The Nations: Engaged in God's Global Mission

Host Matt Carter is joined by Tony Merida, Vance Pitman, and Trevin Wax to discuss the essential role of global missions in church planting. They explore why global engagement is a marker of a faithful planter, how churches can cultivate a heart for the nations, and the importance of partnerships with global churches. The discussion also covers practical ways to go beyond financial support and actively bless international ministries.

Matt Carter is vice president of mobilization for Send Network, the largest church planting network in North America. He was also founding pastor of The Austin Stone Church. During his tenure at The Stone, the church sent over 300 full-time missionaries to unreached people groups around the world. Matt holds an MDiv from Southwestern Seminary and a Doctorate in Expositional Preaching from Southeastern Seminary. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children.

Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, N.C, and is the vice president of planter development for Send Network. He also serves as a Board member for The Gospel Coalition. Tony has written several books including, The Christ-Centered Expositor, Love Your Church, and multiple volumes in the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series. He’s happily married to Kimberly, and they have five children.

Vance Pitman is president of Send Network, founding pastor of Hope Church, and author ofUNBURDENED: Stop Living for Jesus So Jesus Can Live Through YouandThe Stressless Life: Experiencing the Unshakable Presence of God's Indescribable Peace. As a seasoned church planter and now leader of the largest church planting organization in North America, Vance seeks to inspire people to join in God’s eternal, redemptive mission of making disciples by multiplying the Church all over North America so that the nations may come to know Him.  Vance and his wife Kristie have four children and four grandchildren and live in Georgia.

Trevin Wax is vice president of resources and marketing at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor at Cedarville University. A former missionary to Romania, Trevin is a regular columnist at The Gospel Coalition and has contributed toThe Washington Post, Religion News Service, World, andChristianity Today.He has taught courses on mission and ministry at Wheaton College and has lectured on Christianity and culture at Oxford University. He is a founding editor of The Gospel Project, has served as publisher for the Christian Standard Bible, and is the author of multiple books, includingThe Thrill of Orthodoxy, The Multi-Directional Leader, Rethink Your Self, This Is Our Time, andGospel Centered Teaching.His podcast isReconstructing Faith.He and his wife, Corina, have three children.