PMPod - SoundSage

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Today on the Pod, we work through a clear, biblical definition of the local church and why that clarity matters for missionaries and cross-cultural workers who have been shaped by unhealthy church experiences.

We connect church membership, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and congregational authority to everyday discipleship.

learn more at PMPod.org

Topics
• confusion created by saying “the church isn’t a building” while ignoring the need for a covenanted body
• the value of expositional preaching versus preacher-driven topical proof texting
• a practical definition of a church as a baptized, covenanted congregation that gathers weekly
• baptism and the Lord’s Supper as covenant signs that shape membership and accountability
• why leaving a church during conflict reveals a thin view of covenant commitment
• the “keys of the kingdom” and the church’s authority over doctrine, membership, discipline, and leadership
• moving from “what do I get?” to “how do I love and build up others?”
• what to do in frontline ministry with only a few believers and no established church
• the dividing line between a Bible study and a church gathered around the ordinances

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Today on the Pod, we challenge the obsession with outward ministry metrics and argue that lasting fruit in missions depends on the inner life with God. We talk through discipleship in community, hard heart issues, and the spiritual disciplines that keep workers joyful, rested, and faithful.

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• defining discipleship as the Holy Spirit revealing identity in Christ
• building community early by involving seekers with family and other believers
• shaping a simple house group rhythm of singing, Scripture, prayer, and sharing
• reading the Bible with purpose through Ephesians, Acts, and the whole redemption story
• addressing heart issues like addiction, pornography, fear, marriage, and parenting from the start
• practicing hospitality that models love, service, and a different kind of family life
• reclaiming Sabbath as wise rhythm rather than legalism
• naming screens, scrolling, and news as counterfeit rest for many of us
• describing fasting as embodied hunger for God’s will, often paired with solitude
• redefining solitude as being alone with God in private prayer
• rejecting “just do more” prayer and pointing to Christ praying in us
• making the case for scripture memorization for temptation, teaching, and witness
• reframing self-denial as total surrender to a good Father
It’s okay to be normal.

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Today on the Pod, I talk to a woman who has raised her kids in war zones, discipled illiterate church leaders, and has shown the incredible power of having enduring hope on the field.

Read more at pmpod.org

Timeline

00:00 Introduction
01:00 My first experience with people care
02:34 What is People Care
05:25 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?

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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

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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 do
02:51 Motivated for the long-term
12:09 The sacrifices of long-term missions
19:39 Burnout on the field
30:26 Making the needed changes
35:35 A warning and advice
38:22 The lies we believe

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"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 Intro
01:00 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 today
32:04 Longevity on the field
38:24 Building resilience
42:00 Confirming your calling

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"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

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"We hear at the most we’re being annoyed, we’re not really being persecuted."

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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

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Not only do we identify the error in their story, but that gives us an opportunity to share God’s story with them.

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Timeline

00:00 Intro
01:00 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

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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

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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 cynicism
33:56 Processing the death of a spouse
38:45 Moving back to the field at 70

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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 trap
34:04 Thinking about holistic health on the field
41:43 Stress Mangement
47:53 Recreation

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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 missions
16:14 Transitioning to the home office
20:20 Ministry Partner Development
38:07 Staying close to the Father

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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.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 Grieving
10:08 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 presence
30:50 Transitioning
35:43 Church mobilization
45:52 The effects of technology admissions

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The arena of God's activity is far bigger than you can imagine

Today 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.org

Timeline

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

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"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 Intro
01:00 Missions is for everyone
02:56 Doing different kinds of jobs
04:18 Why turnover is difficult
07:40 Conflict on the field
12:33 How the field helps you back home
14:35 Re-entry
17:17 Marketplace missions
22:45 Singleness of the field
31:30 Staying spiritually healthy

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"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 Life
05:00 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 Grace
14:35 #1 Tell the Truth
20:49 #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 Yes
48:58 #7 Keep Jesus and His Kingdom at the Center

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"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 here

Timeline

00:00 Intro
01:00 Called to the Muslim World
03:27 Being a mentor
05:30 Keeping the Spiritual fire going
09:47 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

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God, Your plans are not my plans. Change my heart to be inline with Yours

Today 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

Timeline

00:00 Intro
01:00 From militia to missionary
10:14 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 leader
23:00 Measuring your own usefulness
27:47 Coping mechanisms on the field
34:31 Slowing down to avoid burnout
39:45 Thinking through some team stuff
43:00 Conflict resolution within teams
49:04 Building resilience against failure

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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 here

