PODCAST · society
That Missionary Life
by Rachel Ferguson
For those of us who are back in This American Life, but want to talk about That Missionary Life: stories and hindsight.
Episodes
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The Christian Past that Wasn’t- and how that affects our Missiology
We move into political territory with this book from Warren Throckmorton. His book covers 7 myths we might have accepted about America’s history (especially if you grew up like me). I found this book interesting as I connect the current Christian nationalist beliefs (and the actual quotes/notes...
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Family Mission Trips
We are going on a mission trip as a family. It is a bit different as we are visiting friends (that are like family), but this is the first time back as a family since we left in 2020. What are your thoughts of mission trips with younger kids (8 and up)?
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Missionary Advent
Intentional holidays and a crush on liturgy? Maybe you’re a missionary:)! Some advent ideas and thoughts about holidays and celebrations as a missionary, and now back in the USA missionary. You can download the missionary advent at worldrenewal.org/kids-holidays
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What has changed since you first began?
I took this question from another podcast you should check out: Third Culture Thriving. She said it’s her favorite question to ask cross-cultural workers (it’s a quick listen and worth it!!) and I liked it so much I answered it- and pass the question on to you: how has your life/ministry changed...
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What is your Calling?
What do you think of when people talk about their “calling?” Do you have a “calling story”? I wanted to share mine, because it has been a surprisingly powerful thing in my life.
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The Mind Shift Happened!
Excited to share with you that it only took four years. But here we are. The mind shift of transitioning, the mind shift of being ok with here (gestures wildly around her). What about you? Have you gone through a mind shift in being ok where you are, no matter where “here” is? How did you get...
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Check the Box, part 2: audio book
Part 2 (please listen to part 1 first) of reading my book to my daughters, now that they are 7 and 9 years old. Join us for conversations with our daughters about our multicultural history and family.
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Check the Box, part 1 Audiobook
Three years ago, my daughters and I read through the book I wrote for them. They were 4 and 6: it’s time to have that conversation again. Please join us for this conversation with our kids about our multicultural history and family.
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Missionaries and Immigrants
What I've learned about immigration from being a missionary. Depending on terms, Missionaries ARE immigrants (or at least migrants). The current political rhetoric around immigrants has horrified me, and really brought out how the church has one rule for missionaries, and other rule for when it…
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#FamilyEra
We moved into our first home 6 months ago. I'd always seen home ownership as a ball and chain. Instead, its surprised me as roots growing in barren cracks in my soul. I am grateful for this chance, after being gone for so long, to jump with both feet into this #FamilyEra
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Scared of Normal
This is the same episode as I did in June, but the sound quality was bad. Spotify changed how I can do everything, so now I am refiguring it out:) I ran off to nature and recorded these rambing thoughts about the disconnect between "I am a missionary" and "I am not a missionary anymore" and the...
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Missionaries and Politics
How have politics been a part of your life as a missionary? Do you talk about politics in your host country? In your passport country? Do you feel a part of either one? Had your perspective on politics changed since serving abroad?
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What is it like giving your life to missions?
I was asked this question, and came up with three answers. What would your answer be?
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Where do you Live?
Three years back and looking to buy our first home. All the questions that choosing a location to live brings up. Who knew it would be so stressful? Who knew it would reveal more things I need to surrender and learn and grow? How have you been intentional in where you’ve lived, as a missionary…
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Three Years Back
Coming up on three years off the field. What do you do on anniversaries of hard, big things? What has changed and what has stayed the same for you since then?
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How does Your Church Share Missions?
Do you have a once a year missions fair, celebration, conference, meal, or whatnot? How does that work? Do people come? Is it effective? What would you do if you could do it any way you wanted?
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Vacations as Missionaries
What were your best vacation memories? How do they do vacations where you were at? Did you feel like you couldn’t share pictures of your vacations with your supporters? What are the issues around vacations and missionaries?
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Brazil Debrief
Thoughts from before, during, and after the 2023 trip to Brazil
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All my Homes (and the angst to move again)
What are the stories of your homes? How has moving/changing affected you? Do you get the angst (“angsties”) when you feel like it’s time to move on? What happens when you can’t move yet? How do you deal with the angsties?
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Cussing in another Culture
What funny, embarrassing, horrible experiences have you had while learning what is taboo in another language? How has that changed what you think about cussing in your own culture?
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Money in Missions: loss and manipulation
How have you experienced loss when it comes to money? Have you ever felt manipulated by money? Have you ever felt you had to manipulate to receive money?
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Worthy and Unworthy Poor
And what about worthy/unworthy rich? What about the whole subject of enabling? How can we give and serve the right people at the right time the right way? Is it even possible?
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Christmas for Missionaries
We had two Christmas’s in Brazil, each with their big stories. I share our stories, and would love to hear yours.
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How others have and have not been supportive in Missionary Transitions with Jeff Turner
What were some things that really helped- and what hurt- when leaving missions? So excited to have Jeff Turner share his insights, after leaving the mission field four years ago. It was such a honor to serve with him in Brazil, and now to continue our friendship here, with both our families in…
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Transition Anniversaries and how to do them well
It is our two year anniversary of moving back to the states from Brazil. How do you handle transition anniversaries? How do you help other transition well? What have you learned about transitions after transitioning?
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Mission Trips will Fix it
I kind of cringe when people say something like “I need to send my kid on a mission trip so they can see how good they have it.” Or thinking that a trip is going to solve a problem they have. Please don’t ask missionaries to fix your problems! We have enough already!
