Episode 381 - Collaborative Missiology: The Future of Global Missions | Rob Hoskins

What does it look like when 40 years of faithfulness meets a brand-new playbook? Rob Hoskins, president of OneHope, joins host Justin Forman for a wide-ranging conversation about the moment we're living in—and why the pioneer era of missions must give way to a new collaborative missiology. From a father's prophetic vision of children watching pornography on handheld devices (before mobile phones existed) to building one of the world's most far-reaching children's Scripture engagement ministries, Rob's story is a masterclass in generational faithfulness, innovative disruption, and Kingdom-minded collaboration.

OneHope has delivered God's Word to children in every country of the world, in hundreds of languages, through print, film, and digital platforms—including the Bible App for Kids in partnership with YouVersion. Now, as the pace of change accelerates and the global church diversifies, Rob makes the case that collaboration isn't just smart strategy. It's biblical obedience.

Key Topics

•       The prophetic vision that launched OneHope: Rob's father dreamed of children viewing pornography on handheld devices—before smartphones existed—and heard God say: 'The only thing that will overcome these lies is truth.'

•       From pioneer to collaborative missiology: Why the tactics that grew Christianity in sub-Saharan Africa from 4% to 65% in a century won't be enough for the challenges ahead.

•       Innovation requires failure: How two failed mobile scripture experiments cost millions—and made the Bible App for Kids possible.

•       The intergenerational handoff: Rob's father stepped down at the top of his game, saying 'It's when you're at the top of your game that the game's about to change.'

•       Close the Bible Gap collaborative: Six agencies pooling resources for Bible access in the world's least-reached places—creating shared measuring systems, logistics, and one-stop resourcing for frontline church planters.

•       Why 1.6–1.8 million nonprofits signals a problem: Comparing the fragmented ministry landscape to the market's consolidating instinct—and why 'God told me' can become a sacred cow that blocks accountability.

•       Democratizing missions: The global church is 75% non-Western—and collaborative missiology finally gives the majority world church not just a seat at the table, but a hand in building it.

Notable Quotes

"The only thing that will overcome these lies is truth. My word is truth—take my word, give it to every child in the world."

— Rob Hoskins (quoting his father's vision), Page 2, 00:02:19

 

"What got us here isn't gonna get us to where we need to go."

— Rob Hoskins, Page 5, 00:14:57

 

"I would be very unfaithful if I wasn't collaborating."

— Rob Hoskins, Page 7, 00:23:02