00:00 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, Go
50:38 Myth 6: Business For Mission
55:23 Myth 7: Missionaries

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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

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"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 home
12:16 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 Discipleship
41:08 Biblical Counseling
45:42 The sovereignty of God brings comfort
50:28 The sovereignty of God for cross-cultural workers

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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 trap
53:35 Advice to the weary worker

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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 me
04:10 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 office
19:00 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

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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 70s
07:12 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

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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 Into
01:00 Recap from last time
04:55 The ability to not doubt God
06:30 Understanding where God is during difficulties
08:30 New approaches to communication
12:22 Living alone
13:08 Experiencing loneliness
17:20 Resilience
21:10 The role others play
24:10 Starting the process again
26:25 Choosing a new org
31:15 Getting back to the Middle East
36:00 What is different this time?
38:45 The pyramid of care
43:00 The story of Joseph

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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

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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.

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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 Introduction
01:00 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

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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 expectations
20:30 Worship with locals
21:40 The importance of language
28:35 Friendships with Arabs
43:20 Getting rest
50:30 Healthy boundaries
54:56 Staying healthy on the field

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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

Timeline

00:00 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 field
32:40 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

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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

Timeline

00:00 Intro
01:00 The impact of a short-term team
04:14 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

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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 Intro
01:08 Challenging expectations
07:00 Chasing fads
11:41 The Western church and our methods
15:05 Motivating passion for missions
19:25 Dangers of being on the field too long
27:21 Dealing with cynicism
30:09 Getting out of your comfort zone
33:49 Turnover and trauma
40:23 How the field changes you
50:35 Advice you would give your younger self
54:50 A single gives advice to marrieds
58:12 The future of missions
1:04:19 Called, gifted, enjoyment

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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 Introduction
01:00 The impact of others
05:00 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-making
38:05 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.

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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 kevinjbidwell@me.com

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?

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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

"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 church
15:10 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?

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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 Introduction
01:00 Leaving the pastorate
04:15 Ministry as community, not institution
07:50 What is discipleship?
10:40 How do you form community?
15:50 Hospitality is discipleship
18:50 The sacrifice of hospitality
22:15 Dos and don’ts of hospitality
24:55 How do you rest?
29:20 Discipling difficult people
37:27 Ministering as a single
43:42 Dealing with loneliness

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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 sharing
11:06 What Muslims believe about sin
13:25 When apologetics is useful
16:30 Discipling people who are semi-illiterate
23:10 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

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And how money and mess up missions

Today on the Pod, my guest talks to me about his calling to the Middle East, raising his family on the field, the importance for cross-cultural workers to find a good identity, a few thoughts on people of peace, how money messes up missions, and much more.

Read more at pmpod.org

Timeline

00:00 Intro
01:00 Getting started in missions
05:00 Serving Unseen
08:46 Getting a “calling” to the Middle East
11:40 Expectations moving out to the field
16:40 Ministering as a family
21:55 Family rhythms
25:50 Finding rest as a family
29:30 Pitfalls on the field
35:45 Having an identity in missions
39:52 Gaging success in the NGO world?
42:40 Misconceptions about People of Peace
47:00 Money messes up missions
51:30 Money messes up movements

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What we talk about and what we demonstrate by doing are really intertwined

Today on the Pod, I talk to a woman who has spent 14 years working with people with disabilities in some of the most rural settings imaginable. She shares with me some of her thoughts on ministry, life overseas, transition, and maintaining spiritual health in the field.

Read more at pmpod.org

Timeline

00:00 Introduction
01:12 Getting started in missions
03:47 Pre-field training
04:32 How people with disabilities are treated
07:12 How is your work understood in light of folk Islam?
08:25 How did the locals view you as a Westerner?
10:21 What surprised you about your host culture?
12:50 How have you changed living on the field?
15:10 Dealing with isolation
18:03 Where do you get your social support on the field?
20:20 Adapting how to share faith
23:15 Giving up freedoms as a women
26:05 What happens to personal identity on the field?
29:13 Transitioning from one people group to another
36:25 Maintain spiritual health
41:55 Great advice from others
43:50 Helpful resources

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That was my underlining doubt, did I end up here just by following my own desires?

Today on the pod, my guest shares her powerful story about how she got into missions after 30 years of wondering if it’s too late. She also shares deep insight into what it’s going to take to have a more cohesive field and what it means to have a healthy relationship with God.

