PMPod

The heart of DMM is the empowerment of ordinary peopleLook, I know you've heard a million talks about DMM, but I think this is going to be the best conversation you've ever heard on the topic. And if DMM is not your thing, don't worry, we talk about a whole lot more than just DMM. We also have an incredible conversation about misplaced hope in missions and how that can lead to cynicism or burnout. My guest also talks about the importance of contemplative spirituality, especially if you want resilience on the field longterm. Checkout more at PMPod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Impassioned by the Kingdom of God 03:26 The reality of disappointment 08:54 The invitation to go deeper with God 15:22 Falling in love with missions  20:50 How DBS/DMM became so popular  26:55 What is a DMM? 31:00 Empowering ordinary people 37:21 Misconceptions of DMM

Caring for the least reached places of a missionary's heart. On today's Pod, we take a look at Compassion Fatigue from a new angle. What if compassion was not a limited resource? What if compassion was something that didn't need to ever run out? That's what my guest addresses in today's fascinating episode.   For more information, go to PMPod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro01:00 Being Compelled to Reach the Unreached 06:03 Changing Gears from Evangelism to Carrying for Missionaries 08:56 The Difference Between Burnout and Compassion Fatigue 12:08 The Famous Compassion Fatigue17:50 My Experience with Compassion Fatigue 24:25 Does Compassion Really Run out? 35:08 Growing your Compassion Muscles••39:50 Learning to Have Compassion on Others and Yourself

In this episode, we cover three main themes: 1) the importance of collaboration in the field, 2) the importance of healthy marriages and families, and 3) overcoming the siren call of technology in your life. Find our more at PMPod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Being discipled by George Verwer 08:00 The power of collaboration  15:42 The results of collaboration 21:26 A passion for healthy families 25:57 Good family habits 32:08 Building character in the home 41:40 Technology's eroding effects on our soul 

God meets you at your greatest point of need, at your lowest in life. Find out more at PMPod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Settling into Missions 03:34 The Need for Biblical Counseling08:47 My Story of Compassion Fatigue12:15 What is Compassion Fatigue? 15:49 What Happens When You Flip the Great Commandments? 18:50 How do I know If I’m Loving my Neighbor before God? 24:45 Being Exhausted from Helping People  30:10 How Elijah can Teach Us About Compassion Fatigue41:04 Saints, Sinners, and Suffering 

The point of people care is to reflect the shepherd heart of God and help our people thrive personally and in their ministry.  Today on the Pod, we talk about all things People Care; burnout, depression, addiction, limits, rest, and internet use. You are going to hear the word “community” and how important it is a lot in this pod. You are really going to like today’s conversation. "It takes a long time for people actually to get to the field. There is a lot of preparation that goes into that – finances, prayer, hopes, dreams, vision – and then it makes no sense to send people off and to send people to difficult places and then to leave them on their own."  Read more at pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Introduction 01:00 My first experience with people care 02:34 What is People Care05:25 Is People Care proactive or reactive? 08:23 How has People Care developed over the years 12:10 What are the recurring issues faced in people care? 16:05 Dealing with the distracted life on the field 25:00 Find a good hobby!30:40 Rest is a call to creativity 35:40 Is home assignment a vacation? 40:00 Good practices for people care people 45:20 What do we do with our limits? 

Today's Pod is just 20 minutes of me droning on about some things we discussed in the last two episodes. Find out more at PMPod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:05 Loneliness on the Field 04:14 Realistic Expectations in Low-Grow Environments 09:02 Living the Double Life 13:00 Discipling in Low-Trust Societies  19:39 Know Your Limits 

I kept taking on more and more things and at some point I realize I’m burning out.Today on the Pod, we are talking about the ever-present problem of burnout on the field. Why do so many missionaries burn out, and what can we do about it? For more information, go to PMPod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 It’s just what you do02:51 Motivated for the long-term 12:09 The sacrifices of long-term missions19:39 Burnout on the field 30:26 Making the needed changes 35:35 A warning and advice 38:22 The lies we believe 

"You have to look at what God is doing in the long-term. You can’t be preoccupied with the immediate issue at hand. You have to be faithful for what God is doing in the long-term. "In today's Pod, we take a fascinating look at what God has been doing throughout the years and some of the hardest places on earth. For more information, go to PMPod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro01:00 Hearing about missions 07:55 Missions in 1970’s communism 15:00 When Communism fell 18:44 When prayers are answered 23:42 The lack of awareness today32:04 Longevity on the field38:24 Building resilience 42:00 Confirming your calling 

