All In! Living The Mission Of God

  Hey everybody! This week we have Ted Vail on the podcast. He is the assistant director of Foursquare Missions International and the area Missionary for North America. He is also the pastor of a local church in Colorado and helps with Urban and Multicultural Ministry. Ted has been on the podcast before; if you missed that episode you can find the show notes here and catch up. Today, we're talking about some of the obstacles and challenges that arise while presenting the Gospel, and how they can actually be great opportunities for us. This episode is one I believe you will listen to several times and take away something new each time. Enjoy! Recommended Resources: Speaking of Jesus: The Art of Non-Evangelism by Carl Medearis Theirs Is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America by Robert D. Lupton Many Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church by Soong-Chan Rah Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times by Soong-Chan Rah The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western

Hey everybody! This week I'm interviewing Church Health Coach and Assistant District Supervisor of the Hawaii District, Kiha Pimental. We chat about Hawaii, self-care and the importance of boundaries as a Church leader. I hope you enjoy! Recommend Resources: Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii by Samuel Kamaku Perpetuated in Righteousness: The Journey of the Hawaiian People From Eden (Kalana i Hauola) to the Present Time by Daniel Kikawa Hawaii by James Mitchener Henri Nouwen  Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordero Matthew the Poor Cloud- Townsend Resources Mindsets by Carol Dweck Bob Goth If you want to get in touch with Kiha email him at kpimental@foursquare.org or find him on Facebook.  If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don't

Hey everybody! This week, I have the great pleasure of interviewing my dear friend, Jonathan Hall. Jonathan was a missionary to Brazil and the former director of Foursquare Missions International. Today I want to explore some ways that we can be engaged and expand the mission of God outside of the traditional confines of mission and church planting. Is there such thing as Business as Mission? Recommend Resources: BAM Think Tanks Kingdom Calling by Amy Sherman If you want to connect with Jonathan you can email him: jhall@foursquare.org.  If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or Stitcher so you don't miss an episode. As always, you can connect with me on Facebook or Tw

Hey everybody! Back in episode 35, I started an experiment with a couple that had not yet gone public with the news they would be moving to the UK to become missionaries. I have interviewed them several times, at different stages in this process. Episode 36 was just after they announced to their church, and episode 42 was an interview I did with Sarah's parents about how they handled the news. Today, we're getting an update from the road. Jonathan and Sarah have sold everything they own, and are now living out of a van. They are traveling all over the states, building relationships and gaining partners as they prepare to deploy to the UK. If you want to connect with Jonathan and Sarah and keep up with them on this journey, sign up for their Newsletter.  If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct me

Hey everybody! This week, I'm giving you 5 ways your church can be relevant to global missions regardless of size or location. God has issued to you and to me, the commandment to put our hand to the plow and to not look back. Missionary work is not the job of the missionary, it is the job of the local church. If you do these 5 things, you will be amazed at what God does in you, in your local church and through you to transform nations. If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or Stitcher so you don't miss an episode. As always, you can connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. It's your life, now go live it! I am among the more than two dozen missionaries supported by the F

Hey everybody! This week's episode was inspired by an article I wrote a while back. Here are 7 easy steps to having a miserable life. If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or Stitcher so you don't miss an episode. As always, you can connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. It's your life, now go live it! I am among the more than two dozen missionaries supported by the Foursquare Missions International Global Missions Fund. To support the Global Missions Fund, click here. To support our work directly, click here. Post may contain affiliate links. All proceeds are used to support the missions work. Thanks for listening!

Hey everybody! I've been thinking about a radical question lately, what if God is really just like Jesus? A few years ago I started going through a transformation in my thinking about the nature of God; who he is and the message we proclaim. I've been wrestling with some things lately that make me uncomfortable, sometimes the God that I have preached or have heard preached sounds more like Isis then it does Jesus. There is a deep well of theology both historically and present theory that is unpacking how God is far more gracious and far more loving than we could ever imagine. Back in the middle of December I was doing a search on Amazon along these lines, and I found a book by an author I had read before. The book is called "A More Christlike God, A More Beautiful Gospel." I read it within a couple of days, and absolutely loved the book. I reached out to the author asking if he would be willing to come on the podcast. So this week I'm interviewing Dr. Bradley Jersak. I encourage you to check out his sermon on

