Heart of Mission

Teaching Across Cultures in the Middle East | Dan & Marg, Missionaries

S8E06 - Dan and Marg serve in the Middle East at a unique Christian international school. In a country where Christians make up only a small minority, this school provides a rare environment for children from more than twenty nationalities—many from families serving with NGOs, churches, and community organisations. Dan, the school principal, shares what it’s like to lead a deeply multicultural team, navigating different expectations, communication styles, and even the occasional visit from local tribal leaders. Through trial, error, and lots of wise advice from staff and board members, Dan has learned how to lead with humility and sensitivity. Marg reflects on the beauty of the school community, from multilingual worship nights to the quiet, daily acts of care that bind staff and families together. She also shares the rich connections they’ve formed outside the school—coffee with local mothers, prayer gatherings, and time spent with local believers who persevere in their faith despite opposition. Dan and Marg are also involved in the small local church, who are faithful, courageous and eager to learn.

Side by Side Mission | Brett, CMS Australia

S8E05 - Brett is a CMS leader whose life and ministry have stretched across continents, cultures, and seasons of profound change. Raised in Zimbabwe during a period of spiritual revival and civil war, he reflects on formative years shaped by a vibrant Christian community, the far-reaching influence of Scripture Union, and the sobering realities of conflict. His teenage move to Australia brought both disruption and new opportunities for growth. Not long after the fall of communism, Brett and his family served as missionaries in a region of the former Soviet Union. There they encountered a young church, full of new believers but with almost no theological grounding. Operating under the limits of an English-teacher visa and the watchful eye of state intelligence, Brett discovered the quiet strength of patient, side-by-side ministry. He tells how walking alongside a 23-year-old, untrained yet passionate pastor helped shape a congregation that remains faithful and growing today. Drawing on decades of cross-cultural ministry, Brett offers rich insight into navigating cultural differences, supporting missionaries, and sustaining hope when circumstances are uncertain. His reflections reveal the enduring value of long-term mission and a heart committed to using every opportunity God provides.

Following Jesus Among Refugees | Stu and Mary, Missionaries

S8E04 - Join us as we hear powerful stories from life and ministry among refugee communities in the Middle East. Through Stu and Mary’s faithful presence, hope is shared both in the words of Jesus and through practical care for those experiencing deep poverty. They reflect on the people they have met and how, through patient, relational evangelism, they have seen God gently at work in individual lives and wider communities. Stu and Mary bring a long history of caring for their Muslim neighbours — from everyday conversations and ministry in southwest Sydney, through theological training, to a life-shaping call to serve in the Middle East. Along the way, they describe the profound reality of “gospel poverty”: people living within deeply religious cultures who have never truly heard who Jesus is or what he has done. Stu and Mary reflect on wealth, safety, and faith in Australia. Their experiences remind us that while circumstances may differ greatly, the longings of the human heart are the same everywhere — and that the call to follow Jesus remains worth everything.

Local Churches Partnering with Global Mission | Ben Woodd & Shane Ellery, Pastors

S8E03 - What happens when local church leaders are given the time and space to step back from the demands of ministry and engage deeply with global mission thinking? In this episode, we hear from Ben Woodd and Shane Ellery, two Adelaide Senior Ministers who took part in a week-long intensive at St Andrew’s Hall, Melbourne. This intensive became a unique opportunity for Australian ministry leaders to reflect on mission, culture, and the local church in today’s complex and changing world. Ben and Shane describe the experience as a gift — a rare chance to slow down, learn alongside leaders from different contexts, and engage with rich theological teaching. From daily devotions to sessions on worldview, poverty, and mission in the 21st century, the intensive challenged familiar assumptions and encouraged deeper reflection. Reflecting on their own ministry contexts, both pastors share how the intensive prompted fresh eyes toward their local communities and congregations. They discuss the tension between belonging and openness, and what it might look like for churches to be a foretaste of God’s kingdom — a community shaped by every tribe, tongue, and nation. This episode offers thoughtful insight for anyone seeking to lead faithfully in cross-cultural, post-Christian contexts.

Lives Transformed: Stories from the Heart of Namibia | Dan and Olivia Webster, Missionaries

S8E02-In this episode, we explore what God is doing in Namibia through the work of Dan and Liv. Liv is using her skills as a physio and Dan teaches at NETS (Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary). They share stories that reveal both the beauty and the challenges of ministry in a country marked by strong nominal Christianity, deep spiritual need, and significant social and economic contrasts.  We hear about the remarkable journey of Tom, a police officer whose bold evangelism has led to churches springing up in remote villages—and how theological training is now equipping him to return and strengthen those churches with a deeper understanding of God’s word.  Liv gives insight into everyday life in Namibia and her physiotherapy work among women and people with disability. Through stories she highlights how her expertise and compassionate care offered in Jesus’ name can transform lives.  Dan reflects on the role of NETS in shaping future Christian leaders, the joy and challenge of discipling students from diverse backgrounds, and the ongoing need for workers who can support grassroots training and pastoral formation.  Whether you’re interested in mission, theological education, or the lived reality of serving overseas, this episode offers a grounded and encouraging look at how God is at work in Namibia.