From Nairobi to Mombasa to Chicago, Joyce and Tobbias Ngala share their remarkable journey of faith and calling. After planting a thriving network of churches in Mombasa, the Ngala family followed God’s call to serve in the United States. Known for their passion for discipleship, endurance sports, and deep Scripture memorization, Joyce and Tobbias join Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World podcast to discuss ministry, leadership, and what it means to be African missionaries to America. Church Connect Church Connect – Discover trusted ministry resources from leading Christian publishers to equip and strengthen your church. Enjoy everyday bulk discounts of up to 45%, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Every purchase supports the Tyndale Foundation, advancing Christian ministries and global missions. Episode Links: Joyce and Tobbias Ngala Mission Church Tobbias Ngala More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes: Listen now

How are Millennials and Gen Z engaging with the Bible today? Dr. John Plake, Chief Innovation Officer at the American Bible Society, joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World podcast to share insights from the State of the Bible 2025 research. Discover trends in Scripture engagement, the history of ABS, and how God is shaping a new generation of ministry leaders. Perfect for pastors, church leaders, and anyone passionate about Bible engagement and discipleship. How does God move the Bible from words on a page to His Word written on our hearts? Dr. John Plake, Chief Innovation Officer at the American Bible Society, joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World podcast to share insights from the State of the Bible 2025 research, reflect on ABS’s history, and highlight how God is inspiring a new generation of ministry. He also offers encouraging perspectives on how Millennials and Gen Z are engaging Scripture at deeper levels than ever before. Dr. John Plake has served in church leadership, missions, non-profit work, cross-cultural leadership, and education. Alongside his research at the American Bible Society, he teaches at Evangel University and leads Mission Insights. John holds a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, an M.A. in Missions from Wheaton College, and a B.S. in Pastoral Studies from North Central University. Church Connect Church Connect – Access trusted resources from leading Christian publishers to strengthen your church. Enjoy everyday bulk discounts of up to 45%, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Every purchase supports the Tyndale Foundation, funding Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: State of the Bible 2025 eBook American Bible Society Church.NextStep.Bible Dr. John Plake More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World podcast: Listen now

Mental health professionals are equipping churches to better care for hurting people in their communities. Shaunti Feldhahn and Dr. James Sells join Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World to discuss their book When Hurting People Come to Church. Shaunti and Jim share a new vision for churches to engage in discipleship and outreach while becoming places of hope and healing. By empowering church members, congregations can create opportunities for evangelism, discipleship, and growth. Drawing on surveys of 2,000 church leaders, bestselling author and social researcher Shaunti Feldhahn, together with psychologist and professor Dr. James N. Sells, show why this is the church’s moment. Now is the time to bring healing to the hurting and build healthy communities of care—for today and for generations to come. Church Connect Church Connect – Access trusted resources from leading Christian publishers to strengthen your church. Enjoy everyday bulk discounts of up to 45%, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Every purchase supports the Tyndale Foundation, which funds Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: When Hurting People Come to Church TheChurchCares.com Shaunti Feldhahn James Sells, Ph.D. More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

The New Living Translation was first published nearly 30 years ago and last updated in 2015. Today, a new generation of scholars is building on the work of the original team to review and refresh the translation. Dr. Lynn Cohick, a New Testament scholar, joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World to share her experience in the review and revision process to ensure the New Living Translation remains accurate, understandable, and audibly enjoyable. She offers practical insights on keeping a familiar text fresh, recognizing how God works through his Word, helping the church navigate secondary issues, and unpacking the character and nature of God who has revealed himself in Scripture. Lynn Cohick, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Director of Houston Theological Seminary. She has previously served at Northern Seminary, Denver Seminary, and Wheaton College. Dr. Cohick has authored eight books and Bible commentaries, co-hosts The Alabaster Jar Podcast, contributed to Every Woman’s Bible, and serves on the NLT Bible Translation Committee as Senior Translator for the Synoptic Gospels and Acts. Church Connect Church Connect – Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Enjoy bulk discounts of up to 45% off every day, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase support the Tyndale Foundation, which awards grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: Lynn Cohick New Living Translation Every Woman’s Bible The Alabaster Jar Podcast More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

