Erin, Jenny and Keri talk with Mike & Michelle Griffis about language learning, Bible translation and church-planting where the name of Jesus has not yet been proclaimed.

Topics Discussed

00:00 – Introduction to Tip of the Spear Missions
Why unreached language groups still matter—and what it means to go where Christ has not been named.

03:30 – Called Through Culture & Family

Michelle’s early exposure to international ministry and Mike’s upbringing in the Amazon Basin.

06:00 – Defining “Tip of the Spear”
Language and cultural barriers that separate entire people groups from the gospel.

08:30 – Jungle Stories & Spiritual Realities
Life among warring tribes, encounters in the Amazon, and the spiritual weight of the work.

12:00 – From Linguistics to the Field
How studying linguistics became a tool for Bible translation and church planting.

14:30 – Creating a Written Language
Developing alphabets, learning phonetics, and teaching literacy from scratch.

17:30 – Why Proficiency Matters
The necessity of deep language learning before teaching Scripture clearly and faithfully.

21:00 – The Role of the Sending Church
Why churches must equip, assess, and shepherd missionaries—not outsource care to organizations.

27:00 – Isolation & the Need for Teams
The dangers of sending families alone and the importance of pastoral leadership on the field.

34:30 – Church Life on the Mission Field
Gathering for worship, replicating healthy church patterns, and contextual challenges.

Resources Mentioned

Prioritizing Missions in the Church by Aaron Menikoff and Harshit Singh

Global Serve International