Watch Our Missions Roundtable Discussion

Are all missionaries colonists just trying to put a Starbucks on every mountaintop? Are missions harmful to other cultures? And are Western missionaries becoming obsolete? Some people seem to think so. In this roundtable discussion, you’ll hear from former missionaries, a Pioneers employee and a pastor about what they think on these hot topics.

The whole video is about 40 minutes long; to help you find and share the part that interests you we broke it into chapters.

00:00 Is missions harmful?

07:57 Are missionaries special, holy people?

10:09 Are Western missionaries obsolete?

13:38 Are most missionaries in remote locations?

16:45 Is missions failing?

22:15 Counting the costs & spiritual warfare

33:39 Wrap up

Going Deeper

For more on these topics, get yourself the book Is the Commission Still Great? The book website even includes a study guide to help you work through it with a small group.

Like what you see? Watch our Mission Roundtables and subscribe to our channel.​

Watch Our Missions Roundtable Discussion

In a recent conversation, former field workers shared their perspectives on some of the big questions about missions. Hear them talk about memorable encounters, radical self-care, what success really looks like and what they would say to someone considering missions.

Joining the group this time are two special guests. Ted Esler is the President of the leading mission network Missio Nexus. Mark Syn is the International Director of Pioneers. We loved having them.

The whole video is about 55 minutes long but it’s divided into short chapters. See below.

00:00 What is a missionary?

07:37 On-the-field experiences

15:58 Meaningful encounters with locals

20:12 Spiritual and mental health on the field

28:35 Tracking spiritual victories—helpful or wrong?

38:11 Missionaries were the first “influencers”

49:12 Are you thinking about doing missions?

Going Deeper

Like what you see? Watch our Mission Roundtables and subscribe to our YouTube channel.​