

The Missions Podcast
Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford
The Missions Podcast answers hard questions about theology, missions, and practice to help goers think and thinkers go. We are conservative, evangelical, and gospel-centered.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International, a missions agency with a force of about 1,000 workers serving across 70 countries with a focus on evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.
The Missions Podcast is powered by ABWE International, a missions agency with a force of about 1,000 workers serving across 70 countries with a focus on evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 17, 2023 • 42sec
The Goodness of Christian Culture
This week, Alex and Scott talk about how Christian tradition around the holidays can be an evangelistic tool in drawing the lost to the community of faith.
Believe in our mission? Support the show at missionspodcast.com/support.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Nov 13, 2023 • 44min
Artificial Intelligence and World Missions
In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford explore the rise of AI and its effects on the global missions community. From AI-powered church services to a new partnership between SIL and Christian Vision to develop a Bible-focused chatbot, the discussion touches on the potential dangers and ethical concerns of AI, the lie of transhumanism, and the imperative to take dominion over technological tools.
Did you know that there’s a new addition to the ABWE podcast lineup? Search for Cloud of Witnesses in your favorite app, or visit cloudofwitnessespodcast.com.
Believe in our mission? Support the show at missionspodcast.com/support.
You can also watch The Missions Podcast on ABWE’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/abweinternational.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Nov 10, 2023 • 1min
The Lie of Transhumanism
Throughout the West, transhumanism—the idea that through technology and artifice we can transcend our natural limitations—is enchanting unbelievers. But Christ as Lord will have the final word.
Believe in our mission? Support the show at missionspodcast.com/support.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Nov 6, 2023 • 38min
Letting the Gospel Wreck Your Life: Scott Dunford Shares
In this episode, Scott Dunford unpacks 2 Corinthians 5 to illustrate the power of the gospel to wreck our self-centered priorities and open our eyes to the mission of God. Hear how Christ’s love forces us out of our comfort zones and into God’s risky will for our lives among the nations in this talk originally delivered to the student body of Cedarville University.
Did you know that there’s a new addition to the ABWE podcast lineup? Search for Cloud of Witnesses in your favorite app, or visit cloudofwitnessespodcast.com.
Believe in our mission? Support the show at missionspodcast.com/support.
You can also watch The Missions Podcast on ABWE’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/abweinternational.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Nov 4, 2023 • 48sec
The Danger of Missions Conferences
Coming up this week: Scott Dunford brings a challenge to let the gospel wreck your view of self, of others, and of our obligation in the world.
Believe in our mission? Support the show at missionspodcast.com/support.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Oct 29, 2023 • 37min
Navigating the Uncharted: A Conversation with Emily Bennett on ‘Before You Go’
This week on the Missions Podcast, hosts Alex and Scott sit down with Emily Bennett, the general editor of the insightful book, Before You Go: Wisdom from Ten Women Who Served Internationally (2023). As someone who heeded the call to take the gospel to the nations, Emily shares a wealth of experience aimed at preparing those poised to step into the mission field. Our enlightening conversation journeys through the core themes of the book, delving into discerning one’s calling, embracing the sacrifice of leaving the familiar, and fostering a spirit of unity while serving on a team overseas. Whether you are about to embark on overseas missions or are a seasoned missionary, this conversation with Emily Bennett is a treasure trove of wisdom.
As mentioned in the show, you can support relief ministry in the region via ABWE’s Middle East Compassion Fund at abwe.org/middle-east-compassion.
Did you know that there’s a new addition to the ABWE podcast lineup? Search for Cloud of Witnesses in your favorite app, or visit cloudofwitnessespodcast.com.
Believe in our mission? Support the show at missionspodcast.com/support.
You can also watch The Missions Podcast on ABWE’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/abweinternational.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Oct 27, 2023 • 48sec
Emily Bennett: You Don’t Become Bold Overnight
Coming up this week: Emily Bennett, editor of the new book Before You Go: Wisdom from Ten Women Who Served Internationally, shares why if you aren’t living evangelistically now, you won’t automatically become evangelistic once thrust out onto the mission field.
Believe in our mission? Support the show at missionspodcast.com/support.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Oct 22, 2023 • 44min
Israel, Palestine, and the Gospel
What is happening to Christians in Israel and the Palestinian territories right now, and what does the current war mean in terms of the advance of the gospel? In this episode, Alex and Scott wrestle Hamas’ bloody attacks on Israel and the ensuing conflict from a biblical worldview.
As mentioned in the show, you can support relief ministry in the region via ABWE’s Middle East Compassion Fund at abwe.org/middle-east-compassion.
Did you know that there’s a new addition to the ABWE podcast lineup? Search for Cloud of Witnesses in your favorite app, or visit cloudofwitnessespodcast.com.
Believe in our mission? Support the show at missionspodcast.com/support.
You can also watch The Missions Podcast on ABWE’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/abweinternational.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Oct 20, 2023 • 1min
Why Is Antisemitism on the Rise?
This week: Scott and Alex discuss how to approach the Israel-Hamas war with our biblical thinking caps on.
Believe in our mission? Support the show at missionspodcast.com/support.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

Oct 15, 2023 • 45min
Erased: What Every Believer Needs to Know About the Armenian Christian Genocide, Then and Now—With Joel Veldkamp
In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Joel Veldkamp, head of international communications at Christian Solidarity International, to discuss the ongoing crisis facing Armenian Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh. Joel brings his expertise to shed light on the historical, political, and spiritual dimensions of this crisis, urging the global Christian community to stand in solidarity with their persecuted brothers and sisters.
In the wake of the blockade's end, the situation has reached a critical point. With all but 50 Christians remaining in Nagorno-Karabakh, the rest have been exiled, leaving a once-thriving community nearly erased. Joel provides an updated look at the humanitarian aftermath, including the dire circumstances facing those who have been displaced. He also revisits the political landscape, examining how the actions of Azerbaijan and its allies have led to this near-elimination of the Armenian Christian community. The episode delves into the role that the U.S. and the global community can still play in this crisis, especially in light of these devastating developments. Joel emphasizes the ever-urgent need for spiritual, material, and political solidarity with the few remaining and the many exiled Armenian Christians. Finally, we discuss how Christians abroad can help—and why we as evangelicals must recognize that we belong to a global family.
Additional resources:
First Things Article by Joel Veldkamp
Christian Solidarity International
Compassion Europe Project by ABWE
Believe in our mission? Support the show at missionspodcast.com/support.
The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org.
Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.