"About 80% of what I thought I needed to be communicated had to go."To learn more, go to PMPod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Called by the need 05:55 Learning to evangelize 12:00 Language and evangelism 20:05 How to gauge success 24:00 How things are changing 34:16 The Nine Studies 

"We hear at the most we’re being annoyed, we’re not really being persecuted."Find out more at PMPod.org 00:00 Intro 01:00 "I must be involved in missions!" 07:27 Leaving the ships ministry 10:31 Insights into recruiting 14:16 Living in the Middle East 18:18 Leaving the Middle East early 25:00 Christian Nationalism?32:12 A definition of Christian Nationalism 39:36 Christian Nationalism’s effect on missions 

Not only do we identify the error in their story, but that gives us an opportunity to share God’s story with them.Find out more at PMPod.orgTimeline 00:00 Intro01:00 A massive transition 08:34 Helping Westerners reach their Muslims neighbors 13:31 Know what you believe! 21:36 Seeing immigrants as a mission field 30:05 How being cross-cultural helps you minister back home 36:57 The challenges of being missional 

The Goal has always been for people to undestand God's word. Today on the Pod, we have an incredibly insightful convesation about what it's like growing us on the field as an MK. Then the second half of the Pod, my guest explains what it's like translating the Bible into a new langauge! Find out more at pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Being the son of missionaries 05:56 The pressures on a MK 10:44 Getting drawn into cross-cultural work 23:07 Rhythms of Spiritual health 27:53 Beginning the process of bible translation 33:50 Translating for Oral cultures 

God is calling MBBs to stay and we need to be staying beside them. To read more from this episode, click here. Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Getting involved in missions 07:30 Learning language 10:30 Figuring out kids education 15:05 Changes over the years 18:07 Suffering for Christ 21:07 Coming back to the field as a single 24:10 MBBs and money 31:18 Protecting yourself from cynicism33:56 Processing the death of a spouse38:45 Moving back to the field at 70

My supervisor came out to me and said, “Hey, you’re not doing well.” The exact wording was, “You’re dying on the vine.”Today on the Pod, I have a fascinating convesation with a business entrepreneur, mother, wife, and missionary. We talk about everything from contextualzation to sleep hygiene. You are going to love it! Find out more at pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Faith. Marriage. Missions  06:45 Going local in Asia 12:20 Dealing contention in marriage 14:07 Advice to self: Enjoy your family 18:48 Doing business in the Arab World 26:40 The comparison trap34:04 Thinking about holistic health on the field 41:43 Stress Mangement 47:53 Recreation 

Steward your partners well! Keep those newsletters coming—quarterly minimum. On today's pod, we spend the first half talking about having healthy boundaries in ministry, and in the second half, we talk about how to boost your support.   To find out more, click here Click here to know more about the book Personal Support Matters Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 What does music have to do with missions? 5:30 The value of the ship's ministry 10:07 Boundaries in missions16:14 Transitioning to the home office  20:20 Ministry Partner Development 38:07 Staying close to the Father 

I was praying in the mosque and everyone thought I was a Muslim Today on the podcast, my guest shares with us how he got fully involved in the Insider Movement, how he got out of it, and what he thinks about it now. It’s a fascinating story of discovering how one can be contextualized, without becoming Islamic. Read more at Pmpod.orgTimeline 00:00 Intro01:00 Keith Green and the unreached07:50 The logic of the Insider Movement14:11 Going fully into the Insider Movement18:06 Contextualizing without compromising21:45 What it’s like to live under the law28:10 What it was like for his wife35:10 The tension of not sharing the same calling 41:30 My wife said, “I’m done. I’m out.” 47:28 Advice for struggling workers

"God doesn’t waste things. It definitely felt like a lot of things were being thrown away back then."Today on the podcast we talk about the powerful of dreaming about what could be in your life and ministry, the massive importance of having a robust theology of suffering, being spiritually aware of what's going on around, the challenges of transition, and much more. Find out more at pmpod.orgTimeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 The Special Role of Coaching 04:44 Who Needs Coaching? 07:54 What Makes A Good Coaching Session? 10:48 A Theology of Suffering 20:44 Spiritual Warfare 29:24 The Dangers of Neglecting Spiritual Warfare33:36 Learning to Ministry in a New Land 40:05 Transitioning off the Field 53:03 Advice for People in Transition

