Thy Kingdom Pod

In this conversation, Max Wilkins and Jim Ramsey discuss the staying power of TMS Global and the challenges and opportunities of a non-static mission context. They highlight the importance of embracing ambiguity, learning, and contextualizing the work of mission. They also emphasize the commitment to God's mission and the connection within the TMS Global community. The conversation touches on the need for cultural competency in mission leadership and the significance of understanding the movement of peoples in global migration. Both Max and Jim express their excitement for the future, with Max looking forward to embracing what's next and Jim eager to lead the organization forward with a fresh team and new opportunities.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction and 40 Years of TMS Global

(02:07) Embracing Ambiguity and Contextualizing the Work

(04:49) Challenges of a Non-Static Mission Context

(07:31) Massive Changes in the Last 40 Years

(08:00) Preparing for Leadership in a Changing World

(11:10) Engaging Local Churches in Mission

(16:33) Observations on Trajectories and Shifts in Missions

(19:53) Perceptions and Challenges in Mission

(24:13) Responding to Changing Perceptions

(26:44) Understanding the Meaning of the Gospel

(29:36) The Call to Make Disciples

(32:04) Addressing Missionary Attrition

(39:21) Missionary vs. Cross-Cultural Worker

(42:45) Transitioning Leadership

(47:33) Looking Forward to the Future

Our final sit down about the concept of Train, Mobilize, and Serve (TMS) we discuss the importance of training in cross-cultural work and how it helps in sharing the Gospel and transforming lives. We also highlight the role of raising up leaders within the local church. The facilitators in training program is mentioned as a way to pass on knowledge and experiences to the next generation. The conversation also touches on the use of experiential learning and participatory activities to promote growth and teamwork. The value of being a humble learner and walking alongside others in service is emphasized.

In this episode, we sit down for a conversation with a worker who serves in a closed country to discuss how the three distinct aspects of TMS (train, mobilize, serve) ccreate healthy workers prepared for long-term service. The training provided by TMS is characterized by compassion, joy, fun, reality, grace, and truth. The concept of mobilization at TMS is not limited to the front office but ingrained in the DNA of the organization. Serving is seen as the core purpose of TMS, and training helps in mobilizing and serving better.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction and Background

(01:40) Meaning of Train, Mobilize, Serve

(02:37) Impact of Training on Field Work

(05:07) Serving and Mobilizing in Specific Contexts

(07:35) Faith Forward and Faith Neutral Communities

(08:28) Empowering Communities and Exiting

Season four of Thy Kingdom Pod begins by breaking down TMS' name, which stands for Train, Mobilize, and Serve. The participants discuss how training, mobilizing, and serving look like in their context. They highlight the importance of training and development in their office, with employees passing on their knowledge and skills to others. They also talk about how they have been mobilized to reach out to their community and serve others. The concept of incarnational ministry is also discussed, emphasizing the importance of crossing barriers and being present in the lives of others.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction and Background

(01:45) Training, Mobilizing, and Serving

(05:51) Understanding Incarnational Ministry

In this story from the field, Jenifer talked with some friends who are living and serving in Selma, Alabama. Selma was the site of many important events in Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's, perhaps notably the march Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led across Edmund Pettus Bridge. Back in January, the town was devastated by a tornado. TMS Global workers shared what it was like to serve the people of Selma after such a disaster, as well as the long term challenges that have been faced by the community.

A group of cross-cultural witnesses serving in the Balkans regions of Europe have been using the beauty of the countryside as a tool for ministry. Originally, they began taking weekend hikes to have fun with their neighbors but these excursions gradually took on a deeper purpose as spiritual matters came up in conversation. This evolved into an outdoors program aimed to equip young people with leadership skills and teach valuable life lessons. In this feature, you'll also hear about the common ground they have been able to find with their Muslim neighbors over the beauty of creation, the hope and excitement young people have discovered through these hiking trips, and the opportunities for discipleship that emerged from these adventures. 

In this edition of Stories from the Field, Jenifer talks to Amanda Davis (pseudonym), a cross-cultural worker who is learning South Asian language and music in preparation for overseas ministry. Davis is very passionate about worship, music, and the South Asian culture, and is combining these passions to help South Asian people worship God in their own language and cultural background.  

Jenifer Jones talks to Tyler Foster, a TMS Global cross-cultural worker in Ecuador. Tyler and his wife, Kaylan, lead Jungle Kids for Christ, a ministry empowering children who live in the Ecuadorian jungle so that they can break the cycle of poverty and abuse and share a message of transformation with their family, community, country, and world.

In this conversation, Tyler shares his philosophy and strategy hosting short-term mission teams, how he and Kaylan are helping develop STEM programs (science, technology, engineering, math) for schools in Ecuador, and what life is like living near the Amazon rainforest. 

Jenifer Jones talks with cross-cultural workers in Europe who are providing aid to Ukrainian refugees. 

NEWS: we are introducing a new segment to our podcast! It's called "Stories From the Field" and will feature the interviews and testimonies of cross-cultural workers within our organization. Jenifer Jones lends her storytelling gifts to bring you this new segment so we decided to chat with her to get to know her story better. 

In this episode, we’re shaping our conversation around this one question: is following Jesus safe? At TMS Global, It’s a question we’re asked quite often. In this conversation, we discuss some of the real dangers that exist in other parts of the world, but we’ll also talk about what dangers we often ignore back home in the United States. We’ll give our thoughts on what a Christ-centered response to danger can look like, and we’ll also discuss a tragic and controversial event that happened a few years ago in the world of cross-cultural ministry.

