The church in Iran today is thought to be the fastest growing church in the world, in spite of intense persecution. Why is that? In this episode Matt talks with Lana Silk, the CEO of Transform Iran. Lana grew up in an Iranian Christian family in The Islamic Republic of Iran during the Iran-Iraq War and the early years of Ayatollah Khomeini. She talks of the state's indoctrination of even primary school students - teaching hatred towards Israel and America and she relates the harsh curbing of fre...
Jul 13, 2025•51 min•Ep. 84
In this episode former Muslims Shino and Shania Gabo tell their incredible story of coming to faith in Jesus. They both grew up in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, before the civil war broke out. Then they relocated to Europe. Shania's story of faith involves seeing a brutal act of violence online, followed by 2 powerful visions of Jesus. Her husband, Shino, spent years trying to convince her to return to Islam, all the while protecting her from the terrible threats against her from her own fa...
Jun 26, 2025•54 min•Ep. 83
In this special episode Matt and Mike share their top 10 tips for sharing the gospel with Muslims. These are a summary of things we've learned over several decades of conversations with Muslims about Jesus. We'll talk about pitfalls to avoid, ideas for starting spiritual conversations, some ways to answer typical objections to Christian faith and much more. Here are the 10 themes we discuss: Love, Common Ground, Common Objections, Prayer, Spiritual Hooks, Their Story, Your Story, God's Story, Th...
Jun 08, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 82
60 million Pushtuns live in Pakistan and Afghanistan. They are a people admired for their generous hospitality but feared for their warrior culture. It is often said that they are 'the best of friends and the worst of enemies'. In this episode Matt talks with an old friend and mentor, Dr. Len, who lived in Peshawar, Pakistan among the Pushtuns for many years with his family. He learned their language, their proverbs, their poetry - and how to share the good news of the Lord Jesus with them. Len ...
May 17, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 81
In this episode Matt interviews Daniel & Maria, a young couple from Europe who moved to East Africa with their two-month old baby. Within a year, however, they faced an intense and traumatic week where the country unexpectedly descended into fighting and civil war and they became trapped in their apartment, not knowing how to escape. You’ll hear how God guided them and helped them to evacuate, but also how they are already planning their return to the region. Support the show _______________...
Apr 21, 2025•56 min•Ep. 80
NB. This is a story of abduction by extremists and there are mentions of torture. In that regard, it is not suitable for younger children. In this episode we meet 'Jonathan' whose story is somehow chilling, gripping and inspiring all at the same time. His imprisonment by Islamic extremists lasted for many months and, for most of that time, he never knew whether execution or release was the more likely outcome. Contrary to his own expectations, he wrestled again and again with despair and with hi...
Apr 05, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 79
In this episode Matt interviews Jamie Winship. Jamie tells some amazing stories from when he served in law enforcement in the Washington DC Metropolitan area, including a miraculous revelation during an active kidnapping case. He then goes on to explain how the Lord led him and his wife, Donna, to serve overseas and invite Muslims into the kingdom of God over many years in Indonesia, Iraq and Jordan. Jamie argues strongly that we should use biblical terms around the kingdom of God, rather than ‘...
Mar 23, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 78
In this episode Matt interviews Donna Winship. She and her husband Jamie spent 25 years living and working in the Muslim world: Indonesia, Iraq & Jordan. In those locations their greatest joy was seeing Muslims discern the voice of God, enter into the kingdom, be healed and follow Jesus. Donna shares how they learnt so much about faith and mission from their own mistakes, from fellow workers and from painful trials (team-mates in Indonesia who were stabbed, others in Iraq who were shot and k...
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 77
In this episode we meet a couple from Northern Ireland who have been living and working in rural Mozambique amongst the Yawo people for the last 6 years. Johnny and Kathryn tell some fascinating stories of bugs, witchdoctors, curses and the very beginnings of a church in their local area. They also have various stories about motorbikes, including a theft and various road accidents. Support the show _________________________________________________________________________________ Do get in touch ...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 76
In this episode Matt talks with an old friend from the earthquake relief work in Pakistan. Andy Kampman grew up in rural Iowa, but in the winter of 2005 he responded to a call to spend a few weeks building shelters in the Pakistani Himalayas for the thousands who had lost their homes. Those weeks were hugely significant for Andy in terms of growing to love Muslims and wanting to share the good news with them. Andy shares various stories from times he spent in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Lebanon and...
