In this riveting episode of Let's Talk Diaspora, Bud and Rebecca are joined by Ted Esler, President of Missio Nexus, takes us on a journey through the evolving landscape of diaspora missions. With a focus on Frontier people groups and the intersection of technology, culture, and faith, Ted shares insights from his extensive experience.

The podcast delves into the nuances of diaspora ministry, exploring how technology erases geographical boundaries. Ted highlights opportunities and challenges, emphasizing the need for cultural sensitivity and the critical role of missionaries as facilitators and coaches.

Learn more about Misso Nexus - https://missionexus.org/

Missio Nexus Diaspora Group - https://missionexus.org/groups/diaspora/

Ted's Article on Diaspora ministry design - https://tedesler.substack.com/p/diaspora-ministry-design-and-the

Bud's article on Frontier  People Groups in the Diaspora - https://upgnorthamerica.com/frontier-people-groups-and-diaspora-missions-in-north-america/

Center of .... (insert name and link)

The Role of Diaspora in Reaching Frontier People Groups 

The Let's Talk Diaspora podcast features a special guest, Jen, who works among a The Yemeni people group in a Midwest city. The episode, part of Season 3, explores the intersection of global and local perspectives in diaspora missions. The discussion highlights how diaspora missions provide access to the gospel for people from these challenging regions who have relocated to North American and European cities.

Jen shares her personal journey from growing up in the Bible Belt to finding faith during a mission trip to Yemen. The podcast delves into the complexities of living in Yemen and the challenges faced by believers in predominantly Muslim societies. Jen emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique dynamics of Yemen, a country considered the "armpit of the Middle East," with a conservative culture deeply intertwined with Islamic beliefs.

The conversation shifts to Jen's current work in a Midwest city with a substantial Yemeni population, often referred to as "Little Yemen." The challenges of building relationships, earning trust, and sharing the gospel in a community marked by fear and conservatism are discussed. Jen also explains her approach to accessing the local community through initiatives like English as a Second Language classes and women's fitness programs, aiming to create opportunities for connection and conversation.

Reaching Yemenis in the Midwest

In this episode of "Let's Talk Diaspora," hosts Bud and Rebecca are joined by Tom Hearon from Global Gates. Tom discusses the crucial role of equipping in reaching nations through the diaspora. As the director of the internship program called Pathways, Tom sheds light on his experiences working among diaspora communities, particularly Muslims and Hindus.

The conversation explores the significance of preparation and training for those looking to engage in cross-cultural ministry. Tom emphasizes the need for equipping individuals to understand the diverse worldviews and cultural contexts of people they aim to reach, whether it's Muslims, Hindus, or others.

The discussion also touches on the unique aspects of Pathways, including its long-term commitment, international focus, and annual capstone mission trips.

Listeners are encouraged to explore more about Pathways and connect with the program through the website www.globalgates.info/pathways [http://www.globalgates.info/pathways].

Tom recommends his ebook, "Sharing the Gospel with Our Muslim Cousins [https://www.amazon.com/Sharing-Gospel-Muslim-Cousins-Contextualization-ebook/dp/B0C6Z4GQDN/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1704401288&refinements=p_27%3Akevin+greeson&s=books&sr=1-2]," available on Kindle, as well as insightful YouTube video "How to Share your faith cross-culturally" [https://youtu.be/E3Lec9QFXuw?si=hsRNQKSFY6Rv2wVD] and "The Seed and the 4 Soils AV [https://youtu.be/CKPCff6mIlQ?si=kU0FnDFKqTmHx1yY]"

The Role of Equipping

In this episode of the "Let's Talk Diaspora" podcast, hosts Rebecca and Bud welcomes special guest Blair. Blair shares her story of being called into cross-cultural work and being equipped in Houston, TX and shares how she has been able to translate the skills learned working among the diaspora to her new context in a large unreached South Asian country.