Click here to read more at pmpod.org

Timeline

00:00 Intro
01:00 Introducing my guest
02:00 Blackmailed into missions
06:35 Was it adventure or calling?
10:00 Working in Turkey
13:30 The next 30 years
19:13 Getting over the past
20:25 Getting back into missions
28:27 Helpful mindsets for missionaries
30:48 The measurements we use
35:25 What’s frustrating for leaders and laborers on the field?
41:10 How can we stay spiritually healthy?

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That was my underlining doubt, did I end up here just by following my own desires?

Today on the pod, my guest shares her powerful story about how she got into missions after 30 years of wondering if it’s too late. She also shares deep insight into what it’s going to take to have a more cohesive field and what it means to have a healthy relationship with God.

Click here to read more at pmpod.org

Timeline

00:00 Intro
01:00 Introducing my guest
02:00 Blackmailed into missions
06:35 Was it adventure or calling?
10:00 Working in Turkey
13:30 The next 30 years
19:13 Getting over the past
20:25 Getting back into missions
28:27 Helpful mindsets for missionaries
30:48 The measurements we use
35:25 What’s frustrating for leaders and laborers on the field?
41:10 How can we stay spiritually healthy?

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Happy Reformation Day! Today, 505 years ago, Martin Luther unwittingly started the Protestant Reformation by nailing a thesis of 95 things the Church was doing that he felt were unbiblical. This, in turn, led to the recovery of the Gospel: that we are made right before God, not by our obedience to God's law, but by faith in Christ's obedience for us and in our place.

In this pod, read how Luther himself described his conversation.

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We need to lead people in relation to how complicated their life and task is.

Today on the Pod, we have a fascinating conversation about leadership in missions.

"Depending on how good we think we are at what we do and depending on how we feel about ourselves, we will need different levels of gentleness in feedback. When things are more complicated and complex, the feedback needs to be more complex."

Check out episode 12, which was my first convention with my guest.

Check out more from this episode here

Timeline

00:00 Intro
01:05 Who are you learning from right now?
05:39 What is a healthy leader in missions?
06:17 (1) - Proactive relationship with God
09:08 (2) - Vision for your job
13:54 (3) - Cultural and Emotional Inelegance
17:30 (4) - The Ability to Rest
19:35 What kind of leaders do missions attract?
22:40 Feeling valued by leadership
27:13 What should we be measuring?
29:28 Do we give too much leniency to fruit-line workers?
31:34 Single, Double, Triple Loop Learning
34:27 What is good feedback?
41:13 Why are appraisals so useless?
43:37 Bridging the divide between leadership and people on the ground

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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 Care
05:25 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?

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It’s a very child-loving culture but not a very child-friendly environment.

On today’s pod, I talk to a married mother of four, serving in a hard place. We talk about sexual harassment, feelings of overwhelm, staying spiritually healthy, and finding times of rest. It’s a fascinating and helpful conversation that I know you will benefit from.

"For a woman, the most prized possession you hold is your honor. Your honor can be easily lost but never regained."

Read more at pmpod.org

Timeline:

00:00 Intro
01:00 What are the challenges for Western women in the Arab World?
02:40 Restrictions and cultural values
04:00 How do Arabs view Western women
07:15 What did you have to give up to come to the Middle East?
10:55 Is it hard to raise your kids on the field?
12:20 What kind of schools did you choose for your kids?
14:30 Sexual harassment on the field
20:25 Staying spiritual healthy
28:32 How do you cast your cares on God?
31:30 Dealing with overwhelm
36:35 Finding rest on the field
39:40 How to avoid isolation on the field
41:47 Going from single, to married, to a mother

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One of the strongest tools we have is to invite people into our home

"These people we are discipling are not products. They are humans. And God loves them just as he loves us. And he is calling them just as he is calling us. And if he wants to use me in the process, it’s a big honor. But it’s God’s time. And my priority is to look after myself and see where I can grow."

On today’s Pod, I talk to a man who loves his family, loves the ministry, and loves God. It’s clear he has not lost sight of the reason we serve on the field. We talk about family, hospitality, team life, discipling locals, dealing with local needs, and much more.

Read more at pmpod.org

Timeline

00:00 Intro
01:02 What’s your main Emphasis on the field?
02:00 Focus on the family
05:45 How do you have accountability on the field as a couple?
08:00 Hospitality on the field as a family
11:40 Hosting men and women in the Arab World
15:00 The responsibility of being a family on the field
18:13 I loved the village life; my wife didn’t
22:35 Team life was harder than the culture
23:55 How do you rest on the field?
28:12 Do married and single people rest differently?
30:50 Discipleship on the field is more than what you think it is
36:30 Are we trying to make Arabs into our image was westerners?
39:00 Dealing with money and locals
46:15 Churches and MBBs

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Today on the Pod, I talk to a guy who’s been in missions for over 15 years and has an obvious love for what he does. My guest today reminds us that there is a lot more to missions than church planting in hard places. We also take a deep and helpful dive into transition on and off the field.