Christ said, “If you first seek the kingdom, I will provide whatever you need.” And we thought, yes, that is the real help.”To read more go to pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Finding Jesus on the Field 06:30 Cross-cultural Marriages 11:33 Raising Third-Culture Kids 18:10 Transitioning off the field 22:22 Resigning leadership 25:11 Should I be bi-vocational?28:43 Member Care 36:45 Staying close to the Father 

"Relationships and trust are essential for every level of mission work."Today on the Pod, my guest shares with us his experiences of pastoring church and missionaries over the past 40 years. He brings passion, care, and clarity to topics every missionary will eventually encounter. find out more about this episode here  Timeline 00:00 Intro O1:00 Meeting my first missionary 05:27 Leaving pastoring to become a missionary 09:52 Church mobilization 13:56 Resourcing churches21:33 Communicating with your church back home 27:27 COVID changed everything  30:12 Trends in sending 36:16 Doing People Care 44:43 Keeping Close to the Father

"I had no idea I could use my professional skills in ministry."Today on the Pod, my guest helps me understand what being a marketplace worker is and how we should maybe think about our vocations in a totally different way to reach the world with the Gospel.     Find out more about this episode here Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 From Accounting to Missions 09:33 Leaving the field after 15 years 11:11 Why quit your job? 15:00 Misunderstanding marketplace workers 24:35 Working for the glory of God 37:44 Missionaries having fun 45:05 Staying spiritually healthy 53:34 Changing your mind 

The greatest thing we can do is not ministry but cultivate a loving relationship with the Father.Today on the Pod, I walk to a woman who has learned from 20 years in missions to treasure Christ above all other things in her life. My guest shares the big lessons she has learned from a lifetime of surrendering to Jesus. There is no way you will come to the end of this episode and not be blessed! Read more at pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 The process of total surrender  03:05 Lesson 1 It’s not about me  04:15 Lesson 2 The Lesson of Worship 06:40 Lesson 3 The Lesson of Prayer 07:12 Lesson 4 The Lesson of my own Brokenness 09:12 Lesson 5 The Lesson of Grieving10:08 Lesson 6 The Lesson of Relationships 10:40 Lesson 7 The Lesson of Highest Importance 12:00 Learning to grieve  16:15 You are not a victim 18:16 Don’t compare 24:25 What is faithfulness?27:13 Practicing the presence30:50 Transitioning 35:43 Church mobilization 45:52 The effects of technology admissions

The arena of God's activity is far bigger than you can imagineToday on the Pod, we discuss discipleship, finding your unique calling in God's Kingdom, living in a dynamic relationship with God, developing people, learning to hear God's voice, and much more.  Find out more at pmpod.orgTimeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 From conversion to missions 04:20 Discipling and spiritual warfare 18:43 People Development 24:40 Finding God’s will 33:00 Learning over the long haul 35:00 Leadership matters 42:50 Pitfalls and Competencies 47:30 Restoration after failure  

"I think it’s biblical to be un-offendable"Today on the Pod, my guest share with me from her 20 years of experience on and office the mission field. My guest has been in "normal" missions as well as  marketplace missions, giving her incredible insight into both worlds. To learn more, click here Timeline 00:00 Intro01:00 Missions is for everyone02:56 Doing different kinds of jobs04:18 Why turnover is difficult07:40 Conflict on the field12:33 How the field helps you back home14:35 Re-entry17:17 Marketplace missions22:45 Singleness of the field31:30 Staying spiritually healthy

"Don’t live a juvenile life. Have a life where you are dealing with realities of what’s in front of you, and you’re not just wishing stuff away."Today on the Pod, my guest shares seven surprising keys to practicing simplicity and why it is so important to do so. This episode is packed with deep insight to help us move our lives towards that profound simplicity God has in store for us. Learn more at Pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 The Spectacular Ordinary Christian Life05:00 The value of living with simplicity 07:25 The missions community needs more simplicity 10:00 Overwork on the field 12:00 The Cycle of Grace14:35 #1 Tell the Truth20:49 #2 Live with an open Palm 28:00 #3 Allow yourself to be Vulnerable 32:16 #4 Beware of Answers 39:05 #5 Practice Self-forgetfulness 44:33 #6 Take your time when saying Yes48:58 #7 Keep Jesus and His Kingdom at the Center 

