Vital topics, honest conversations and unpacking the Great Commission Curious about missions? Wondering what it really takes to reach the unreached? The Ethnos360 Podcast is your front-row seat to honest conversations with people who’ve been there. From practical tips to powerful testimonies, we’ll help you navigate the questions, challenges and joys of stepping into God’s global plan — whether you’re just exploring or already on the journey. You'll hear: About God's Word and its role in missions About cross-cultural living and ministry First-hand accounts from Bible school students and teachers Practical steps for serving with families How to plant churches that endure How to support the missionaries in your life How to stay involved when you can't go ... yet Our podcast is made up of three distinct shows: Real People, Real Stories: Unscripted conversations that help you see how God uses the willingness of people like you to do incredible things for His glory. Though the stories and places our guests have served all sound different, the theme running through every conversation is God’s faithfulness. Rooted & Mature: Dive into the choices made, the values held and the methods used by us and our Global Partners, talking honestly about the successes and failures we’ve seen. The Bible & Missions Podcast: Alan McDole interviews missionaries, Bible Institute professors and students to explore biblical missions and inspire the next generation to get involved in what God is doing around the world. You can find more details as well as our podcast policies at here: Podcast - Ethnos360
There’s Nothing I Would Rather Do, Even When It’s Hard
29 min
For part two of this conversation between Keith and Ethnos360 CEO, Steve Sanford, the two talk through some of the ministry distinctives that have been a part of the organizational DNA of Ethnos360, time-tested methods that we’ve seen the Lord of the harvest use to bring about eternal change at a community level. And they tackle the question: Why do we need “sending agencies” when it comes to missions? If you missed the first part of this conversation, you’re going to want to listen to the previous episode and then return here for part two! -- If you enjoyed this episode, please share it, and don’t forget to subscribe/follow this podcast so you don’t miss more episodes like this! Find out more about the Ethnos360 Podcast as well as our policies at: Podcast - Ethnos360
Witness to the Power of the Gospel Firsthand
35 min
Keith invites Steve Sanford, CEO of Ethnos360, to share his own story in missions — from having the chance to shadow his father when Steve was a young kid to watching his father’s contagious desire to mobilize the Church. This would move him to take steps of his own that would lead Steve and his family to South America. Here they would experience how God’s Word changes whole communities, sometimes in dramatic ways. He also gives us a history lesson, laying out a quick version of the history of New Tribes Mission, now Ethnos360. This is part 1 of 2 conversations between Keith and Steve. -- If you enjoyed this episode, please share it, and don’t forget to subscribe/follow this podcast so you don’t miss more episodes like this! Find out more about the Ethnos360 Podcast as well as our policies at: Podcast - Ethnos360
The Missionary Roles People Don’t Talk About
32 min
When most people think of missions, they picture Bible translators or church planters living in remote locations. But what if reaching the unreached requires an entire team of people serving in roles you've never considered? In this episode of the “Bible & Missions Podcast,” Alan sits down with Joel Potter to hear his journey from missionary kid to serving in communications and media at Ethnos360. Together they explore why support missionaries are essential to the Great Commission, how God uses people's unique gifts — from videography and photography to aviation, HR, finance and cooking — and why there is no "second-class" missionary role. Whether you're considering missions, wondering how your career could be used for God's kingdom or simply want to understand better how missionaries are supported, this conversation will challenge and encourage you. If you've ever thought, "I don't think I have the skills to be a missionary," this episode is for you. Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro 1:18 Joel’s parents became missionaries later in life 2:25 How Joel became a missionary 4:06 Joel’s experience at Ethnos360 Bible Institute 7:11 Deciding how to be involved in missions 10:16 Coming back to the USA 11:26 Bicycle spokes analogy 13:28 Examples of support roles 18:45 Support raising almost kept Alan from missions 19:22 Joel’s current role 21:01 Support roles needed right now 23:01 Is lack of money going to stop God’s mission? 26:51 Why is there a need for a mission organization instead of just churches sending? “The Bible & Missions Podcast,” an Ethnos360 Podcast. Alan McDole interviews missionaries, Bible Institute professors and students to explore biblical missions and inspire the next generation to get involved in what God is doing around the world. Find the Ethnos360 Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube! -- Find out more about the Ethnos360 Podcast as well as our policies at: Podcast - Ethnos360
The Fire That Opened Hearts
1 hr 7 min
How do you carry on when your house burns down in the middle of the jungle? From chicken farmer to overseas church planter, Jody Crain shares how God used him and his wife, an unlikely pair of missionaries, to plant a thriving church. They faced so many hurdles and obstacles, but they never strayed from God and His faithfulness. -- Learn more about our podcast and find our policies here: Podcast - Ethnos360
The Verse Everyone Quotes ... But Never Finishes
33 min
Josh and Keith conclude (for now, since we could talk about this endlessly!) the conversation on God’s heart for the nations to know Him as seen through the New Testament. We all know the classic passages from the Gospels, but are we letting their full meaning take root and lead us to action? Dig in with us! -- If you enjoyed this episode, PLEASE, share it with someone just as soon as you follow or subscribe to it! -- Find out more about the Ethnos360 Podcast as well as our policies at: Podcast - Ethnos360
Wait — the Great Commission Starts in Genesis?