Explore more at Pmpod.org

Timeline

00:00 Intro
02:25 Leaving the corporate world for missions
07:00 Using your administrative skills in missions
09:00 Leaving the corporate world and raising support
11:00 Was it hard raising support for an administrative job?
12:55 What did missions look like for your wife?
16:30 The challenges of transition
22:30 Deciding to homeschool on the field
23:30 The losses of being overseas
29:05 The losses your kids experience
23:06 Reentry back to the home country
33:40 The effects of being missionary kids
37:27 Things that changed and things that didn’t
45:54 Did you ever want to give up?
49:00 What characteristics create longevity in ministry?
52:50 Developing and maintaining ministry partners
1:01:00 Missions, administration, and measuring

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In this Pmpod Mini episode, I read a quote from Martin Luther who is trying to comfort a fellow minister who has fallen into sin and spiritual depression. Luther tells him he did indeed sin but does indeed have a great Savior!

Check out more at Pmpod.org

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"I long to see the body of Christ have a very high view of marriage and a very high view of singleness."

Today on the Pod, I have a powerful conversation with the co-author of the book Sacred Siblings. We cover the theology of singleness, the value of singles and marrieds on the field, assumptions, and expectations, and many more issues singles and marrieds face in cross-cultural missions.

To order Sacred Siblings with that 25% discount, follow this link

Timeline

00:00 Intro
02:00 The book in a nutshell
11:00 The survey respondents
15:00 Single and not second class
24:00 The beauty of working together as married and single
35:00 The perceived threats of single women on the field
38:00 Needs for community between married and single
46:00 Singles taking the initiative
54:00 Burnout rates among singles
1:00:00 Advice for singles who need rest

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I could see the stress having a real wear on his health. Six months before he passed away, I said to him, “If you don’t slow down, I sense that you won’t be here next year.” He prayed about it and said to me, “I don’t sense the Lord telling me to change anything.” And I wept. I just wept.

Read more https://pmpod.org/missions-death-widowhood-starting-over/

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"In that moment I went into shock. I was so puzzled that I didn’t know how to respond, what to say, I just started to cry…There was no room for questions, for discussions, for emotions. It was horrible. I was just the rebellious single woman who was not submitting to leadership."

Read more https://pmpod.org/spiritual-abuse/

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No interview today, just a fantastic quote from Calvin about what Christ has done for us!

pmpod.org

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When we hear stories from the field, we usually get the highlights, the “missionary stories.” But spending forty years on the field and raising a family there means there’s a whole lot of normal as well. Over working. Conflict with other workers. Marital issues. Questions about kids’ education. Rhythms of rest and work. Today on the Pod we follow a family through 40 years of life on and off the field.

read more here https://pmpod.org/god-is-doing-something-better/

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“The year and a half after coming back from the field were so difficult that at some point I thought, I don’t know if I would have gone out if I would have known how much it could cost to come back”

Read more https://pmpod.org/the-hard-reality-of-reentry/

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Today on the Pod, we talk about calling and the need to reinvent yourself over and over on the field. We talk about the future of missions, Marketplace, and Cloud Worker, the vital need for purity and integrity, the negative draw of social media and entertainment, as well as discipleship, member care, and sending out well-equipped workers.

Click here to read more https://pmpod.org/missions-is-never-what-you-expect/

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Today on the Pod, I have a fascinating conversation with a couple to came to the Middle East just six months after they got married. They have incredible insight into the culture, value systems, relationships, and how to get used to being married while on the field.

read more here https://pmpod.org/newly-married-and-moving-to-the-field/

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Today on the Pod, I talk to a guy who has over 30 years of experience ministering in one city. In the late 80s, he planted a church that is still thriving today. Not an easy task in any country, let alone in one of the most unreached countries in the world. My guest shared his thoughts on giving to locals, how to overcome cynicism, and how to deal with conflict with local MBBs. I found our conversation refreshingly deep and mature. I learned a lot and I hope you will too.

https://pmpod.org/the-joys-and-pains-of-missions/

Find and sign up for those courses my guest is running from the Institute for the Study of Religion in the Middle East at ISRME.org

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Take women seriously as spiritual beings.

