Twenty years earlier, a missionary had been killed while trying to bring the gospel to the New Hebrides. Now, the call was going out again. Who would be willing to go? John Paton answered, “I'll go.” But instead of sending him, church leaders urged him to stay. He was too gifted, too valuable, and too effective in his ministry at home. They even offered to increase his salary. Paton went anyway. In this clip, Paul Schlehlein shares how Paton's courage challenges us to consider how much we trust God to use his people to accomplish his purposes, not ours.

What kind of missionary does God use to reach the nations? John Paton was already a gifted evangelist, faithfully sharing the gospel and serving his local church in Scotland. When the call came for someone to take the gospel to the dangerous islands of the New Hebrides, he volunteered. But there was a problem. His church didn't want to lose him. Paul Schlehlein shares why Paton's example reminds us that faithfulness on the mission field begins with faithfulness at home and when God calls us to send our best, we can trust God to sustain and provide his church. 🎙️ Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast app!

What can the faith and courage of missionaries from the past teach us about reaching the world for Christ today? In this special episode of The Missions Show, recorded at Missionary 2026, Alex and Scott sit down with missionary and author Paul Schlehlein to discuss the legacy of John Paton, the cost of following Christ, and the joys and challenges of raising a family on the mission field. From planting churches in Africa to learning from the sacrifices of past missionaries, Paul shares why the Great Commission is worth the risk. ▶️ Watch the premiere on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast app! 🔓 Want more from Missionary 2026? All our exclusive conference interviews are available now to Premium Subscribers on The Missions Show Patreon!

How do you begin a conversation about sin and our need for a Savior? Start at the beginning: We were created in God's image, made to know, worship, and glorify him. But sin has broken our relationship with God. Instead of honoring our Creator, we turn away from him and choose to live for ourselves. When sharing the gospel, understanding this truth is a powerful starting point for helping unbelievers recognize the problem of sin and evil, and why we all need Jesus Christ. Evangelist Ryan Denton explains how this biblical foundation can help believers move beyond difficult questions and point people to the hope of salvation through Christ. 🎙️ Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast app!

"My burden and my heart has certainly been, by God's grace, trying to reach the lost souls and bring them in as God enables." Too often the church can become insular and we only preach to ourselves, but we need to remember that there is a lost world out there waiting for bold believers to stand and share the Good News from every street corner. Ryan Denton, open-air preacher and evangelist, shares how God called him to reach the lost and those on the margins with the hope of Jesus Christ.

In a world searching for answers, the Bible gives us a clear message of hope: Jesus Christ is the only way to be made right with God. “Praise God that there is a way. Praise God he made a way.” Salvation isn't just about knowing the facts of the gospel. It's about repenting of sin and placing your faith in Jesus Christ. Ryan Denton reminds us why the call to repent and believe the gospel is at the heart of evangelism. If you need an example of how you succinctly and effectively share the gospel, don't miss this episode.

What drives a pastor to take the gospel beyond the walls of the church? For Ryan Denton, it began with a burden to reach those who don't know Jesus. While serving on a Navajo reservation, Ryan found himself drawn to sharing the gospel in jails and prisons. That passion eventually led him to preach on college campuses, street corners, and in homeless shelters. His goal? To reach people outside the church with the hope of Christ and, by God's grace, bring them into the church. Is the Holy Spirit convicting you to go and preach the gospel to the lost? Then don't miss this episode!

“Are you ready to turn to Christ and believe in him?” When evangelist Ryan Denton asked this question of an Oxford University student near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., he wasn't expecting the response he received: “Yeah, I'm ready.” That underscores Ryan's point that we need bold evangelism that actively asks people to repent and believe in Christ. Ryan believes he's seeing a growing openness to bold gospel proclamation, even in unexpected places. And this encounter is one example of how God can work when we're willing to share the good news. 🎙️ Hear the full episode with Ryan Denton, watch on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast app.

Have we lost the art of boldly sharing the gospel? In a culture filled with distractions, debates, and difficult questions, how can Christians boldly and faithfully proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ on the street corners or one-on-one? This week on The Missions Show, Alex and Scott sit down with evangelist and author Ryan Denton to discuss why bold, biblical, even pleading, evangelism still matters. Drawing from his experience in open-air preaching, prison ministry, and church planting, Ryan shares how he's seeing a growing openness to the gospel and why we must never lose sight of our ultimate goal: calling people to repentance and faith in Christ. 🎙️ Watch the new episode on YouTube or listen now on your favorite podcast app!

