Q: Why did we make Missions Upside Down?

A: For three reasons:

• • To rekindle a passion for the Great Commission and its place of centrality in the Christian church.
  • To celebrate the great work of those who have given their lives to spreading the Gospel.
  • To introduce new questions that address our current cultural moment. For centuries, the predominant model in missions has been one of sending missionaries, typically from the west to the rest. However, the new reality is that there is now at least some level of Christian presence in every country on earth. This reality alone needs to challenge our thinking when it comes to Christian missions and how to best answer the church’s call to the Great Commission in a 21^st century world.

Q: Who is the target audience?

A: Anyone, really. But specifically, we hope that pastors, deacons, missions committees, Sunday school classes, small groups, students, and donors would be both blessed and challenged by the stories we share and the questions we’re asking.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish through this project?

A: We hope that Christians are filled with a passion to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ far and wide. We hope that those who have given themselves to this work so diligently are honored for their sacrifice, and we hope that people give serious thought to how money in missions is used and what place there should be for supporting indigenous leaders and not merely sending western missionaries to foreign shores.

Q: Who made the “Missions Upside Down” series?

A: Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Aaron Baart, dean of chapel and chief of staff at Dordt University, and Mark Volkers, film maker and communication professor at Dordt University, received a grant to produce a series to help viewers explore changes in global missions, and consider strategies to accomplish the task. After a two-year hiatus thanks to COVID, work resumed with an official release of the series in January 2025. Dordt University, in Sioux Center, Iowa, is in the Reformed tradition and as such, approaches all classes and projects with a Biblical worldview. This is the mission and vision of Dordt University:

Mission:
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt equips students, alumni, and the broader community to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life.

Vision:
An education that is Christian not merely in the sense that devotional exercises are appended to the ordinary work of the college, but in the larger and deeper sense that all the class work, all of the students' intellectual, emotional, and imaginative activities shall be permeated with the spirit and teaching of Christianity.

Q: Where was the series filmed?

A: Liberia, Mexico, Spain, Great Britain, India, Canada, United States, Rock of Gibraltar.

Q: What cameras were used to shoot the series?

A: Primarily Black Magic 4k and 6k cameras, with supplemental shots from DJI drones and some Canon shots.

Q: Where was post-production done, and what platform was used?

A: Post-production was done at Dordt University using Avid Media Composer. Dordt is the only school in Iowa—and the greater surrounding region—that is an ALP, an Avid Learning Partner. As such, it’s one of the few places in the region where students can train and test to become Avid Certified. Color was done on DaVinci Resolve. Audio was completed in Pro Tools.

Q: Were students involved in this series?

A: Yes, at every step of the way. Early on, theology students helped with writing and research. Digital Media students helped with every shoot and with postproduction and animations.

Q: Will there be a sequel / follow up?

A: We aren’t sure yet. We can’t wait to see the level of impact the series will have on the church at large and we’ll see from there. Hopefully.

Q: We didn’t see credits. Are there credits?

A: Yes. Credits run at the end of episode 6. Here they are:

Written and Produced by
Aaron Baart
Mark Volkers

On-Camera Host
Aaron Baart

Funding and Support Provided by
John & Betty Addink
Dordt University

Cinematography
Jacob Brouwer
Joana Franca Correia
David Condor
Daniel Ketchelos
Bruce Obelin
Demetrius Rowser
Nicholas Schnell
Mark Volkers

Drone
Jacob Brouwer
Daniel Ketchelos
Mark Volkers

Graphic Design
Vaughn Donahue
Daniel Ketchelos

Post Production
Daniel Ketchelos
Mark Volkers
Dayna Wichhart

Research
Aaron Baart
Tom Oord
Mark Volkers

Stock Footage
Storyblocks

Music
Digital Juice
Artlist

Special Thanks
Stephen Arkle
Emmanuel Bimba
Albert Chu
Mary Chui
Dan De Groot
Mission Aviation Fellowship--Liberia
Dan Forshaw
Eduardo Gonzalez
Olivia Gonzalez
David Jena
Carey Luce
Fatu Masaquoia
Bruce Obelin
Kevin Phipps
Isla Valencenzia
Josh Visser
Nancy Writebol