"How do you move from a bible study to church?"Today on the Pod, I talk to a guy with over 20 years of experience church-planting in the Middle East. His insights and learnings from his life devoted to serving Christ overseas are well worth listening to. What most people talk about, my guest today, is actually doing. Want to read more? click hereTimeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Called to the Muslim World 03:27 Being a mentor 05:30 Keeping the Spiritual fire going09:47 Advice for spiritual strugglers 13:55 Keeping a passion for ministry  22:00 Pivoting in Ministry 27:34 Rookie DBS mistakes 31:51 What is the Church 38:10 Local leaders 

God, Your plans are not my plans. Change my heart to be inline with YoursToday on the Pod, we take a deep dive into leadership in missions, as well as thinking through issues of identity and how to break from some of the lies we believe about ourselves. We also discuss measuring usefulness, understanding coping mechanisms, how to avoid burnout and much more. If you want to see those links, click here Timeline00:00 Intro 01:00 From militia to missionary10:14 Moving to the Middle East 12:38 Should you send yourself to the field? 15:00 What makes a great leader? 17:19 Characteristics of a good leader23:00 Measuring your own usefulness27:47 Coping mechanisms on the field34:31 Slowing down to avoid burnout 39:45 Thinking through some team stuff 43:00 Conflict resolution within teams 49:04 Building resilience against failure

What do we actually mean when we say God called me?Today on the Pod, we are talking about calling and what it actually means to be a follower of Jesus wherever you are. My guest today is passionate about seeing the whole body of Christ join in the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Bringing the Gospel to the whole world is not just for a few paid church staff and missionaries, it’s the mission of the entire church. Want to read more? click here00:00 Intro 01:00 From military kid to missionary 03:26 Missions in the 80s 05:56 The negative effect of two identities 07:45 Secular vs Sacred work 14:20 The priesthood of all believers 17:06 Getting everyone involved in the mission  20:19 We are asking too little of our people 27:00 Being intentional 32:31 Understanding our calling 35:00 Myth 1: Frontlines  36:51 Myth 2: Calling 42:09 Myth 3: Full-Time ministry 45:20 Myth 4: Significance 48:40 Myth 5: Pray, Give, Go50:38 Myth 6: Business For Mission 55:23 Myth 7: Missionaries 

Everyone we talked to said it was normal, but we felt that something wasn't right.We often talk about the struggle missionary kids have following their parents’ calling, but how do parents respond to their calling when their kids aren’t thriving on the field? Today on the Pod, I talk to a guy who had to make some hard decisions when he and his wife found out their oldest son had autism. To read more go to PMPod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Getting called to missions 06:46 Being effective in the culture 09:45 Expectations on the field  12:30 The dangers of people pleasing 16:00 The stress on marriage 20:45 Having young children on the field 24:38 Ministering as a couple 28:20 The need for community 31:05 Autism diagnosis 40:37 Hard decisions 

"May the Lamb who is slain receive the reward of his suffering."Today on the Pod, we get a healthy reminder of God's sovereignty over all things for the joy of all people. My guest is both clear and gentle and proactive and pastoral. He has ministry experience in both the 1-/40 Window and in one of the most secular countries in the world.    Find links and resources mentioned in today's episode at pmpod.org  Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Getting Kicked out 09:21 From overseas to cross-culture back home12:16 Why is the church collapsing in the West? 15:40 Raising Children in the West 18:56 Why is family worship so hard? 22:15 Technology and raising kids 27:35 Discipleship 31:40 Healthy signs of spiritual growth 35:00 Six Characteristics for church leaders 36:26 Pitfalls in Discipleship41:08 Biblical Counseling 45:42 The sovereignty of God brings comfort50:28 The sovereignty of God for cross-cultural workers

Life itself takes more time on the field. Today on the Pod, I have a very real conversation with a cross-cultural worker who has spent the last 15 years ministering and raising his family overseas. Expect to learn some basics about Orthodox Christianity, some tips on helping people with physical needs, what some of the signs of spiritual maturity are, the toll missions takes on marriages, the value of spiritual retreats, the importance of mentors, the power of learning the local language well, avoiding the comparison trip, and much more. Find out more at Pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Orthodox Christianity 7:42 Dealing with the physical needs of the people 12:42 Signs of spiritual maturity 16:00 The toll missions takes on marriage 24:15 Spiritual retreats 26:03 Family rhythms of rest 30:10 Raising third-culture kids 36:20 The Value of learning the language 42:45 The comparison trap53:35 Advice to the weary worker 

