Missiologists have debated for years on how to interpret the book of Acts: Is it "descriptive" or "prescriptive?" We propose a third option for interpreting and applying Acts, what we call, "I want to be like that!" Listen in as we discuss the unique gift we have in the book of Acts, the divinely-inspired record of God's Spirit-filled people living out the Great Commission, and how that record should inspire, challenge, and inform our lives as believers and missionaries.
Aug 25, 2025•28 min•Ep. 165
Anyone who has been serving as a missionary for very long knows that missionaries disagree on many issues from time to time! We even find disagreements in the pages of the book of Acts. Listen in as we share 4 biblical principles to apply when we disagree with coworkers, and some practical tips we have learned over the years as well.
Aug 18, 2025•53 min•Ep. 164
How lost is Europe? Is it unreached, reached, post-Christian, or pre-Christian? Listen in as we discuss the shocking state of the gospel throughout Europe with Kit and Stacy Klein, missionary leaders in France.
Jul 21, 2025•33 min•Ep. 163
Some claim that we should no longer send American missionaries overseas, but instead should just send American funds to national ministry partners in unreached places. There are a variety of valid reasons for this thinking. Sending and supporting American missionaries is costly both in terms of funds and effort. We Americans have to learn new languages, procure visas, and face countless cross-cultural challenges. The picture of global missionary sending around the world is changing, and many oth...
Jul 07, 2025•33 min•Ep. 162
How should we think about the tempo of our ministry activities? How should we manage our time and plan our ministry rhythms? Listen in as we discuss this 6th "T" or stewardship of team leaders.
Jun 23, 2025•39 min•Ep. 161
Over the last 6 months, we have been transitioning from the end of a 19-year season of ministry in South Asia to a new leadership role in Europe. Listen in as we share a big life update: how we have grieved, how God has guided us, challenges we have faced, and the joy, peace, and excitement God is giving as we enter this new season.
Jun 17, 2025•44 min•Ep. 160
We recently had the privilege of returning to our first-term home and city, where we served from 2005-2008, and reconnected with beloved national partners and friends. It brought up a lot of reflection on our first term, particularly things we are glad we did and things we wish we would have done! Listen in and be encouraged, whether you're in your first term, experienced coworkers, or anywhere in between!
Apr 07, 2025•45 min•Ep. 159
We know the promise - God works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. But sometimes, this promise can feel trite or misused when we are suffering. And how exactly does God work every affliction for good? Listen in as we share 4 biblical, really good "goods" God works through suffering!
Mar 24, 2025•40 min•Ep. 158
Our 5th and final episode in the 5T's of a Team Leader series! We share the value of having a team "toolbox," with a clear path and specific method or tool for each component of the missionary task. Please check the Tools tab on thecoworkerspodcast.com b/c we just uploaded 5 tools that we referred to in this series: 2 "yellow light" tools, 2 basic discipleship booklets, and an example of a team's missionary toolbox.
Mar 17, 2025•15 min•Ep. 157
Join in our last episode on the 5 T's of a Team Leader. We've covered Targets, Training and Tools, Teaming, and now we discuss Tracking with Jimmy. How do we track in a way that honors the Lord and furthers the work? How do we track for both fruitfulness and faithfulness? What are simple, best practices to make tracking more doable? Listen in - there's so much goodness in this episode!
Mar 10, 2025•40 min•Ep. 156
Continuing with our series on the 5 "T's" or stewardships of team leaders, we discuss teaming with missionary leaders Willie and Emily. Willie and Emily have been doing church planting work and leading teams in South Asia for over a decade, and share biblical principles and practical tips on how to team well- not for teaming's sake, but for the missionary task. How do we stay focused on the work, while also caring well for team members? Listen in.
Mar 03, 2025•46 min•Ep. 155
Continuing our series on the 5 "T's," or 5 stewardships of team leaders, Jesse discusses Training and Tools with missionary leader Kenny B. Listen in as Kenny shares key principles for effective training and practical tips for creating and conducting your own training and tools in your context. This is a must-listen for every missionary!
Feb 24, 2025•52 min•Ep. 154
Every Team Leader needs to steward 5 "T's:" Targets, Teaming, Tools, Training, and Tracking. Listen in as Jesse and Jimmy discuss the necessity of clear targets - a people or place with a common language and culture - that the team focuses on with a clear church-planting strategy. Jesse and Jimmy discuss the process South Asia leaders went through to divide South Asia into 104 "megasegment" targets, the value of tracking stages of progress in every people group, and CELEBRATE progress among 2400...
Feb 17, 2025•46 min•Ep. 153
How much travel is too much? How can parents think rightly, consider their own limitations, priorities, and the needs of their children and ministry targets, and make these decisions? Listen in as Shanee discusses best practices for families thriving in busy travel seasons with experienced missionary leaders Laura G and Debbie M.
Jan 28, 2025•18 min•Ep. 152
How much travel is too much? How can parents think rightly, consider their own limitations, priorities, and the needs of their children and ministry targets, and make these decisions? Listen in as Shanee discusses best practices for families thriving in busy travel seasons with experienced missionary leaders Laura G and Debbie M.
Jan 27, 2025•33 min•Ep. 151
There is a lot of discussion in the missions world on "multiplication vs. maturity" or "movement vs. healthy church." How should we think about these 2 different emphases in the work? Which is more important? Listen in as Jesse shares from Colossions that all missionaries must be furiously committed to both.
