Power undergirds so much of what we see in the news and how the world operates. How are Christians to engage with power, with government, with violence. Pastor, theologian, and author Dr. David Fitch joins Brandon Stiver on the podcast to discuss how the church can distinguish coercive worldly power from the persuasive, healing power of God. Drawing on examples in Christian nationalism, just war, the Civil Rights Movement, and local church practice, Fitch argues that expecting government or world power to redeem society won’t work. But the faithful presence and nonviolent power of God can do far more than we could ever imagine.
Tag Archives: news
A Guide for the Aspiring Missionary with Ryan Robertson and Dr. Matt Bennett
Have you ever considered being a missionary? Does your church support a missionary sent out to another nation? It takes a whole lot of discernment, prayer and connection with other believers to decide and follow through on being a missionary. Joining Brandon Stiver on the podcast today are Ryan Robertson and Dr. Matt Bennett, who are the authors of the new book, The Path to Being a Missionary. Together they dive into the ins and outs of preparing for the missions field and what it takes to sustain gospel work for the long haul.
Children’s Mental Health in the Global South with Dr. Bryan Gouge
October 10th is World Mental Health Day and we’ve invited Dr. Bryan Gouge who serves as the Senior Program Design Specialist for Mental Health at Compassion International. He joins Brandon Stiver to share insights on community-based mental health support for children in underserved areas, emphasizing the importance of belonging, resilience, and de-stigmatizing mental health discussions.
The Fastest Growing Form of Human Trafficking with Amy Miller
Cyberscam Trafficking has grown into a 3 trillion dollar industry since the pandemic and has quickly become one of the most heinous forms of modern slavery. With victims on multiple sides, what is the church’s response to be? Joining the show today is Amy Miller who is the Southeast Asia Director with Acts of Mercy International. Operating on the front lines of this burgeoning area of need, Amy shares with us about the organized criminal syndicates that run the cyberscam compounds, how people are trafficked in and what it looks like to help victims re-enter their own communities. We also learn just how close this issue touches each and every person, including westerners.
DMEAL for Compliance and Continual Improvement with Jeremy Macias
We’ve got our resident M&E expert back on the podcast to talk with us about the value and function of DMEAL in working on grants and of course in program development. In this episode, Brandon Stiver is joined by Jeremy Macias to discuss the importance of monitoring and evaluation in nonprofit work, including the differences in international and domestic contexts. They explore how data-driven practices enhance program effectiveness, build donor trust, and foster continuous improvement in serving vulnerable populations. Lastly, they talk about the role of grad programs in developing humanitarian professionals suited to the needs of the global poor.
Strengthening Families through Fair Trade and Tech with Jessica Ray
With so many factors that lead to multidimensional poverty, what does it look like to scale family flourishing around the world? It’s a core question to all of human society. In this episode, Brandon Stiver interviews Jessica Ray who oversees International Programs for the Global Orphan Project to talk commerce, tech and family strengthening. Together they explore the complex issues of global fashion supply chains, fair trade practices, and the Strong Family program and tech that is supporting communities throughout the world.