Sometimes an apple is an answered prayer. 🍎 While raising support to serve as missionaries, Scott Dunford and his family were trusting God to provide for their daily needs. With four young children and little money to spare, even something as simple as buying apples was out of reach. But Scott's wife had been praying for apples. After sharing their ministry at a church, someone approached them with a financial gift—and a large bowl of apples. It was a simple gift, but it was also a powerful reminder of God's care and faithfulness. God doesn't always provide in the ways we expect, but we can trust that he knows our needs and hears our prayers, even the small ones.

"The God who called us to this ministry is the same God that will supply the needs that we need to do the ministry." Ken Lorow, ABWE Director of PreField Ministry. God's resources are greater than our needs. 🙏 When God calls us to something, it's easy to focus on the obstacles ahead. The financial needs seem too great. The path forward is uncertain. And we begin to wonder how it will all work out. But our limitations are not God's limitations. The God who calls us to serve is the same God who owns all things. His wisdom, power, and resources are far greater than anything we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Trusting him isn't always easy. It means taking steps of faith when we can't see the outcome. But we can move forward with confidence, knowing that our faithful God is able to provide all we need to accomplish his purposes. Listen to the full episode now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app.

What if someone says no when you ask them to support your ministry? For missionaries raising support, rejection can be discouraging. But trusting God to provide means trusting him with the answers, too. 🙏 Ask God who you should invite to partner in your ministry. 🤝 Invite them to join you in what God is doing. ➡️ Encourage them to seek God's direction as they consider partnering. And if the answer is no? Trust that God has a plan. The same God who calls us to ministry is the God who will provide what we need to carry it out.

What if raising support for missions wasn't just about asking for money, but inviting others to be part of what God is doing? 🌎 For many future missionaries, raising financial support can feel intimidating. But what if we changed the way we think about it? Ken Lorow shares a powerful story about a ministry partner who continued giving even after losing his job. His reason? He didn't want to miss the blessing of being part of God's work. Support raising isn't just about meeting a financial goal. It's about building relationships, inviting others into the mission, and trusting God to provide. 🎙️ Watch the full episode, "What to Expect as a Prefield Missionary," on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast app!

What if more missionaries could stay on the field longer? 50% of missionaries who leave the field do so within their first five years, and 70% of those who leave do so for reasons that could have been prevented. That's why caring for missionaries starts long before they reach the field. In this week's episode, Ken shares how ABWE's missionary coaches walk alongside new missionaries, helping them prepare for challenges, grow in their faith, and build a strong foundation for long-term ministry. Because getting missionaries to the field matters. Helping them stay matters, too.

Feeling called to missions but unsure what comes next? From raising support to preparing for life on the field, taking the first steps toward missionary service can feel overwhelming. But you don't have to navigate the journey alone. In "What to Expect as a Prefield Missionary," Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford sit down with ABWE's Ken Lorow, Director of PreField Ministry, to discuss what it takes to prepare for the mission field. Hear stories of God's faithfulness, discover why support raising is about more than money, and learn how God uses the preparation process to build your faith and equip you for long-term ministry. ▶️ Watch now on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast app!

Scott and Alex joined ABWE at @missionary_com 2026—and brought The Missions Show along to capture exclusive interviews about the mission of God. Get access to all our exclusive interviews from the conference. Use promo code MISSIONARY26 for 89% off your Patreon subscription. 🎙️ Join us: patreon.com/cw/TheMissionsSh… #TheMissionsShow #ABWE #Missionary2026 #TheLordWhoSends

Enjoy @missionary_com conference 2026? Leave a session with unanswered questions? We will be releasing exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews soon! Watch to get a discount on premium access!!

In family worship, the goal isn’t simply to help children know the right terms. We want them to know the God those truths reveal and Scripture gives us stories that can capture their attention, stir their wonder, and help biblical truth take root. That principle reaches far beyond family worship. Whether we’re teaching our children, discipling new believers, preaching in a local church, or sharing the gospel across cultures, we can pair sound doctrine with the rich stories God has given us in his Word. Comment how you are incorporating Biblical storying into your family worship times.

"The gospel–it's a story. It's not just a set of facts about what has happened. It's the most beautiful story there is." The Bible tells the greatest story ever told: God created, humanity fell into sin, Christ came to save, and one day he will make all things new. Across the centuries, great works of literature have echoed themes we find throughout Scripture: sacrifice, redemption, good and evil, death and life, and the longing for a world made right. But the gospel isn’t merely another great story. It’s the true story that gives meaning to all the rest. Watch or listen to the full episode now.