Life at The Edges / Redfining the Missionary as an Artist.
In this episode, we talk with Jonny Baker from the Church Mission Society (British Hub) — an author, pioneer, and creative voice exploring where gospel, culture, and worship meet in fresh and imaginative ways.
We explore the pioneer as an artist — someone who envisions new possibilities at the margins. Jonny invites us to see mission and pioneering not as strategy, but as art, guided by creativity, courage, and the beauty of experimentation.Through poems, music, reflections, and liturgy, we hope to awaken your imagination and stir your heart, reminding you that wherever you have been placed and sent, the call lies to create, to shape, and to cultivate and discover life at the edges.
STUFF
Featured items
Mission is Art- A Poem by Brian Sanders (Read by Alex Gibson)
There is Life at The Edges - A liturgy by Jonny Baker (Read by Ashley Bowles)
Podcast Produced by Alex Gibson
The Second Half - How Reflection Transforms Your Life Forever
For this episode, we’ve been given permission to share a conversation originally hosted on the Sagebrush Circles YouTube channel between our friends Brad Brisco and Lance Ford. We found it incredibly insightful—a natural “part two” building on our previous episode with Lance.How does reflection truly transform a life?
In this rich conversation, Lance and Brad explore the journey of embracing self-awareness, letting go of false personas, and stepping into the second half of life with deeper purpose, freedom, and meaning. Through personal stories, timeless wisdom, and practical insights, they illuminate how life’s challenges can become gateways to growth, wisdom, and lifelong learning. We encourage you to check out the Sagebrush Circles YouTube channel for more conversations like this.
In this episode, we talk with Lance Ford about Sagebrush Circles—a fresh initiative and growing movement devoted to fostering cross-generational conversations between older and younger people. Whether it’s around fires, tables, porches, or any natural gathering place, Sagebrush Circles exists to recover something our culture has largely lost: face-to-face wisdom, passed down in love.
Lance is the author of several books, including The Starfish and the Spirit and The Atlas Factor, and brings decades of experience in church planting, coaching, and consulting.
This is part one of a two-part mini-series. In our next episode, we’ll listen in on a conversation between Lance and Brad Brisco, diving into why younger guys need older guys—and why older guys need younger ones.
Enjoy.
Check out Sagebrush Circles on Youtube.Ever wonder what really matters in life?SageBrush Circles
Promoting the Principles of Peacemaking through the Life of Jesus to Create Change in our World!
In this episode we speak to Lisa Jernigan who is the President and CEO of Amplify Peace - a global peace-making movement that promotes the principles of peacemaking through the teachings of Jesus to create change in our world. They believe that peace and transformation begin within each of us individually and then flows outwardly to our families, communities and world.
They intentionally and strategically provide opportunities, trainings, resources and experiences to connect people in respectful dialogue and effective communication, seeking to build bridges and plant seeds of God’s truth, hope, and peace where friendships are formed and compassion and empathy emerges.
It is founded by women and creates a better story together by amplifying the voices of women, along with those who have been silenced and marginalized. The movement encourages new ways of thinking, seeing and responding to the world through local and global immersive encounters. For more information visit: https://amplifypeace.com/
Behind many successful leaders lies a hidden cost: disappointment, stress, strained relationships, and a life no longer at ease with itself. In this episode, we speak with Ceri and Simon Harris, leaders with vast experience in supporting people and organizations about their new book, 'Wholehearted Leadership: Leading from a Deeper Place', which explores how you can be restored and emerge, leading from your true self.
https://wholehearted.solutions/organisations/
In a volatile world, it’s tempting to cling to safety and control whenever we can. But when we apply this to our lives as disciples, we miss the simple fact that faith involves risk. In this episode Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch urge a new generation to break free from the constraints of a risk-averse Christianity, embrace the unknown, and rediscover the exhilarating adventure of following Jesus.
