More Radical
Daring to do, Declare, Defy, and Die as Stanley Dale
A Daily Thunder Series with Eric Ludy
Back in the fall of 2021, Eric went through a stunning 23-part series on the extraordinary mission venture — in the early-to-mid twentieth century — to open up the islands of Irian Jaya to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The impact of this series was profound upon the ministry of Ellerslie and those that heard it at the time. We felt that it’s time to revisit these same truths, stories, and heroes in hopes of freshly blowing upon the embers of a lackluster modern-day Church.
01: The Preparation of the Heroes
This episode lays the foundation for this gritty and soul-stirring series. God providentially builds His men and women for the key swings in history — the key moments in the grand story. However, God doesn’t just build His heroes to share the Gospel Truth—He also prepares the lost to respond to the Gospel Truth. Buckle your seat belt. This is going to be a powerful series!
02: Stomaching It
In this episode Eric dives into the strange and perplexing concept of spiritual taste buds. When we enter the Kingdom of Heaven via faith in Jesus Christ, there is a process of being recalibrated in our desires, our drives, and our determinations. In a sense, God gives us new taste buds to appreciate the exquisite feast He has prepared for us — a feast that we would not appreciate or be able to stomach outside His supernatural enablement.
03: Laughing at Difficulty
In this episode Eric explores the concept of being spiritually readied and toughened by the Spirit of God for the calling that each of us as believers has received. A Christian has been supplied everything necessary to be fully prepared to face all the challenges ahead — the question is, does the Christian know that?
04: The Pacing Lion
In this episode Eric explores the unique enthusiasm and passion that missionaries of the past have had for heading out into the wild and doing difficult life-threatening things—things that cause the modern North-American Christian to shrink back in fear. Is it possible for each of us as believers today to have the same excitement—the same daring—the same readiness in us?
05: The Tarop Tim
In this episode Eric unpacks the extraordinary providence of God as shown both throughout Biblical history and in Christian missionary history over the past 2,000 years. Using the story of famed missionaries Don and Carol Richardson and their work in the 1960’s with the head-hunting Sawi people as his muse for this message, he showcases the awe-striking way God works to provide light for a people that are seemingly lost in total darkness. It is deeply moving and truly astounding.
06: The Nest Stirrer
In this episode Eric discusses the ethics of foreign missions. Is it our business as Christians to poke our nose into the cultural and religious affairs of others? Should we just mind our own business? Or is our business the actual invading of foreign places where the Gospel has not yet been heard and delivering the Gospel in order to wholly alter that culture?
07: Crossing the Foaming Heluk
In this episode Eric investigates the astounding courage and boldness of men and women of God throughout these past 100 years.
08: Cutting the Lifeboat
In this episode Eric discusses the incredible ability of missionaries throughout history to move towards challenges as opposed to running from them. Of course, this ability isn’t derived from the Christian's own human gumption—it's a gift of the Spirit of God.
09: The Stand-In
In this episode Eric discusses the idea of the “stand-in” in Scripture—someone who is willing to do the hard work though it ultimately will be credited to someone else. This was the role of John the Baptist who famously stated, “I must decrease, that He would increase.” May this also be the declaration of our souls as Christians.
10: Plugged Full of Arrows
In this episode Eric shares the inspiring story of Stanley Dale’s bewildering and courageous response to being shot through with five man-killing arrows in the heart of the jungle — and surviving. Everyday people absent of the power of Christ Jesus would fall to pieces in such circumstances, but the Christian, the one indwelled by the power of the Almighty, is able to work exploits even in their most weakened moments.
