Advancing the Mission

Episode 258: Interview with Nate and Stacy Tatman

What does it look like to follow Jesus in places where faith is a minority voice, churches are often small, and cultural assumptions about Christianity are very different from what many of us experience in the United States?
This week on Advancing the Mission, we sit down with Nate and Stacy Tatman, regional coordinators for Three Worlds serving across Europe and the Middle East from their home base in Madrid, Spain. Together, we explore the realities of ministry in a region spanning 14 countries, where evangelical Christians make up less than 4% of the population, and many church leaders serve as volunteers or bivocational pastors.
Nate and Stacy share how Three Worlds works to create connection, foster innovation, and resource local leaders as they navigate unique cultural and ministry challenges. We discuss what it means to serve in places where Christianity is often viewed as a historical institution rather than a vibrant, life-changing faith, and why relational ministry remains at the heart of effective gospel work.
One of the key themes of this conversation is the importance of partnership. The Tatmans explain how team-based ministry strengthens local churches, why understanding cultural differences matters, and how believers around the world express their faith in ways that can both challenge and enrich our own perspectives.
We also talk about the lessons they’ve learned through years of missionary service, including how living cross-culturally has expanded their understanding of the global Church and deepened their appreciation for the many ways God is at work among different peoples and cultures.
It’s a conversation about partnership, cultural humility, and discovering the beauty of God’s kingdom through the lens of the worldwide Church.
We invite you to subscribe to Advancing the Mission on your preferred platform to stay connected with each new episode:
AppleSpotifyAmazon
 

Episode 257: Zach and Audrey Langford

What happens when we stop trying to control the outcome, step out in obedience, and make room for God to work powerfully through our lives?
This week on Advancing the Mission, we sit down with Zach and Audrey Langford, missionaries serving in Birkenhead, UK. Together, we explore what ministry looks like in a post-Christian culture and how building genuine relationships has become one of the most important ways people encounter Jesus.
Zach and Audrey share what it’s like serving in a culture where many people have little connection to church or faith, and how relational ministry creates opportunities for meaningful conversations and authentic community. We discuss the challenges and beauty of stepping into a different culture, learning to listen well, and trusting God to work in people’s lives in His timing.
One of the key themes of this conversation is the importance of simple obedience — allowing God to do the transforming work while we faithfully invest in relationships with others. We talk about what happens when we step outside of our comfort zones, how God often meets us in unfamiliar places, and why experiencing another culture can deepen both our faith and our understanding of the global Church.
It’s a conversation about trust, relationships, and discovering how God moves when we make ourselves available to Him.
We invite you to subscribe to Advancing the Mission on your preferred platform to stay connected with each new episode:
AppleSpotifyAmazon

Episode 256: Mindy Georgi

What happens when we step outside of our comfort zones and experience God in a completely different culture?
This week on Advancing the Mission, we sit down with Mindy Georgi, County Line’s Hospitality Director and longtime leader of our impact trips to Village of Hope in Guatemala. Together, we talk about the heart behind impact trips, why they matter, and how God uses these experiences to transform both the people being served and the people going.
Mindy shares what it’s been like leading teams over the years, the challenges and joys of serving in another culture, and why missions are about so much more than simply taking a trip. We discuss how impact trips open our eyes to God’s work around the world, deepen our faith, and help us better understand the global Church.
We also talk about the importance of stepping away from comfort and routine, how God often moves powerfully when we make ourselves available, and why every believer should consider experiencing God in another culture at least once.
It’s a conversation about obedience, growth, and discovering God’s heart for the world through serving others.
We invite you to subscribe to Advancing the Mission on your preferred platform to stay connected with each new episode:
AppleSpotifyAmazon