Women, Life, Freedom - a conversation with Maral Saffar a movement activist in Sweden
In 2022 a movement exploded out of the killing of the young Mahasa Amini by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran. It was a brutal awakening for many birthing protests across the world as well as grim retribution by the regime. In this episode I catch up with an old friend and freedom activist to hear how the fight for Women Life Freedom continues to shape her life and the life of many others.
A Song for The Movement
Baraye
Shervin Hajipour
https://open.spotify.com/track/3E2nc5BNYn2wPztZkXGM25?si=52ac0490d5184190
During the recent protests in Iran, a song called Baraye by singer/songwriter Shervin Hajipour became famous among protesters both outside and inside Iran. The title, Baraye, means “because of” or “for the sake of” in Persian and it is the word that starts every verse of the song. The song was composed during the early days of the 2022 uprising and soon became the anthem of the movement.
Our special guest today shares significant moments from his life story and how his journey has taken him from the Middle East to church leader in Scandinavia
In this episode we talk to Mark Nelson, church planter and pastor, and Heather Gorman, professor of New Testament about the divide and polarization we see in our world today. With insights from their new book “Lunchroom theology” they help us explore if there’s a different way we can live in this divided world, more aligned to the ways of Jesus?
Hosted by Hanna Mingay and Chris Mingay
In this episode we talk to Rich Robinson about his new book All Change, Unlocking Kingdom Potential in a World Weren't Prepared For. Over the years Rich has led pioneering work in missional disciple making, kingdom innovation and organisational change across the world and this conversation is laced with insight, practices and processes drawn from the life and ministry of Jesus and those personal hard won experiences across many frontiers and contexts. If you are sensing, experiencing, or dreaming of change, then this book will certainly be a great gift and companion for the road ahead.
Enjoy
Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of Scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the story―the axis upon which the biblical story turns. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, we need to recognize that this conversation will never conclude―that there is always something more to be said. In this episode Brian Zahnd invites us to experience the kaleidoscopic mystery of the cross and the infinite ways to behold the crucified Christ as the beautiful form that touches and transforms all aspects of life.
In this episode, we are joined by two friends from Palestine. They share the history and plight of the Palestinian people, as well as open up about their own personal experiences and impact that the latest Israeli invasion in Gaza has had on them and those around them.
We speak to Angela Lam, founder of Hagar's Voice about abuse and the environments that enable them in the church but also how we can find routes to healing and safe spaces of transformation in the movement that Jesus started.
HagarsVoice.com
ClergySexualMisconduct.com
Infinitum's True Self Check In
Book Recommendation: Faith in the Face of Empire by Mitri Raheb
Hagar's Voice on Socials @HagarsVoice (Facebook and Instagram
In this episode we talk to Rickard Cruz, missional leader and co-founder of Katalysator Sweden which has vision to plant the good news of Jesus in every place, in every ethnic group and in every subculture. In this conversation Rickard shares his experience and helps us reflect upon how we can meet our muslim neighbors and friends with a heart to learn and posture of curiosity to see what the spirit is already doing in their lives and attuning to loving ways we can speak about Jesus.
https://www.rickardcruz.se
www.katalysator.net
In this episode we share some prayers, poems and reflections for this unique Advent Season. We'd like to extend a big thank you to friends of the podcast; poets Sarah Bourns Crosby and Will Small for their inspiring and powerful words and contributions. Finally we'd also like to thank you all for listening to and supporting the podcast during 2023. We hope this reflective episode will give you something to ponder, perhaps give you something to discuss with others but ultimately draw you closer into the presence of Christ. May God bless you richly this Advent season and Merry Christmas!
Contributions
In Violence and Travail. Words by Walter Brueggemann, Voice Ashely Bowles, Music by Mark Cotterill
Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. Notes on Advent: Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Blessed Is She: Words by Sarah Bourns Crosby (Advent Guide, Poems, Passages and Prompts)
The Other Story by Will Small
The Venture 12 Podcast Team
Alex Gibson - Host -Editor
Mark Cotterill - Host, Music and Art
Hanna Mingay -Host
Chris Mingay - Host
Kris Halliday - Host
Emma Cotterill - Host
Bethany Gibson - Host