evangelical 360°

Philip Yancey opens his heart and shares the painful journey that shaped his spiritual life in this riveting conversation about his memoir "When the Light Fell." With unflinching honesty, he recounts growing up in a fundamentalist community that opposed movies, bowling alleys, roller skating—and openly preached racism from the pulpit during the civil rights era.The raw vulnerability of Yancey's story emerges as he describes his father's death from polio after being removed from an iron lung against medical advice, based on misguided faith expectations. This tragedy left his mother a struggling widow who placed enormous spiritual pressure on her sons to fulfill her dashed missionary dreams—eventually leading to a 52-year estrangement between her and Philip's brother.What makes this conversation particularly powerful is Yancey's explanation of how he emerged from these wounds not as a cynical critic of Christianity, but as one of its most thoughtful voices. He shares a supernatural vision that unexpectedly transformed his perspective during his most skeptical period, revealing how grace broke through his intellectual barriers. "I wasn't trying to really meet God at the time," Yancey confesses, "I happened to be in the middle of a Bible college which I was scornful of...and God met me." The heart of this episode explores how healthy faith communities foster healing while toxic ones create wounds. Yancey draws from his decades of writing about suffering and grace to explain how church communities should function as extensions of "the God of all comfort and the Father of compassion." For those struggling with religious trauma, his journey offers hope that even the harshest religious upbringing need not determine one's spiritual future.This conversation invites listeners to examine their own understanding of grace—what Yancey describes as the recognition that, "there's nothing I can do to make God love me more...and nothing I can do to make God love me less." His story demonstrates how God often woos us through unexpected channels like natural beauty, music, and love rather than through fear and judgment.You can learn more from Philip Yancey through his website and books and you can find him on Facebook.And don't forget to share this episode using hashtag #Evangelical360 and join the conversation online! ____________________▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"▶ More Info: evangelical360.com#evangelical360

A spiritual wildfire that began in a humble livery stable on Azusa Street has transformed into a global movement of over 700 million believers. How did an obscure, often misunderstood expression of Christianity become the fastest-growing religious movement of the 20th century?Dr. Billy Wilson, President of Oral Roberts University and Chair of the Pentecostal World Fellowship, takes us on a fascinating journey through the remarkable history of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement. From its roots in the American Holiness movement to the pivotal Azusa Street Revival of 1906, Wilson reveals how a hunger for divine empowerment sparked a revival that would ultimately touch every nation on earth.What makes this conversation particularly illuminating is Wilson's explanation of how Pentecostalism bridged two worlds within Christianity—combining the cerebral, scripture-focused faith of the Reformation with the mysterious, experiential elements that had been more associated with Catholicism. This synthesis helps explain why the movement spread so rapidly across diverse cultural contexts, particularly in the Global South.The conversation explores several "waves" of Spirit-empowerment: classical Pentecostalism, the Charismatic Renewal that crossed denominational boundaries in the 1960s-70s, and the emergence of global networks and new expressions. Most exciting is Wilson's perspective on what may be a fourth wave emerging today—a movement led by young people hungry for authentic spiritual experience without performance or hype, connected through global youth culture and technology.Against misconceptions that Pentecostals focus solely on spiritual experiences while neglecting social concerns, Wilson highlights the movement's long history of community engagement, from disaster relief to addiction recovery programs. He also shares how diverse streams within the movement are finding new unity through relationship-building and shared mission, particularly around reaching every person with the gospel by 2033.Whether you're deeply familiar with Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity or curious about this influential movement, this episode offers rich historical context, theological insights, and a compelling vision for Spirit-empowered faith in the 21st century. You can learn more from Dr. Billy Wilson through his books and find him on Facebook and Instagram. And you can share this episode using hashtag #Evangelical360 and join the conversation online! ____________________▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"▶ More Info: evangelical360.com#evangelical360