Jan 13, 2025•46 min•Ep. 75
**WARNING** This episode contains harrowing stories of domestic abuse and suicidal thoughts, so is not suitable for younger children. This episode'sspecial guest is Joann Doyle , co-author of 2 books: Women Who Risk , Secret Agents for Jesus in the Muslim World and Breakthrough: The Return of Hope to the Middle East . She is also the President and Founder of a ministry called Not Forgotten , which is all about bringing the good news of Jesus to Muslim women. She and her husband, Tom Doyle, whom ...
Dec 30, 2024•54 min•Ep. 74
In this episode we meet 'Jacob', who has served in a very poor part of East Africa with his wife and four kids for more than a decade. The refugees there that they live amongst have suffered terribly from a genocide that has led to the displacement of millions from their homeland. But in the midst of the pain and the trauma, many Muslims there are questioning the faith that they have been brought up in and looking for something else. We discuss the challenges of living far away from a hospital, ...
Dec 20, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 73
**WARNING** This episode contains a harrowing story of domestic abuse, so is not suitable for younger children. In this fascinating and unusual episode Matt talks to 'David & Abigail', a couple who spent many years in the mountainous post-Soviet Caucausus region. Ministry to Muslims in this part of world is quite different to life in the Middle East or South Asia, with an entrenched drinking culture to navigate and regular saunas for the men, as well as the opportunity to go skiing in the ho...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 72
This week Phil Moore , church leader and author of the excellent Straight to the Heart Bible Commentary series, joins Matt to discuss his most recent book, called The Forgotten Manifesto of Jesus , in which he shares stories and lessons learnt from the revival in Iran and its overflow in other nations. Post Covid 19, Phil moved on from leading a large and thriving church in SW London to focus on taking the gospel personally into the streets, bars and council estates in his neighbourhood, where h...
Nov 10, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 71
In this episode we meet Dr. Pat Brittenden . Pat grew up in Algeria, served in Tunisia and has recently completed his PhD on the emerging Muslim-background church of North Africa. He works now for the Hikma Partnership , a partnership committed to encouraging BMB (Believers from a Muslim Background) research and writing. Pat shares some of the lessons learned from his years in Tunisia, amazing stories from colleagues around the 'Muslim world' (including an embodied visitation of Jesus to some Be...
Oct 21, 2024•57 min•Ep. 70
In this episode Matt chats with special guest Tom Doyle , author of several excellent books: Dreams & Visions, Standing in the Fire and Killing Christians, to name a few. He and his wife, Joann, served in many Middle Eastern countries and have written about the stories of those they have met along the way, particularly Muslims who have had dreams and visions of Jesus or have suffered for their faith. Tom is now the President of Uncharted Ministries , who produce the excellent video series of...
Oct 06, 2024•50 min•Ep. 69
This episode is the 3rd one that we have done recently with diaspora immigrants to the West (2nd or 3rd generation) who have gone overseas as church-planters. We’ve had a Nigerian Brit, a South Asian from the USA and now a Canadian of Chinese heritage. Dr. M describes 10 benefits/blessings of being Chinese and working among Muslims. He highlights some of the challenges of working and ministering in ‘shame & honour’ cultures. And he describes how important it is to understand that Muslims com...
Sep 21, 2024•56 min•Ep. 68
Dr. T grew up in the USA, but her family is from South Asia and she has several Hindu and Sikh relatives. After becoming a medical doctor and practising in the States, she felt the Lord direct her to using her skills in the 'Muslim world'. A series of events led her to India, the land of her forefathers. She and Matt discuss Indian culture, medical mission and some of the challenges of 'returning' to a country where lots of your relations live! Support the show __________________________________...
Sep 09, 2024•54 min•Ep. 67
In this episode we meet Dr. Robert Sluka, once a missionary with Frontiers in the Maldive Islands, where his love for oceans, ocean people and marine biology all combined. Bob and Matt discuss integral mission and how caring for the environment is very much part of our biblical mandate and God's heart for the poor. ____________________________________________________________________ Visit A Rocha , the international family of Christian Conservation organisations. Check out All Nations Christian ...
Jul 27, 2024•39 min•Ep. 66
In this episode we hear the story of Nik Ripken. Nik and Ruth spent over 30 years obeying Christ’s command to share Jesus across the globe. After 7 years in Malawi & South Africa, they moved to Nairobi, Kenya to begin work among the Somali people, in the context of war and famine. Many Somali believers there suffered for their faith. Most were martyred. Near the end of the Ripken’s tenure among the Somalis, their 16-year-old son died. One year later, the Holy Spirit led the Ripkens to begin ...
