Mission Lab

Episode 092 - The Man Behind the Editing: Chris Irrgang on the Gospel and Navigating Rural Church Life

You've heard his name mentioned at the end of every episode, sweetly voiced by little Acadia. Now Shawn sits down with his lifelong friend Chris Irrgang to discuss a wide range of topics - from growing up in the church, to the gospel, to surviving life in a small rural church, to the Christian's relation to politics. 

Episode 091 - Playing With House Money

Reflecting on a recent experience he had, Shawn describes a sort of epiphany he had about the gospel, life, and mission.

Episode 090 - Liz Gagnon: From Heroin to Hope

Not to make anyone feel bad, but this is quite possibly Shawn's favorite interview he's ever recorded. He sits down with his childhood friend, Liz, whom he'd lost touch with for two decades, to talk about her crazy journey since they last connected. It has taken many crazy twists in turns - from major trauma, to heroin addiction, to Utah, to Portland, Maine, where she is now experiencing recovery and a new sense of God's love. You won't want to miss this exciting story!

Episode 089 - Beauty is Truth

What happens when everyone claims that their beliefs are based solely on the Bible and the Bible alone, and yet everyone comes up with different interpretations? Do we assume the Bible can never be understood? That the world is blessed that we've finally come along to straighten everyone out? Shawn shares some reflections on how we walk the very narrow path in pursuit of Scriptural fidelity. 

Episode 088 - Ode to Rejection

Shawn shares some very melancholic thoughts on recent challenges with their missional efforts. But he ends with hope. 

Episode 087 - Life Is the Altar Call

Shawn reflects on a few experiences he recently had, noting how "altar calls" and gospel invitations happen implicitly as we enter into life with people and they organically encounter our values and priorities. He notes that we probably have to do a lot less planning and plotting, figuring out how to awkwardly verbalize an invitation to make a decision, because people are inevitably already making decisions about what drives us without us having to even ask. 

Episode 086 - Do Black Lives Matter? with Michael Nixon

Shawn welcomes his friend Michael Nixon, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at Andrews University, to talk about the work of anti-racism both inside and outside the church, Black Lives Matter, and whether disciples of Jesus can participate in such a movement.

Episode 085 - Church at the End of the World

After a long coronavirus hiatus, Shawn is back and sharing some reflections on what church does and will and should look like after coronavirus. Instead of viewing the restrictions as a government conspiracy against Christianity, or a lamentable situation that prevents mission, he proposes that it is actually a huge gift to the church to get back to what it means to truly be the church.

Episode 084 - The Nuclear Family Was A Mistake

Shawn shares some reflections based on an article recently published in The Atlantic about the nuclear family. He offers commentary on the topic and how it relates to our ecclesiology and missiology. To read the article, click here. 

Episode 083 - Is Religious Addiction a Thing?

Shawn welcomes back his good friend, Jim Mello, as they tackle an interesting question: is it possible to become addicted to religion? And what would that even mean? Along the way we also discuss black-and-white thinking, the stages of faith, and what all this has to do with mission and discipleship.