evangelical 360°

A farm boy from British Columbia hears a call, steps onto a Vietnamese tarmac, and discovers a faith that refuses to be managed by war, ideology or fear. In this episode we dive into conversation with seasoned missionary and advocate, Reg Reimer, whose life bridges Bible school hallways, evacuation flights from Saigon, and quiet rooms where persecuted pastors whisper strategies for survival.  Reg unpacks why mission still matters—less as a Western export and more as a global partnership forged in prayer and shared risk. He reflects on paternalism’s legacy, the early push for indigenous leadership, and what changed when Vietnamese believers asked God to alleviate their fear. The result was remarkable: after a near-silent decade under communist rule, the church grew fourteenfold, and through miraculous signs and wonders, entire coastal communities turned to Jesus. Reimer also shares the necessity for the “two wings” of mission—proclaim salvation and resist human suffering—and looks ahead to a future where the global South leads, the West serves alongside, and all peoples send and go. If you’ve wondered how to discern a call, navigate politics without losing your soul, or serve across cultures with integrity, this conversation offers hard-won counsel and hope.If you'd like to learn more from Reg Reimer you can purchase his book and find 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

A crowded sanctuary in downtown Caracas. A song of praise rising over a weary city. And a pastor who refuses to leave. In this episode Brian sits down with Rev. Samuel Olson, Senior Pastor of Las Acacias Evangelical Pentecostal Church, to trace how this Venezuelan church keeps growing while the surrounding economy buckles and millions migrate. The stories that are shared are raw, yet practical: pallets of medicine carried into barrios, dentists and doctors setting up pop-up clinics, lawyers helping neighbors find a way forward. Apparently, scarcity doesn’t shrink mission - it sharpens it.  Pastor Samuel goes on to explain why the church won’t trade its witness for political favour, even as members serve across parties, schools, courts, and the military. We explore how interfaith friendships with Jewish, Catholic, and Muslim leaders reduce suspicion and help protect ministry in tense seasons. You’ll hear a gripping account of a near-confiscation of the church property that was turned back through fasting, quiet conversations, and clear evidence of social impact. Through it all, worship fuels perseverance and baptisms multiple, as people find hope money can’t buy.  For younger leaders, Pastor Sam offers a steady word: calling is not a contract. Stay long enough to love a place, to train successors, and to watch God multiply small beginnings into schools, seminaries, and transformed neighborhoods. If you care about faith under pressure, ethical engagement with politics, and how churches can serve cities without compromise, this conversation will stir your imagination and your courage. If you'd like to learn more about Las Acacias Evangelical Pentecostal Church and Pastor Samuel Olson, you can go to the website and follow them on 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 if the most generous thing you could do wasn’t another grant, but a business that outlives the donation? In this episode we sit down with Dr. Kim Tan—biochemist, venture investor, and pioneer of social impact funds—to rethink how giving can build jobs, dignity and systems that last. From a high-risk bet on a safari reserve in South Africa’s poorest province, to a network of 10,000 low-cost schools educating three million children, Dr. Tan shows how enterprise-based solutions can scale where traditional aid often stalls. We unpack the core thesis: nations don’t transform through charity alone; they transform when capital builds real companies. Dr. Kim explains why the “missing middle” of small and medium enterprises is critical in emerging markets, how patient capital and hands-on mentorship reduce risk, and why the first screen is financial viability—even for mission-driven work. Faith is woven throughout the conversation. Dr. Kim shares a kingdom-centered vision that is incarnational, sacrificial, and focused on transformation. Whether you’re a philanthropist, investor, or believer who wants your generosity to matter for the long haul, this conversation offers a clear, tested roadmap for turning compassion into sustainable prosperity.If you'd like to learn more about the Transformational Business Network you can go to their website and social media for Asia and Africa. 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

Dr. Matthew D. Taylor, a renowned religious scholar and author, dives into the rise of Christian nationalism and its impact on American democracy. He uncovers the influence of fringe charismatic leaders in politics and how their rhetoric has spun elections into ideological battlegrounds. Taylor differentiates between soft nationalism and Christian supremacy, exploring how spiritual warfare language has reshaped public discourse. He advocates for a noncoercive Christian presence in public life, emphasizing persuasion over dominance and the importance of dialogue.

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