Today on the Pod, I talk to one of the most insightful people I know about all things relating to missions and women. We talk about everything from how to give better training to our women on the field to the challenges that arise from women being more restricted in Arab countries...continue reading here https://pmpod.org/missions-and-women/

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In this Pod, I talk to a couple who address the challenges of moving countries and people groups during a season of high success. We also talk about the toll and stress missions has on the body, what kind of boundaries you need to get rid of and which ones you need to keep. And finally, we have a very interesting conversation about mixed motives on the field and how pride and pure desires are mingled together in the heart of the worker.

Read more here https://pmpod.org/missions-takes-a-toll-on-the-body/

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Our task is for all believers to integrate into something new and better.

Today on the podcast, I talk to a guy who has been in the Arab World since 1987. God called my guest out of drugs and jail, to give his life to the expansion of the Gospel in the Middle East. He has a very humble, and mature view of how both Muslim background believers and Christian background believers should...read more here https://pmpod.org/missions-and-the-arab-church/

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Just a little bit of encouragement for you today

pmpod.org

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Today on the Pod, I walk to a woman who I’ve been learning from for the past 15 years. So much of my ministry has been shaped by what she has taught me. I’m very excited for you to learn from her as well. We talk about Islam and why Muslims love both the religion and Mohammed so much. We also talk about my guest’s experience sitting in on home Quran study groups with Muslim ladies and what we can learn about leading meaningful bible studies.

https://pmpod.org/the-human-side-of-missions/

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Today on the pod I talk to a guy who is using his professional background to help train some of the poorest and most marginalized people in Africa. Every county, region, and people group comes with its own unique needs, and my guest today explains what some of the Gospel needs are for the church in Africa. He brings a Christ-centered, Gospel-saturated passion to missions in Africa, which is saturated with a kind of prosperity gospel that leaves its people helpfulness and disillusioned. It’s a fascinating conversation and I hope you enjoy it.

https://pmpod.org/discipling-business-prosperity-gospel-africa/

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Today on the Pod, I have a fascinating conversation with a guy who had a massive burnout while on the field. We talk about his time on the field, which was actually a very good time, and how, without warning, he burned out. We also talk about his long road to recovery and how he got through his burnout and depression.

https://pmpod.org/burnout-on-the-field/

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Today in the Pod, my guest and I cover a ton of ground. We talk about ministry after 70, leading silent retreats, Afghanistan, humility, challenges in ministry, the many positive things going on in missions to Muslims, and so much more. I have a feeling you are really going to love today's podcast.

pmpod.org

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In this Pod, I talk to a master storyteller. He has literally written a small book on the subject, which you can download on our website. Together we tell thirteen different stories which each help build a bridge into deeper conversations as we share with our friends. I hope you find this format helpful as we all do our best to share the Good News with our friends.

https://pmpod.org/thirteen-bridge-stories/

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Today on the Pod, I interview myself about distinguishing between Law and Gospel in missions. We talk about how DBS and ZUME struggle to give the believer hope and comfort, and how we can recover a better understanding of how to use the Gospel in discipleship and Church planting.

Timeline * 00:00 Intro * O1:23 Introduction to Law & Gospel * 02:30 Common misconceptions around Law & Gospel * 13:00 The Two uses of the Law. What is the role of the Law in the life of the believer? * 22:10 Where do you think missions gets the Gospel wrong today? * 30:50 The Passive and Active obedience of Christ for us * 42:50 Do you have enough faith?

https://pmpod.org/getting-law-gospel-right-in-missions/

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We need people reaching all segments of society

In this Pod, I talk to a guy who grew up on the field, never really wanted to go back, but ended up getting called back by God, and is now serving in places and ways he never imagined. It’s great to hear his story of growing up on the field, studying back in the West, and then heading back out to the Middle East. My guest shares with me some of the differences between being a missionaries kid and being a missionary, as well as some of the struggles he encouraged moving back to the region.

We don’t want to look at people’s physical needs as just a gateway to their spiritual needs. There is a temptation to think that the only thing that matters is peoples spiritual health and everything else is just an excuse to get there. But Jesus himself valued people’s physical health and he wanted them to be well.

Timeline - 00:00 Intro - 01:00 What was it like growing up on the field? - 04:40 Transitioning from being an MK to living in the West - 12:50 Transitioning to go back out to the mission field - 18:30 Getting married and having a calling with your wife - 22:00 Returning to the field as an adult - 27:20 Did you have a team “storming” phase? - 37:10 What does community look like for you and your family? - 40:30 How do you and your wife minister together? - 46:00 What do you do for your quiet time?

https://pmpod.org/healing-bodies-and-souls/

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I’ve never wanted to quit….more than three or four times….a day.

