The Missiology Podcast

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Michael Rynkiewich, retired professor of anthropology. They discuss his experiences as a missionary and anthropologist in the Pacific Islands, his contrubtions to missiology as a scholar and professor, and the future of the field in our rapidly changing world.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #39 interview with Craig Van Gelder. They discuss the role of personality in theological work, the significance of vocational in-between periods, the challenge of relating the every-day to God's mission, tensions in North American missiology, problematic missioloigcal terminology, missional parenting, and more.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Craig Van Gelder, professor emeritus of congregational mission at Luther Seminary. They discuss his experiences as a North American missiologist and church consultant who has made major contributions to missional ecclesiology, especially in the areas of cultural analysis, missional imagination, and pneumatology.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #37 interview with Kate Blakely. They discuss the significance of missionary experiences for missiologists, the comically missionary notion of "rest," the love of otherness, attentiveness to our engagement with others, the contrast between early-career and seasoned missiologists, the need for reflection on race in missiology, and the value of Western missiology for World Christian missions.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Kate Blakely, an early-career missiologist currently living in Moldova. They discuss her experiences studying and teaching missiology, why the field matters, and her hopes for its future.

Martin and Greg talk with Charles Kiser and Elaine Heath, the authors of Trauma-Informed Evangelism: Cultivating Communities of Wounded Healers. They discuss the experiences that gave rise to the book, the meaning of trauma, the authors' understanding of discipleship and evangelism, and what drawing ethical boundaries has to do with traumatizing others.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #34 interview with Roger Schroeder. They discuss some of Martin's experiences as a missionary kid, the question "Is teaching mission?," the complexities of relating to cultural others, what the mysterious "sex soup" mentioned in the interview represents, and the importance of the prophetic dialogue model.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Roger Schroeder, professor of intercultural studies and ministry at Catholic Theological Union. Schroeder reflects on his experiences in mission, identifies his contributions to missiology, and shares his hopes for its future.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #32 interview with Miriam Adeney. They discuss the importance and difficulty of increasing female representation in missiology. Then they break down Dr. Adeney's seven hopes for the future of the field. Along they way, they ponder what counts as tangential matters for missiology, the need for Christians to stay home and learn a neighbor's language instead of doing short-term missions, and the relevance of Dr. Adeney's comments about the relationship between global and local for the controversy over country musician Jason Aldean's "Try That in a Small Town."

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Miriam Adeney, anthropologist and professor emerita of world Christian studies at Seattle Pacific University. Adeney reflects on her experiences in missiology, identifies her contributions to the field, and shares her hopes for its future.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #30 interview with Darrell Whiteman. They discuss Whiteman's devotion to both scholarship and missionary training, the complex nature of contextualization, and the importance of relationships in academic theological education.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Darrell Whiteman, missiologist and retired professor of cultural anthropology. Whiteman shares about his experiences as a missionary, anthropologist, and professor and reflects on his hopes for the future of the field.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #28 interview with Robert Priest. They discuss Priest's courageous missiology, the implications of his "bridge-building" metaphor for anthropology, and the importance of addressing contemporary issues with rigorous on-the-ground research.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Robert Priest, missiologist and retired professor of anthropology. Priest shares about his experiences as a missiological anthropologist, his research, and his hopes for the future of the field.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #26 interview with Stephen Bevans. They discuss Bevans’s contributions to missiology, the definition of the field of study, and the importance of discipleship for the future of missiological reflection.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Stephen Bevans, the Louis J. Luzbetak, SVD Professor of Mission and Culture, Emeritus, at Catholic Theological Union. Bevans shares about his formative influences as a theologian of mission, his contributions to missiology, and his hopes for the future of the field.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #24 interview with Gailyn Van Rheenen. They discuss Gailyn’s role as the founder of missiology.com, his influence on missiological education among Churches of Christ, and the importance of a holistic model of missiological formation.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Gailyn Van Rheenen, the founder of missiology.com, to discuss his experiences with missiology. Van Rheenen shares about his years as a missionary in Africa, the founding of Mission Alive (a North American church-planting organization), and the importance of the missional helix paradigm for the future of missiology.

Martin and Greg reflect on the episode #22 interview with Sherwood Lingenfelter. They discuss the messiness of relationships, the role of anthropology in missiology, missional humility, deep otherness, and colonialism.

Martin Rodriguez sits down with Sherwood Lingenfelter, Provost Emeritus and Senior Professor of Anthropology at Fuller Theological Seminary, to discuss his experiences with missiology. Lingenfelter shares about his journey from anthropology to missiology, his influences and contributions, and his hopes for the future of the field.