Identity is never just academic—it's lived, felt, and fought over. Imer traces questions of race, belonging, and deconstruction through conversations across generations, including a candid dialogue with a former student, Shaina LaRoche. With voices like Harvey Kwiyani, Brian Stanley, and Neil Shenvi in the background, the episode probes a tension that won't go away: how do we name the past honestly without losing the gospel itself?

People featured in this episode

Imer Santiago — Host. Puerto Rican–American trumpeter, jazz musician, and worship leader based in St. Cloud, Florida.

Ted Esler — President/CEO of Missio Nexus (since 2015). Former church planter in Sarajevo, Bosnia; previously held leadership roles with Pioneers. Author of The Innovation Crisis; holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Harvey Kwiyani — Malawian theologian and missiologist known for work on decolonizing mission and global/diaspora Christianity. Author of Decolonizing Mission.

Neil Shenvi — Writer and speaker known for apologetics and engagement with questions of faith, philosophy, and culture. Holds a PhD in theoretical chemistry (UC Berkeley) and studied at Princeton.

Shaina LaRoche — Former student of Imer's, featured in a candid conversation about identity, faith, and deconstruction.

Brian Stanley — Historian of world Christianity and Christian missions. Professor at the University of Edinburgh; has written and edited multiple books on missions history.

Sarah Breuel — Christian leader originally from Brazil and based in Rome. Founder/director of Revive Europe; has served with IFES and the Lausanne Movement.

Music

• Tubby Isiah / Arnos Vale / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Out To The World / Theories / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Shuta Yasukochi / Komorebi / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Cuba Quartet / Caminando / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Additional music by Imer Santiago

Credits

Host: Imer Santiago

Produced by: Arrival Creative

Presented by: Missio Nexus

"Just follow Scripture" sounds simple—until two sincere people read the same text and land in different places. Episode 5 wrestles with the hard work of harmonizing truth and humility: how to go without centering ourselves, how to help without performing, and how to build something through mutuality, instead of being one-directional. Through voices like Mekdes Haddis and Sarah Breuel—and a musician's ear for dissonance and resolve—this episode asks what it would take for missions to move in harmony again.

People featured in this episode

Imer Santiago — Host. Puerto Rican–American trumpeter, jazz musician, and worship leader based in St. Cloud, Florida.

Ted Esler — President/CEO of Missio Nexus (since 2015). Former church planter in Sarajevo, Bosnia; previously held leadership roles with Pioneers. Author of The Innovation Crisis; holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Neil Shenvi — Writer and speaker known for apologetics and engagement with questions of faith, philosophy, and culture. Holds a PhD in theoretical chemistry (UC Berkeley) and studied at Princeton.

Mekdes Haddis — Ethiopian-born missiologist and author challenging "missions as usual" approaches in the Western church. Founder of The Mutuality Lab. Author of A Just Mission.

Sarah Breuel — Christian leader originally from Brazil and based in Rome. Founder/director of Revive Europe; has served with IFES and the Lausanne Movement.

Music

• Mira Ma / Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• El Equipo Del Norte / Sulco / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• El Equipo Del Norte / Bahia / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Blair McMillen, Conway Kuo / La Capricieuse, Op. 17 / courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Credits

Host: Imer Santiago

Produced by: Arrival Creative

Presented by: Missio Nexus

Culture isn't a museum piece—it moves, mixes, and mutates. In this episode, Imer steps into the everyday texture of culture (and its fragility) with Bushman #1, then widens the lens with voices like Brian Stanley, Harvey Kwiyani, Neil Shenvi, and Mark Charles. From music and language to clothing and worship, the question keeps returning: when the gospel crosses borders, what gets honored, what gets lost, and what's created in the aftermath?

People featured in this episode

Imer Santiago — Host. Puerto Rican–American trumpeter, jazz musician, and worship leader based in St. Cloud, Florida.

Ted Esler — President/CEO of Missio Nexus (since 2015); former church planter in Sarajevo, Bosnia; previously held leadership roles with Pioneers. Author of The Innovation Crisis; holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Brian Stanley — Historian of world Christianity and Christian missions. Professor at the University of Edinburgh; has written and edited multiple books on missions history.

