Co-Founder of New City Network

    04:41 - Psalm 33:18

    05:18 - defined as a people who deeply hoped in God's unfailing love

    05:42 - 2012 - dream to start a movement of churches in NYC - Hope Church NYC

    06:39 - 2016 - New City Network

    06:54 - Recovery House of Worship (Next Step Community Church)

    07:11 - New Life Fellowship

    07:14 - New City Network of Churches around five values...

    07:26 - ...urban ministry

    07:32 - ...emotional health

    07:34 - ...Spirit-filled ministry

    07:42 - ...multi-ethnic ministry

    07:48 - ...mission

    08:04 - Church-planting - support for ~40 churches with $2M

    08:51 - What is Pastor Hyun's journey to urban ministry?

    09:24 - Grew up in Los Angeles, but very unlike New York

    09:31 - College at University of California at Berkeley

    09:40 - 2000: Three options following university

    11:02 - NYC has a different vibe

    11:48 - 2001: Internship at New Life Fellowship

    13:23 - Love the people and the diversity of people

    14:41 - What are the unique needs and challenges faced by urban ministers?

    14:59 - Very practical challenges...

    15:14 - ...exorbitant cost

    15:27 - ...extra time that things take to do

    15:34 - ...leads to feeling weightier and a heaviness

    15:43 - ...the soil does not seem quit as open

    15:50 - ...tons of people, but they are harder to reach because they have such little time in margin

    16:05 - ...staying emotionally and spiritually vibrant is exceptionally difficult

    16:26 - ...practical needs end up putting on more stress, fear, loneliness, anxiety

    16:43 - Unless one is super-intentional about remaining emotionally and spiritually whole

    17:14 - Deeply passionate about emotionally healthy discipleship

    17:41 - Approach with a missionary mindset - it's cross-cultural experience

    17:59 - What is emotional health and why is it important?

    18:32 - The goal is not just planting churches...

    18:42 -...

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    40 mins