On Mission with Chris Wright

Dr. Aldrin Peñamora is a Langham Scholar from the Philippines and a theologian, pastor, and advocate for just peacebuilding across Southeast Asia. He holds a PhD in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and serves as Executive Director of the Theological Commission of the Asia Evangelical Alliance, as well as leading theology and justice initiatives within the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches. In addition to his leadership and teaching roles, Aldrin is a co-editor and contributor to several books, including "Faith and Bayan: Filipino Evangelical Responses to Contemporary Social Political Questions." In his conversation with Chris, Aldrin reflects on the relationship between faith and public life in the Philippines, sharing theological and personal insights shaped by his work in Christian ethics, interfaith dialogue, and the pursuit of justice and reconciliation in a complex political landscape.

Karuna Sharma is a current Langham Scholar from Kathmandu, Nepal, and the first Nepali woman to pursue a PhD in theological studies. She is completing her doctoral work through the Oxford Center for Mission Studies, where her research explores the challenges of inter-caste marriage among Nepali Christians. In addition to her studies, Karuna serves as a teacher and Dean of Women at Nepal Theological College in Kathmandu, where she has been equipping students for ministry since 2013. In her conversation with Chris, Karuna shares about the rapid growth of the church in Nepal, the ongoing influence of caste within Christian communities, and her vision to strengthen the church through theological education that shapes both individuals and the communities they serve.

For nearly 30 years, Milton Acosta taught and equipped Latin American church leaders at the Biblical Seminary of Colombia in Medellín. In addition to teaching, Milton is a published author, and served as the Old Testament editor for the "Latin American Bible Commentary"—a monumental resource for the church in this region. Today, his work focuses on mentoring, encouraging, and strengthening the ministry of seminaries around the world. In his conversation with Chris, Milton shares practical and theological insights from his recent research project on the crisis of internally displaced people in Colombia.

Visit langhamvoices.org to access Milton’s free Global Voices Short Course titled “The Impact of Displacement on Faith: Lessons Learned from Colombia.” Spread out over six sessions, this course unpacks the reality of internally displaced persons from the Colombian context while making it applicable to each of our own contexts.

Vladimir Ubeivolc is a pastor, author, and theologian from the small, land-locked nation of Moldova who obtained his PhD in Contextual Missiology with support from Langham. Vladimir’s passion for promoting social transformation from a holistic, theological and missiological perspective led him to write a number of books on the topic, and — along with his wife — to form an NGO which seeks to address some of the most urgent needs of Moldovan society. In his conversation with Chris they discuss his unique context in Eastern Europe, some of the major challenges faced by the people of Moldova, and his passion for applying both theology and missiology to the life of the church.

Chee-Chiew Lee is an author and New Testament scholar from Singapore who received her PhD with support from Langham. In her work as a teacher and senior administrator at the strategic Singapore Bible College, she equips pastors and leaders for the church throughout Asia, as well as many Asian diaspora communities around the world. Her writing projects have provided the East Asian church with essential biblical resources like commentaries and seminary textbooks. Her most recent book, "When Christians Face Persecution," was inspired by the stories and experiences of her students who live under persecution throughout the Asian continent. In her conversation with Chris, they discuss the unique religious and demographic makeup of the city-state of Singapore, the regionally strategic role of theological education in her nation, and some of the challenges believers face in this part of the world.