Carlos Negrón of Missio Nexus and Matthew Ellison of 16:15 will be joined by special guests (to be announced) to discuss a challenge that many mission leaders quietly face: “Help! My Pastor Does Not Seem to Care About Missions!”
Across churches of all sizes and traditions, mission advocates often feel the tension of trying to cultivate a global vision when pastoral leadership appears disengaged or overwhelmed. Sometimes the issue is a lack of clarity about what missions truly are. Other times, it is competing priorities, limited bandwidth, previous negative experiences, or simply not knowing where to begin. Whatever the reason, the result is the same. A mission team or passionate individual is eager to move forward, but the pastoral support they need feels distant or uncertain.
So the question becomes: What now? How do you honor your leaders, maintain unity, and still help your church embrace a heart for the nations? How do you build trust and alignment when it feels like missions is low on your pastor’s list? And what practical steps actually help a pastor grow in conviction, not just in awareness?
In this conversation, we will explore the root causes behind pastoral disengagement, the common mistakes mission leaders make when trying to “sell” missions, and the approaches that truly foster partnership, clarity, and shared vision. You will walk away with practical tools that strengthen relationships and open new pathways for global engagement in your church.
Presenters:
Maegan Gahima has served as the Missions Director at Parkway Wesleyan Church since 2020. Prior to that, she lived in East Africa and worked with gospel centered non profit organizations focused on community health and development. She met and married her husband Emma while serving in Africa, and they now live her hometown of Roanoke, VA with their three children. Maegan holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Virginia Tech. Over the past 100 years, Parkway Church has grown in their global missions involvement, but 2025 was a turning point. After spending a year refining their missions strategy with the help of 1615 Outfitters, Parkway’s leadership team decided to prioritize The Great Commission, making it the heart of their mission and vision.
Dustin Spencer has faithfully served Parkway Wesleyan Church since 2010 and currently serves as the church’s Lead Pastor and provides leadership to the staff team. He holds a Master of Arts in Theology from Liberty University and is committed to helping Parkway grow as a Christ-centered church rooted in discipleship. Dustin and his wife, Carynn, have been partners in ministry since their marriage in 2006 and are grateful to serve alongside their two sons as part of the Parkway church family. Parkway Wesleyan Church has a strong heart for missions and outreach, both locally and globally. The church is excited to move forward with a new missions strategy designed to mobilize the congregation, strengthen partnerships, and create meaningful opportunities to serve the community and beyond. Together, Parkway is energized by what God is doing and looks forward to faithfully advancing the mission of Jesus with unity, vision, and hope to the nations.
Missio Nexus encourages interaction on diverse and difficult topics. Be aware that the information shared in this event may not reflect the views of the Missio Nexus staff, board, or other community members. Virtual events are recorded and the recordings are available as a MEMBER ONLY resource in our Media Library.
