evangelical 360°

A prayer circle in the Oval Office makes for a striking photo, but the real story sits behind the lens: how a network of independent charismatic leaders became power brokers and why that shift matters for democracy. In this episode we sit down with Dr. Matthew D. Taylor, a renowned religious scholar and author, who helps map out some recent American history—from Latter Rain revivals, to the New Apostolic Reformation, and prime-time policy fueled by fringe prophecy. Along the way, we draw a clear line between everyday “God bless America” civil religion and a harder creed Dr. Taylor calls, "Christian supremacy"—the claim that Christians are entitled to rule. Taylor explains how spiritual warfare language migrated from church pulpits to campaign rallies, recasting opponents as demonic and compromise as defeat. That shift, he argues, turned elections into exorcisms and normalized a revolutionary posture that helped fuel January 6 and continues to shape rhetoric and policy. We also explore why this moment emerged now: the global surge of independent charismatics, the post-1990s slide in Christian identification, and the strongman bargain many believers made after cultural defeats like the Obergefell decision.Grounded in history and attentive to faith, the conversation doesn’t call for withdrawal from public life. Instead, we make the case for a noncoercive Christian presence that seeks persuasion over domination and protects the rights of those who disagree. Whether you’re evangelical, exvangelical, or simply curious about the intersection of religion and power, this episode offers a clear framework to understand the stakes—and the alternatives. If you'd like to learn more from Dr. Matthew D. Taylor you can purchase his book, The Violent Take It By Force, and find him online and on social media. And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube! ____________________▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"▶ More Info: evangelical360.com#evangelical360

Headlines often reduce “evangelical” to a U.S. political label, but there is so much more beyond the frame. In this conversation with historian and global church leader Rev. Dr. Frank Hinkelmann, we trace how a revival-born, interdenominational movement became a 140‑country network, why its center now rests in the Global South, and what that means for mission, ethics, and public life. Dr. Hinkelmann unpacks the roots of the term "evangelical" for us, the Bebbington markers that still orient identity, and the surprising ways migration and youth engagement are reshaping Europe’s religious map. We dig into the nineteenth‑century birth of the World Evangelical Alliance and its early campaigns for religious freedom, including advocacy before emperors and sultans. That history sets the stage for today’s challenges: resisting the temptation to fuse faith with political power, broadening moral vision beyond a narrow set of issues, and keeping conscience, persuasion, and service at the center. Frank offers a European lens on U.S. politicization, urging a clear line between church and state while calling believers to engage the public square with conviction and humility.For younger listeners wondering how to step in, Frank’s roadmap is simple and actionable: start local, volunteer, cross borders when possible, and build friendships that widen your view of God’s work in the world. You can learn more from Rev. Dr. Frank Hinkelmann through his published works, and the World Evangelical Alliance through their website and Facebook.And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube! ____________________▶ 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 makes a mid-century Oxford don the go-to guide for people wrestling with faith, doubt, and meaning today? In this episode we welcome back esteemed historian Dr. Mark Noll as he helps us explore how C.S. Lewis became a trusted voice in American life, why his work crosses denominational lines, and how his unique blend of logic and imagination keeps winning new readers.We start with the story: a brilliant student who lost his faith, survived the trenches of World War I, and slowly returned to Christianity through moral reasoning and wonder. Dr. Noll walks us through Clive Staples' early scholarship, his wartime talks to RAF airmen, and the BBC broadcasts that taught him clarity and brevity. Then the pivot: The Screwtape Letters explodes in the U.S., Macmillan Publishers rolls out more titles, and soon Mere Christianity and the Chronicles of Narnia anchor a new kind of public faith—thoughtful, accessible, and deeply human.Along the way, we unpack why Lewis resonated first with Roman Catholic academics, why evangelicals embraced him later, and how Mere Christianity let him speak across traditions without flattening convictions. We also look at the space trilogy’s moral universe, the stark honesty of A Grief Observed, and the enduring pull of Aslan’s world. Mark argues that Lewis’ refusal to chase headlines is exactly why he feels current: he wrote about conscience, choice, and meaning, not the news cycle. That timelessness, paired with luminous storytelling, makes his books surprisingly portable across languages and cultures.If you’re new to Lewis, we offer clear starting points based on temperament—reasons, wonder, or lament—and explain how each path reveals the same center: reality is morally textured and grace interrupts. If you’re a longtime reader, you’ll appreciate fresh context on his American reception and why his scholarship still matters. If you'd like to learn more from Dr. Mark Noll you can purchase his book, C.S. Lewis in America: Readings and Reception, and read his work through publishing partners. And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube! ____________________▶ 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 quiet statistic hides a loud truth: one in seven Christians lives with the risk of arrest, mob violence, or bureaucratic erasure simply for practicing their faith. In this episode we sit down with Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham—lawyer, professor, and head of the World Evangelical Alliance’s Geneva advocacy team—to unpack how smart, steady diplomacy at the UN can create real space for believers to worship, witness, and even bury their dead without fear. Janet traces her path from Canadian public policy work to leading a team that turns testimony into action. She explains how special consultative status opens doors to convene side events, deliver hard-hitting 90-second statements, and file reports that influence asylum cases and government responses. We dig into the mechanics: building trust with diplomats, coordinating with national alliances across 140 countries, and timing “good cop, bad cop” strategies so international pressure empowers local engagement rather than eclipsing it.The conversation explores rising trends—registration traps that criminalize house churches, apostasy laws that penalize conversion, and AI-fueled surveillance that tightens control. Case studies bring the stakes into focus: a pastor from Turkey facing restrictions, Nigerian Christians displaced by violence, and India’s disturbing pattern of mobs blocking Christian funerals. Through it all, Janet shows how precise language, credible evidence, and persistent presence can turn compassion into policy change and small wins into lasting protections.If you care about religious freedom, this episode offers both clarity and a roadmap: what works at the UN, how advocacy reaches the local church, and where listeners can step in—through informed prayer, careful sharing, and support for trusted relief and legal efforts. You can learn more about the World Evangelical Alliance at the UN and Dr. Buckingham's work through the WEA website and Facebook. And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube! ____________________▶ 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 story you think you know—Soviet oppression, majestic cathedrals, and a single, monolithic “Russian Church”—isn’t the story you’ll hear today. With theologian and practitioner Dr. Johannes Reimer, we pull back the curtain on a spiritual landscape where underground resilience meets minority-language revival. From Siberian deportation villages and labour camps to St. Petersburg lecture halls and citywide evangelistic campaigns, Reimer’s journey connects the dots between history, theology, and the lived realities of people finding faith in their mother tongue. In this episode we explore how forced unions and state oversight fractured evangelical life, why glasnost opened doors faster than churches could adapt, and how a strategic shift after 2000 moved mission beyond Russian-only congregations. Think Tatars worshiping in Tatar, Khanti reindeer herders singing in Khanti, and first-generation believers in Muslim-majority districts planting vibrant churches. Alongside that, we examine Orthodoxy’s complex ecosystem—monasteries, revivalist circles, and a state-facing Moscow Patriarchate—while weighing the “Russian world” narrative that frames Moscow as a new “Third Rome” with Kyiv as a spiritual keystone. What emerges through this conversation is a map of faith that’s younger, more multilingual, and more local than headlines suggest. Brian and Johannes talk candidly about the line between ministry freedom and political speech, the thinness behind some grand facades, and the unexpected vitality of congregations that honour culture and language. You can learn more about Dr. Reimer's work and find the published articles referenced in conversation on his website, and follow him through social media. And please don't forget to share this episode and join the conversation on YouTube!  ____________________▶ Watch Interviews on YouTube ▶ Sign Up for FREE Dispatches From the Global Village▶ Free Downloadable eBook "Here's Hope"▶ More Info: evangelical360.com#evangelical360