What if the obstacles in your path aren't problems to overcome but divine opportunities to be shaped into Christ's image? In this soul-stirring conversation, bestselling author Ann Voskamp shares her harrowing journey from witnessing her sister's tragic death at age four to becoming a globally recognized voice on gratitude, suffering and faith.Ann opens up about the paralyzing fear that followed childhood trauma—leading to ulcers, self-harm and eventually agoraphobia. Despite these struggles, she found faith through a neighborhood Bible club and later discovered how intentional gratitude could transform her relationship to suffering. "Faith gives thanks in the middle of the story," she explains, offering this practice as a fulcrum for leveraging life's heaviest burdens.The conversation takes a profound turn as Ann unpacks her latest book, "Waymaker." Rather than finding an easier route through difficulties, it explores how God uses our obstacles to reshape us: "Our way is self-formed. God's way is cruciform." This insight became painfully real when her father died in the same farmyard where her sister had been killed decades earlier—on the very day her publisher returned edits for the manuscript.Perhaps most movingly, Ann shares how adopting a daughter from China with half a heart (hypoplastic left heart syndrome) deepened her understanding of our relationship with God. We aren't merely followers of Christ but "kin to the King," adopted into divine family through Jesus' sacrifice. This filial relationship moves beyond legal forgiveness to emphasize attachment and intimacy with our Creator.For those seeking a practical framework, Ann offers her S.A.C.R.E.D approach—Stillness, Attentiveness, Cruciformity, Revelation, Examine and Doxology—as a way of life that keeps us connected to Christ through life's deepest valleys. This isn't just about surviving hardship but thriving in God's presence regardless of circumstances.You can learn more about Ann's books and journey through her website and find here on Facebook and Instagram. And you can share this episode using hashtag #Evangelical360 and join the conversation online! ____________________▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"▶ More Info: evangelical360.com#evangelical360

What happens when a parent's worst nightmare becomes reality? When Wilma Derksen's 13-year-old daughter Candace didn't return home from school one November day in 1984, it sparked one of Winnipeg's largest manhunts and began a journey through grief, justice systems, and ultimately, forgiveness that would span decades.The discovery of Candace's body seven weeks later devastated her family, yet that very night, Wilma and her husband made an unexpected choice: "We're going to forgive." This seemingly impossible decision became their anchor through 22 years of uncertainty, not knowing who had taken their daughter's life, and the eventual court trials, convictions, appeals, and absence of closure. Wilma's approach to forgiveness shatters conventional understanding. Rather than a single act or emotion, she reveals it as a complex, multi-dimensional process that engages the whole person: body, mind, heart, spirit, and community. Her framework, which she calls "Forgiveness to the Power of 5," offers a roadmap for anyone struggling with seemingly unforgivable circumstances.Most powerfully, Wilma's journey led her into prisons where she shared her story with inmates – creating moments of "beautiful harmony" as both victims and offenders recognized their shared need for forgiveness. Through this radical path, she discovered that "love is more powerful than murder" and that choosing forgiveness allowed Candace's memory to flourish rather than be defined by tragedy.Malcolm Gladwell featured Wilma's story in his book "David and Goliath," recognizing the counterintuitive strength that emerged from her approach to overwhelming loss. Now, in her forthcoming book "Impossible Forgiveness to the Power of 5," Wilma offers her hard-won wisdom to anyone seeking to break free from resentment and find healing through forgiveness.Whether you're facing your own seemingly impossible situation or simply seeking to understand the transformative power of forgiveness, Wilma's story demonstrates how choosing to "let go of the negative and step into the positive" can become not just a decision but a way of life. You can learn more with Wilma through her writing and website. And you can share this episode using hashtag #Evangelical360 and join the conversation online! ____________________▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"▶ More Info: evangelical360.com#evangelical360