“Your (American) churches are dying, ours are growing, but you’re still sending us missionaries. Shouldn’t we be sending missionaries to you?” Nairobi, Kenya Bishop Oscar Muriu proclaimed at Urbana 20 years ago. Today, Pastor Christian Mungai embodies that vision as the Global Movement Pastor at Mariners Church. He joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World to share his story and the African vision of people-centered, missional Christian life from his book People Are the Wealth. Pastor Mungai has served as a Kenyan missionary to the United States since 2007. At Mariners Church in Irvine, California, he mobilizes the global church to join God’s work worldwide. Previously, he was a member of Milele, an Afro-fusion band that grew from celebrating God through music into a platform for humanitarian and Kingdom work. Christian studied social legislation at BAMU University in India and pursued a Master of Divinity at Claremont School of Theology. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: People are the Wealth Christian Mungai Author Christian Kiarie Mungai Mariners Church More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Apologetics is experiencing a resurgence in Western culture—but what does that mean for today’s Church? Dr. Kurt Jaros joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World to share his personal journey, calling, and insights into cultural trends shaping apologetics ministry today. Dr. Kurt Jaros is a theologian, apologist, author, podcast host, and teaches at the Lee Strobel Center for Evangelism & Applied Apologetics at Colorado Christian University. Kurt holds advanced degrees in theology and apologetics, earned his doctorate from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, has presented at Evangelical Theological Society, and regularly teaches at apologetics events across the U.S. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: Veracity Hill Defenders Media Dr. Kurt Jaros Doorway Crew More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

After 25 years in ministry in Seattle, a health crisis led Pastor Jay to an unexpected calling—driving for a ride-share company. But God was still at work. Known by many as the "uberpastor," Jay began sharing Christ in everyday conversations from the driver’s seat. Now serving as Pastor of Discipleship at Fourth Memorial Church in Spokane, Washington, Jayson continues to drive part-time to engage his community through “Ordinary Evangelism.” He and his wife Julie, along with their seven children, relocated to Spokane in 2020. Jayson holds a degree in Speech Communications from the University of Washington and earned his Master of Divinity from Western Seminary. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: Ordinary Evangelism Jayson Turner Instagram Fourth Memorial Church More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Huntsville is the name of Texas’s state penitentiary—and the town where Pastor Gary Garrison has faithfully served Second Baptist Church since 1996. In this episode of The Church Around the World, Pastor Gary joins Dan Ehrman to share how stepping back from full-time ministry to run a local gym opened the door for God to work in unexpected ways. Hear how he learned to lead without striving, to serve without people-pleasing, and to find joy in seeing God at work in small-town America. Gary Garrison holds a degree in Business from Texas A&M and an M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. As he approaches 30 years as Senior Pastor at Second Baptist Church in Huntsville, TX, he also runs Iron Works Health Club—where ministry continues to unfold every day. Church Connect Church Connect Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: Second Baptist Church - Huntsville Iron Works Gary’s Facebook Gary’s LinkedIn More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Dr. Tim Matheny on Church Finance and Health Dr. Tim Matheny, a leading expert in church finance and health diagnostics since the 1980s, joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World. With a doctorate from Fuller Seminary focused on Church Growth Analysis and decades of experience in church bond programs and financial consulting, Dr. Matheny offers both financial and spiritual insights from a lifetime of serving the church. In this episode, Tim and Dan reflect on key projects and timeless principles that continue to shape church ministry today. Dr. Matheny began his academic journey at Harding University, earning a B.A. in Bible and a Master of Theology in Missiology before completing his doctoral studies at Fuller. After serving in pastoral ministry at a megachurch in the 1970s, he transitioned into church finance, where he has served faithfully for over 40 years. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: Dr. Tim Matheny - LinkedIn Great Commission Research Facebook Dr. Tim Matheny author bio More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Travis West is professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Western Theological Seminary, where he is known for incorporating performance, embodiment, and play into the process of learning biblical Hebrew and interpreting biblical stories. Otherwise, he’s searching for wonder off in a field, at a farmers market, watching movies, or hanging out with his wife, Mariah, who is his most consistent source of delight and amazement. He shares real life implications for not only practicing Sabbath one day a week, but insights for how we can reshape our whole lives to reflect God's cadence for living. The Sabbath Way, his new book from Tyndale House Publishers, rediscovers radical rest – a posture for living with delight, gratitude, and flourishing in community. Dr. West holds a Ph.D. from Vrije Universiteit, M.Div. and Th.M. from Western Theological Seminary, and B.A. from Calvin College. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: The Sabbath Way – Travis West Travis on Instagram Travis on Facebook Travis at Western More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Vaughn Sanders is a co-vocational in Cyber Security and as Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church of Bolingbrook. Pastor Sanders joins in conversation with Dan Ehrman to share how God has led him into co-vocational ministry, the ways he is seeing God lead and provide in church revitalization, and the dynamics of leading a multiethnic church. Vaughn shares practical insights for other pastors in co-vocational roles, seeing God persist to grow him in preaching the Bible and equipping him for the work of the ministry, and the joys of seeing God present in all of his work – secular and as a pastor. He has served in the church for over 15 years in various roles and has served in his co-vocational capacity since 2018. Vaughn Sanders holds a Masters in Information Systems Management and Information Security and has over 20 years experience in Cyber Security. He is married to Libby and they have two children. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: First Baptist Church of Bolingbrook Vaughn Sanders LinkedIn Vaughn Sanders X VSM Media More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Dr. Naomi Cramer Overton joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World in a powerful conversation sharing insights from her multifaceted career in business and ministry, the journey of developing Every Woman’s Bible, and practical steps church leaders—especially men—can take to better support women in the church. After earning degrees from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA, Dr. Overton built a successful career in marketing and organizational development before making a mid-career transition into ministry leadership. She has held executive roles at organizations including The MomCo by MOPS, Compassion International, Denver Seminary, World Vision, Slingshot Group, Stonecroft, We Are Becoming, and as the General Editor of Every Woman’s Bible. Dr. Overton earned a doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary, raised four children, and—with her husband Frank—has climbed nearly 30 high-altitude mountain peaks. Don’t miss this inspiring and practical episode. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: Every Woman’s Bible