27 min
In the first of this two-part conversation with our host for “Rooted and Mature,” Keith Copley, Josh Clark is back! This time he’s getting deep into the details, the Biblical details, that is, on how clear we can see God’s heart beating for all nations to know Him. In this first part, they move fast through the Old Testament, turning the idea on its head that the Great Commission is a relatively new thing. Spoiler alert! It’s not a new thing. -- If you enjoyed this episode, PLEASE, share it with someone just as soon as you follow or subscribe to it! -- Find out more about the Ethnos360 Podcast as well as our policies at: Podcast - Ethnos360
The Cultural Mistake That Nearly Ended Their Mission Work
19 min
What happens when one misunderstood conversation nearly gets missionaries kicked out of an unreached people group? In this episode, missionary Luke Thek shares what it’s really like learning the language and culture of the Uruwa people in Papua New Guinea. From painful cultural misunderstandings to the massive importance of Bible translation, Luke explains why missionaries spend years learning the heart language before teaching Scripture. He tells the shocking story of how one direct response created a broken relationship, public shame and even danger for a mission plane — all because he didn’t yet understand the culture. Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro to podcast 0:26 Intro to Luke Thek’s ministry in Papua New Guinea 0:44 Why learn the national language? 1:26 Why the gospel must be shared in the heart language 2:45 What is the hardest part of learning culture & language? 5:11 The cultural mistake that nearly ended their mission work 12:40 How long is it going to take to plant a church? 14:45 How learning a people group’s culture & language is a spiritual process 16:57 What are you looking forward to when you go back into the village? The Bible & Missions Podcast, an Ethnos360 Podcast. Alan McDole interviews missionaries, Bible Institute professors and students to explore biblical missions and inspire the next generation to get involved in what God is doing around the world. -- Find out more about the Ethnos360 Podcast as well as our policies at: Podcast - Ethnos360
Plot Twist: We Stayed Stateside
1 hr 10 min
Sometimes we make our plans, but God has other ideas. In this episode, Karen Clark talks about how she found contentment after she and her husband dreamed of becoming overseas church planters but found themselves moving to central Florida instead. Karen is an incredible graphic designer, a homeschooling mom of two and an absolute delight! -- Find out more about the Ethnos360 Podcast as well as our policies at: Podcast - Ethnos360
When the Church Tells You to Leave
54 min
How do we know when a young church in a remote village is ready to function on its own, without the aid of missionaries? Brian Holmquist, former church planter and current teacher at Ethnos360 Training Center, gives great insight on trusting God’s timing when sharing the gospel with a remote people group, on recognizing the signs of a mature church, and on leaving well while still supporting the church as needed. His honesty and excitement over seeing unreached people reached with the gospel of Christ is contagious! -- Learn more about our podcast and find our policies here: https://ethnos360.org/podcast
The Missions Conversation That Changed My Life
19 min
In this first episode of The Bible & Missions Podcast, Alan McDole sits down with Josh Clark to explore how learning about unreached people groups completely changed the direction of Josh’s life and ministry. Josh shares the story of how God led him and his wife from college students who didn’t know much about missions to serving with Ethnos360. He shares insights on why missionary training, language learning and long-term faithfulness matter. From the early days of New Tribes Mission to modern missions mobilization, this conversation challenges believers to rethink what success in missions really looks like. Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro 0:19 Josh Clark’s testimony of how he got into missions 3:23 Why have many Christians never heard of unreached people groups? 4:14 Why do I need to be trained to be a missionary? 5:24 How Josh found his role in missions 7:39 Intro to Ethnos360 and what makes us unique 14:11 Stories from the founding of New Tribes Mission/Ethnos360 17:57 How to learn more about Ethnos360 The Bible & Missions Podcast, an Ethnos360 Podcast. Alan McDole interviews missionaries, Bible Institute professors and students to explore biblical missions and inspire the next generation to get involved in what God is doing around the world. -- Find out more about the Ethnos360 Podcast as well as our policies at: Podcast - Ethnos360
When Strength Runs Out
1 hr 21 min
What do you do when you don’t feel qualified for the role God is calling you to? Our CEO’s wife, Sharon Sanford, shares her experience of growing up as a missionary kid in Africa, serving with her husband as a church planter in a remote village in South America, and later stepping into different support roles in the USA as she and her husband raised their three sons. Her dependency on the Lord and Scripture is woven throughout her story. -- Learn more about our podcast and find our policies here: Podcast - Ethnos360
