In this epsiode, Nik looks back at 37 years of overseas work and wonders - "did we go about it the wrong way?" Listen in as he shares that if he were to start over, why he would start with the "HOW" of missions before the "WHERE". Read more on the blog at www.NikRipken.com/blog

As Nik Ripken continues this series on rediscovering the Biblical account of the Christmas narrative, he challenges listeners to ask "Imagine you were a parent, or Jesus, in this story". Understanding the context of Christmas allows us to discover how we apply the birth of Jesus to our lives and theology. Learn more about Nik Ripken Ministries at: https://www.nikripken.com/

While the Israeli / Palestinian conflict rages, Nik records a special episode to address what this conflict is, and what it is not. Nik pushes listeners to maintain, and express, a Christian worldview that forces us to read the Bible, seek God's face, and step out in faith to fulfill the Great Commission in the hard places.

Did you know that the wise men of the Bible were ultimately unwise men? Their story isn’t a children’s story set in an elaborate Christmas pageant. It’s a story of persecution when Jesus was just a toddler. It’s a story filled with drama and the genocidal slaughter of children. Christians living in the west are stuck with a faith narrative in our heads that is dominated by the culture in which we live. Nik begins a multi-part series to learn how believers in persecution get the Christmas story right.

Learn more at nikripken.com

Visit more at nikripken.com

After Nik and Ruth had spent significant time in Somalia - witnessing horrific tragedies like war, abuse, and starvation - they learned and developed "best practices" for how to provide counseling and soul care to workers who had experienced the depths of human depravity. Learn how you can apply these lessons to those in the hardest places of the world.

In part one of a two-part series, Nik reveals their deeply personal journey of various traumas in life, ministry, and missions. How do you stay on the mission field, remain in your ministry, or keep your family when you walk through the unthinkable? Nik challenges listeners to understand how being obedient to go to the edge of lostness can bring intense suffering and trauma - but that God still redeems and uses these for His glory. In part one of a two-part series, Nik reveals their deeply personal journey of various traumas in life, ministry, and missions. How do you stay on the mission field, remain in your ministry, or keep your family when you walk through the unthinkable? Nik challenges listeners to understand how being obedient to go to the edge of lostness can bring intense suffering and trauma - but that God still redeems and uses these for His glory.

Nik walks through the most dangerous statement: "It's time". What decision do you need to make to be obedient right now? What situation is God commanding you to reconcile? Where is God commanding you to step out in faith? Join Nik as he shares his and Ruth's personal journey to discovering "It's time" to be obedient to the commands of Christ.

Identifying with the persecuted is much more than just a day or week of prayer! Join Nik and Ruth as they share ways that we can develop a regular, consistent lifestyle of praying for, and identifying with, believers in persecution around the world.

Nik and Ruth conclude a series on worship in the home by giving us a personal look into how they pray and worship around their breakfast table - whether as a couple, a family, with guests, and even the lost. Additionally, they share with listeners how they end their day in prayer and worship with a global perspective.

Join Ruth as she gives us an inside look at her personal devotion and worship time. She'll share not only the mechanics of how she conducts her devotions, but why they play a critical role in your spiritual life, both in "open" countries and countries where there is no place to go have your worship needs met.

Whether you are overseas or in the Bible Belt of America, one of the most basic and crucial components of healthy believers is worship in homes. Nik and Ruth are joined by the their grandsons, Jonah and Maddox, to model the joy-filled and simple practice of family devotions. Come join them in their living room as they show you how to worship and pray together as a family!

For those of us in the "open" countries, it's easy for us to dress up the suffering of believers in persecution. In this episode, Nik challenges listeners to identify with the real blood, sweat, and tears of the stories of persecution, truly grasping the human reality of suffering, and the real lives of people involved. Check out the show notes and blog post related to this episode at https://www.nikripken.com/blog Learn more about Nik Ripken's ministry at https://www.nikripken.com

Nik concludes a series investigating why Unreached Peoples are still unreached by exploring the practical components that keep churches from sending and going. Nik looks at everything from the cost of personnel to weather. There are surprising reasons that are hard to overcome on our way to the hard places of the world.

As we reflect on the persisting challenge of unreached countries, Nik Ripken invites us to reconsider our approach. By embracing the hard places and equipping local believers, we unlock the untapped potential to reach the darkest corners of the world. By choosing to go to the hard places, we foster sustainable movements, bridge cultural divides, and empower communities to become biblical advocates. Check out the show notes and blog post related to this episode at https://www.nikripken.com/blog Learn more about Nik Ripken's ministry at https://www.nikripken.com

In this episode, Nik Ripken explains the challenging task of reaching the unreached nations. He candidly addresses the notion that the efforts required to reach just one believer in hard and unresponsive places might not seem cost-effective. It often demands substantial resources and even the lives of dedicated believers. However, Nik's unwavering conviction is that the mission to reach the unreached is not about cost-efficiency: it's about obedience to the Great Commission. Check out the show notes and blog post related to this episode at https://www.nikripken.com/blog Learn more about Nik Ripken's ministry at https://www.nikripken.com

If you're a mother considering missionary service, or simply curious about the challenges faced by families on the mission field, this episode is a must-listen. In this episode, Ruth dives deep into the common fears that mothers often experience when contemplating a life of service on the mission field.

Best friends Nik and Pastor Tim sit down for an authentic conversation about how pastors and churches can effectively connect church members to every part of the Great Commission. Check out the show notes and blog post related to this episode at https://www.nikripken.com/blog/ Learn more about Nik Ripken's ministry at https://www.nikripken.com

In this episode, Nik unveils a heartfelt tale that transcends borders and celebrates the profound beauty of cultural exchange. He teaches us about the Xhosa naming ceremony for newborns. What does the naming culture in Xhosa teach us about authentic community? Check out the show notes and blog post related to this episode at https://www.nikripken.com/authentic-community/ Learn more about Nik Ripken's ministry at https://www.nikripken.com