On June 8, 2023, Dr. Charles Kiser delivered the Gailyn Van Rheenen Lecture in Mission and World Christianity at the Thomas H. Olbricht Christian Scholars’ Conference, held at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN.

Dr. Kiser is a protege of Gailyn Van Rheenen and was one of his colleagues for many years at Mission Alive. He is one of the planters and pastors of Storyline Christian Community in Dallas, Texas. He is the coauthor with Elaine Heath of Trauma-Informed Evangelism: Cultivating Communities of Wounded Healers. Dr. Kiser holds a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology from Northern Seminary and serves as a faculty member of Neighborhood Seminary.

Dr. Kiser’s lecture, “Trauma-Informed Evangelism” (based on his doctoral research and subsequent book), was an absolute feast.

Dr. Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby, assistant professor of Bible, missions, and ministry at Abilene Christian University, was the lecture respondent. She added a vital perspective based on her work on the impact of suffering and trauma on theological imagination and discourse. After she and Charles interacted for a while, the conversation was opened to attendees, and a delightful exchange ensued.

In order to extend the conversation, we organized an additional panel discussion session titled “The Future of Evangelism.” Dr. Michael L. Sweeney, professor of world mission and New Testament and director of the master of arts in Christian ministries program at Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan University, joined Charles and Amy. Sadly, a fourth panelist was unable to attend due to illness. Nonetheless, the ensuing hour and a half of dialogue was highly profitable.