Clint Pressley, President of the Southern Baptist Convention and Senior Pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World to share how he is seeing God at work in the local church and from a broader perspective through the SBC. He shares practical leadership insights from coming into leadership in the church where he was raised, to navigating the challenges of multiple positions, tensioning life with family while serving in vocational ministry, and how young ministers can pursue vocational ministry. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: Hickory Grove Baptist Church Pastor Clint Pressley Clint Pressley X Clint Pressley LinkedIn Southern Baptist Convention More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Joining The Church Around the World from rural south-central Florida, Pastor Mark McCarter of First Baptist Church of Okeechobee talks with host Dan Ehrman about how God is drawing a remarkable portion of their county to church. Mark shares glimpses of rural Florida life—farming, alligators, and all—and offers practical insights for church leaders into how the church is engaging its community and reaching the next generation with the gospel. Originally from rural Alabama, McCarter says God uniquely prepared him to serve in a small-town – though there’s only about 5,000 residents, Okeechobee is the largest town he’s lived in. Mark walks us through his ministry journey and reflects on the awe he feels being part of what God is doing at FBC Okeechobee today. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: First Baptist Church of Okeechobee Mark McCarter FBC Okee Facebook

Isaac Challo Isaac Challo is a husband, father, pastor, Bible and theology teacher, preacher, and pre-marriage and marriage counselor based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World to share how he sees God at work in his ministry. Challo offers practical insights on using marriage counseling as a tool for evangelism and discipleship while introducing a Western audience to the culture and church in Tanzania. Previously a church planter and evangelist in rural Tanzania, Challo studied as a Billy Graham scholar at Wheaton College before relocating with his family to Dar es Salaam, the country’s business hub. He now serves with the Assemblies of God. Together, Betty and Isaac Challo lead marriage classes, retreats, and workshops, helping young couples develop a vision for their marriages and families to serve their communities. In addition, Challo spearheads neighborhood outreach efforts, leveraging the cultural openness to door-to-door, in-person connections. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: Isaac Challo LinkedIn Isaac Challo Instagram Isaac Challo X Isaac Challo Facebook More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Salvador “Chava” Padilla is a leader at Iglesia Biblica de Irapuato, a Protestant church near Guanajuato, Mexico. On The Church Around the World with Dan Ehrman, Chava shares how God is moving in their congregation as second- and third-generation Christian families worship together for the first time. He offers practical insights on topics ranging from culture and politics and the struggles of working full-time through college to life in one of the world’s most violent cities and how the American Church can pray for and learn from the Mexican Church. Chava and his wife, Jeseli Padilla, both graduates of Emmaus University with degrees in Bible and Theology, are parents to a son and two daughters. They stay busy preaching and teaching at their church, while Chava also works as an English teacher at the local University of Technology. In their spare time, they train for their next marathon. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: Iglesia Biblica de Irapuato Salvador “Chava” Padilla - Facebook More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Pastor Eric Vogel, the Next Gen Pastor at Faithbrook Church in Dayton, Minnesota, joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World to share how God is working in young people. He discusses his journey from a teaching career to ministry, his passion for sharing the hope of the Gospel with students, and how to engage a generation with little cultural awareness of the Bible. Gain practical insights on navigating cultural complexities, balancing youth sports, and witnessing God’s work in young lives. Eric grew up in the Chicago suburbs in a Christian family and attended a great church, but it was a pastor who discipled him using the New Living Translation to help his faith take root leading him into pastoral ministry. He studied at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and Knox College and now serves at Faithbrook Church, part of the Church of the Nazarene. Eric and his wife, Aly, have a young son and are expecting their second child in summer 2025. Outside of ministry and family life, Eric stays active with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and marathon training. