Pastor Terry Chan, pastor of a multi-ethnic congregation in San Francisco, CA, and having received his Doctorate in Intercultural Studies, is well known in the LCMS community for championing multi-ethnicity throughout the Church. In this episode, he speaks with Sarah about initiatives and ideas for reaching an ethnic group different from your own. Listen as Pastor Terry talks about the “4 G’s” of reaching out, and shares some of the fears and excuses people have against changing their church cul...
Jun 13, 2022•30 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Pastor Jeff Skopak joined Sarah to discuss his experiences reaching other ethnic groups within his community. He shares some helpful tips on how to encourage your congregation towards outreach, using your congregation's strengths to minister to new immigrant communities. One piece of advice he shares is to start by going to the local public school to find out what the demographics are in your area and what populations and needs exist in your community. Discover what the needs are that your churc...
Jun 10, 2022•28 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Beatriz Hoppe’s unique immigrant experience is one of coming to America and having safety and stability, unlike most immigrants to America who begin their new life without a church or a job for support. Still, the transition to America is never easy, as one can face many prejudices and barriers. Listen as Sarah and Beatriz discuss how to reach out to immigrant communities in your neighborhood. Beatriz recommends the following resources for Spanish speakers from Lutheran Hour Ministries: www.para...
Jun 08, 2022•23 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Meet Pastor Mark Adrian, pastor at Messiah Lutheran in Tampa, FL. His church has a thriving Hispanic Ministry, which first began as a district supported ministry about 10 years ago. Listen as he shares how the two ministries of Messiah Lutheran have blended together to become one church, and continues to be excited about reaching new ethnic populations in their community. Pastor Mark gives sage advice to listen first to a new ethnic ministry and their needs, support them without directing them, ...
Jun 06, 2022•23 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this second season of “That Could Work on a Mission Field!” we are focusing on "Energizing & Equipping to Increase Ethnic Diversity" and are taking a look at what local congregations and their leaders can do to reach ethnic groups different than their own. We begin with Pastor Tim Hartner, from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Tim has seen a lot in his 42 years of parish ministry, and he shares how the Lutheran church is trying to reach out to ethnic communities in Florida. Pastor Tim shares some enli...
May 31, 2022•21 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Ben Kangar joins Sarah in the final episode of the first season of "That Could Work on a Mission Field!" Hear about Ben's involvement in equipping leaders for ministry both here in the US and overseas for the sake of the Gospel and extending discipleship. Listen to the conversation understanding the "Global Church" context compared to the "American Church." Where is the zeal? Ben speaks on how we can step outside our comfort zones and engage in a way Americans are no longer used to, while still ...
Jul 23, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 10
We sit down with Pastor Tony Boos of Faith Lutheran Church in Troy, Michigan to discuss his experience working to reach various ethnic groups with the Gospel, including Bosnians, Iraqis, and Bengalis. The mission work of the Church is not just for pastors. Sarah and Pastor Tony talk being intentional in equipping the people of our congregations to multiply outreach and engage the larger community with Christ. We speak on how to engage and form relationships through any means so that the Gospel c...
Jul 19, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Julie Dass shares her experiences growing up in Pakistan as a young and bold girl fighting against the isolation and persecution of Christians and what that has taught her. Sarah and Julie discuss prejudice in its many forms and contexts and how we as Christians can respond and grow with forgiveness. Finally, we pray for Julie and her husband Jay, as they prepare to continue building the Lutheran Confessional Church in Pakistan through pastoral training programs and church planting. Read more ab...
Jul 12, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 8
President Mike Gibson of the Pacific Southwest District, breaks down the tension and challenges faced during this period of COVID-19 and the lessons learned in ministry through it all: The Holy Spirit has taken us into a new place for mission, into a "new place on the beach." God has now created the Church to be gathered and scattered to engage people more freely. President Gibson takes us through the Pacific Southwest's "retain, remodel, replant" initiative towards using our facilities to their...
Jul 02, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Scratch where it itches, find out what people's needs really are. Carol Buckman speaks with Sarah about her experience both on the mission field in Nigeria and in the US through founding CFNA (Christian Friends of New Americans) based in St. Louis, Missouri. Carol shares of surprising experiences she and husband Al went through while serving as missionaries in Nigeria for 12 years, and later shares how CFNA was started and how it continues to serve the population of new refugees and immigrants s...
Jun 25, 2021•21 min
Sarah sits down with Melissa Salomon to speak about her work on the US/Mexico border and the uniqueness of that region for ministry and outreach. Melissa shares her own story of discovering her faith on a deeper spiritual level, learning more through Scripture and embracing her personal relationship with God. Building the workers of the Church: Join the conversation on the dynamics of being connected to networks through the local church, but also the Church at large, providing more opportunity f...
Jun 18, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 5
"God is sending people here that we need." Rev. Dr. Todd Jones of the Michigan District speaks with us about the ministry opportunities and challenges of reaching a varying range of ethnic immigrant groups across Michigan. Join this discussion speaking on the tension of values from first to second generation immigrants, and the importance of contextualization when reaching out to specific ethnic groups who differ from one another. Other topics include the significance of hospitality as Christian...
Jun 11, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Is this a movie? No, just the life of a missionary in Bangladesh. Learn from Pastor James Roy what it's like to witness to those traditionally raised in Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist backgrounds, the challenges and the joys of conversions, and seeing the fruit of the Holy Spirit both in Bangladesh and now here in the United States. Listen to Pastor Roy's intense and captivating story of being held at gunpoint and the risks he took to share the Gospel. Visit https://missionnationpublishing.com/ for...
Jun 04, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Learn from Rev. Dr. William Utech about the extremely diverse communities of the Minnesota South District and the missional opportunities for congregations to reach immigrant and refugee groups coming from all over the globe. How do we be the Church? Join us as we talk about the switch from inward to outward reflection toward becoming a church body who seeks intentional growth and outreach: Valuing our neighbor, taking our eyes off ourselves; questions become the answers. Visit https://missionna...
May 28, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In this first episode, Sarah speaks with Stella Yau, City Director of LINC SoCal. Listen as Stella shares about her immigrant experience coming from Hong Kong at the age of 9, and how she went from a professional career in the corporate world to being called to full-time ministry. Learn about Stella's work with LINC, and join this conversation discussing many subjects including the complex and blended culture that comes with being an immigrant to America, coming alongside leaders in ministry, an...
May 21, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Meet Sarah Seying, host of "That Could Work on a Mission Field!" a podcast of Mission Nation Publishing. Listen as she introduces herself and previews what this season of episodes engages.
May 02, 2021•6 min
