In this episode of The Missions Podcast, Alex Kocman and ABWE President, Paul Davis, interview Ted Esler, president of Missio Nexus, on the global state of Christian missions. Esler explains that although the global church is experiencing slow and steady growth, many evangelical churches lack a strong understanding of lostness which has contributed to a decline in missionary sending and passion. Cultural pressures, including accusations of colonialism and a general decrease in missions literacy, have also shaped a generation of believers who are less aware of the biblical and historical urgency of reaching the nations.

Ted emphasizes that missions is woven throughout the entire biblical narrative—from Genesis to Revelation—and that God’s heart for diverse peoples should dismantle misconceptions of missions as cultural imperialism.

Key Topics Covered

The need for a renewed understanding of lostness in evangelical churches
How cultural narratives about colonialism affect missions engagement
The redemptive arc of Scripture as essential for missions literacy
A biblical theology of the nations and God’s purpose for cultural diversity
The importance of knowing the current global state of missions

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Behind the Numbers: What’s Really Happening in Global Missions With Ted Esler