How can the mundane of motherhood be extraordinary?

Alex and Scott talk with Simona Gorton, an author, wife, and mother deeply engaged in local church ministry and missions. Drawing on her experiences with 9Marks and her work translating resources into over 60 languages, she emphasizes the importance of the local church as a training ground and the value of serving where God has placed you, even in seemingly ordinary roles.

Simona also discusses her book Mothering Against Futility, which explores Ecclesiastes and the tension between the mundane and the eternal. She challenges mothers and young women to embrace the daily, unseen work as meaningful in the Kingdom of Heaven, connecting everyday tasks to God's eternal purposes.

• The theological foundation of motherhood and everyday tasks
• Lessons from Ecclesiastes on finding meaning amid daily repetition
• Advice to young women considering missions: start with local service
• Encouragement for churches to affirm and support women and mothers in their roles
• Practical ways to disciple children to value godly character over recognition

Download the transcript for this episode.

Want to hear more of the conversation? Become a Missions Podcast Premium Subscriber to hear Alex, Scott, and Simona talk about the life of Elaine Townsend and how we can be encouraging young women and mothers in our churches. Sign up at missionspodcast.com/premium.

Do you love The Missions Podcast? 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 Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium

The Missions Podcast 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@missionspodcast.com.

What are the implications if missionaries don't know their theology?

Alex and Scott tackle the essential question of whether every missionary should also be a theologian. Drawing from personal experiences and their work with ABWE, they emphasize that missionaries often find themselves as the primary or sole theological resource in pioneer settings. This reality necessitates a strong foundation in theology, even for those not serving in overt teaching roles.

The discussion also explores the challenges missionaries face in cross-cultural theological communication, including the lack of access to theological resources in native languages, differing worldviews, the prevalence of insider movements, and syncretism.

• The importance of theology in missions work and why every missionary must be a theologian
• Real-world implications of inadequate theological preparation in cross-cultural settings
• The influence of Greco-Roman thought on Western Christianity and its impact on theological expression
• Use of systematic theology and story-based biblical teaching to bridge cultural gaps
• The need for deeper engagement with doctrine to counter heresy and build resilient churches

Download the transcript for this episode.

God has already called many people to the mission field, but they need your support to get there. Help someone in Prefield get to where God is calling them by prayerfully supporting their ministry at abwe.org/Prefield.

Do you love The Missions Podcast? 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 Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium

The Missions Podcast 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@missionspodcast.com.

Can Scripture be translated into animation and be faithful to the text?

In this episode of the Missions Podcast, Alex and Scott talk with Steve Cleary, founder of Revelation Media, about his groundbreaking work in creating the iBible—an animated, visual translation of the entire biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation. Steve Cleary launched a global multimedia project that seeks to reach oral and visual learners through a new medium of Scripture presentation, particularly in underserved regions.

The conversation also addresses deeper theological and strategic implications of visualizing Scripture, especially for oral cultures and generations increasingly disengaged from print literacy. By producing these high-quality, biblically faithful episodes and offering them freely, Revelation Media aims to serve global missions with impactful tools that reflect the whole gospel.

• The vision and development of the iBIBLE project
• The gap in oral and visual Bible access worldwide
• Challenges and theological considerations in adapting biblical content visually
• The theological safeguards and review process for script accuracy
• The importance of narrative in missions and reaching oral/visual learners

Download the transcript for this episode.

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 demo.abwe.org.

Want more of the conversation? Be a Missions Podcast Premium Subscriber and get access to our bonus Overtime episodes at missionspodcast.com/premium. Alex, Scott, and Steve go deeper into pitfalls of Christian media and his work on the animated Pilgrim's Progress movie.

Do you love The Missions Podcast? 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 Podcast and sign up to be a Premium Subscriber at missionspodcast.com/premium

The Missions Podcast 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@missionspodcast.com.