
Episode #16
Just Show Up | Local Missions, Real Relationships & Sharing Jesus (Ep. 16)
What if one of the most powerful ways to show someone Jesus is simply to show up? In Episode 16 of Remember Who The King Is, Chad Muncy, Donnie Prince, and Mark Berry continue their conversation about missions—but this time, the focus moves much closer to home. Last episode, Mark shared about traveling to Costa Rica on an international mission trip. This week, Donnie shares about a very different kind of mission field: detention centers, rehabilitation programs, prisons, and the people right around us who desperately need someone to care enough to show up. The conversation begins in Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells His followers: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” There is a progression there. Here. Near here. People different from us. And then the ends of the earth. Missions may take some people across the world. But for many of us, the mission field is already right in front of us. Donnie shares how he became connected with The Nathan Project, a ministry that began after the tragic loss of a young man named Nathan Stiles. Nathan’s family responded to unimaginable grief by distributing Bibles and finding ways to share the Gospel in schools, mission fields, rehabilitation centers, jails, detention centers, and prisons. That experience eventually led Donnie into ministry with young people in detention centers near his own community. And what he discovered was simple but powerful: Sometimes people don't need someone to impress them. They need someone to show up. In this episode, we talk about: - Why missions belong to every follower of Jesus - What Acts 1:8 teaches us about reaching people near and far - The story behind The Nathan Project - How tragedy was turned into an opportunity to spread God's Word - Ministering inside detention centers and correctional environments - Why many struggling young people are carrying circumstances they never chose - The danger of judging someone's behavior without understanding their story - Why relationships are such an important part of ministry - The power of consistency - What it means to simply show up for someone - Why some people may desperately need one person who cares enough to return - How our jobs, hobbies, sports teams, restaurants, neighborhoods, and everyday routines can become mission fields - Why kindness can open the door to deeper conversations about Jesus - The importance of actually asking people how they're doing - Why every person we meet may be carrying something we know nothing about - How we can be blessed by becoming a blessing to others One of the most powerful moments in the conversation comes when Mark points out that some of the young men Donnie visits may not receive many visitors at all. That weekly visit might be something they look forward to all week. Think about that. Sometimes we believe ministry has to be complicated. We think we need the perfect words. A perfectly planned program. A sermon. A mission organization. A plane ticket. But sometimes ministry looks like walking into a room and saying: “Hey, how are you doing?” And actually caring about the answer. There are people all around us who are lonely. Hurting. Struggling. Carrying things nobody knows about. And sometimes their actions are coming from pain we cannot see. Instead of immediately asking: “What is wrong with them?” Maybe Christians should become better at asking: “What happened to them?” “Are you okay?” “Do you want to talk?” Those questions can open doors. And sometimes simply showing up consistently can show someone what the love of Jesus looks like before you ever preach a sermon. Romans 10 asks: “How can they hear without someone preaching to them?” At some point, followers of Jesus have to open their mouths. We have to go. We have to engage. We have to care. And we have to be willing to tell people about Christ. But often the first step is building a relationship. Listening. Showing kindness. And being there. This episode ends with four challenging questions: Who is one person God has already placed around you who needs to experience the love of Jesus? How are you participating in reaching them? Are you willing to pray, “God, send me”? And if He does—are you willing to go? You may never board a plane for a mission trip. You may never travel across the world. But you have a mission field. It may be at work. At school. At the ball field. At a restaurant. In your neighborhood. Inside a detention center. Or sitting across the table from someone who simply needs to know that somebody cares. Sometimes the first step in sharing Jesus is remarkably simple: Just show up. Join Chad, Donnie, and Mark for an encouraging conversation about local missions, relationships, compassion, evangelism, and seeing the people God has already placed around us. Scripture Focus: Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13–15; Mark 16:15 Hosts: Chad Muncy, Donnie Prince & Mark Berry Scripture. Truth. Real life. Jesus is King. Remember Who The King Is. For more information about the podcast and to learn about future resources and shows, visit www.remembertheking.com