Episode 255: Bradley Bell, Upstream Collective

What does it mean for the church to truly live on mission—both in our neighborhoods and among the nations?
This week on Advancing the Mission, we sit down with Bradley Bell, Executive Director of Equipping with Upstream, to talk about the role missions should play in the life of every local church. Bradley shares how God shaped his passion for reaching the nations and why equipping believers to live on mission is central to the church’s calling.
In this thoughtful conversation, we explore the biblical foundation for missions and where we see God’s heart for the nations woven throughout Scripture. Bradley helps us understand how the Great Commission shapes both local outreach and global engagement—and why the church was never meant to choose between the two.
We also talk about the impact missions has on a church’s spiritual health, what happens when one side of the mission is neglected, and how organizations like Upstream are helping churches equip everyday believers to participate in God’s global story.
Whether you’ve always had a heart for missions or are just beginning to wonder how God might use you, this episode offers practical encouragement and a renewed vision for living with gospel purpose.
It’s a conversation about calling, obedience, and the joy of joining God in His mission to reach the world.
For more information about Upstream, visit:https://upstreamsending.org
We invite you to subscribe to Advancing the Mission on your preferred platform to stay connected with each new episode:
AppleSpotifyAmazon

Episode 254: Mason Snider, Auburn Campus Pastor

What does it look like to step into a new season of leadership and trust God to move in a fresh place and community?
This week on Advancing the Mission, we sit down with Mason Snider, Campus Pastor at our Auburn campus, to hear his story and heart for ministry. From his first few months on campus to the journey that led him into pastoral leadership, Mason shares how God has been shaping his calling and preparing him for this role.
In this episode, Mason reflects on the people and moments that have influenced his faith, the decision to say “yes” to Auburn, and where he’s already seeing God at work. We also talk about what makes the Auburn campus unique and the vision for what God could do in the years ahead.
Mason opens up about his heart for people, what he longs for them to experience spiritually, what a healthy church community looks like, and the kind of environment he hopes to cultivate every time someone walks through the doors. He also shares how this role has deepened his understanding of who God is and how He moves through everyday faithfulness.
It’s a conversation about calling, community, and stepping forward with faith into what God is building.
We invite you to subscribe to Advancing the Mission on your preferred platform to stay connected with each new episode:
AppleSpotifyAmazon

Episode 253: Michelle Schoenefeld, A Hope Center

What does it look like to step into someone’s moment of uncertainty and offer hope, truth, and compassion when they need it most?
This week on Advancing the Mission, we sit down with Michelle Schoenefeld, Executive Director of A Hope Center in Fort Wayne, to talk about how God is meeting women and families in moments of deep uncertainty and vulnerability. Through compassionate care, practical support, and a commitment to the dignity of every life, A Hope Center walks alongside those facing unplanned pregnancies with hope, truth, and grace.
In this powerful episode, Michelle shares stories from the front lines—of women finding support when they felt alone, of families discovering unexpected strength, and of lives being changed through simple acts of compassion. We talk about the courage it takes to serve in emotionally complex situations, the importance of meeting people without judgment, and how faith motivates the work of offering both truth and love.
We also explore how the local church can partner in this mission, creating a community where women and families know they are not forgotten. This conversation highlights the impact of presence, listening, and practical care in moments that can shape an entire future.
It’s a conversation about courage, compassion, and the kind of faith that steps into difficult spaces with the hope of Christ.
For more information about A Hope Center, visit:https://ahcfriends.org/
We invite you to subscribe to Advancing the Mission on your preferred platform to stay connected with each new episode:
AppleSpotifyAmazon
 

Episode 252: Tammy Crane, Four:10 Ministries

What does it mean to follow Jesus into the hardest places—to look suffering in the eye and choose love instead of turning away?
This week on Advancing the Mission, we sit down with Tammy Crane of Four:10 Ministries to hear how God is moving in some of the most painful and overlooked places in our world. Through rescue, restoration, and relentless compassion, Four:10 is bringing hope to survivors of trafficking, abuse, and deep brokenness.
In this powerful episode, Tammy shares stories of lives being reclaimed—of women discovering their worth, of children finding safety, and of God’s grace breaking through even the darkest chapters. We talk about the courage it takes to step into trauma, the power of faith-filled community, and how healing becomes possible when love refuses to give up.
We also explore how County Line partners in this mission, helping extend the hands and heart of Jesus to those who desperately need both. This conversation will challenge you to see some of the women in their ministry with renewed empathy.  
It’s a conversation about obedience, compassion, and the kind of faith that runs toward the hurting instead of away from them.
For more information about Four:10 Ministries, visit:https://four10ministries.org
We invite you to subscribe to Advancing the Mission on your preferred platform to stay connected with each new episode:
AppleSpotifyAmazon