Hey everybody! Today is the first recording of 2016! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. At the beginning of every year, Debbie and I take a getaway. Part of this time is setting my goals for the year. While I've been doing this preparation and planning for my year, and thinking about the podcast, it intersected quite well with what was on my heart as I was praying. I wanted to talk about the necessity of growing in your daily prayer life. We have as a tagline for this podcast "helping you fulfill the Mission of God in your life and around the world." If we really want to engage and begin to fulfill that mission, we really need to tap into the power of prayer. So I wanted to walk you through what I've discovered in the past 30 year pursuit of developing a prayer life. Recommend Resources: 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt "Every Praise" by Hezekiah Walker Book of Common Prayer: Daily Office Reading App Moleskin Journal My Upmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers If you're

Hey everybody! This week we are going to talk about how to thrive as a bi-vocational pastor. For the first 10 years of being a pastor, I was bi-vocational. I felt this need to overcome this obstacle, and become a "successful" full salaried pastor. When I look back to those times I was working and pastoring, it was some of my richest times of ministry. The average American church has less than 90 people in it, with 40% of pastors being bi-vocational. The reality is that being a bi-vocational pastor is normal and isn't something to be overcome.  When I reached out to both Dave Veach and Gabe Barreiro for someone to interview on the podcast, both recommend Brian and Jacqueline Jackson. They are a true testimony of thriving as a bi-vocational pastor. They are Pastors at Preach the Word Christian Center in the greater Seattle area. Brian and Jacqueline originally started Preach the Word Christian Center as an outreach ministry. It later became a church and they have been there ever since. Brian has worked full-tim

Hey everybody! Tiredness has become the new status symbol. We want to think that because we are tired, we are busy. If we are busy, we think it makes us important. This week on the podcast, we're going to explore how this couldn't be farther from the truth. I'll give you 7 Life-Changing choices to help you rest better. Hope you enjoy this episode! Recommend Resources: Seven Habits of Highly Effective people by Steven Covey Getting Things Done by David Allen Essentialism by Greg McKeown The One Thing by Gary Keller Born to Run by Christopher McDougall Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or Stitcher

Hey everybody! About a year ago I found myself bitter, angry and very ungrateful. I was dealing with something in my life and had let it get the best of me. My thoughts, words and actions were from a spirit of criticism and judgment. I had to make some changes in life, one of which was to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. This past year I have discovered 7 benefits to being grateful. I discuss them in this week's podcast. If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or Stitcher so you don't miss an episode. As always, you can connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. It's your life, now go live it! I am among the more than two dozen missionaries supported by the Foursquare Mi

Hey everybody! This week I interview Rev. Dr. Jerry Stott. He is the area missionary in the South Pacific for Foursquare Missions International. The South Pacific District has a number of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, The Fiji Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. It ranges from a post-christian nations to completely unreached people groups. God is doing some miraculous things in the South Pacific. It is incredible to hear some of these stories! Enjoy! If you loved hearing some of these miracles, check out his new book Positioned for Miracles. To get a copy positionedformiracles@gmail.com, ebook available in the next three weeks for download here. If you are feeling a stir for missions word after listening to this podcast, visit Foursquare Missions and sign up for missions process. To connect with Jerry, by email at southpacificfmi@gmail.com or southpacificfmi@aol.com. If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send

Hey everybody! I recorded this episode 2 days after I finished my first marathon here in Athens. I wanted to give you 10 principles and practices I learned while training for this marathon. These are applicable to our lives in this "marathon of life" we find ourselves in. Enjoy! Recommend Resources: Winners Brain by Jeff Brown The Secret Life of the Grownup Brain by Barbra Strauch How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer Born to Run by Christopher McDougall  5 Days to Your Best Year Ever Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod The Weekly Dominator Episode 33: The Messy Middle  Jeff Galloway If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or Stitcher so you don't miss an episode. As always, you can

Hey everybody! This week we're going to try something new. Back in episodes 35 and 36, we went behind the scenes with Jonathon and Sara Griffiths as they were getting ready to announce their deployment to London as FMI missionaries. Today's episode is an interview I did with their parents shortly after the announcement. It's a great peak inside the sacrifices we make when we respond to the Mission of God. If you're interested in what Jim and Lynn are involved in with Creative Impact Ministries, Check it out here. If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or Stitcher so you don't miss an episode. As always, you can connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. It's your life, now