Learn more about Pathways at GlobalGates.info/pathways

North America Diaspora to South Asia

In this episode of the "Let's Talk Diaspora" podcast, hosts Bud and Rebecca welcomes special guest Mike Shipman, the senior strategist for the International Mission Board's (IMB) Diaspora Mobilization Team. Mike has served overseas for 21 years and now focuses on equipping believers and churches to implement the Great Commission among diaspora peoples living throughout North America.

Mike emphasizes the strategic opportunity of the diaspora, drawing insights from Acts 17:26, which highlights God's role in determining the times and boundaries of people's habitation. He asserts that the 1 in 7 people in the United States who are foreign-born are there for a purpose—to seek and find God.

Resources:

Book- "Plan A: Abide in Christ, Disciple the World!" by Mike Shipman [https://www.amazon.com/Plan-Abide-Christ-Disciple-World/dp/1733761810/ref=sr_1_2?crid=T8QLAF4OGMYC&keywords=Books+Mike+Shipman&qid=1702570340&sprefix=books+mike+shipman%2Caps%2C339&sr=8-2]

Book- "Any 3: Anyone, Anywhere, Any Time: Lead Muslims To Christ Now! [https://www.amazon.com/Any-Anyone-Anywhere-Muslims-Christ/dp/193912400X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=T8QLAF4OGMYC&keywords=Books+Mike+Shipman&qid=1702570448&sprefix=books+mike+shipman%2Caps%2C339&sr=8-1]" by Mike Shipman

https://dmcollective.org/

https://www.imb.org/

https://www.jesusfilm.org/tools/app/

Diaspora to Diaspora

The podcast episode features an interview with Jake, a cross-cultural worker in Madrid, Spain, focusing on diaspora outreach. Jake shares his journey of feeling a calling to work among the diaspora, leading him to Madrid with his wife, Stacey.

Jake explains his vision of being a catalyst, raising local leaders to take ownership of the missionary task, and ultimately aiming for a movement rather than just starting a single church. He emphasizes the importance of prayer, seeking the Lord's vision, and being open to learning from the communities they serve.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

4 Fields [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9c6KVAqObs]

3 Circles [https://noplaceleft.net/3-circles-gospel/]

3/3 Meeting Process [https://youtu.be/QfzP2qDv0UY]

Reaching the Unreached in Spain 

Rebecca and Bud dive into a conversation with trauma care experts Steve and Jason, exploring the nuances of trauma-informed care, trauma healing, and trauma sensitivity. They share personal journeys, intertwining experiences of trauma care in diverse contexts, from war-torn regions to diaspora communities. The conversation delves into the definitions of trauma, emphasizing the perception of events and the importance of addressing both trauma A (presence of bad events) and trauma B (absence of good experiences). With statistics highlighting the prevalence of trauma, especially in refugee populations, the conversation shifts to the intersection of trauma sensitivity with evangelism and disciple making. Jason and Steve stress the significance of integrating trauma healing with discipleship, emphasizing the need for a reverent witness to others' pain. Practical insights are shared, including the importance of building trust, attuned listening, and asking open-ended questions to facilitate healing conversations.

Further Resources:

https://crisiscareinternational.org/

https://www.traumahealingbasics.org/

Steve's Email: mosesmusings@gmail.com

Jason's Email: jasonadamsbrown@globalgates.info

Quotables:

Discounting our own pain is a sure sign that we cannot be a reverent witness to the pain of others. - Kathleen O’Connor

Trauma is perhaps the greatest mission field of the 21st century. - Dr. Diane Langberg

70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives.

National Council for Behavioral Health [https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Trauma-infographic.pdf?daf=375ateTbd56]

39% of refugees have post-traumatic stress disorder [https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd] vs. 1% of the general population.

Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis

The Role of Trauma Healing in Discipling the Diaspora

In this podcast episode, Will and Carol Smith share their experiences as missionaries in South Asia and how they adapted their approach to effectively share the Gospel in that context.

They describe their journey of connecting with women in South Asia, who often faced devaluation, abuse, and various challenges. Their approach involved providing basic training in personal health, understanding family dynamics, and building a foundation for sharing the Gospel.