Jul 06, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 65
In this episode Matt hears from Ola, a Nigerian-Brit who grew up in the UK. Expelled from school, he got caught up in the drug scene in London, before coming to Christ as a young man. He then became a rap artist, before sensing the Lord calling him to the nations. Ola shares honestly about the difficulties of moving to the country of his parents and grandparents to do church planting, before spending many years in the Middle East. Malaria, threats of curses, debates with Imams all were challenge...
Jun 22, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 64
In this episode Matt talks to Andy McCullough, a church leader and author in the UK who spent many years doing evangelism and church-planting in Turkey/Turkiye. He’ll be sharing about how a fellowship was started in Istanbul through a tattoo artist, his girlfriend and a series of remarkable dreams. Andy now works with an international network of churches called New Frontiers – not connected to our organisation, despite the similar sounding name! For Andy's books on Amazon, click here . His lates...
Jun 09, 2024•55 min•Ep. 63
In this episode you'll hear the story of 'Badr' who describes himself as a fanatical Muslim in his teenage years. Although from a Syrian family, he grew up in Yemen and came to faith when his father (hoping he'd become less fanatical) gave him a bible. He shares the journey of how his family reacted, the difficulties of finding other believers to fellowship with and his current ministry to reach others from a Muslim background online. For Arabic speakers, this is Badr's FB account for those inte...
May 27, 2024•51 min•Ep. 62
In this episode we meet Andy Bannister, Director of Solas. His ministry journey has included several years of engaging with Muslims at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, doing a PhD in Quranic Studies, writing several books on Islam and evangelism, teaching and speaking in many churches in the UK and North America - and currently hosting two podcasts! We’ll be hearing his story and some key tips on reaching Muslims from his books: “Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?” and “How to talk ab...
May 11, 2024•57 min•Ep. 61
In this episode we hear the story of Ruth Ripken. Ruth and her husband, Nik, spent over 30 years obeying Christ’s command to share Jesus across the globe. After 7 years in Malawi & South Africa, they moved to Nairobi, Kenya to begin work among the Somali people, in the context of war and famine. Many Somali believers there suffered for their faith. Most were martyred. Near the end of the Ripken’s tenure among the Somalis, their 16-year-old son died. One year later, the Holy Spirit led the Ri...
Apr 27, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 60
In this episode we meet Andres, a Latino doctor who spent many years living and working in Kurdistan and now serves in a senior leadership position in Frontiers. What happens when the brother of one of the guys he’s discipling comes to ask for help to kill a personal enemy? What impact did a dream have on one of the first Kurdish believers in their city? And what are the pros and cons of being a Latino worker in the Middle East? Support the show __________________________________________________...
Apr 14, 2024•56 min•Ep. 59
Taken on a trip to Jordan by her father when she was 14 years old, Becky spent time with Palestinian refugees and was deeply impacted by them and the work of the missionaries there. But it was India which captured her heart a few years later, with its incredibly friendly and hospitable people, its amazing food and, most importantly its huge need for gospel workers. In this episode we hear about how God's love for all people and Becky's adventurous spirit have combined to shape the life of a youn...
Mar 23, 2024•31 min•Ep. 58
In this episode we meet John from Canada, an intrepid adventurer turned missionary. In his youth he rode his motorbikes across North America, Europe & the Middle East – most often sleeping under the stars. He had various accidents too, including one in which he broke his neck. But when the Lord called him to take the good news to Muslims, he ended up living in Asia for 30 years! And there in the tropics, John's love of adventure and water sports became what God would use to establish him in ...
Mar 09, 2024•46 min•Ep. 57
The conflict between the Israeli governement and Hamas has surfaced once again these past several months - with the kidnapping of Jewish civilians, the bombardment of Gaza, the terrible loss of life, the constant fear and the international community deeply divided in how to respond. In this episode we hear from Charlie, who lived with her family in Jordan and East Jerusalem for several years. She made friends with Arab-Israelis, Palestinians, Jews and Christians alike, praying all the time for r...
Feb 23, 2024•58 min•Ep. 56
Most of our guests have been 'on the field' for years, since we at Frontiers are all about long-term engagement with unreached peoples, i.e. going deep into language and culture to be as effective as possible in making disciples and planting churches. But today's young guests report back on a recent short-term mission trip that they went on in Turkey (Turkiye) that lasted for only a week. Hannah and Lucy were sent out on a team to experience the 'Muslim world', to go to a remote town where there...
Feb 09, 2024•41 min•Ep. 55
