Welcome to The Go and Send Podcast! In this episode, Eric Mock shares how God redirected his path from aerospace engineering and the space program to serving believers across the former Soviet Union with Slavic Gospel Association. Eric talks about the moment a colleague's question shattered his comfortable Christianity, the radical shift from managing aerospace programs to pastoring while overseeing ministries in 13 countries, and discovering that availability matters more than ability when God opens unexpected doors.
This conversation includes honest reflections on preaching in freezing Ukrainian churches under fire, supporting national missionaries as tent-makers, working to make churches self-sustaining, and learning that God often strips away our dreams to give us His purpose. Eric shares practical wisdom about discipleship-focused ministry, trusting God when life is hard, and taking that first step even when you don't feel ready. If you're wondering how your skills could serve in missions or struggling with God's call, Eric's testimony will challenge you to walk through whatever door opens next.
Contact us at goandsend@sonsetsolutions.org
Resources & Links:
00:00 -- Introduction to Eric Mock and Slavic Gospel Association
01:16 -- SGA History: Founded in 1934 and Broadcasting the Bible
04:24 -- Training Students and Serving 6,000 Churches
07:20 -- Connection With HCJB and Voice of the Andes
09:26 -- The War in Ukraine and SGA's Response
13:00 -- Making Churches Centers of Hope: 2.2 Million Heard Gospel
18:30 -- They Don't Attend Church, They ARE the Church
21:03 -- Growing Up Wanting to Be an Astronaut
23:22 -- Working on Stealth Bomber, F-22, and Space Station
25:54 -- Colleague's Question That Changed Everything
27:48 -- Conversion: "I Want to Be More Like Jesus"
30:03 -- First Mission Trip: Wife Chooses Siberia Over Peru
33:00 -- Joining SGA and Taking a 65% Pay Cut
33:39 -- Planting a Church in Small Village 17 Years Ago
35:20 -- Traveling 1/3 of the Year to Serve Churches
36:25 -- Teaching Pastors and Visiting Front Lines
40:14 -- Preaching in 25-Degree Church With Tank Outside
42:36 -- Pastoring While Traveling: Learning From Overseas Churches
43:52 -- Discipleship Over Programs and Processes
46:29 -- Next Man Up Mentality From Ukrainian Believers
49:20 -- Never Imagined Going Into Ministry
51:35 -- First Time Preaching: 650 People With No Preparation
54:28 -- Seminary Students Missing the Point
54:55 -- It's Not Your Ability, It's Your Availability
56:24 -- Woman Asked: "Did God Bring You to Plant a Church?"
58:12 -- Goal: Work Ourselves Out of a Job
01:00:09 -- Supporting 394 National Missionaries as Tent-makers
01:04:17 -- Overcoming Fear and Trusting God's Grace
01:08:55 -- Encouragement to the Next Generation
01:10:26 -- Test the Waters and Find Your Giftedness
01:13:28 -- Preach Truth When Sky Is Blue, Not When It's Dark
01:14:43 -- Book Recommendations and SGA Resources
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Website: https://www.sonsetsolutions.org