The message of the Gospel is for all those who are weary and carrying heavy burdens to come to Jesus and find rest. Today on the Pod, my guest shared how she was able to let go of her feelings of failure and not being good enough and cling to God and who he is for her. My guest also shared with me about her own inability to have children and how difficult that was. "It takes a lot of courage to be honest with yourself about what’s happening in your life."To find out more, go to PMPod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Figure out if missions for me04:10 The first two years in the Middle East 07:45 Being a single woman in the Arab World 10:42 The support of families on the field 12:55 Re-entry and transition 17:00 From cross-cultural to home office19:00 Getting married and moving back to the field 21:50 Feeling like a failure on the field 25:30 Feeling like you’re not enough 33:00 Dealing with anxiety 40:00 Dealing with the inability to have children 

Today on the Pod, I talk to a guy who first left for the Middle East back in 1972! No matter where he was in the world, the Middle East was always in his heart. In today's Pod, expect to learn about the power of prayer, the value of short-term trips, the importance of languages, dealing with new believers, the strengths and weaknesses of DBS, the importance of knowing Islam, and the importance of knowing the Bible."My heart is to get across the deity of Christ in a way that Muslims can understand it."Find out more at Pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 Impacted by prayer and need 05:25 Spain in the 70s07:12 The Arab World in the 70s 11:55 A passion for languages 15:10 Helpful translations in Arabic 19:12 The values for workers to know the Bible in the local language 22:18 Teaching English on the field 27:00 Moving back to the field after 17 years 32:50 Discipleship issues 35:12 Strengths and weakness of DBS 38:45 The value of knowing Islam 42:15 The value of knowing the Bible 

Today on the Pod, I talk to my guys from episode #45 Spiritual Abuse , and see where God has taken her life over the last three rollercoaster years. Expect to learn about trusting God through difficulties, finding new approaches after change, the blessings and challenges of living alone, what resilience is, the role others play in our decisions, starting over, re-entering into the Middle East, the pyramid of care, and the impact of the story of Joseph. Get more access at Pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Into01:00 Recap from last time04:55 The ability to not doubt God06:30 Understanding where God is during difficulties08:30 New approaches to communication12:22 Living alone13:08 Experiencing loneliness17:20 Resilience21:10 The role others play24:10 Starting the process again26:25 Choosing a new org31:15 Getting back to the Middle East36:00 What is different this time?38:45 The pyramid of care43:00 The story of Joseph

I read from Athanasius's Statement of Faith which he wrote in the mid-AD300s! It's amazing to see how Christian faith has been articulated and believed down through the ages.   Listen to this mini episode and rejoice that your faith is the same as theirs all those years ago. Read the transcript here

In today's PMPod Mini, I talk for ten minutes about a theological topic you've probably never really thought about, which is at the center of the Christian faith.   

Are you willing to renounce everything and follow Jesus? Today on the pod, I talked to a guy with over 30 years of experience in cross-cultural ministry.  He has the heart of a pastor and wisdom that only comes through decades of following Jesus.  "This guy looked at me and said, "Are you willing to die in the Middle East?" Find more quotes from today's episode at pmpod.org   Timeline 00:00 Introduction01:00 Getting called 07:25 Called together  8:59 Advice for couples with tension in calling 11:15 The passion to keep going 14:03 Willing to suffer 17:00 The desire to quit 19:54 Raising a family on the field 24:55 The tension of ministry and family 28:44 Meditating on God’s Word 33:00 Preparing mission sermons 40:20 Preaching to other cross-cultural workers 45:00 How the devil attacks workers 49:00 Serving without a rule  

Today on the Pod, I have a hilarious and highly insightful conversation with a woman with lots of experience on the field. In this episode, you can expect to learn what it looks like for God to call you into missions, what it’s like to minister to Arab women, the complexities of figuring out the culture, the complexities of ministry in closed countries, the importance of language, how to build friendships with Arabs, and much more.   "In my exhaustion, God opened up the most amazing opportunity."Read and learn more here pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Taking measures to avoid missions 02:35 Ministering to woman  04:58 Figuring out culture 12:23 Enjoying the culture 15:25 Ministry expectations20:30 Worship with locals 21:40 The importance of language28:35 Friendships with Arabs43:20 Getting rest 50:30 Healthy boundaries 54:56 Staying healthy on the field 