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: Faithbrook Church Pastor Eric Vogel More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Rev. Dr. Pastor Clay Smith joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World to share practical insights on how God sustained them during a season of uncertainty after taking over for a founding pastor at the end of 2019, the tensions between academic study and practical ministry, finding joy in the call of ministry, loving his wife and family as well as the church, the artistry and imperfection of working with people, and how they are seeing God at work at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. Terrica and Clay Smith have three daughters and a Boykin Spaniel named Watson. With a passion for ministry centered on the Great Commission through evangelism, relational disciple-making, and text-driven preaching, Clay loves to help people understand the Word of God so they might know the God of the Word. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and holds a master’s and Ph.D. in biblical preaching from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves as a trustee at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Outside of ministry, you might find him reading a book, lifting weights, fishing, or searching for the best cheeseburger in town. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Pastor Clay Smith on X Pastor Clay Smith Instagram More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Pastor Jeeva Pakerla was born into a family with a multi-generational commitment to serving the church in India. He is the President of The Bible Mission in Narsapur, the founder of the Maranatha Movement, and leads Jereu Music Ministry. In conversation on The Church Around the World, he shares practical insights for following God's leading and focusing on evangelism and discipleship ministries. After earning an M.S. in Management Information Systems at Eastern Michigan University, he pursued a successful career in business. However, he felt God’s call to return to India and dedicate himself to full-time ministry, focusing on evangelism, music, and church ministry—sacrificing the opportunity to settle in the United States. He was a Billy Graham Scholar recipient while receiving an M.A. in Evangelism and Leadership from Wheaton College. Today, he focuses on transforming lives and communities through the Gospel, serving as pastor of the Bible Mission Church in Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh, and leading the Maranatha Movement, which draws over 40,000 attendees each month through charitable initiatives, festivals, Jereu Music ministry, and conferences, all with a vision for nationwide revival training up disciple makers and church planters to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: The Maranatha Movement Pastor Jeeva Pakerla Facebook Jeeva R. Pakerla YouTube More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now

Dr. Greg Pritchard joins Dan Ehrman on The Church Around the World to share insights from his decades of experience with the European Leadership Forum, which partners to renew and resource the biblical church and evangelize Europe. Practical insights include discerning God’s call to leave corporate America, developing young ministry leaders, unpacking essential apologetics, and lessons the American church can learn from the European church. Greg Pritchard earned his Ph.D. in Religion in Personality and Society from Northwestern University and has taught courses at institutions across America, Europe, and Asia. Formerly the COO of a Chicago investment firm, Greg is also the author of Willow Creek Seeker Services, and serves as the President of the Forum of Christian Leaders and the Director of the European Leadership Forum. Church Connect Church Connect - Connect your church to resources from trusted publishers working to unify all people in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Receive everyday bulk discounts up to 45% off, free shipping on orders over $50, and more. Profits from each purchase go to Tyndale Foundation to award grants to Christian ministries and global mission organizations. Episode Links: European Leadership Forum Dr. Greg Pritchard – European Leadership Forum Forum of Christian Leaders More from The Church Around the World: Get email updates: Sign up here Listen to more episodes of The Church Around the World: Listen now