Episode 71 - Stephanie welcomes Darren Carlson, executive producer of the famous award-winning movie, Jesus in Athens. John Piper called it "moving and convicting." 

Training Leaders International president Darren Carlson came to Athens with the intention of teaching the Bible to migrant leaders. That was the start of a seven-year journey, as he began to uncover the story God was telling. Based on hundreds of hours of research, this is the story of some of the most marginalized people in the world, God’s chosen outcasts, as they come out of darkness and into light. Viewers are brought face to face with the miraculous and the ordinary, as Christians show hospitality to Muslim refugees, while being transformed from fear to love.

Darren Carlson says on the Gospel Spice Podcast, "Our expectation of God is limited to our experience. And consequently, our prayer life is limited to what we expect Him to do." So, are you ready to watch Him blow open your expectations as you watch Him at work through Jesus in Athens?

Jesus in Athens is the compelling story of the ways Christians are serving migrants, and how Muslims are encountering the love of God and Christians, believing the gospel, and forming churches.

In 2015, over a million migrants entered Europe, most of them through Greece. But on their journey, something quite unexpected has occurred. Religious conversions and revival broke out, especially amongst Muslims fleeing their war-torn countries. So, join us as we meet the people who feed and clothe some of the most marginalized people in the world. Gather with the chosen outcasts, as they come out of darkness and into light. Witness the miraculous. See the love of Christians toward people who were told Christians would hate them. Watch churches spring into action – entertaining strangers, showing hospitality, learning to reject hatred and fear. This is the story of God, gathering people and nations to himself, in a crisis.

“It will make your heart burst to watch the hands and feet of Christ serving the outcasts in Athens!” — DAVE & GLORIA FURMAN / AUTHORS

“Opens your eyes to the stories of Christians who are showing the love of Christ to desperate, vulnerable people.” — MATTHEW SOERENS / WORLD RELIEF

“Tales of rescue, boldness, and hope show how God is drawing many refugees into his kingdom.” — BOB PECKHAM / FRONTIERS

“Superbly depicts how God is moving powerfully among people who are on the move.” — SAM GEORGE / LAUSANNE

Darren Carlson is the executive producer and writer of Jesus in Athens. He is the founder of Training Leaders International, and now serves with a staff of over 50 people around the world, providing theological training to underserved and undertrained areas. Jesus in Athens is a result of his PhD research on the migrant church communities in Athens.

Find it all at jesusinathens.com and stream for free on Amazon Prime. Go to the shownotes for the trailer.

Go to gospelspice.com for more resources.

You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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