Today on the Pod, I talk to a guy who has been in missions for nearly 50 years. Some people get brittle and angry as they get older, but not this guy, he is genuine and humble and has a lot to teach us. Get out your notepad and pen, this is a great interview.

"The natural vitality is slowly ebbing away. But I want to be as faithful as possible as long as I can. And it just means I have to hold on to Christ tighter."

Timeline - 00:00 Intro - 01:00 How have missions changed over the last 50 years? - 09:10 Has there been a shift in the message of missions? - 18:44 What has the role of prayer been in your life? - 29:40 How have dealt with despair over your lifetime? - 34:55 What is the secret to your longevity? - 39:00 What kind of advice do you have for the worker who feels like a failure?

https://pmpod.org/50-years-in-missions/

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Discipling in an Honor and Shame Culture

Outside of Christ, there are not many ways to deal with shame or be restored

In this Pod, I talk to a guy who shares his insights into honor and shame and communal vs individualist cultures. He shares some of his personal stories, struggles, and mistakes, while on the field in a way we can learn from them. We close off the conversation by talking about burnout and fatigue on the field, and what that looked like for him. The whole conversation is powerful and well worth listening to.

"Shame only exists in a community. Shame is when you’re doing something that is not in the best interest of the community or violates the ethos that holds the community together. So any shame within the community works to destroy something at the fabric of that community."

Timeline -00:00 Intro -01:03 What is Deep and Wide Discipleship? -10:40 What did the process of forgiveness look like in discipleship? -13:13 Is vulnerability seen as a weakness in a shame/honor society? -20:40 How do we disciple through persecution? -29:30 What blind spots do westerns have while discipling? -37:00 What is cultural trauma? -50:55 let's talk about burnout on the field

https://pmpod.org/discipling-in-an-honor-and-shame-culture/

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Pod # 27 The Radical Christian Life A lot of missionaries get a radical call to go to the field, but then don’t live their lives radically once they get there

In this Pod, I have a conversation with a guy who left the pastorate to move his family to the Middle East. He has had many humbling experiences both on and off the field but has kept his focus on following his calling no matter the cost. He is passionate about living the Radical Christian Life and has a relentless focus on God, the Gospel, and discipleship. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

"After 12 years in the Middle East, when everything was going well; we were being blessed, our ministry was being blessed, we were working in our ’10’, God called us back to our home country…And it was a deserter. I found myself at 50 years old going from the top of my game to being unemployed."

Timeline 00:00 Intro 00:47 What is the Gospel and why do we struggle with this question? 10:46 Moving from Pastor to Missionary 17:30 Dealing with humbling experiences on and off the field 20:10 What’s it like teaching the Bible in the Middle East? 28:10 Why is success so hard to measure on the field? 34:35 What is discipleship? 48:00 The Three Holiday Method 50:00 What do you do for your quiet time?

https://pmpod.org/the-radical-christian-life/

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If I can’t remember what we read, how can I share it with others?

In this Pod, I talk to a woman who has a lot of experience leading DBS groups and training others to lead them. We walk through the 12 questions of DBS, and my guest shares her insights on each one. Even if you’ve done DBS training in the past, this conversation will give you fresh and practical insights.

"When I was living in the West, we would study books about the Bible that were very much leading to the answers. But through DBS, a new believer can discover the Bible for themselves."

Timeline 00:00 Intro 00:50 What is DBS trying to accomplish? 5:31 Leadership and DBS 8:41 The first six DBS questions? 1. What are you thankful for? 2. What are your needs? 3. Do you remember last week’s story? 4. Were you able to share last week? 5. What can this group do to meet the needs of others? 6. Did you obey the text from last week? 16:01 How would you treat an unbeliever differently than a believer in a DBS? 20:21 Reading the Text 26:25 The last six DBS Questions 7. What did you like about the text? 8. What did you learn about God? 9. What did you learn about humanity? 10. What does this text mean for you personally? 11. What do you change in your life? 12. Who are you going to share it” 30:07 What’s the ideal number and length of time for a DBS group?

https://pmpod.org/how-to-lead-a-dbs-group/

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All of us sudden you realize that you’re just doing life, and it’s changing lives

In this Pod, I sit down with a couple who are raising their seven children in the Middle East. They talk about giving up everything to follow Jesus, the power of hospitality, living by the Spirit, and the daily and weekly rhythms of their lives that make their house so enticing to others. I was challenged by their radical hospitality and I think you will be too.

