Passports and a Curious Heart: Crossing Religious Lines in a Remote-Work World

In this episode, we sit down with Ethan, a young data scientist who works remotely for an airline — a job that lets him fly the world on standby and, along the way, build deep friendships with people of different faiths. Raised in a missionary family and driven by a natural, logical curiosity about what other people believe, Ethan has spent years getting to know Muslim friends on journeys around the world, over long conversations comparing the two religions.We talk about what it looks like to share Jesus without an agenda — loving people first and letting faith come up naturally, rather than treating friendship as a means to conversion. Ethan opens up about the questions that have stumped him, what devout Muslim friends have taught him about daily devotion, the moments that sent him back to study his own faith more deeply, and how being accepted by God before we obey sets Christianity apart. It's an honest, refreshing look at marketplace ministry in a remote-work world — and a reminder that curiosity, humility, and genuine love can open doors the gospel has always longed to walk through.Whether you have coworkers and neighbors of different faiths or simply want to love people across the lines that so often divide us, Ethan's story will encourage you to lead with friendship and trust God with the seeds you sow.Islam - WikipediaQuran - WikipediaChristianity and Islam - WikipediaIslamic view of the Bible - WikipediaComparative religion - WikipediaWhen An Airline Employee Flies StandbyScripture Index:Crossing Religious and Cultural LinesJn 4:7-26, Acts 10:28-35, Lk 10:30-37, Acts 17:22-28, 1 Cor 9:19-22The Joy of Sharing the GospelLk 15:7, Lk 15:10, Acts 8:39, Ps 126:5-6, 1 Thess 2:19-20, Phil 1:18Go and Make Disciples of All NationsMatt 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8Love Your Neighbor as YourselfMatt 22:37-40, Mark 12:30-31, Rom 13:9-10Loving People First1 Cor 13:1-7, 1 Jn 4:7-12, Jn 13:34-35Becoming All Things to All People1 Cor 9:19-23Sharing the Gospel with Gentleness and Respect1 Pet 3:15-16, Col 4:5-6, 2 Tim 2:24-25Making the Most of Every OpportunityCol 4:5-6, Eph 5:15-16Being Ready to Give an Answer1 Pet 3:15, 2 Tim 3:16-17, Acts 17:22-31We May Not Know How God Uses Our Interactions to Change PeopleEccl 11:5-6, 1 Cor 3:6-9, Gal 6:9Sowing and ReapingGal 6:7-9, 2 Cor 9:6, Ps 126:5-6, Mark 4:26-29The Parable of the SowerMatt 13:3-9, Matt 13:18-23, Lk 8:5-15Accepted by God Before We ObeyRom 5:8, Eph 2:8-9, Titus 3:4-7, 1 Jn 4:19Saved by Grace, Not by WorksEph 2:8-10, Gal 2:16, Rom 3:23-24, Titus 3:5Salvation Through Christ AloneJn 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Tim 2:5Pursuing Wisdom and UnderstandingProv 2:1-6, Prov 4:7, Jas 1:5, Col 2:2-3When We Don't Have All the AnswersDeut 29:29, Prov 3:5-6, 1 Cor 13:12Devotion and Praying Continually1 Thess 5:16-18, Ps 55:17, Dan 6:10, Col 4:2Praying for Others1 Tim 2:1-4, Jas 5:16, Eph 6:18Being a Faithful Steward1 Cor 4:1-2, Lk 16:10, Matt 25:14-30, 1 Pet 4:10Letting Your Light Shine Before OthersMatt 5:14-16, Phil 2:14-16, 1 Pet 2:12Working as Unto the LordCol 3:23-24, 1 Cor 10:31, Eph 6:7-8Living as Salt and Light in the WorldMatt 5:13-16, Jn 17:15-18, Phil 2:15Christian Community and Not Neglecting to Meet TogetherHeb 10:24-25, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Thess 5:11Unity Across Cultures and Peoples in ChristGal 3:28, Rev 7:9-10, Col 3:11, Eph 2:14The Harvest is Plentiful but the Workers are FewMatt 9:37-38, Lk 10:2, Jn 4:35Special Thanks:Rebecca Chan for helping to come up with questions and editing the interview!Check out our website and subscribe to our email list:http://deep-calls-to-deep.netlify.app/