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Member Care in Hard Places

How Do You Take Care of the “Sent Ones”?

One of the most critical aspects of cross-cultural work is how to practically care for those we send. In this episode, Nik takes a deep dive into the most important elements that individuals and churches need to consider to most adequately take care of our “sent ones”.

🔗 Visit NikRipken.com to learn more about their mission and how you can get involved.

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Witness and Persecution with Nik & Ruth Ripken for real stories of faith and resilience from the frontlines of Christian missions.

➡️Learn more about Nik Ripken ministries at NikRipken.com Follow us on our socials @nikripken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

British Half-Penny

What does it mean to “give all” for the Kingdom of God?

Everything that God has ever done, He is still doing. Listen as Nik recounts a story out of Apartheid that demonstrates what it truly means to “give all” for Jesus and how the Biblical narrative continues to come alive all over the world.

🔗 Visit NikRipken.com to learn more about their mission and how you can get involved.

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Witness and Persecution with Nik & Ruth Ripken for real stories of faith and resilience from the frontlines of Christian missions.

➡️Learn more about Nik Ripken ministries at NikRipken.com Follow us on our socials @nikripken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

STOP Playing it Safe and Start Living Radically for Jesus from “The Even You Podcast”

STOP Playing it Safe and Start Living Radically for Jesus from “The Even You Podcast”

Last week, East-West’s The Even You Podcast came out with an episode featuring Nik Ripken. Join hosts, Mariah and Scott, as they interview Nik on what bold faith and radical obedience looks like.

🔗 Visit NikRipken.com to learn more about their mission and how you can get involved.

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Witness and Persecution with Nik & Ruth Ripken for real stories of faith and resilience from the frontlines of Christian missions.

➡️Learn more about Nik Ripken ministries at NikRipken.com Follow us on our socials @nikripken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

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Description from The Even You Podcast:

If you follow Jesus, do you see your life as expendable or defendable? Are you defending your freedom to avoid persecution or willingly laying it all on the line for those who have never heard of Jesus? In this conversation, author and former missionary Nik Ripken explains what bold faith looks like. Serving in some of the most dangerous countries in the world as well as losing one of his sons on the mission field, Nik has seen unimaginable tragedy. However, he has also seen how insane faith can radically transform people’s lives, even in the darkest places of the world. Our God doesn’t call us to play it safe; He commands us to make disciples of all nations. Yet, no matter where we go, He is always with us. With that in mind, what would radical obedience to Jesus look like in your life?

Teaching Your Kids on the Mission Field

Ruth Ripken’s 36-Year Journey of Faith and Family

How do you teach your children while serving on the mission field? For many families considering missions, this is one of the most significant concerns. In this episode, Ruth Ripken shares their family’s 36-year journey across various mission fields, offering invaluable insights into how they navigated the challenges of educating their children overseas. From homeschooling to relying on God’s provision, Ruth discusses how their kids not only survived but thrived, thanks to God’s guidance in every season.

Join us as we explore how God equips parents on the mission field, the unique challenges of raising children abroad, and practical advice for families called to serve. Whether you’re interested in missionary life, homeschooling, or parenting in unique contexts, this conversation with Ruth Ripken is filled with wisdom and encouragement for families around the world.

🎧 Listen to more episodes of Witness and Persecution with Nik & Ruth Ripken for real stories of faith and resilience from the frontlines of Christian missions.

➡️Learn more about Nik Ripken ministries at NikRipken.com Follow us on our socials @nikripken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Ripken Reports: Christian Nationalism

Christian Nationalism is a Contradiction

Nik Ripken tackles one of the most pressing issues facing the modern church: Christian nationalism. Join Nik as he explores what it means to faithfully follow Jesus in a world where politics has been weaponized to divide, define, and instigate hatred. As Christians, we’re confronted by a society that challenges our political views side-by-side with our faith. We’re left asking, “How should Christians think about Christian nationalism?”

With thoughtful biblical reflection and stories from his global experience, Nik offers wisdom about how Christians can navigate the tension between national identity and spiritual allegiance to the Almighty God. Whether you’re seeking clarity or a deeper understanding, this episode will challenge and encourage you to think critically about how faith shapes your worldview.

Follow us on our socials @nikripken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Ripken Reports: Unexpected Sacrifice

Rethinking How We Relate to Muslims

In this episode, Nik Ripken tackles one of the most pressing questions many Christians have: “How should I think about Muslims?” With more and more news media pushing out different narratives, especially about the Middle East and Islam – how are we called to view Muslims? With years of experience living and working among Muslim communities, Nik offers insightful, compassionate, and Christ-centered guidance for understanding and engaging with Muslims in our increasingly connected world.

Learn more about Nik Ripken ministries at NikRipken.com

Follow us on our socials @nikripken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Ripken Reports: Bum

Unpacking the Impact of Short-Term Mission Trips

Almost 2 million people from over 40,000 churches embark on short-term international mission trips each year, driven by a desire to serve, make a difference, and spread hope. But how many of these trips actually leave a lasting impact? In this episode, join Nik and Anthony as they dig deep into the complexities of short-term missions and what it really takes to be a helpful volunteer abroad and answer the question “How do you know if a volunteer will be helpful overseas?”. Nik shares a candid, eye-opening story about a volunteer he encountered that goes by the name, “Bum”, and reflects on the challenges of evaluating a volunteer’s true effectiveness. From the initial excitement of joining a mission to the often-overlooked realities on the ground, this episode offers an honest look at the heart of service. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or considering your first mission trip, you won’t want to miss Nik’s insights and practical tips on how to ensure that your service truly matters.

Learn more about Nik Ripken ministries at NikRipken.com

Follow us on our socials @nikripken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Grief, Hope, & Redemption: A conversation with Tim & Aileen Challies

Finding Light in the Darkness

Nik and Ruth Ripken welcome Tim and Aileen Challies in this moving episode, where they share their journey through the grief of losing a child and how they’ve found hope and redemption through their faith in Christ. Through raw and honest conversation, they discuss the challenges of navigating such deep sorrow and how their faith has sustained them through the darkest moments.

Join us as we dive deep into topics that resonate with the heart of ministry—grief, hope, redemption—and discover how these themes are lived out on the mission field and within the church. This episode serves as a reminder that our deepest wounds can become the source of our most powerful ministry.

Learn more about the work of Tim Challies at Challies.com

Learn more about Nik Ripken ministries at NikRipken.com

Follow us on our socials @nikripken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Ripken Reports: Hiding Out In The Open

Understanding Biblical Context: A Key to Transforming Mission Work

Join us for a powerful episode of Ripken Reports where Nik Ripken tackles the question: “How does knowing the context of the Bible help us in missions?” In this candid and insightful session, Nik shares his deep understanding and firsthand experiences from the mission field, explaining why understanding the Bible’s context is crucial for effective mission work.

Learn more about Nik Ripken ministries at NikRipken.com

Follow us on our socials @nikripken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Names Lifted Up

Unleashing the Power of Prayer: The First Step in Evangelism

Have you ever thought how powerful it is when you as a believer have the ability to lift up prayer requests directly to God? Nik discusses both the power and practice of prayer as it relates to the first step of evangelism.

Follow us on our socials @nikripken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!