Dr. Francis Collins takes us on a profound intellectual and spiritual journey from atheism to faith while simultaneously reshaping modern medicine through his leadership of the Human Genome Project. Growing up on a small Virginia farm with no religious background, Collins embraced science as his passion and atheism as his worldview until a pivotal moment in medical school when an elderly patient asked him, "Doctor, what do you believe?"This simple question launched a methodical, evidence-based examination of faith that would transform his life. Collins shares how C.S. Lewis' rational arguments for Christianity in "Mere Christianity" forced him to reconsider his atheist stance, particularly through the universal human experience of moral law – our innate sense of right and wrong that transcends evolutionary explanation. What makes Collins' testimony particularly compelling is how his scientific expertise enhanced rather than hindered his faith journey. As the director who led the revolutionary Human Genome Project to map all human DNA, he describes scientific discovery as "getting a glimpse of God's mind" and laboratories as potential "cathedrals." Throughout his distinguished career, including twelve years directing the National Institutes of Health, Collins has demonstrated how scientific and spiritual worldviews can beautifully complement each other.Perhaps most moving is his account of treating a critically ill young man in a Nigerian mission hospital with minimal resources. After a successful but risky procedure, the patient provided unexpected wisdom: "You came here for me." This profound moment revealed to Collins how God works through individual human encounters rather than grand schemes.For anyone wrestling with questions about science and faith, Collins provides a thoughtful path forward that honors both intellectual integrity and spiritual hunger. Share this episode using hashtag #Evangelical360 and join the conversation online! ____________________▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"▶ More Info: evangelical360.com#evangelical360

What does Christian mission look like in today's rapidly changing world? Bill Taylor draws from 60 years of cross-cultural ministry experience to paint a compelling picture of global transformation.The numbers tell a remarkable story: evangelicals have grown from 90 million in 1960 to over 600 million today. As the former director of the World Evangelical Alliance's Missions Commission, Taylor witnessed this expansion firsthand while helping shape its direction. He vividly recalls how Jim Elliott's martyrdom and famous words—"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose"—sparked his lifelong calling.Taylor challenges outdated colonial missionary paradigms, describing today's reality as "from everywhere to everywhere." Filipino believers ministering in the UAE, African congregations planting churches in Europe, and Latin American missionaries serving worldwide illustrate this dramatic shift. This changing landscape demands Western Christians reassess their role while maintaining meaningful engagement.With prophetic insight, Taylor addresses the false dichotomy between humanitarian work and gospel proclamation. Looking to Jesus's ministry, he demonstrates how compassion, justice, proclamation, community-building, and even persecution form an integrated whole. He worries that social media and ideological currents are undermining Christ's uniqueness among younger generations globally.Taylor's leadership philosophy, detailed in his book "Leading from Below," offers a counterpoint to climb-the-ladder approaches. Through experiences spanning the pre-digital age to today's smartphone-saturated world, he advocates following Jesus's servant path rather than pursuing prominence. For mission-minded believers, he emphasizes the essential role of deepened spirituality to sustain long-term commitment through inevitable challenges.What will mission look like in the decades ahead? Join this conversation to discover how your story might connect with God's global mission movement. Learn more with Bill Taylor through his website and Facebook. ____________________▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"▶ More Info: evangelical360.com#evangelical360

Justin Brierley, an award-winning broadcaster and author of "The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God," explores the surprising cultural shift toward faith in the West. He notes the decline of New Atheism and highlights how younger generations, especially Gen Z, are more open to exploring Christianity. This revival is fueled by a search for meaning amid rising anxiety and depression. Brierley discusses the church's potential to foster community and address existential crises through storytelling and engagement, redefining spirituality in a modern context.

