In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is joined by Ryan Robertson, president of Reaching and Teaching International Ministries. Together, they dive into the complexities of the relationship between sending churches and mission organizations. They discuss the roles, responsibilities, and authority of each entity in the mission sending process, drawing experiences and historical context to illus...
Nov 20, 2024•30 min•Season 9Ep. 12
In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, discusses the practice of door-to-door evangelism with Dr. Todd Gray, Executive Director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. The conversation addresses the viability of door-to-door evangelism in modern times, the personal experiences and stories of Dr. Gray, and practical tips for engaging in this type of evangelistic outreach. Dr. Gray shares why he is p...
Nov 13, 2024•29 min•Season 9Ep. 11
In this episode of the 'Amazon to the Himalayas' podcast, host Paul Akin, Provost of Southern Seminary interviews Justin Schell, PhD student and the author of ' The Mission of God and the Witness of the Church. ' They discuss the importance of aligning theology and mission, the central themes of Schell's book, and how the global rise of Christianity is influencing the relationship between theology and missions. They also talk about Justin's upcoming PhD journey, the challenges faced in writing h...
Nov 06, 2024•31 min•Season 9Ep. 10
In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin discusses the advancement of theological education in Latin America with Felipe Castro. Castro, a former businessman turned theological educator, addresses challenges and opportunities in providing theological training for pastors throughout the region. Despite historical Catholic dominance, the Protestant church has grown significantly, yet faces challenges such as the rise of neo-Pentecostalism and prosperity gospel. The conversation...
Oct 30, 2024•26 min•Season 9Ep. 9
In Part 2 of our conversation with notable author and missionary, Nik Ripken, we learn about the encouraging but harrowing story of one man who was radically changed through the power of the Scriptures but suffered greatly for the sake of his witness. Nik Ripken shares his extensive experience and insights from visiting over 70 countries and interviewing more than 600 Christians living in persecuted contexts. Join host Paul Aiken, provost and professor of missions at the Southern Baptist Theolog...
Oct 23, 2024•22 min•Season 9Ep. 8
Today's episode is part 1 of 2 of our conversation about Persecution and Suffering with noted author and missionary, Nik Ripken. Nik Ripken shares his extensive experience and insights from visiting over 70 countries and interviewing more than 600 Christians living in persecuted contexts. Join host Paul Aiken, provost and professor of missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, as they explore what persecution looks like for Christians around the world today, how they stand firm in th...
Oct 16, 2024•22 min•Season 9Ep. 7
In this episode of "Amazon to the Himalayas," host Paul Akin engages in an enlightening conversation with Aaron Harvie, the senior pastor of Highview Baptist Church. They delve into practical strategies for churches to improve their mission-sending focus and capacity. Aaron Harvie shares his extensive experience from pastoring in various contexts and provides valuable insights on leadership, the importance of prayer, and investing in people. Learn how to start small, be patient, and cultivate a ...
Oct 09, 2024•26 min•Season 9Ep. 6
In this episode of the Amazon to the Himalayas podcast, host Paul Akin explores the crucial topic of why missions are essential for followers of Jesus Christ. The episode delves into the biblical foundations, emphasizing the missionary nature of God and the Bible, and the historical context with examples of notable missionaries like the Moravians, George Lyle, William Carey, Lottie Moon, Adoniram Judson, and Samuel Zwimmer. The practical and spiritual reasons for missions are also discussed, inc...
Oct 02, 2024•19 min•Season 9Ep. 5
In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas' with host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, missionary couple Keith and Shelly Percic share their experiences of completing their first year on the mission field in Ivory Coast, West Africa. The conversation covers the challenges and blessings of their missionary work, the initial adjustments including language learning, and the impact on their family life. Keith and Shelly also provide practical ad...
Sep 25, 2024•25 min•Season 9Ep. 4
In this episode of 'Amazon to the Himalayas,' host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, dives into the lives of three remarkable IMB missionary couples: Matthew and Eliza Yates in China, Thomas and Lorena Bowen in Nigeria, and William and Anne Bagby in Brazil with Dr. David Brady. They explore the hardships, legacy, and enduring impact these missionaries have had on global missions. Their stories illustrate the perseverance, dedication, and p...
Sep 18, 2024•36 min•Season 9Ep. 3
In this episode of Amazon to the Himalayas, host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, explores the relationship between preaching and the Great Commission. Joined by Pastor Blake Hodges, Campus Pastor at Highview Baptist Church, they discuss how preaching can fuel missions and evangelism in the local church, the importance of pastors living on mission in their personal lives, and practical ways to inspire a missional mindset among congregatio...
Sep 11, 2024•25 min•Season 9Ep. 2
In this episode of Amazon to the Himalayas, host Paul Akin, Provost and Professor of Missions at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks with John Klaassen, professor of Christian missions at Boyce College, about the important factors in selecting a missionary team. The discussion covers theological alignment, strategy, and family considerations, providing valuable insights for aspiring missionaries in discerning the right team. Klaassen shares his extensive experience, including his y...
Sep 04, 2024•28 min•Season 9Ep. 1
In our final episode of this season, I speak with Dr. John Chesnut, president and CEO of Wycliffe Bible Translators. Wycliffe Bible Translators exists to work with churches, communities, and partner organizations until everyone can access God's Word in their heart language.