Timothy "Bushman #1" Adebule — Owner of Three Masks, Inc. (African goods shop near downtown Orlando) and a local cultural guide/educator featured in this episode.

Harvey Kwiyani — Malawian theologian and missiologist known for work on decolonizing mission and global/diaspora Christianity. Author of Decolonizing Mission.

Neil Shenvi — Writer and speaker known for apologetics and engagement with questions of faith, philosophy, and culture. Holds a PhD in theoretical chemistry (UC Berkeley) and studied at Princeton.

Mark Charles — Speaker, writer, and consultant on the intersections of race, culture, faith, and American history. Co-author of Unsettling Truths (with Soong-Chan Rah) on the legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery.

Music

• Fisk University Jubilee Quartet / Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Public domain via archive.org
• Out To The World / Theories / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Philip Ayers / Riverwalk / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Bokyung Kim / Gu Arirang (Instrumental Version) / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Dex 1200 / Saya Cair / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Dark Native American Flute Solo / courtesy of Envato Elements

Credits

Host: Imer Santiago

Produced by: Arrival Creative

Presented by: Missio Nexus

To understand where missions is going, we have to deal honestly with where it's been. Imer follows the thread of memory and history with voices like Mark Charles, Brian Stanley, and Harvey Kwiyani—exploring the entanglement of church and empire, the Doctrine of Discovery, and the uneasy question of whether "mission" has always carried a shadow. It's an episode about blind spots—and what it takes to reveal them.

People featured in this episode

Imer Santiago — Host. Puerto Rican–American trumpeter, jazz musician, and worship leader based in St. Cloud, Florida.

Ted Esler — President/CEO of Missio Nexus (since 2015). Former church planter in Sarajevo, Bosnia; previously held leadership roles with Pioneers. Author of The Innovation Crisis; holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Sarah Breuel — Christian leader originally from Brazil and based in Rome. Founder/director of Revive Europe; has served with IFES and the Lausanne Movement.

Mark Charles — Speaker, writer, and consultant on the intersections of race, culture, faith, and American history. Co-author of Unsettling Truths (with Soong-Chan Rah) on the legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery.

Brian Stanley — Historian of world Christianity and Christian missions. Professor at the University of Edinburgh; has written and edited multiple books on missions history.

Harvey Kwiyani — Malawian theologian and missiologist known for work on decolonizing mission and global/diaspora Christianity. Author of Decolonizing Mission.

Mark Matlock — Ordained minister and author focused on youth discipleship and next-generation leadership. Founder of WisdomWorks and Senior Fellow at Barna. Co-author of Faith for Exiles (with David Kinnaman).

Music

• El Equipo del Norte / A Melodia Cortejada / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Tellsonic / Desert Wind / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• National Anthem Worx / National Anthem United Kingdom / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Christopher Moe Ditlevsen / Lumina / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Calvary Choir; Choir Boys of St. Andrew's Church, N.Y. / Onward Christian Soldiers / Public domain via archive.org
• Dex 1200 / In a Quiet Room / courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Credits

Host: Imer Santiago

Produced by: Arrival Creative

Presented by: Missio Nexus

Host Imer Santiago joins Ted Esler, the president of Missio Nexus, at a local donut shop to set the stage for a series of conversations on mission and empire. They begin the search for real voices, real tensions, and the grey area between hero worship and horror stories. Imer hears the unfiltered opinions of the locals and talks with an early mentor, revealing why this story is as personal as it is historical.

People featured in this episode

Imer Santiago — Host. Puerto Rican–American trumpeter, jazz musician, and worship leader based in St. Cloud, Florida.

Ted Esler — President/CEO of Missio Nexus (since 2015). Former church planter in Sarajevo, Bosnia; previously held leadership roles with Pioneers. Author of The Innovation Crisis; holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Jose "Nano" Torres — Musician and longtime worship leader and friend of host Imer Santiago. Has served on worship teams since the 1970s and plays multiple instruments (including drums, guitar, and bass).

Music

• Vendla / Green T / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Harry Edvino / Hotel Lalo / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Out To The World / Adaptation / courtesy of Epidemic Sound
• Additional music by Imer Santiago

Credits

Host: Imer Santiago

Produced by: Arrival Creative

Presented by: Missio Nexus