The Syrian Refugee crisis is the largest is the worst refugee crisis since World War Two. Over 9 million Syrians have been displaced and are moving into Europe to escape the Civil War that broke out in March of 2011. I read this week 1 in 2 Syrians have been displaced. These numbers are staggering. If you've been watching the news and have seen the devastation, and want to know how the Church can help, this episode will give you some direction. I have Chad Isenhart, international Coordinator for Foursquare Disaster Relief on the podcast today. Recommended Resources: When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert Toxic Charity by Robert Lupten Serving with Eyes Wide Open by David Livermore The White Man's Burden by William Easterly Project Sanctuary  To connect with Chad you can email him: cisenhart@foursquare.org If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Hel

Hey everybody! I'm so glad to have you join us today. I have a good friend sitting with me here in Kiev, Ukraine. I’m going to pick his brain about the singular commandment Jesus gave us to “go and make disciples”. A question I get asked all around the world from pastors and church leaders is how to make disciples? So if you’re dealing with that in any way and want to know how to excel at making disciples I’ve got Daniel Brown today on the show to talk about this topic. I’ve seen him firsthand excel at discipleship. Daniel Brown has a PhD from UCLA in higher education. He is the founder of Commended to the Word and the pioneer of The Coastlands Foursquare Church near Santa Cruz, California. Recommended Resources: Commended to the Word If you want to reach out to Daniel you can on Facebook or by emailing him: daniel@ctw.coastlands.org If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an

Hey everybody! This week I interview Angie Richey. She has been adjunct faculty at Life Pacific College for the past 15 years, the past 4 years as director of college relations and the past 3 years has served as the vice president of Life Pacific College. She has an MA in marriage and Family Therapy and education with an emphasis in curriculum design and instruction from Hope International. She's a practicing therapist and assistant director at Emmaus Road counseling. Her and her husband are the also the founding pastors of The Gathering, a house church network in Santa Clarita, California. We have a great conversation about balancing life and ministry. I hope you enjoy. Recommend Resources:  Man's Search for Meaning- Victor Frankl The Battle Belongs to the Lord, Joyce Meyer The Battlefield of the Mind, Joyce Meyer Hearing God, Joyce Meyer Life of the Beloved- Henri Nouwen Spirit of the Disciplines - Dallas Willard Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Peter Scazzaro Soul Keeping –John Ortberg Thriving in Leader

Hey everybody! This week I'm interviewing my good friend Jeffry Forbes. I met Jeffry a few years back in Romania. He and his wife have been going there for about 15 years. They have a love for the people of Romania and continue to travel there. Not only are they involved in Romania, but they have ministry called South Side of Heaven in La Grande, Oregon. La Grande is a small town of about 12,000 people. There is a lot of drug addiction in the community and God is using South Side to bring recovery to those stuck in addiction. Ministering in a small town creates some unique challenges, but reaching people is not impossible if God has assigned you there. If you'd like to get in contact with Jeffry, you can email him at jeffry@lg4square.com If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Face

Hey Everybody! This week we go to La Habra, California in the greater Los Angeles Area. I am at The Warehouse Church with Pastor Kurt and Robin Fuller. Kurt used to work with FMI and I've known them for several years. They are doing a great job there with their church and they love their people. This is a message I preached about pursuing the mission of God. It has autobiographical content in the beginning, theology in the middle and and some application towards the end. I hope you enjoy it. If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on Facebook. You can also submit any feedback or questions here. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or Stitcher so you don't miss an episode. As always, you can connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. It's your life, now go live it! I am amon

Hey everybody! This week's episode we are continuing our journey with Jonathan and Sarah. If you missed last week's episode, go back and take a listen! Last week when I interviewed them they had not yet announced to their church or their family that they would be relocating to London, England to plant a church. This week, you're getting front row seats on how their announcement went. You'll also get a more in-depth look at how God worked in their hearts and in their lives to get them to this point. It's an awesome testimony of how faithful God truly is. If you want to connect with Jonathan and Sarah and keep up with them on this journey, check out their website or follow them on Twitter. Recommended Reading:  Saturate by Jeff Vanderstelt  If you're enjoying this podcast, spread the word by sharing it with your friends and leaving a review on iTunes. I encourage you to send me your feedback or suggestions for an interview. Help me help you. You can email me at jroper@foursquare.org, or direct message me on F