Interview with Joel Brown (David Snead Ukraine Missions #015)

In this interview, you will find the following topics: the global tendencies of the church and how it’s tempting to sell ourselves as something we are not because of the new “internet church culture,” competition between online church and the local church (and between local churches or denominations), how Calvary Chapel missionaries overseas actually work a lot closer with other denominations than CC’s do in America and why that happens. We also talked a little about how most Ukrainian missionaries and Calvaries are doing with the whole CCA vs. CGN dispute in America… Honestly, we just want to stay out of it and be equipped for ministry here. We’re thankful for everyone that is a blessing to our ministry from both camps.

We also talk about independent missionaries, creating an internship program on the missions field, and the real damage that can be done with a prideful attitude of a foreign missionary coming into a new culture with an attitude of superiority. Joel has a lot of experience, both as an intern on the missions field, and with managing and discipling interns here in Ukraine. Some things that are important for that are language learning, delaying giving out authority, a prohibition of dating for the first six or twelve months, and learning how much grace to give.

We also touch on dating as a missionary and some flops with internships, including our own failings as early missionaries. Dating in particular is something that is close to my heart, as I married a local here after committing to not dating for the first year on the missions field.

We talk about being sure about your calling in difficult seasons, and about where “home” is for missionaries. There are several missionaries that have recently gone back to the States and taken over churches. Joel and I also both go to different Ukrainian seminaries, which is an interesting experience as a foreign missionary. I highly recommend seminary if you’re a pastor or missionary.

Another interesting thing that we talk about is speaking Russian vs. Ukrainian in Ukraine and about my future hopes and dreams as a missionary. We talk about fluxuations in support during coronavirus, different systems of giving by different churches, training on how to deal with support within Calvary Chapel, how to fundraise as a missionary, and even about a time when Joel rejected support because there were strings attached to the money.

One more topic that we cover is the eschatology of Calvary Chapel as a movement and especially with COVID-19.

Joel is a pastor, a church planter, and an adventurer for Jesus in every sense of the word. I truly respect his love for the people around him and his love for everything that makes us Calvary Chapel. If you would like to get in touch with Joel Brown to support his ministry (please do!) you can do that via the following links:

Website: http://www.jsterlingbrown.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jsterlingbrown
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jsterlingbrown
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsterlingbrown/

David Snead Ukraine Missions is a podcast by David Snead, a missionary who serves with his wife, Katya, in Lviv, Ukraine. If you would like to learn more about the Sneads and their ministry to the local Ukrainian church, please check out their website: http://www.davidandkatya.com/

Music used for intro: White In The Moon** The other Side Of The Moon Remix by J.Lang (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/djlang59/60679 Ft: Ancho