Recently, we had the privilege of having a cross-cultural worker from TMS Global on our show! Our guest in this episode is Richard Coleman. Richard used to work in missions mobilization, helping others enter cross-cultural ministry, until several years ago when an opportunity came for him and his wife, Amanda to enter the field themselves. Since then, they have been living in Ethiopia with their five children. In the conversation, Richard talks about his introduction to the global church through the Lausanne Movement, parenting in the mission field, how food helps us connect with a culture, how to help and lead in a way that doesn’t hurt others, and his hope for the nation of Ethiopia.

Last week on the show, we dove into the polarizing topic of mask wearing. And even though we tried to steer clear of taking a stance, we still saw some discord over the episode take place on our social media. Truthfully, we sort of expected that sort of reaction, but it was still eye opening. So this week we’re taking a closer look at the human phenomenon of tribalization. Why do we look for identity among groups of people? Is the instinct to find our own tribe inherently bad? How does God redeem this aspect of humanity within His kingdom? Sonji also talks about the Christian television series "the Chosen" and how it gives us a look into what it might have looked like for Jesus' disciples to navigate their own tribal differences.

We're back! We are so excited to bring you the start of a new season and a new slate of thoughtful conversations about the Kingdom of God. In this episode, we decided to start things off with a not-so-softball question: if Jesus were incarnate during the current pandemic, would He wear a mask? It’s a question we’ve seen in newspapers, articles, and online discussions over the last 18 months; and considering how uncertainty has become an endemic feature of our times, it’s easy to gravitate towards. We’ll go over some scripture that might speak into this issue, examine the hostility around this topic, and we’ll also contemplate a different question: would Jesus wear a mask, and why do we ask the question?

This episode, which was streamed live from our Facebook page on 6/17/21, marks the season one finale of Thy Kingdom Pod. We’re so thankful for everyone who's listened to this who during the last year and we eagerly look forward to starting season 2 later in 2021. But first, to put a bow on this first series of episodes, we invited Max Wilkins, the president and CEO of TMS Global along with Rhonda Dahlin, our regional director of Church culture as guests. Max and Rhonda came on the show to address this one simple question: what would it look like if the church was unhindered in its ability and willingness to answer the call to make disciples across the nations?

In the previous two installments, we discussed colonialism and its counterpart, ethnocentrism; both of which are subjects frequently brought up as proverbial skeletons in the closet of the missions movement, especially when we talk about American Christianity. So in this episode, we’re hoping to steer this conversation to a more positive direction by asking this simple question: what is America’s role in missions today? What's the difference between help that helps and help that hurts? And how can Americans best utilize their gifts and blessings to serve the global church in a way that fosters meaningful relationships and authentic discipleship?

In this episode, we will be introducing the topic of ethnocentrism to the podcast. Ethnocentrism, simply put, is the evaluation of other cultures according to the standards of one’s own culture. It’s often experienced when we visit other countries for the first time, or when we meet people who originate from different cultural backgrounds. In this conversation, Jonathan, Jim, Sonji and Sarah will talk about how ethnocentrism is not only harmful to cross-cultural ministry, but to our faith communities at home.

Welcome back to Thy Kingdom Pod, a podcast about living in the unfinished mission of Jesus, we’re so glad you’re tuning in. A traditional rule of etiquette has always been to never talk about politics in our shared spaces. Even in our churches, there are issues that pastors seem reluctant to discuss, especially if they involve race or other social topics. But what if discussing these issues is vital to the church’s mission on earth? Joining us on the show is Jon Stallsmith, the pastor of Grace Snellville. In this discussion, Jon shares about his own journey as a pastor, how his church has approached the issue of racial justice, and how the church can bring a perspective to the table that is informed by a deep understanding of scripture and creates opportunity for discipleship.

Jon's sermon referenced in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lZTtjRT6h4&t=1s&ab_channel=GraceSnellville

"A Failure of Nerve" by Edwin H. Friedman: https://www.amazon.com/Failure-Nerve-Leadership-Age-Quick/dp/159627042X

A few weeks ago, the United States had an exchange of power in the highest office in the land, and as you probably know, it didn’t go off without a hitch. In the midst of all that’s been happening, there has been an uncomfortable conversation within the church about how political power has become so important to us, even to the point where we will neglect the true attributes of what God’s kingdom should aspire to be. We'll discuss that issue but we'll also talk about how the Kingdom of God rises above politics. 

Merry Christmas, and welcome to a special Holiday edition of Thy Kingdom Pod: a podcast about living in the unfinished mission of Jesus. In this episode, Sarah, Jim, Sonji and Jonathan will be talking about Christmas traditions from around the globe, what they say about their respective cultures, how your Christmas tree might actually introduce a colony of praying mantises into your home, and how we as Christians can approach the holiday season in a way that engages our culture but still recognizes the wonder of Jesus.

What does the word integrity mean to you? It’s a word that’s often synonymous with authenticity but we also use the word to describe upstanding character. In this episode, we’ll examine the differences between those aspects and begin a conversation over what’s a better understanding of integrity. We’ll also dive a bit into the current trend of call-out culture, the difference between holding others accountable and publicly shaming them, and how God calls his Kingdom to be people of integrity.

If you didn’t already know how adaptable a person you were before 2020, odds are this year has been a revealing experience. Today, we’re going to talk about what it looks like to be adaptable in this season but also in a broader sense of life, ranging from your five-year plan to what’s for dinner, and more importantly how we surrender our desire for control before God. (20:04)

Have you ever felt like there was something that was keeping you from knowing your neighbors? Maybe you were experiencing isolation even before the pandemic?. Well today, we’re going to be talking about community, the challenges of finding it in America, the ways we can be more intentional approaching it, and how it points us to the character of God.

The topic of today’s conversation is about the posture of being a learner. What does that mean? How is being a learner important in the daily life of God’s kingdom, and how do we prepare ourselves to be better learners? Can we learn how to learn?