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How do you Hold the Disconnect?
Why do I have these feelings when I walk into a mega church? After 17 years in Brazil making all of my kids resources, how do I hold the disconnect of all this kids stuff resources at this mega con conference? How do you hold the disconnect?
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Lies we see as we Leave the Label
What are the lies that have crept into your beliefs over the years- and how can you see them more clearly as you leave the label of “vocational ministry”?
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The Stories we Don’t Tell
What stories do you tell? Only the happy ones? What makes for a successful story? What if the story changes? What about the large group of those you work with that don’t really have stories?
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Has the Focus on Evangelism made us forget Discipleship?
Has the individualistic American culture leaked into the church in how we focus on salvation at the expense of sanctification? Do we look at parables through an evangelistic lens and forget about a discipleship application? How has this affected missions?
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Dealing with Death on the Mission Field
Someone I love in Brazil just died, and it is hard to not be there. What was your experience with preparing and dealing with death while serving on the field?
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What would you tell a Newbie Missionary?
What do you wish to go back and tell yourself when you were just starting out? I share three things (that I am still working on) as well as talking about the Velvet Ashes retreat. Have you been? Go!
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“Check the Box” complete audiobook
Recording slowly with my daughters, this is the Audiobook of my book, which you can order on Amazon!
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“Check the Box” audiobook part 5: chapters 4-8 of part 2
The last chapters of part 2, read by me, the author, with my two daughters adding their important commentary. Thank you for joining us on this journey!
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“Check the Box” Audiobook part 4: chapters 1-3 of part 2
My daughters help me with this very special audiobook of the book I wrote for them about the conversations we need to have about race and God.
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“Check the box” audiobook part 3: chapter 7-9
Jessica joins Sofia and I in the fun! We talk (and read) the final chapters of part 1 of my book, “Check the Box.”
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“Check the Box” audiobook part 2: chapters 3-6
My daughters help me read through and talk about my book, “Check the Box.” Jessica really wanted to be a part of this episode at the end.
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“Check the Box” Audiobook Chapters 1-3
Reading my book with my 6 year old daughter, as we talk through (again and again) issues of race and history and what that means to us today.
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A hard look at the Haiti situation
17 missionaries kidnapped (some young children). Two have been released. Every missionary’s nightmare. Not only that, but the hard truth about safety and forgiveness. And then...what about the horrible abuse and cover-up from that same mission agency in Haiti in the past? How does that play into...
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Holidays as Missionaries
What do you do when your passport country has a holiday, but it isn’t celebrated in your host country? What about when it is, but it looks so different from what you are used to?
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What about when you don’t see the results? How do you diversify?
If the money doesn’t come, is it because you messed up? Do you need to change something? Is God trying to teach you something? If you are in your original culture, how do you diversify like you automatically did on the missions field?
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The Joys of Looking Back
Are you in the “adult” stage of ministry? This year I will have served with World Renewal Brazil for 18 years and I feel like I am going to all the graduations with their joys and tears. Letting go- stepping from hero to guide in the story. How has that gone for you? Is it hard to let go? Do you...
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The superstar, the look, and church planting
Did being a missionary make you a superstar in certain company? Did it give you “the look” in other company? And what are your experiences with church planting? How was it different than “church attending,” especially in a large church?
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It’s been 9 months
How long does it take to “settle in”? When do you feel like your emotionally, mentally and spiritually unpacked? Do you ever really feel like you are back for good? We look at Amy Medina’s great blog post: Rewriting the Ending.
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Results: when and how?
When did you feel like you got to see and enjoy and partake in the “fruit of your labor?” What is Jesus’s favorite question? Do you think people who have never really felt deep pain and loss can write deep and meaningful books? Lots of little stories and thoughts from waaaaay back.
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Is Your Backpack too Heavy?
An article from alifeoverseas.com called “When the Backpack is too Heavy” hit me really hard in many different ways with different applications. How do you let your backpack get too heavy? What is it making it heavy? How do you lighten your backpack? How do you take off your backpack?
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Mission’s Fundraisers: stories and ideas
What have you seen or done to raise funds for missions? How do trends seem to be changing? What has worked and what hasn’t? How do you balance not being focused on money with the whole point of a fundraiser being to get money? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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Culture shock- single and as a family
What is culture shock? What are the stages? How did it affect you? Looking at the shock of language, culture, ministry, geography, and emotions- and how that hit me personally, and then how it hit differently when we returned to Brazil as a family.
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Best Online Missionary Resources
15 of my favorite websites, 5 podcasts, and 5 YouTube channels that encouraged me during my missions journey. How do you make sure you are spiritually fed and connected when in another country and language? What resources have you found?
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Baby abroad!
All about having my babies in Brazil- inspired by the “preggisode” on “It’s Teatime Somewhere” podcast where they talk about the same thing :). Also, check out the three “Baby Abroad” YouTube videos on our channel “Five minutes of Fergie.” If you want paperwork about all the paperwork you need to...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does That Missionary Life have?
That Missionary Life currently has 57 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is That Missionary Life about?
For those of us who are back in This American Life, but want to talk about That Missionary Life: stories and hindsight.
How often does That Missionary Life release new episodes?
That Missionary Life has 57 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to That Missionary Life?
You can listen to That Missionary Life on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts That Missionary Life?
That Missionary Life is created and hosted by Rachel Ferguson.
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