As Jennie emerges from the shadow of her more well-known husband, you'll discover an amazing missionary pioneer and woman of faith and be inspired by the outstanding contribution she made to the gospel through the China Inland Mission.
Stay tuned to hear about Marion Osgood's new book Jennie Hudson Taylor and learn about Jennie's life, her loves, and the adventures she experienced along the way.
Buy the book here: https://omf.org/uk/resource/jennie-hudson-taylor/
Join Chris as we explore the sounds and sights of Thailand.
Together, we'll meet some of the intriguing wildlife, discover more about Thai traditions and religion, and hitch a ride on unique transportation in this very noisy episode of Kids Exploring East Asia.
Video available on Spotify or YouTube: https://youtu.be/-hIgnQPIOtE
Sounds used in the episodes:
Animal call recorded by Israel Benjumeda. Used under Creative Commons License
In this episode of Kids Exploring East Asia, join Chris on an exciting adventure through Thailand.
Explore delightful food and diverse culture. Thailand's rich history and the unique role of elephants, as well as a taste of the tropical weather and famous fruits.
Tune in for a fun, educational journey through the heart of Southeast Asia!
Episode Highlights:
Introduction to Thailand [00:00]
Elephants in Thai culture [01:27]
Thailand’s tropical climate [03:06]
Famous fruits [05:18]
Thailand’s beautiful beaches [10:00]
A prayer for the people of Thailand [10:44]
Video available on Spotify or YouTube: https://youtu.be/yVv3aXmHH0k
Mystery sound courtesy of Israel Benjumeda.
Used under Creative Commons License
Increasing numbers of young people around the UK today are growing up across cultures, trying to work out their identity, sometimes struggling to feel like they belong and navigating challenging generational divides.
How can intercultural churches respond and help grow intercultural disciples who live out the good news of Jesus?
And what does all this have to do with taking the gospel around the world anyway?
Reuben and Nathaniel are back for the final episode of our series on intercultural church exploring these questions and more with our guests:
Find out more about our intercultural ministries and links to the resources mentioned in this episode at omf.org/uk/intercultural.
Book for the OMF (UK) National Conference (7-9 March 2025), which features a seminar on intercultural church led by Nathaniel, at omf.org/uk/2025.
What does intercultural church look like Sunday by Sunday? How do ideas about community, unity in the gospel and preferring the needs of others play out in church life? What does worship, Bible teaching and communion look like in an intercultural church?
In this episode co-hosts Reuben and Nathaniel explore all these questions and more in discussion with our guests. There's no one size fits all model, but in these conversations the journey toward intercultural church becomes clearer. We also examine some of the tricky tensions in pursuing intercultural church.
Guests featured in this episode:
Reuben and Nathaniel also mention the upcoming OMF (UK) National Conference 'Across the Street and Across the World', 7-9 March 2025 at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire. Nathaniel will be leading a seminar on intercultural church at the event, alongside lots of other great sessions and Bible teaching.
Find out more and book your place today at omf.org/uk/2025.
After laying the foundations of looking at intercultural church, in the second episode Reuben and Nathaniel share the stories of Justin Lau and Girma Bishaw as windows into the need for and value of intercultural church.
We hope you are blessed by their stories.
Justin Lau shares his experience of coming to church in the UK after growing up as a missionary kid to Singaporean parents in Japan. He gives a candid insight into the challenges he faced in a predominantly White British church.
Girma Bishaw led the first Ethiopian church in the UK, but is now part of the leadership team at Reality Church, a diverse, intercultural church in London. He explains why he made this move and how knowing Jesus gave him a new identity.
What's the difference between a multicultural church and an intercultural church? And why does it matter? Reuben is joined by OMF UK Intercultural Ministries Director Nathaniel Jennings and guests to kick off a new series 'Building Intercultural Church'.
This first episode lays the foundations, defining intercultural church and exploring how it reflects and embodies the gospel we believe in.
Our guests include:
And many more.
Hey kids, are you ready for another adventure? This time Chris introduces us to the vibrant lives of three unique Chinese people groups: the Han, the Zhuang, and the Hui.
Discover their rich histories, languages, and cultures—from the intricate art of calligraphy to the mouth-watering flavours of traditional cuisine. Don't miss out on this adventure that's bursting with fun facts and fascinating stories!
Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uvbheBcMZcA
Ask your questions by emailing us uk.podcast@omfmail.com
Hey kids, are you ready for an adventure? Join Chris as he hikes through some of China's geography. Climb the dizzying heights of the Himalayas, where you find Mount Everest. Look out for snow leopards! Cross the sandy Gobi Desert on a camel. Journey down the Yangtze River for nearly 4000 miles. Get ready for an exciting tour of this incredible nation here on Kids Exploring East Asia!
Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EopWfE7AClk
Ask your questions by emailing us uk.podcast@omfmail.com
Hey kids, are you ready for an adventure? Join Chris as he introduces the fascinating country of China. Explore China's immense size and population, historical artefacts like the Terracotta Army, and the diverse landscapes, animals, and people. Get ready for an exciting tour of this incredible nation here on Kids Exploring East Asia!
Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LDBt5ikhXBU
David Robinson shares how his life changed from being an indifferent churchgoer to a risk-taking evangelist and the role Billy Graham played in the change! He shares about his decades of missionary work in Thailand and Cambodia and points us to the power of faith and personal relationships in spreading the gospel.
David's strategic approach to church planting emphasises the importance of quality time with people, expectant faith, and the nurturing of local believers to eventually lead their own congregations. He opens up about the personal and spiritual challenges of church planting, from grappling with language barriers and potential dangers to overcoming feelings of inadequacy. Despite these hurdles, he reveals the profound joy that comes from witnessing the growth of individuals and communities who respond to the gospel message.
Join the conversation on Instagram @serveasiapodcast
Or connect with us by email uk.podcast@omfmail.com
Roger Carswell, a dedicated evangelist and long-standing OMF supporter, joins us to respond to our podcast series on creation care and shares his tips for sharing Jesus in everyday life. Roger has been spreading the gospel for over five decades. He sheds light on prayerfulness and the use of Christian leaflets as conversation starters about faith. He encourages everyone to share their faith stories, even those who don't consider themselves evangelists. His valuable advice on connecting with others through meaningful conversations, literature, websites, and podcasts will inspire you to share the gospel joyfully.
Join the conversation on Instagram @serveasiapodcast
Or connect with us by email uk.podcast@omfmail.com
Your work is a great opportunity for making Jesus known across the street and across the world.
Ngaira joins us to tell us about Work+Go, an event exploring this idea of gospel witness in and through our work.
Saturday 4 November, Manchester. See you there.
Book your tickets and find out more at workandgo.org
In this episode of the Serve Asia podcast, host Chris Watts is joined by John, an OMF worker serving in Japan. Continuing the series on church planting, they discuss the importance of establishing groups of followers of Jesus all over the world. John shares his experience in church planting ministry in Sapporo, a city with a population of two million people. He also talks about his love for spending quality time with his family in parks, climbing trees, and telling stories. Tune in to hear more about the impact of church planting and the joy of creating a loving community.
Find out more about John and Izumi Church:
https://johnnewtonwebb.blogspot.com
https://hiragishiizumi.com
The Church Planting Season
In the Church Planting series, we're unpacking what it takes to establish local communities of believers in East Asia. Our guests are from different backgrounds and serve today in very different contexts, each seeking to make disciples of Jesus. They share how they got involved, the highs and lows of this long-term ministry, and what they've learned along the way.
Get in touch, we love hearing from our listeners:
Follow us on Instagram @serveasiapodcast
Send us email uk.podcast@omfmail.com
Timestamps
[00:01:49] Family storytelling in the park.
[00:04:01] Understanding the gospel at a young age.
[00:09:48] Churchlessness in Japan.
[00:13:01] Learning Japanese language and culture.
[00:19:22] Investing in relationships in Japan.
[00:23:32] Christianity involves meeting together as a church.
[00:25:09] The internet and outreach.
[00:29:36] Reimagining the term "church plant."
[00:34:23] Easter guest services.
[00:37:26] Difficulty reaching younger generations.
[00:41:20] Personal evangelism and outreach.
[00:45:00] Building trust through community involvement.
[00:49:20] Trusting God's Promises.
[00:52:42] Building relationships through small interactions.
[00:56:05] Perseverance and small acts.
[01:00:37] Being too cautious?
[01:04:44] Short-term opportunities in Japan.
In this episode, Chris Watts talks to Adam*, discussing the journey of God's leading that brought him and his family to serve in Southeast Asia. We examine the tension between his gifts and passions for church ministry and the restrictions there are on these in his current context in Asia. Adam shares how he learned to be about the building up of God's Church no matter the location, and how he is learning to surrender his own plans so that others can flourish. He explains the term 'unreached people' and the importance of being ready to serve in all circumstances.
We explore how church planting continues to be an effective and faithful way to reach the unreached, and the various roles we can all play in supporting the mission of the church. Adam shares his story of how God led him from ministry in London to Southeast Asia and opened an opportunity for him to serve in a unique way. We discuss how the church planting movement in Asia needs to include passing on the gospel to the next generation, and how creative and compassionate holistic mission thinkers can help churches become more relevant and connected to their culture.