Jan 20, 2025•40 min•Ep. 150
There is more talk in the missions world recently about sending churches and organizations requiring new missionaries to have the same training and qualifications as pastors. While we appreciate the emphasis on preparing prospective missionaries well, we share 7 reasons that missionaries should not be required to have the same training and qualifications as pastors. This has important ramifications for sending out new workers - listen in!
Jan 06, 2025•31 min•Ep. 149
The new year is a chance for a fresh start. Additionally, our family and many of our coworkers are preparing for unexpected, fresh beginnings in new ministry this year. We want to begin with the final day in mind. Listen in as Jesse shares from Paul's account of his service in Ephesus. Paul served wholeheartedly, testified unceasingly, and lived generously.
Dec 31, 2024•20 min•Ep. 148
When we feel called to serve as missionaries, it can be difficult to discern where God is sending us! Listen in as we share a few questions you can ask yourself to help you make this important decision.
Dec 23, 2024•32 min•Ep. 147
Should we use methods and tools in our evangelism, discipleship, and church planting work, or are methods "pragmatic?" Listen in to hear what the Bible says about methods, necessary traits of good methods, and dangers of methods.
Dec 09, 2024•43 min•Ep. 146
Many times we subconsciously have wrong beliefs about grief, such as that crying is weak or that self-reflection is self-centered and unproductive, which leads us to avoid, stuff, or deny uncomfortable emotions, and miss out on the abundant life the Lord Jesus offers to us. Listen in as we share 6 reasons you should intentionally work to grow in healthy emotional expression.
Dec 03, 2024•27 min•Ep. 145
Many times we subconsciously have wrong beliefs about grief, such as that crying is weak or that self-reflection is self-centered and unproductive, which leads us to avoid, stuff, or deny uncomfortable emotions, and miss out on the abundant life the Lord Jesus offers to us. Listen in as we share 6 reasons you should intentionally work to grow in healthy emotional expression.
Dec 02, 2024•31 min•Ep. 144
We (rightly) study the book of Acts and particularly Paul's missionary journeys to learn the biblical pattern for mission work. However, in most missions contexts, we foreign missionaries shouldn't function as the "Apostle Paul." We are not the strategy! Instead, we should function in a catalytic role similar to Barnabas. Barnabas was an encourager, advocated for the Apostle Paul when other believers didn't trust him, went out with Paul on their first missionary journey, and then begins falling ...
Nov 25, 2024•38 min•Ep. 143
The church is the family of God, and spiritual mothers and fathers are necessary for the flourishing of the church. Just as biological mothers bring new life into the world and nurture children, spiritual mothers procreate spiritually and nurture spiritual children. Listen in as Christy Allen, a missionary with 14 years of field experience and teacher at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, teaches on this biblical principle and shares examples from her own life.
Nov 19, 2024•27 min•Ep. 142
Just as biological mothers bring new life into the world and nurture children, spiritual mothers procreate spiritually and nurture spiritual children. The church is the family of God, and spiritual mothers and fathers are necessary for the flourishing of the church. Listen in as Christy Allen, a missionary with 14 years of field experience and teacher at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, teaches on this biblical principle and shares examples from her own life.
Nov 18, 2024•31 min•Ep. 141
No need to choose between "bible-focused faith" or "spirit-filled faith;" let's pursue both! Listen in as Joey Schwartz of livefull.org teaches on the Holy Spirit and his power, influence, and gifts in our lives, including a definition of and benefits of prophesy.
Oct 28, 2024•53 min•Ep. 140
Is self-care worldly and selfish or biblical? Listen in as biblical counselor Kim Day gives a biblical perspective on this topic. Self-care is not just a worldly trend; it is the stewardship of our minds, bodies, and souls, so that we can be and do all that God has for us. We must be poured into in order to pour out. Jim and Kim's Retreat Center: restore23.org Check out our website for helpful resources: thecoworkerspodcast.com...
Oct 22, 2024•44 min•Ep. 139
We all have seasons when sharing the gospel feels hard, and actually, it IS hard! Evangelism is uncomfortable and sacrificial, and often feels harder due to spiritual warfare. The enemy lies to us, to paralyze us with shame, to make us dread evangelism, and to lure us to escape instead of engage people. However, there are many rewards of evangelism, such as being used by God for the salvation of people and the deeper joy of obedience. Listen in as we discuss this topic and share practical steps ...
Oct 14, 2024•36 min•Ep. 138
How should we raise up leaders for church planting in pioneer contexts? Leadership development begins with discipleship of the entire church - "everyone gets everything." This discipleship is more than gaining biblical knowledge (though that is important); it is holistic and addresses all of life. This discipleship progressive, and begins with basic discipleship for new believers, and helps believers mature over time. The Lord Jesus and Apostle Paul developed leaders through giving time and atte...
Sep 30, 2024•45 min•Ep. 137
1 Peter 3:1-7 includes instructions for women that can be difficult to understand, such as be subject, have gentle and quiet spirits, be like Sarah who obeyed Abraham and called him lord, and you are weaker vessels. Listen in as Shanee explains this text, and shares how God warmed her heart to not only tolerate, but see the beauty and honor for women in this text.
Sep 23, 2024•25 min•Ep. 135