May 01, 2024•24 min•Season 8Ep. 13
In this episode, I speak with David Platt, president of Radical. Radical exists to serve the church by equipping Christians to follow and make Jesus known in their neighborhoods and among all nations. David Platt is a pastor in Northern Virginia at McLean Bible Church and is the founder and chairman of Radical.
Apr 24, 2024•34 min•Season 8Ep. 12
In this episode, I speak with Nathan Sloan, the Executive Director of Upstream Sending. Upstream Sending a newer missions organization based out of Louisville, Kentucky. Upstream Sending is a church-centric global sending organization that is a part of the Upstream Collective.
Apr 17, 2024•28 min•Season 8Ep. 11
In this episode, I talk with Andy Kampman, US director of Launch Global. Launch Global is a training organization that connects local churches and their members with unreached people across the globe. Launch Global staff has sent over 500 global workers to the unreached since 2014.
Apr 10, 2024•29 min•Season 8Ep. 10
In this episode, I speak with Josh Newell, the executive director of the Jesus Film. The Jesus Film is a ministry of Cru. Since 1979, The Jesus Film has been translated into more than 2,100 languages. Millions have watched and have decided to follow Christ.
Apr 03, 2024•23 min•Season 8Ep. 9
In this episode, I talk with Vance Pitman, president of Send Network. Send Network is the church planting arm of the North American Mission Board. It is the largest church planting organization in the United States. Vance Pitman has served as president of the Send Network since 2022.
Mar 27, 2024•30 min•Season 8Ep. 8
In this episode, I speak with Andrew Scott, the president of Operation Mobilization (OM). OM is a missionary-sending organization that has over 5,000 missionaries serving worldwide in over 140 countries. Scott has served as president of OM since 2010.
Mar 20, 2024•27 min•Season 8Ep. 7
In this episode, I speak with Troy Nesbitt, president of The Salt Network. The Salt Network is a family of churches partnering together to plant churches in major university centers. They currently have 29 local churches across 15 different states.
Mar 13, 2024•28 min•Season 8Ep. 6
In this episode, I speak with Steve Richardson, president of Pioneers. Pioneers mobilizes and supports over 3000 missionaries and marketplace professionals working in nearly 100 countries around the world.
Mar 06, 2024•24 min•Season 8Ep. 5
Our guest today is Ryan Robertson, president of Reaching & Teaching International Ministries. Ryan has been serving as president of Reaching & Teaching since 2020. Reaching & Teaching is doing work all over the world to make disciples, plant churches, and train local leaders.
Feb 28, 2024•29 min•Season 8Ep. 4
In this episode, I speak with Paul Davis, president of ABWE. ABWE has 1,000 missionaries serving in 84 countries all over the world. Paul Davis has served as the president of the missions organization since 2017.
Feb 21, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 3
Radius International is an intense missionary training program whose graduates are serving in hard places all over the world. In this episode, I speak with Brooks Buser, president of Radius International. Brooks has been the president of Radius since 2016. Before that, he and his family served in Papua New Guinea among the Yembiyembi people.
Feb 14, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 2
Amazon to the Himalayas returns with a new season focusing on different missions sending and resource organizations. When considering long-term missionary service, there are many different options one can choose to partner with, and the hope for this season is to allow those organizations to speak for themselves and allow listeners to make informed decisions. Our first interview is with the International Mission Board, an organization that I have a very close relationship with. I am talking toda...
Feb 07, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 1
In our final episode this season, we are talking to a missionary serving in a very challenging physical and spiritual environment in Central Asia. James grew up in the Pacific Northwest and while he confessed Christ at an early age, it was not until college that he became a believer in Jesus Christ. He moved away for medical school a few years later, where he met his wife. After getting married, he moved to the Southern United States, where his first two kids were born. Since 2019, James and his...
Nov 09, 2023•26 min•Season 7Ep. 11
Today we will be talking to a missionary couple, Nate & Jenni, serving in the Bush of Central Africa. Nate grew up in Michigan and Jenni grew up in Australia. They were both saved in their early twenties, and each felt the Lord’s call to missions and were living in Africa as singles by their mid-twenties, where they met. They were married in 2007 and attended Southern Seminary from 2008-2012. In 2012 they were appointed by the IMB to return to Africa, with two children. They have now been li...
Nov 01, 2023•30 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Today on the podcast we are going to be talking with a couple of missionaries who are serving in South Asia. One of these missionaries, Ray, is a recent graduate from Boyce College, the college here at Southern Seminary, and he is currently serving as a Project 3000 Explorer with the International Mission Board. Project 3000 is a new initiative that the IMB has recently launched, and I am excited for us all to learn more about it. Joining Ray today is his supervisor, Will. Will and his family ha...
Oct 25, 2023•33 min•Season 7Ep. 9
Today we are speaking with a missionary named Jackson. Jackson has been serving on the east coast of Africa for 11 years in a Muslim context with his wife and four children. They live in a community that is heavily influenced by Islam and have had to deal with jihadist threats in the past. However, despite the challenges, Jesus is still saving people.
Oct 18, 2023•30 min•Season 7Ep. 8
Today, we are talking with a missionary who serves on a remote island in Southeast Asia. Allen is originally from the Pacific Northwest. He did his education in California. He has served with IMB for twenty-five years in Southeast Asia. He has served among a majority Muslim population where Christian religious workers are not allowed. For that reason and to safeguard his work, some of the details discussed in this episode will be more vague and general.
Oct 11, 2023•22 min•Season 7Ep. 7