"I used to teach in conferences for four or five hours at a time. But there is nothing like the richness of eating a meal together."

Timeline 00:00-00:43 Intro 00:44-4:38 From Cultural Christians to Surrendered Christians 4:39-10:41 What is the Spirit-Filled Life? 10:42-19:35 How did you end up on the field? 19:36-22:26 What is the emphasis of your ministry? 22:47-24:26 The daily practice of family devotions 24:27-26:05 Do you kids give you pushback? 26:06-27:52 Watch me eat and I’ll tell you how it tastes 27:53-28:59 The weekly practice of rest 29:00-32:05 The daily practice of saying I’m sorry, and thank you. 32:06-32:59 The weekly practice of worship and communion 33:00-35:26 How much of what you do is by design and how much is just you? 35:27-37:17 What is discipleship? 27:18-47:50 Does constant hospitality ever drain you? 47:51-52:09 Why is what you do so attractive to people?

Resources Mentioned in this Pod Andrew Murray: Absolute Surrender

https://pmpod.org/missions-starts-in-the-living-room/

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We felt stranded and didn’t know what to do. But we saw how God was using us, and completely shifting the focus of the team and the year.

In this Pod, I talk to two guys who share their story of how God worked through the pandemic to bring people to faith in Him. It wasn’t always roses and sunshine though. My guests take us into their lives when they didn’t love each other, struggled to get along, and how doubts about their faith. The Pod is equal parts encouragement and challenge.

"The love that we grew for each other over time, was what prepared us to be a home and a family to our Arab friends."

Timeline 00:00-00:41 Intro 00:42-06:02 What did you come out to do? 06:02-8:20 Tension between the team and leadership 08:21-10:07 Meeting people during the pandemic 10:08-16:00 Moving from Islam to Jesus 16:01-19:16 How did you disciple this new believer? 19:16-24:52 What was the process of coming to faith for this MBB? 24:53-31:25 was there a lot of conflict and dysfunction on your team? 31:26-35:29 What was it like to live together when you didn’t like each other? 35:30-37:30 How did team conflict affect your relationship with God? 37:31-42:35 What did reconciliation look like? 42:36-47:18 Advice for those in difficult team situations

https://pmpod.org/missions-during-coivd-19/

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In this Pod, I sit down with a guy who grew up his whole life on the field and has rare insight into the life of an MK. We talk about the pressure MKs feel to perform, the lack of identity and belonging, being a “hidden immigrant”, the effect all this has on faith, and what the pathway to real connection and belonging looks like.

"I don't know an MK who doesn't have a deep level of grief or bitterness or confusion about their experience."

Timeline 00:00-00:43 Intro 00:44-3:10 Born on the field 3:11-6:31 Affects of Parents’ attitude towards locals 6:32-9:12 How did you understand your own identity growing up a Third-Culture-Kind (TCK)? 9:13-11:12 The Hidden Immigrant Phenomenon 11:13-12:54 How children understand living between two worlds 12:55-15:30 Did you ever feel resentment for being raised on the field? 15:31-20:20 What is Relational Instability? 20:21-24:24 Struggling to find identity, connection, and belonging 24:25-29:50 Making the transition from the field to the West 29:51-32:34 What effect did your transition have on your faith? 32:35-37:16 The pressure on MKs to be meet unrealistic expectations 37:17-42:40 The path to finding belonging and connection 42:41-49:09 How did people cultivate an environment of acceptance for you?

https://pmpod.org/growing-up-on-the-field-2/

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In this Pod, my guest shares deeply, personally, and vulnerably about dealing with depression on the field. We also talk about marriage, children, and re-finding your identity when life changes. We close off our conversation with an insightful look at what it’s like working with children with disabilities in underprivileged villages.

"I battled with God and wondered how am I supposed to bring hope to unreached people when I’m sitting here in the darkness of despair."

Timeline 00:00-2:10 Introduction 2:11- 6:09 Transition from single to married on the field 6:10-9:50 The community pressure to have children 9:51-12:36 Having more experience than your husband on the field 12:37-14:39 Was there a lopsided calling in our marriage? 14:40-18:39 The role of calling in the midst of depression 18:40-21:30 What it’s like going through depression 21:31-23:24 Knowing when depression is spiritual and when it’s medical 23:25-28:33 Do you know what triggered the depression? 28:34-36:25 What would you say to the person struggling with depression right now? 36:26-44:30 Re-finding your identity after having children 44:31-52:31 Working with children with disabilities in underprivileged villages 52:32-57:17 What would say to the critic who says social development isn’t worth it?

https://pmpod.org/pressed-down-but-not-crushed/

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In this Pod, my guest has some amazing things to say about discipleship and what to do with a new believer. He also shares some interesting details about how his family is part of his ministry. Then we get down into the weeds of spiritual practices like solitude, fasting, and rest. Every word is worth listening to.