Episode 251: Bridge of Grace

What does it look like when hope takes root in a neighborhood—and begins to change everything?
This week on Advancing the Mission, we sit down with Chris Minier, Director of Development, and Zach Speith, Director of Operations, of Bridge of Grace Ministries to hear how God is at work on the southeast side of Fort Wayne through a mission built on HOPE: Housing, Opportunity, Progress, and Education.
In this encouraging conversation, Chris and Zach share how Bridge of Grace is walking alongside individuals and families as they move toward stability, growth, and a renewed future. From providing safe and affordable housing to creating pathways for opportunity and education, their work reflects what it looks like when the love of Christ is lived out in practical, life-changing ways.
We also talk about how real transformation happens through relationships—when people are known, supported, and empowered to take their next step forward. And we explore how County Line and listeners like you can partner with Bridge of Grace to help bring lasting hope to a community God deeply loves.
It’s a conversation about restoration, faith, and the kind of hope that doesn’t just inspire—but rebuilds.
For more information about Bridge of Grace Ministries, visit:https://www.bridgeofgracefw.org
We invite you to subscribe to Advancing the Mission on your preferred platform to stay connected with each new episode:
AppleSpotifyAmazon

Episode 250: 2025 Year in Review

What does it look like to pause, remember, and give thanks for what God has done—while boldly stepping into what He’s still calling us to do?
In this first episode of the new year on Advancing the Mission, I take time to reflect on 2025—the stories, the moments, and the ways God showed up in powerful and unexpected ways. From lives changed through our mission partners to the faithfulness we’ve seen in our church family, this is a moment to celebrate what God has already done.
We also look ahead to 2026, exploring where God is leading us next and how He continues to invite us deeper into His work. 
This episode is both a look back and a look forward—both at the podcast and County Line Church.  This is a reminder that the same God who carried us through last year is already preparing the way for what’s to come. 
We talk about Impact Trips in this episode.  If you are interested in any of the 2026 trips you can fill out this interest form: 
https://countylinechurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/signups/3168154
We invite you to subscribe to Advancing the Mission on your preferred platform to stay updated with each new episode:
 
AppleSpotifyAmazon
 

Episode 249: House of Hope - PART TWO (2025 Joy to the World Offering)

What does it mean to follow Jesus into the hardest places—to look suffering in the eye and choose love instead of turning away?
This week on Advancing the Mission, we continue our conversation with Kyle Hayes and Mike Webb of Children of Promise as we take a closer look at the House of Hope in Bangladesh—a ministry bringing safety, education, and the hope of Jesus to children whose mothers work in one of the largest brothels in the world.
In this powerful episode, Kyle and Mike share stories of transformation and redemption—of kids finding laughter again, of mothers discovering dignity, and of God’s love rewriting what once seemed impossible. We also explore how County Line can be part of that story through this year’s Joy to the World offering, helping extend compassion that reaches across the globe.
It’s a conversation about courage, calling, and the kind of faith that refuses to look away. You’ll be challenged to see how God invites each of us to step toward the brokenness around us—not in fear, but in love.
For more information about House of Hope, check out the website dedicated to this program at https://www.childrenofpromise.global/hope/
and check out this video from a trip that was taken back in 2023:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzOLPBXYztU&t=85s
We invite you to subscribe to Advancing the Mission on your preferred platform to stay updated with each new episode:
 
AppleSpotifyAmazon