55:11 Podcast

Season Three. Episode Three. Openness And Desire For God's Word. An Interview with return guest, Bart Rybinski.

Hosts Dirk and Brooke visit with Bart Rybinski for an update on his work and ministry. Bart, EEM's VP of European Operations, became a Christian in 1995 and graduated soon after with a bachelor's degree in business management. After working in IT in Poland, he eventually went to Oklahoma Christian University, earned a bachelor's degree in biblical studies, and then a marketing and master's degree in ministry. After short-term missions and working on staff at a church, along with his wife and 3 kids, he now works in Vienna with adequate space for his operations to Europe.

Every story is a living example of Isaiah 55:11. 

Season Three. Episode Two. In this episode, hosts Dirk and Brooke talk with F. LaGard Smith about his extensive work as an author and The Daily Bible, an essential resource for EEM. 

F. LaGard Smith was born in 1944 in Houston, Texas, thereafter living in Shawnee and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lancaster, Texas, and Birmingham, Alabama, before heading off to college at Florida College, graduating from Willamette University with both an undergraduate and law degree.

Smith was a District Attorney for Malheur County, Oregon for three years, served as an administrator for the Oregon State Bar in Portland for a year, then spent 27 years teaching at Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California, focusing on Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Trial Practice, and Law and Morality.

For five years, Smith was Scholar in Residence for Christian Studies at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, then taught for two years at Liberty University School of Law and for four years at Faulkner University's Jones School of Law in Montgomery, Alabama, before retiring to write full time.

Smith has written some 35 books--legal, social, doctrinal, and devotional. He is most widely known as the compiler and narrator of "The Daily Bible" (the NIV and NLT in chronological order). He and his wife Ruth live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and, for several months a year, at their cottage in the English Cotswolds, where he does much of his writing.

Every story is a living example of Isaiah 55:11. 

Season Three. Episode One. In this episode, hosts Dirk and Brooke talk with Andy Corley about his work and new partnership with EEM. 

Andy Corley is the CEO and president of PFI (Prison Fellowship International). Andy’s work over the years has ranged from geology to commercial business to global mission work at PFI, serving now as CEO and president. EEM is grateful for the new partnership that now exists between the two ministries.

This is a quick update before Season 3 from Dirk and Brooke.

Season Two. Episode Nine. In this season's finale, hosts Dirk and Brooke talk with Masoud Ghorbani about his journey from Islam to Christianity. 

Masoud and his family left Afghanistan in 2015 looking for a better life. Their journey led them through Iran, Turkey, and eventually into Greece. As a staunch Muslim, Masoud saw himself as a defender of Islam who must resist the gospel message but eventually made a dramatic shift and chose to follow Jesus. Today, Masoud, his wife Anahita, and their three children are faithfully serving God in Athens, Greece, and around the globe with his online ministries. Working with Diaspora Pathways, Masoud leads the Agape Church of Athens, serves as Co-leader of the Farsi Bible Institute, leads the Afghan Association of Christian Pastors, teaches in the Academy for Spiritual Formation, speaks at conferences, and works to equip disciples to reach Afghans for Christ in Afghanistan and around the world.

Season Two. Episode Eight. From Russia With Love. Hosts Dirk and Brooke talk with Oleg Yakimenko about his gospel ministry in Russia and his ongoing work with EEM. 

Oleg joined EEM in 2013 as the National Coordinator for Russia and Belarus. Now, Oleg coordinates the EEM work in Russia and the countries of Central Asia and Transcaucasia. He has Master's degrees in Teaching and Translation of English and German Languages and in New Testament Theology. Oleg obeyed the Gospel in 1993 and is passionate about spreading God's Word. In 1997, Oleg moved from Eastern Ukraine to Russia and worked as an Evangelist with the local church of Christ in St. Petersburg. Oleg is married to his wife Natasha, and they have two adult sons and two grandchildren.

Season Two. Episode Seven. Mission For Macedonian Revival. Hosts Dirk and Brooke reconnect with Nikola Galevski after meeting him recently on an EEM trip to North Macedonia. 

Nikola Galevski was born and raised in Skopje, Macedonia. Coming from a traditional Orthodox family, his faith was ignited in his youth through the witness of the local Evangelical Church in Skopje and with a special gift of God's Word. These events in his life inspired a life-long mission to share God's love with as many as possible. After finishing a BA in Art History and Archaeology, together with his wife Anet (who died from cancer in 2021), they both pursued master theological and ministry preparation studies at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada, under the mentorship of Dr. Gordon Fee and Dr. Rikki E. Watts. Upon graduation, Anet and Nikola returned to Macedonia in 2005 to lead the Macedonian IFES/IVCF, start their second church plant, and initiate numerous evangelistic, outreach, educational, publishing, and music projects. Nikola and Anet have one daughter, Giselle-Maria Galevska.

Apart from being a pastor of Evangelical Church Soulcraft, Nikola Galevski is a university evangelist, and lecturer in biblical studies, preaching, mission, and visual arts in North Macedonia and internationally. His utmost desire is to wholeheartedly love God and love people. 

Season Two. Episode Five. This episode was recorded on location, in Vienna, Austria. Hosts Dirk and Brooke traveled abroad with EEM (May 2023) for 13 days, visiting 5 countries. In this episode, they sat down again with Dasha Novikova to get further Ukraine Updates.

Dasha joined EEM in 2011 as the National Coordinator for Ukraine and now serves as EEM’s National Director in Ukraine.

Every story is a living example of Isaiah 55:11. 

Season Two. Episode Three. Global Aid, Unity, And Hope. An Interview with Bart Robinski.

Hosts Dirk, Payton, and Brooke visit with Bart Robinski, EEM's VP for European Operations. Bart became a Christian in 1995 and graduated soon after with a bachelor's degree in business management. After working in IT in Poland, he eventually went to Oklahoma Christian University, earned a bachelor's degree in biblical studies, and then a marketing and master's degree in ministry. After short-term missions and working on staff at a church, along with his wife and 3 kids, he now works in Vienna with adequate space for his operations to Europe. We hope you are inspired by this episode.

Every story is a living example of Isaiah 55:11.  

Season Two. Episode Two. Bible Printing, Publishing, And Smuggling! An Interview with Scott Hayes.

Hosts Dirk, Payton, and Brooke visit with Scott Hayes, EEM's Publishing Director. He is EEM's longest-serving team member - 38 years! Living in Vienna, Scott has many memories over the years involving bible printing, publishing, and even bible smuggling. We hope you are inspired by this episode.

Every story is a living example of Isaiah 55:11.  

Season Two. Episode One. Open Doors In Croatia.

Hosts Dirk, Payton, and Brooke visit with Jura Lazar, EEM's regional director for Central Europe. Jura is on the front lines. He is involved in widespread efforts in Central Europe that are opening doors for sharing the Bible. Also in this conversation: Jura's background in Croatia, family, work, passion, conversion story, and hope for the future in Central Europe. We hope you are inspired by this episode.

Every story is a living example of Isaiah 55:11.  

Episode One. The Train. 

Hosts Dirk, Payton, and Brooke share a story, scripture, and challenge.

Every story is a living example of Isaiah 55:11.