Today on the Pod, I talk to a woman who has been in cross-cultural missions for longer than I’ve been alive. There is a depth of maturity and wisdom that only time and experience can give you, and she has it. Prepare for a blessing. "The Lord doesn’t owe us anything, but we owe our whole lives to him."Here is my conversation with my guest's husband, #29 Fifty Years in Missions Read more and find quotes from today's episode  at Pmpod.org Timeline00:00 Intro 00:59 Getting called at 13 years old 03:45 Missions in the 70s 06:22 Persecution and imprisonment 10:30 Overcoming cynicism 12:10 How to pray on the field 15:10 Spiritual longevity 18:10 Prayer in missions 21:35 Grief on the field 28:40 The costs of being on the field32:40 The cost for local believers 39:40 The cost for extended families 42:55 Changes in missions 46:50 Who would you want on your team? 49:45 Being a mother on the field 56:00 Do it all to the Glory of God 

Today on the pod, I talk to a Christ-centered woman with a lot of experience in cross-cultural ministry, transition, dealing with difficult people, and finding peace with God through it all. "All the terrible things, all the wonderful things, but Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. It’s all about Jesus. Everything I’m doing, it’s all about Jesus. Everything that we get to be a part of, it’s all about Jesus."Read more at Pmpod.org Timeline00:00 Intro01:00 Getting into missions03:20 Called to the Muslim World06:20 The benefits of singles on the field10:10 Leading as a single13:48 Leading as a woman17:50 Turning your eyes to Jesus19:35 Staying Spiritually healthy26:25 Changing counties and languages33:04 Ministry never looks like you want it to35:05 The importance of prayer42:05 Experiencing despair and the gift of joy46:45 Resting on the field 55:25 Dealing with failure1:01:00 A final thought

Today on the pod, my guest shares with us the wisdom and insights she has accumulated over 33 years in missions. Our conversation is deep, thought provocating, and full of laughs at the same time. "There was a season in my life where I was like, “God, I’m fed up selling something that I don’t have myself.” Until you change something in my heart, this whole evangelism thing is on hold."Read more at pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 The impact of a short-term team04:14 Misconceptions and missions 05:35 From personnel to the field 11:54 Building your own job description 16:35 The worker and their identity  23:20 The inner voice of the missionary 28:10 Seasons of darkness and doubt  31:40 Examining your faith  40:16 What rest should look like 46:00 Costs and benefits of singleness 50:57 Singleness through the decades 

I think the longer you stay out on the field the lonelier it gets. Today on the pod, your host gets interviewed by his guest. It was very humbling to be on the other side of the microphone and be challenged to think with many good questions. We talked about the challenge of multiple expectations from different directions on the cross-cultural worker, as well as loneliness, turnover, the danger of chasing fads, and much more. To learn more, go to pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro01:08 Challenging expectations07:00 Chasing fads11:41 The Western church and our methods15:05 Motivating passion for missions 19:25 Dangers of being on the field too long27:21 Dealing with cynicism30:09 Getting out of your comfort zone33:49 Turnover and trauma40:23 How the field changes you50:35 Advice you would give your younger self54:50 A single gives advice to marrieds58:12 The future of missions1:04:19 Called, gifted, enjoyment

Constantly striving to get better doesn’t mean you don’t take rest Today on the Pod, we cover a lot of topics like the drive to learn and grow over your lifetime, having mentors, good comparison vs bad comparison, having fun, resting well, learning to be outward focused, tent-making, doing aid and development, transitioning off the field with kids, and more! If anything of these topics interests you, you are going to love this episode.Find out more at pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Introduction01:00 The impact of others05:00 Mentors and disciples 9:13 Mission Creep 11:32 Good comparison 15:10 Striving and resetting 18:20 Having fun on the field 21:30 Beneath the surface needs 26:25 Encourage others 30:40 Why are missionaries tired all the time? 32:11 The upshot of tent-making38:05 Development as missions 43:50 Transitioning off the field and kids 50:00 Everyone leaves the field I interviewed my guest's wife in episode  56; check it out What You Model You Reproduce. 

