In this season opening of Missions Talk, Ryan and Mack talk with Jonathan Leeman about Church Centered Missions—highlighting how healthy local churches with a strong ecclesiology are vital for training missionaries, shaping strategy, and planting churches.

Learn more about Church Centered Missions here: https://www.churchcenteredmissions.org

Topics Discussed

02:00 – What Is Missions?
“Building healthy churches far”—how missions is an extension of ecclesiology.

04:00 – Missiological Lessons from the Field
Mack shares hard-earned lessons from decades overseas.

06:30 – You Export What You Manufacture
Why churches must prioritize health at home to send well abroad.

08:00 – The Gap in Ecclesiology and Missiology
The need for better theological grounding for missionaries.

11:00 – Pragmatism in Missions
How unbiblical assumptions are often exported globally.

13:00 – Plank 1: Christianity is Church-Shaped
Discipleship happens in community—conversion is both individual and corporate.

18:00 – Plank 2: Churches Are the Means and Ends of Missions
The local church is both the launching pad and the goal of missions.

23:00 – Training Ground for Missionaries
Why future missionaries must “suck the marrow” out of their local church.

27:30 – Plank 3: Missions Works Best When Churches Work Together
The value of like-minded partnerships for long-term fruitfulness.

32:00 – Plank 4: Missions Must Be Bible-Led
Expositional preaching is central to life-giving mission work.

36:00 – Resources on the Way
What’s coming from 9Marks and partners: books, videos, training, and more.

38:00 – Final Encouragements
Why this conversation matters for the next generation of missionaries.

Resources Mentioned

ChurchCenteredMissions.org