Forget the old map of mission. We sit down with Rev. Dr. Joseph Handley Jr., President of A3 (formerly Asian Access), to unpack how the gospel is moving through a polycentric network of churches and leaders—where sending no longer flows from “the West to the rest,” but from everyone to everywhere. Joe shares how A3’s cohort model develops leaders in small, practitioner-led communities over two to three years, multiplying local ownership as alumni become faculty and movements take root in context. If you’ve ever wondered how to partner without paternalism, this is a masterclass in empowering local and contextual leadership.We trace why South Korea and Brazil became global mission engines, the role of Pentecostal experience in explosive growth, and what happens when worship, deliverance, and close-knit community meet real needs in places that already acknowledge the spiritual realm. Joe makes a compelling case for integrating justice and evangelism—no false dichotomies, just the holistic pattern we see in the life of Jesus. We also tackle faith in the public square: how younger leaders in Asia are stepping into civic life with moral clarity, avoiding partisanship, and choosing witness over culture-war.Technology enters the picture with surprising hope. Joe shows how AI translation, voice syncing, and transcript-to-article workflows can elevate local voices, bridge language gaps, and accelerate collaboration across borders. The thread through it all is simple and challenging - - get in the game! Whether you bring decades of pastoral wisdom or a week to mentor rising leaders, there’s a place at the table for you. You can learn more about the A3 mission through their website and you can buy Joe's book and connect with him through social media. ____________________▶ 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 free meal, a short film and an open chair can change a life. That’s the quiet power behind Alpha, the simple, hospitable format Nicky Gumbel helped steward from a London parish into a global movement—inviting people to explore the meaning of life and the person of Jesus without pressure or pretense. In this conversation Nicky talks about the early missteps of street evangelism, the moment Alpha “went viral,” and why the small‑group experience often does what a podium can’t: it builds trust, honours questions, and makes space for real encounter. Gumbel also discusses the Alpha retreat weekend, focused on the Holy Spirit, where many participants say their change arrived not through argument but love shown. This episode might also act as a field guide for leaders. Start with Jesus, not with winning arguments. Trade expertise for authenticity. Host, don’t perform. Serve the people in front of you and trust that joy spreads with friendship. If you care about evangelism, church growth, or simply helping a friend ask better questions, you’ll find practical insight and hopeful stories here.  You can learn more about Nicky Gumbel and the Alpha course through their website, Facebook and Instagram. ____________________▶ 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 an evangelical leader and a Catholic scholar engage in honest dialogue about the papacy? In this illuminating conversation, host Brian Stiller sits down with Dr. Michael Higgins, author of "The Jesuit Disruptor," to explore Pope Francis's revolutionary impact on Catholic-Evangelical relations.Dr. Higgins reveals how Francis fundamentally transformed the papacy through his emphasis on humility, dialogue, and authentic Christian witness. Rather than approaching evangelicals as theological opponents, Francis saw them as "companions along the way" who could teach Catholics about being "alive with the Spirit." This wasn't strategic positioning but emerged from Francis's conviction that Christians share common ground in Jesus and serving the marginalized.The conversation takes a personal turn when Stiller shares an encounter with Pope Francis. During a private lunch, Francis told the evangelical leader: "I'm not trying to evangelize an evangelical," acknowledging the legitimacy of evangelical faith outside Catholic sacramental traditions. This profound theological recognition demonstrates Francis's commitment to authentic ecumenism that respects different Christian expressions.Higgins unpacks Francis' preference for the title "Servant of the Servants of God" over more hierarchical papal designations, reflecting his determination to invert traditional power structures within the church. This servant-leadership approach characterized Francis's "penitential pilgrimage" to Canada, where he primarily listened to Indigenous communities harmed by residential schools rather than delivering prepared speeches.Looking toward the future under Pope Leo XIV, Higgins analyzes early signs of continued bridge-building while acknowledging the tensions within Catholicism regarding women's roles, Vatican diplomacy, and approaches to global conflicts. Throughout, he frames Francis' legacy not merely as institutional reform but as a rediscovery of Christian leadership rooted in encounter, humility, and recognition of Christ's presence across denominational boundaries.Whether you're curious about Catholic-Evangelical relations, intrigued by Francis's unique papacy, or seeking models of Christian leadership that transcend division, this conversation offers rich insights that challenge conventional boundaries. You can learn more from Dr. Michael Higgins through his scholarship and publications. 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

