Sixteen:Fifteen

06/18/2026

Catch Jeff Lewis' talking about God's Heart for the Nations with J.D. Payne!

In this conversation, Jeff and I discuss his ministry and the 30th ...

06/17/2026

What ideas about safety and risk would a well-meaning person have to say this? In a blog post titled "Fear and the myth of safety" David Hare lays out two points to discuss with someone who has an undeveloped theolgy of risk.

1. Safety is a Myth
2. Vague ideas lead to fear, not wisdom

https://www.haretranslation.com/2024/04/05/fear-and-the-myth-of-safety/

06/15/2026

Life involves risk. Missions involves risk. Jesus calls us to count the cost, which involves using wisdom. We should not naively, blindly rush into situations without taking actions to "mitigate" the risk (e.g. Driving is high risk, but since we put a high value on mobility, we mitigate the risk by wearing a seatbelt.)

Read Dave Hare's suggestions on three ways to mitigate risk in missions.
https://www.haretranslation.com/2024/04/17/mitigating-risk-in-missions/
(Used with permission)

06/12/2026

In Desiring God, John Piper exhorts us to remember the 'why' of suffering in this life. We will rise! This puts taking risks for the glory of God among all nations in proper perspective. The reward is so worth the risk of loss.

06/11/2026

Matthew is down in Florida helping Oviedo City Church develop their global missions values. What are your church's missions values?

06/10/2026

Why are so many Gen Z students turning to tarot cards, crystals, mindfulness, and alternative spirituality while walking away from the church?

Full Episode: https://youtu.be/BIZGvq08bhQ

In this thought-provoking conversation, Mark Matlock, Executive Director of Urbana and Senior Fellow at Barna Group, unpacks what younger generations are really searching for and why many are not as concerned with “Is Christianity true?” but rather “Is it beautiful?”

From global missions trends to the church’s discipleship crisis, this episode explores the spiritual hunger shaping Gen Z, the future of missions mobilization, and what it will take for Christians to authentically reflect the transforming beauty of Jesus in a skeptical culture.

Mark Matlock joins Ted Esler and Matthew Ellison on the Mission Matters Podcast to discuss Gen Z, discipleship, and the future of global missions through the lens of decades of ministry experience and research.

The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.

06/09/2026

We wish you had been there at MAC 2026 last week! What did you miss? How about meeting the 'perfect' mobilizer; gaining a fresh perspective on who the local church is; getting feedback from a live panel of pastors and missions directors; and getting practical direction on how to make church leaders want to hear from agency mobilizers.

06/08/2026

"Some of our desires for safety are satanic." Matthew Ellison addresses a hard-to-hear topic of 'safety' as a follower of Christ. Take a listen to this challenging sermon from back in 2016.

https://youtu.be/3fjV2J5nMpg

06/05/2026

Watch Full TMM Episode: https://youtu.be/dT6W9lAP1jI

We cannot be successful in gospel obedience without an element of risk. What is a Biblical theology of risk, and how can mission leaders manage risk so that missionaries thrive in their contexts? Scott Brawner is co-founder and President of Concilium, a non-profit organization that builds capacity and resilience into Christian missionary orgs. Join Ted, Matthew, and Scott as they discuss risk and the role of the security professional in a ministry organization.

The Mission Matters Podcast is a place to talk about the importance of our Mission as Christians. The Mission Matters is a partnership of Missio Nexus and Sixteen:Fifteen, who have a shared passion to mobilize God’s people to be a part of His mission.

https://www.concilium.us
Recommended Book:
Author: Anna Hampton
Title: _Facing Fear: The Journey to Mature Courage in Risk and Persecution_

06/03/2026

Livingstone wrote back, “If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”
Livingstone disappeared into the interior of Africa and explored areas that no white man had ever explored. He once lost contact with the outside world for six years. Those on the home front urged he be cautious. “If we wait till we run no risk, the gospel will never be introduced into the interior,” he wrote back.

Source:
https://kaarre.wordpress.com/tag/david-livingstone/