The conversation delves into the need for simplicity and personal engagement in sharing the Gospel and how their approach shifted when transitioning from South Asia to North America. They stress the importance of modeling, assisting, watching, and launching new believers and leaders in the faith.

The conversation concludes with a call for believers to form local teams, set clear targets, create simple tools, and always be prepared to be used by God, remaining open and findable for those who seek to know more about the Gospel.

Resources:

No Place Left Website [https://noplaceleft.net/]

Training Calendar [https://noplaceleft.net/future-training/]

More info about Strategy Coordinator Training [https://multiplyingdisciples.us/movement-resources/strategy-coordinator/]

What is MAWL? [https://youtu.be/kfLmMfQjI8o?si=x9n0ud0STje2ydgq]

E3 Partners [https://e3partners.org/]

Book: Spirit Walk by Steve Smith [https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Walk-Extraordinary-Ordinary-People/dp/0692999531]

South Asia to the Diaspora

In this episode, Rebecca and Bud are joined by Pastor Daouda, who shares his incredible journey from a Muslim family in West Africa to becoming a Christian and planting churches in New York City. Pastor Daouda's story is both encouraging and challenging as he talks about the importance of loving and welcoming newcomers, especially those from Muslim backgrounds. His ministry focuses on reaching out to West African immigrants, sharing the Gospel, and planting churches.

Learn More about West Africans in North America:

Wolof in North America [https://upgnorthamerica.com/project/wolof-in-north-america/]

Soninke in North America [https://upgnorthamerica.com/project/soninke-in-north-america/]

Fouta Tooro in North America [https://upgnorthamerica.com/project/fouta-tooro-in-north-america/]

Mandinka in North America [https://upgnorthamerica.com/project/mandinka-in-north-america/]

VIrtual Prayerwalks among West Africans

Fouta Tooro in Metro New York [https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1qTGwAcM3qLXPgcKRphlBsN9d_xNj1wNF?usp=sharing]

Fouta Tooro in Cincinnati  [https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1at2RUNGfxmCPH384GkvdlvTqvmd5Qgr9?usp=sharing]

Wolof in Metro New York [https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1Lhpu_LlQ5R5wMSfdN5C965-tQ_MvKS9N?usp=sharing]

Find Gospel Resources for West African Peoples

Welcome Africans  [https://bienvenueafricains.com/en/]

Learn more about the ethnicities of Metro NY

ethNYcity: The Nations, Tongues, and Faiths of Metropolitan New York [https://www.amazon.com/ethNYcity-Nations-Tongues-Faiths-Metropolitan/dp/0982688903]

Bonus Episode 

In the final episode of "Let's Talk Diaspora" Season 2, hosts Bud and Rebecca reflect on the diverse topics covered throughout the season. They explore the concept of the "uncomfortable middle," discussing how it's important to avoid the extremes or ditches that one can fall into when approaching various aspects of missions, evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.

The hosts recap key takeaways from their discussions, including the significance of prayer as the foundation of all endeavors, the need for creative and contextualized approaches to connecting with people from different cultural backgrounds, and the balance between gospel proclamation and gospel demonstration in reaching the unreached.

Bud and Rebecca highlight the urgency of short-term discipleship, stressing that helping new believers understand their faith and how it applies to their lives is crucial before introducing them to the concept of church. This leads to a conversation about the importance of allowing believers to discover what church means to them within their cultural context, rather than prescribing a specific model.

The episode concludes with an invitation for listeners to find their own "uncomfortable middle," navigating the complexities of ministry and mission work through the lens of the teachings of Jesus.

Season 2 Recap

We are excited to introduce the Let's Talk Diaspora podcast! Join Bud and Rebecca for conversations centered around the 281 million people in the diaspora today. While these people may be far from their home country, we are witnessing God use believers to share the gospel with them, resulting in the ends of the earth coming to know and follow Jesus. In each episode, we hope to provide a clear picture of what is happening in the diaspora in North America and around the world. Let's Talk Diaspora podcast is perfect for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of cross-cultural and diaspora missions and gain valuable and practical ways to get involved.