Books are great, but there are many other ways to learn. This month we are highlighting podcasts, vodcasts and online courses. As a starting point, we asked our latest group of MOP graduates and facilitators for their top recommended podcasts and apps that they go to for spiritual formation, feeding and encouragement. Check out their favourites!

Knowing Faith Podcast - exploring the Christian story and Christian belief, hosted by Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley.

Tim Keller Sermons Podcast - sermons by Tim Keller, founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC.

The Place We Find Ourselves Podcast - by Adam Young, Christian counsellor.

Pray the Word Podcast - Short, daily meditations on God's Word that not only drive us to pray, but drive how we pray. Featuring teacher, author, and pastor David Platt.

The Bible Project Podcast - features detailed conversations between Tim and Jon and occasional guests, inviting you to explore the biblical theology behind each animated video and series they create.

John Mark Comer Teachings Podcast - John Mark provides practical insight on how you can be with Jesus, become like Him and do what He did wherever you are today.

Accord Research Alliance Podcast - short but powerful conversations with innovators in Christ-Centered relief and development and beyond.

Lectio 365 - a free daily devotional resource that helps you pray the Bible every day.

The Bible Project - Our Bible resources help people experience the Bible in a way that is approachable, engaging, and transformative. We do this by showcasing the literary art of the Scriptures and tracing biblical themes from beginning to end.

One Minute Pause - A simple way to connect with God in the middle of your busy day. From John Eldredge.

Quick question for you: Should SEND U develop its own podcast? Click to give your vote

Recommended by Alfie Mosse.
I really love podcasts. I can get news, learn about history, the Bible, science, language, cooking, or just hear fascinating cautionary tales. Listening to a podcast, I can also do deeper dives into niche topics. Mission Shift is one such podcast. It is not just about missions. It is about the state of a trend in missions and the implications of those trends from multiple viewpoints. It is produced by Cru City Global and is hosted by Carita Chen and Josh Irby. Full disclosure - Jeff Johnson, the producer, is a friend and the one who recommend the podcast to me. However, those of you who know me well know that friendship does not necessarily result in the absence of criticism. In this case, I love both Jeff and his recommendation.

Mission Shift is a long-form, narrative style podcast. In their first and only season so far, they talk to country and mission leaders from five continents over eight episodes about the “shift” in missions. In short, in modern era Protestant missions have typically been from the West to the rest. However, over the last 75 to 100 years, the labor force has “shifted” to “from everywhere to everywhere.” In light of this reality, Mission Shift asks questions like, “Where does the American church fit?”, “What is the best contribution of the majority world?”, and “How do we work together to complete the Great Commission?” In these eight episodes, we hear mostly from “the rest” about the shift in missions they are experiencing and the challenges and excitement that comes from that shift. I recommend this podcast to both goers and senders alike. Season Two, “Exploring power dynamics and partnerships in global missions,” is in production and will be released soon.

Click here to go to the Mission Shift podcast

A few years ago, Ted Szymczak worked with World Team missionaries to develop a series of online training courses on various aspects of church planting. We continue to recommend these courses to SEND workers and World Team continues to allow us to register at a reduced rate. Each of the courses are 4 weeks long and are facilitated by veteran World Team church planters. This October, the courses on evangelism, disciple-making and gathering believers into churches are being offered again.

• October 18 - November 19 Evangelism: Abundantly Sowing the Seed
• October 11 - November 12 Discipleship: Growing Mature Followers of Jesus
• October 11 - November 12 Church: Nurturing Communities of Faith

You can find full descriptions and registration information for these courses on the Mission Tools website (see links above). Contact Kim Samalca (ksamalca@send.org) to get the code for the SEND discount.

Not all the episodes of Alanna Brown's vodcast are for women only. Two recent episodes will be of interest to both men and women.

1. Interview with Teena Embaugh on MK Care
2. A lesbian who met Jesus - interview with Michelle Labedis

1. Info for SEND US Members
2. Understanding Worldviews
3. A Deliberately Developmental Organization (DDO)
4. Engaging the Unreached
5. Leading Your Family Overseas

All these can be found on the SEND U Training Events pageon the SEND U wiki.

Sept 27 - 29 2023 Missio Nexus Missions Leaders Conference

• The theme of this year's conference is SHIFT: Rapid Social Transformation and The Gospel. It will be held in Orlando, Florida. Several SEND leaders are attending this year.

Oct 11 - Nov 12 Discipleship: Growing Mature Followers of Jesus

• This 4-week online course is designed to assist missionaries in developing the necessary attitudes, skills and knowledge to be effective in disciple-making as the key to establishing healthy, relevant, reproducing churches. Contact Kim to get the code for the SEND discount.

Oct 11 - Nov 12 Church: Nurturing Communities of Faith

• This 4-week online course will help participants to develop the necessary attitudes, skills, and knowledge to be effective in gathering disciples into healthy, relevant, reproducing churches. Contact Kim to get the code for the SEND discount.

Oct 18 - Nov 1 Sustainable Resilience

• Sustainable Resilience is a two-week Grow2Serve online course designed to raise awareness and develop perspectives and lifestyle choices that will increase resilience and keep cross-cultural workers true to their God-given calling. The course asks you to make an investment of 10-12 hours of learning time over the 15-day period.

Oct 18 - Nov 19 Evangelism: Abundantly Sowing the Seed

• A 4-week online course. A resource that helps participants develop the necessary attitudes, skills and knowledge to be effective in evangelism within the context of establishing healthy, relevant, multiplying churches. Contact Kim to get the code for the SEND discount.

Nov 2 - 4 Helping Muslim Neighbors to Understand and Know Jesus

• Facilitated by Common Ground Consultants. Hosted by Stoney Church in Washington, MI. All Team Hope workers are required to attend this kind of training.

Keep learning,

Ken Guenther
based in Saskatchewan, Canada

Jenny Baker
based in Yukon, Canada