Books Adam mentions:
Grounded in Heaven by Michael Allen
The Drama of Doctrine by Kevin J. Vanhoozer
The Church Planting Season
In the Church Planting series, we're unpacking what it takes to establish local communities of believers in East Asia. Our guests are from different backgrounds and serve today in very different contexts, each seeking to make disciples of Jesus. They share how they got involved, the highs and lows of this long-term ministry, and what they've learned along the way.
Get in touch, we love hearing from our listeners:
Follow us on Instagram @serveasiapodcast
Send us email uk.podcast@omfmail.com
Timestamps
(0:00:00) - Exploring Church Planting in Southeast Asia
(0:07:04) - Serving in Asia and Unreached Peoples
(0:15:40) - Church Planting in Mission
(0:25:01) - Investing in Relationships and Church Planting
(0:38:26) - Exploring Cross-Cultural Discipleship and Church Planting
(0:42:30) - Living with Purpose in Church Planting
*name changed for security reasons.
Jonathan Carswell invited Reuben Grace to be a guest over on the 10ofthose podcast! They chat about a new release of the biography To A Different Drum. Reuben and Jonathan chat about the wonderful way God can use the stories of followers of Jesus to instruct, inform and inspire us as we seek to make the gospel known across the street and across the world.
Listen to more from the 10ofthose podcast here.
10ofthose
Check out books and more at 10ofthose.com/
Follow us on Instagram @serveasiapodcast
send us an email uk.podcast@omfmail.com
Don't forget to subscribe today!
Allen McClymont is a typical Londoner: born in Malaysia, he grew up in New Zealand and has taught New Testament Greek in Malaysia! He was a guest on Christian Heritage London, and today we're sharing that conversation with you.
Allen has a great story and shares openly and honestly about how he continues to learn what it means to be involved in sharing the good news of Jesus across the street and across the world.
If you enjoy this conversation, do subscribe to the Christian Heritage London podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
If you have questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you
email us at uk.podcast@omfmail.com
or drop us a DM on Instagram at @ServeAsiaPodcast.
Morgan shares how during a Bible study with a Japanese student, she unexpectedly ended up talking about marine life. She shares how learning a language has taught her more about how patient and generous God is.
If you want to read more about the story Morgan wrote about it in this blog post: https://omf.org/uk/japanese-study-taught-me-more-than-the-language/
Get in touch
Hope is in short supply in discussions about environmental issues today. The last book of the Bible gives us a picture of 'a new heaven and a new earth' (Revelation 21:1). How does this hope help us engage with the pressing issues of our day?
Finishing off our series Creation Care and Living Out the Gospel, we hear from Ruth Valerio at Tearfund about some of the key passages in this area and the challenges of interpreting them. Plus, theologian Daniel Button introduces us to themes from his PhD exploring what the new creation might look like and how the themes of creation link together Genesis and Revelation. Our other guests explore themes, including the importance of thinking about the 'now and not yet' of God's kingdom and how to ground our theology in our everyday lives.
Your host for this series is Reuben Grace. He’s part of the Communications team in OMF (UK) and has been exploring some of the big questions on the topic of creation care for us. If you have questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you - email us at uk.podcast@omfmail.com or drop us a DM on Instagram at @ServeAsiaPodcast.
Useful Links
The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news for people and their relationship with God, for whole communities and for creation itself. But how do these different areas fit together in practice?
To help answer that question, in this episode we take a detailed look at two case studies of two environmental projects in East Asia. First, we hear from Bryan Martin, the founder of Reefs for Life, an innovative non-profit in the Philippines, about the difference caring for creation is making in local fishing communities.
Then Peter Nitschke, the Global Director of Community Partnerships at the Plastic Bank, shares why reducing plastic pollution matters to God, blesses some of the world's poorest communities and has the potential to aid our evangelism too.
Your host for this series is Reuben Grace. He’s part of the Communications team in OMF (UK) and has been exploring some of the big questions on the topic of creation care for us.
If you have questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you - email us at uk.podcast@omfmail.com or drop us a DM on Instagram at @ServeAsiaPodcast.
Useful Links
Find out more about:
Reefs for Life: https://www.reefsforlife.org/
Plastic Bank: https://plasticbank.com/
OMF and creation care: https://omf.org/en-GB/our-ministries/creation-care/about
‘Why care for creation?’ Bible study series from OMF (UK) https://omf.org/en/web/uk/resources/why-care-for-creation-