It’s not just preaching that’s the problem; it’s also the prayerlessness in the pew. Today on the Pod, I talked to a pastor about the importance of preaching and called ministers in missions and the church. Is preaching still meaningful for the church in the 21st century? Is the old model of training pastors too slow and clunky to reach the world? When are monolog preaching and question-and-answer style Bible study applicable? These questions and many more are taken up on today’s podcast. I hope you enjoy it. Email my guest at [email protected] Read more and find links to the resources here    Timeline 00:00 Introduction 03:32 Naïve and ignorant 06:10 Why is preaching so bad? 09:28 What should preaching be?12:24 The history of preaching 17:40 Is preaching still meaningful today? 22:32 The value of monologue preaching 27:00 What are the Means of Grace?32:18 Pietistic problems 36:31 People need to pray 43:03 What is Biblicism?  49:20 Why do we hate authority? 51:15 The value of theological education 54:20 Is your model too slow and clunky?57:30 Why these questions? 

Numbers are helpful, but they’re not the holy grail.Today on the Pod, I had a very insightful conversation with a guy about calling, marriage on the field, transition, integrating into local culture, when counting numbers is good, and a whole lot more. "If you feel called to a people or a region, and you want to live out Christ, then you better emerge yourself more with the locals than with the ex-pats."Read more at Pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:03 Coming to faith 03:45 Getting involved in missions 12:40 What keeps you in missions?15:40 Never wanting to quite 18:20 Serving as a couple 23:44 The role of team 25:50 Balancing relationships 30:15 Transition 36:50 How to make re-entry better42:23 The value of mission organizations49:30 What are healthy ways to count numbers? 

Isolation is paralyzing for MBBs Today on the Pod, we talk about the messy realities of discipleship. When someone comes to faith on the field, we often think it’s all going to be up and to the right from now on. But in reality, the messiness begins the moment that person places his faith in Jesus. The whole episode today is about discipleship, and I think you’re really going to like it. Find links to the resources mentioned in the Pod here "I think what is very problematic and very impairing is when a believer lives in two different worlds. In secret, he’s a believer, and he has fellowship with other believers, but out in the open, he has to play the role of not being a believer or being labeled an atheist be he doesn’t go to the mosque or pray."Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:04 How the Devil attacks MBBs 06:52 Taking fear seriously 12:28 Signs of maturity in an MBB20:18 How should MMBs read the Bible? 26:27 Stop over-pressuring MBBs 36:20 Signs of Spiritual drift 48:02 Gospel vs obedience 53:55 Resources and recommendations   

I don’t want missions to be just another program.Today on the Pod, I talk to a mission’s pastor about how he tries to advocate for missions in the local church. We have a fascinating conversation about how he prioritizes global missions in his church and some of the things that missionaries can do to make his job easier. Read more at pmpod.org "You can make time for missions in your church if it's a priority." Timeline 00:00 Introduction 01:55 Leaving the business world 06:00 Priorities of a missions pastor 11:00 Ways to incorporate missions into the church15:10 Incorporating missions into children’s ministry 20:00 Relationship between church and missionary 26:06 What are you looking to hear from missionaries? 24:43 What’s it like when missionaries ask for money? 38:38 How do you prioritize your mission budget? 

We define belonging as no possibility of rejection.  Today on the Pod, we take a deep dive into what discipleship is and how we can do it better. Ministry and discipleship are more than a service on Sunday mornings. My guest today reminds us that If I don’t know your story, I don’t know you. And if I don’t know you, I can’t love you. He is convinced that the front lines of discipleship are around the dinner table. We also take a really helpful look at ministry and singleness.  Read more at pmpod.org Timeline 00:00 Introduction01:00 Leaving the pastorate04:15 Ministry as community, not institution07:50 What is discipleship?10:40 How do you form community?15:50 Hospitality is discipleship18:50 The sacrifice of hospitality22:15 Dos and don’ts of hospitality24:55 How do you rest?29:20 Discipling difficult people37:27 Ministering as a single43:42 Dealing with loneliness

Discipling means you spend a lot of time together. It’s not just a Bible study. Today on the Pod, I talk to a woman who shares her incredible insights into ministering to Arabs and Muslims both in the Arab World and in the West. We cover a lot of ground and she tells a lot of stories, so you are going to want Read more at pmpod.org  Timeline 00:00 Introduction 01:02 How to start sharing with a Muslim 09:15 Misconceptions we have about sharing11:06 What Muslims believe about sin13:25 When apologetics is useful 16:30 Discipling people who are semi-illiterate23:10 Teaching non-narrative passage of scripture 29:55 The Gospel and indirect cultures 41:20 Your Host gets coached 49:54 When to give money to locals