Keri, Jenny and Erin talk with international church pastor’s wife, Cyndi Logsdon about what she’s seen on the field and why missions should be church-centered.

Topics Discussed

00:01:45 – Why Contextualization Matters
How missionaries communicate the unchanging gospel clearly across cultures and languages.

00:03:00 – Under- and Over-Contextualization
The dangers of refusing cultural adaptation—and of adapting so much that the gospel itself becomes unclear.

00:05:30 – What Is Missions?
Interacting with the definition from Prioritizing the Church in Missions and why “churches sending qualified workers” can be controversial.

00:07:00 – Missionary Qualifications
Why missionaries should be elder- or deacon-qualified and how character matters overseas just as much as at home.

00:11:30 – Why Church Leadership Matters
The importance of having elder-qualified men involved in church planting work from the beginning.

00:14:00 – Modern Missions Trends & “Methods”
A discussion of church planting movements (CPM), discovery Bible studies, insider movements, and the pressure for rapid results.

00:18:45 – “Person of Peace” & Discovery Bible Studies
Concerns about using unconverted people to lead evangelistic Bible studies and minimizing biblical teaching.

00:22:30 – Obedience-Based Discipleship
Why emphasizing obedience before conversion can unintentionally communicate a works-based gospel.

00:29:00 – Why Big Numbers Can Be Misleading
Concerns about unclear definitions of “church,” inflated reporting, and pressure to demonstrate rapid growth.

00:33:00 – How Churches Can Help
Practical encouragement for churches to stay informed, ask questions, and remain actively involved with sent workers.

00:35:00 – The Need for Patience in Missions
Why learning language, culture, and theology deeply takes time—and why there are no shortcuts.

00:40:00 – AI & Missions
A caution about relying too heavily on AI tools for gospel communication without careful theological oversight.

Resources Mentioned

Prioritizing the Church in Missions by Alex Kocman & Scott Logsdon
The Puritan Hope by Iain Murray
Radius International articles on missions methodology