Join Dr. Michael Higgins, a Professor Emeritus and author of "The Jesuit Disruptor," as he delves into the transformative leadership of Pope Francis. He explains how Francis's humble beginnings in Argentina and Jesuit training shaped his compassionate approach. Discussing concepts like ‘the church as a field hospital,' Higgins highlights why this pope matters beyond Catholicism. Emphasizing mercy over legalism, he redefines papal identity, aiming for a more inclusive church. Discover the real challenges and reforms within the Vatican under this revolutionary leader.

When Michael Van Pelt and his colleague Ray Pennings founded Cardus twenty-five years ago, they had a revolutionary insight: politics follows culture, not the other way around. Starting with just $42,000, this Canadian Christian think-tank has grown into an $8 million organization that's become one of North America's most respected policy voices—all while maintaining an explicitly faith-based perspective in one of the world's most secular societies.Van Pelt reveals the secret to their unlikely success: being "Christian, credible, and public." Rather than retreating from secular spaces or compromising their beliefs, Cardus researchers bring rigorous scholarship and a posture of hospitality to their work on issues ranging from family policy to medical ethics. This approach has earned them a place at the table in mainstream media and policy circles that traditionally exclude religious voices.Drawing from both Reformed theology and broader Christian traditions, the organization navigates the delicate balance between prophetic witness and constructive engagement. Their work on controversial topics like Canada's medical assistance in dying legislation exemplifies how biblical principles can provide innovative frameworks for addressing contemporary challenges. As Van Pelt explains, "Even in cultural decline, even in an environment where you're sometimes seeing really troublesome animosity, there's that little yearning that just never can go away."The conversation explores how Christians should respond to changing cultural landscapes, including the rise of Christian nationalism in the United States and increasing secularization in Canada. Van Pelt suggests that in today's "Daniel in Babylon moment," believers must work respectfully within existing systems while maintaining clear theological foundations. This approach allows space for genuine pluralism without abandoning truth claims.For those wrestling with how faith can meaningfully engage public life, Van Pelt's journey from 12-year-old political activist to think-tank leader offers a compelling alternative to both religious withdrawal and culture war mentalities. In a time of societal anxiety and purposelessness, he sees unprecedented opportunity for Christian witness—not through imposing belief, but by demonstrating how the gospel brings flourishing to institutions, communities, and individual lives. You can learn more about the Cardus Institute through their website, 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