Erik Laursen, CEO of New Covenant Missions, on the Rapid Spread of the Gospel in Africa (Ep. 176)

Erik Larson, President and CEO of New Covenant Missions, joins the conversation to share how God invited him to leave a stable, successful career in the restaurant industry for a life shaped by obedience and global missions. Raised in a Christian home, Erik experienced seasons of both closeness and distance from Christ before God used disruption, restlessness, and a growing burden for the unreached to redirect his life. What began as contentment in business-as-mission work became a holy invitation to trust God beyond security, leading Erik and his family into indigenous missions across Africa.

Through New Covenant Missions, Erik now works to equip and support local church planters who are best positioned to reach their own communities with the gospel. He explains why empowering indigenous leaders, adapting to local cultures, and prioritizing disciple-making are central to sustainable Kingdom impact. The conversation highlights God’s work in some of the most difficult and overlooked places, along with the patience, humility, and discernment required to steward resources wisely and faithfully.

Listen to this episode to reflect on how God may be inviting you to say yes, trust Him deeply, and join His work beyond your comfort.

Major Topics Include:

• Invitation versus obligation in God’s calling
• A unique approach for each culture
• Contrasting discipleship-making and Church-planting movements
• Working with “Pauls” and “Timothys”
• Opening hearts through physical needs
• The balance of missions and charity
• The blessing and challenge of a communal mindset
• Emerging strategies in missions
• Partnering for Global Impact
• Getting ready for the Holy Spirit’s move

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

• “God radically disturbed my life.”
• “The biggest injustice in the world is that there are still people living out there who have no access to Jesus, and we’ve got to change that.”
• “I felt God say, ‘We’re going to raise up multitudes of indigenous leaders to reach the nations.’”
• “The people best positioned to reach their communities are the people who already live there.”
• “What we really want to do is find the people that already have the heart and the passion for the Great Commission and then be the gasoline to their fire.”
• “We’re not there to build something for them. We’re there to empower what God is already doing through them.”
• “I like to say they’re born pregnant. As soon as they become believers, we’re training them to make disciples.”
• “Mission is making disciples who make disciples, not just doing good things in the name of Christ.”
• “I believe at the route we’re going now that by 2050, we could see a church in every village of the world and no unreached people left.”
• “When the Holy Spirit decides to move, it can be the hardest place in the world, and suddenly everything changes.”
• “God is doing all the work anyway. We just get invited to join Him.”
• “Just say yes, and God does the rest.”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• New Covenant Missions
• Every Home for Christ
• Joshua Project (see our interview with Director, Dan Scribner)
• Jesus Film Project (see our interview with Executive Director Josh Newell)
• Finishing the Task (see our interview with FTT Global Church Planting Strategist Dan Hitzhusen)
• ACHIEVE Alliance

BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

Acts 16:9 | Macedonian Call

 

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night, a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’

 

Matthew 28:19–20 | The Great Commission

 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

 

Acts 16:31–33 | Household Faith

 

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.

 

John 17:21 | Unity in Mission

 

That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

TAKE A STEP DEEPER

On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime. 

But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What’s that next step look like for me?”

That’s exactly why we’ve launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity. 

Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we’ve shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step.

If you’ve been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com.