What lights your fire? This might be the most important question in discovering your divine purpose, according to Jim Cantelon, whose remarkable faith journey has taken him from youth pastor to church planter in Jerusalem to founder of an international NGO serving orphans and widows.In this profound conversation with Brian Stiller, Cantelon reveals a refreshingly practical approach to discerning God's will. Rather than waiting for perfect clarity or divine roadmaps, he advocates recognizing what you're naturally good at and taking faithful action. "The will of God will and should flow seamlessly through your life and never be something that challenges you to be what you're not," Cantelon explains, dismantling the perfectionism that often paralyzes believers.Through vivid storytelling, Cantelon shares how his ministries emerged not from strategic planning but from faithful response to divine prompting—what he describes as visceral, sometimes irrational nudges from God. His nautical metaphor perfectly captures this philosophy: many Christians keep their "ships" docked, loading them with contingencies while waiting for perfect direction, but "God can make a midcourse correction for a moving vessel but can do nothing with a ship that remains docked."Particularly moving is Cantelon's account of founding WOW (Working for Orphans and Widows), sparked by encountering devastating poverty while pastoring a wealthy church. This organization has since helped hundreds of thousands affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India, transforming entire communities. Now at 77, while peers have long retired, Cantelon continues active ministry with "the biggest horizon I've ever had in my life."Whether you're questioning your purpose, considering ministry, or seeking fresh direction in retirement years, this episode offers wisdom that liberates from analysis-paralysis and inspires faithful action today. Subscribe to Evangelical 360 for more conversations that explore contemporary issues impacting Christian life worldwide.____________________▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"▶ More Info: evangelical360.com#evangelical360

Join us for a captivating episode with Nouhoum Coulibaly as he shares his journey of faith, resilience, and God’s provision. Growing up in Mali, he faced both hardship and deep spiritual growth within a Christian family. Despite financial struggles, his strong faith laid the foundation for a life of service. Through trials and unexpected challenges, Nouhoum’s story reveals the transformative power of perseverance, community, and unwavering trust in God’s calling.As he discusses the shift in contemporary missions, Nouhoum reveals how the roles have evolved. It's no longer a one-way street; it now involves a rich exchange of cultures and ideas. His insights are both poignant and motivating, especially as he illuminates the misconceptions surrounding poverty and wealth within a faith context. Not only does he offer a window into the burdens of being a missionary, but he also underscores the power of collaboration and mutual respect in current mission frameworks.  The discussion delves into how Nouhoum now serves as a bridge between two worlds, emphasizing the importance of education in combating both intellectual and spiritual poverty. Through his work in establishing a Christian school in Mali that welcomes students from all backgrounds, he demonstrates a commitment to holistic ministry that merges faith with practical needs.  This episode not only inspires but challenges us to rethink our approach to missions in a multicultural society. Nouhoum invites pastors and church communities to actively engage in missions that honor partnerships over paternalism, fostering relationships that empower rather than impose. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable perspectives on faith and service across borders.  Be sure to subscribe, share, and explore together how we can all contribute to a mission that serves everyone, everywhere.Zion Alliance Church - https://zioncma.ca/Grace Between Nations - https://www.gracebetweennations.org/____________________▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"▶ More Info: evangelical360.com#evangelical360

In this captivating episode of Evangelical 360, host Brian Stiller engages with Ajit Fernando, a distinguished leader and writer, to discuss the essence of servant leadership rooted in the life of Jesus. Fernando, often regarded as the “John Stott of Asia,” unpacks the timeless lessons of leadership, emphasizing the importance of identity and the role of the Holy Spirit. Listeners will discover how Jesus embodies transformative leadership that prioritizes love, humility, and connection to God. <br><br>Fernando shares personal anecdotes and practical insights from his extensive ministry experience, revealing how daily spiritual practices reinforce a leader's strength and purpose. As they discuss pressing challenges in Christian leadership today, Fernando underscores the necessity of fostering unity and collaboration among diverse church communities. This episode serves not only as an enlightening conversation but also as a call to action for listeners to reflect on their leadership roles. Fueled by the teachings of Jesus, Stiller and Fernando challenge us all to lead with joy and compassion. Join us for this enriching discussion, and connect with the heart of leadership. Don’t forget to subscribe, share your thoughts, and leave a review!____________________▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"▶ More Info: evangelical360.com#evangelical360