What does it take to go from feeling called to missions to actually reaching the field? And how can you trust God through the challenges of raising support?

In this episode of The Missions Show, hosts Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford welcome Ken Lorow, Director of PreField Ministry at ABWE, who helps prepare and coach new missionaries. Together, they discuss the steps toward missionary service, the biblical foundation for raising support, and why having someone walk alongside you can make all the difference.

Through personal stories of God's faithfulness, including a young boy's gift of two pennies, Ken shares how God uses the support-raising journey to build faith, deepen relationships, and prepare missionaries for long-term ministry. They also offer practical advice for inviting others to partner in missions and explain why prefield ministry is about much more than raising funds.

Whether you're exploring a call to missions or preparing to go, this conversation will encourage you to take the next step in faith.

• How ABWE coaches prepare and support missionaries before and after reaching the field
• Why raising financial support is biblical and an invitation to partner in God's work
• Stories of God's provision during seasons of uncertainty
• Practical tips for building relationships and inviting ministry partners
• How prefield ministry builds faith, confidence, and spiritual maturity
• The value of prayer, church partnerships, and depending on the body of Christ

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The Missions Show is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionsshow.com.

How should missionaries teach deep biblical truth in cultures where storytelling, rather than reading, is the main way people learn?

In this week's episode, Alex and Scott explore “character theology”—using the people, events, and overarching story of Scripture to help believers understand who God is and what he has done. They discuss why missionaries should resist choosing between biblical stories and systematic theology. Instead, the stories of Scripture can give life and context to doctrines that might otherwise seem abstract.

Alex and Scott also consider what this means for pastors, teachers, and everyday Christians. From God’s holiness to Christ’s finished work, the Bible teaches theology through a sweeping story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. By becoming better biblical storytellers, Christians can help people better understand sound doctrine, see how all of Scripture points to Christ, and grasp the good news in a way that engages both the mind and the heart.

• Teaching theology in oral and preliterate cultures
• Balancing Bible storytelling with systematic theology
• How Scripture’s stories reveal the character of God
• Using chronological Bible storytelling in missions
• Connecting the Bible’s overarching story to Christ
• Applying biblical storytelling in preaching, discipleship, and evangelism

Do you love The Missions Show? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!

Premium Subscribers get access to:

• Exclusive bonus content
• A community Signal thread with other listeners and the hosts
• Invite-only webinars
• A free gift!

Support The Missions Show and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionsshow.com/premium

The Missions Show is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionsshow.com.

What is God’s mission—and how does the church fit into it?

Christians often talk about being “on mission,” but before asking what we should do, we need to understand what God is doing. In this episode, Alex and Scott talk with Justin Schell, author of The Mission of God and the Witness of the Church, about the biblical story of God revealing himself and drawing people into communion with him. From Genesis to the Great Commission, they trace how God’s desire to dwell with his people shapes our understanding of both the church and missions.

The conversation also explores the church’s role as God’s witness in the world. Good works can display something true about God, but people need the proclaimed gospel to know the saving work of Jesus Christ. Rather than viewing the church simply as a tool for accomplishing mission, Schell explains how God’s mission leads to a people who know him, worship him, and invite others to share in that joy.

• What we mean by “the mission of God”
• God’s desire for communion with his people
• Why the church is more than a means to accomplish mission
• The church’s calling to bear witness to Christ
• The relationship between good works and gospel proclamation
• How the Great Commission fits into the whole story of Scripture

Explore your calling to global missions at ABWE's 24-Hour DEMO event. These events, held throughout the year, help individuals and churches explore how they can help fulfill the Great Commission and explore God's calling on their life and church. Learn more at https://demo.abwe.org.

Do you love The Missions Show? Have you been blessed by the show? Then become a Premium Subscriber!

Premium Subscribers get access to:

• Exclusive bonus content
• A community Signal thread with other listeners and the hosts
• Invite-only webinars
• A free gift!

Support The Missions Show and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionsshow.com/premium

The Missions Show is powered by ABWE. Learn more and take your next step in the Great Commission at abwe.org.

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionsshow.com.