"We shouldn’t assume that every worker has a genuine, deep walk with Christ, that they are people of prayer, that they themselves are actually living by the word of God, feeding on it and being obedient to it."

Timeline 00:00-49:00 Introduction 00:50-1:28 What is the main emphasis of your ministry? 1:29-9:47 How do you disciple someone when they first come to faith? 9:48-11:46 What do you read with new believers? 11:47-17:30 What are some things we absolutely need to know about discipleship? 17:31-23:13 What do you want locals to experience when they come to your house? Spiritual Practices 23:14-29:06 Sabbath 29:07-32:50 Fasting 32:51-35:28 Solitude 35:29-45:56 Prayer 45:57-53:47 Memorizing Scripture 53:48-1:01:20 Self-Denial (Surrender) 1:01:21-1:05:00 Helpful Resources

Resources Mentioned in this Pod Andrew Murray: Absolute Surrender, Abide in Christ, With Christ in the School of Prayer

https://pmpod.org/the-joy-of-surrender/

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In this Pod, my guest tells me about getting kicked out of the country he was serving in, which lead to meeting his wife. He also shares about the differences in being single and married in missions, homeschooling their kids, and what it’s like in a massively cross-cultural marriage. At the end of our talk, he shares the driving passion that motivates his ministry.

"We felt super spiritual. But there were things, as I looked back, and I think, oh, why did I do this, or why didn’t I do that."

Timeline 00:00-00:44 Introduction 00:45-13:53 What its like getting kicked out of a country 13:54-19:32 The massive differences going from single to married on the field 19:33-22:18 How did you decide to homeschool your kids? 22:19-30:29 Challenges of a cross-cultural marriage 30:30-40:49 What are the motivating passions that propel your ministry?

https://pmpod.org/worshiper-of-god-first-2/

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In this Pod, I talk with a guy who approaches missions from a Reformed Baptist perspective. We have a fascinating conversation about what the church is and isn’t, the role of the local church in missions, what he thinks about CPMs and DMMs, how loneliness is apart of his experience, and much more.

"People think working with the local church is a waste of time. But I want to see the local church became a model of what a biblical church could be."

Timeline 0:00-1:00 Introduction 1:01-5:26 From Police to Missionary 5:27-8:06 Why the Middle East and not somewhere else? 8:07-8:52 Did your wife feel called to the Middle East? 8:53-13:20 What are the Reformed Baptist distinctions of missions and church? 13:21-17:05 Is the Reformed Baptist model too slow and heavy to be practical? 17:06-19:10 What does a church in the Middle East look like for you? 19:11-21:31 What is the importance of the Church for the spread of the Gospel? 21:31-22:20 What is your involvement in the church? 22:21-23:44 What role do international churches in missions? 23:45-25:25 Do you think there are healthy, biblical churches in the Arab World? 25:26-33:21 Why doesn’t the Reformed crowd talk about discipleship very much? 33:21-36:50 What are some “Silver Bullet” traps workers fall into? 36:51-37:49 What is your Gospel hope in Missions? 37:50-39:19 Was it hard to go from “secular” work to missions? 39:20-44:08 Was it hard on your family to move to the Middle East? 44:09-45:25 Do you do ministry with your wife? 45:26-53:37 Is there something from God’s Word that gives you hope, and what resources have been helpful for you?

https://pmpod.org/a-reformed-missionary-2/

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In this Pod, we talk about the increase of Arabs reaching Arabs, changes in training in missions, defining what discipleship is and why it’s so messy. We talked about inconsistencies in our emphasis, sticking close to the Gospel, and some lies workers believe. We also talked about storytelling and why it’s so hard for us to do it.

"In the Arab culture, there is an amazing amount of distrust, and it is really hard for them to love one another and forgive one another. As expatriates, as Christians coming from cultures where we have already learned that, we can actually live that out with them, and help people really love one another, and be in fellowship with each other."

Timeline 1:00-2:25 The changing nature of missions in the Arab world. 2:26-5:00 What kind of changes is training going through in missions? 5:01-7:44 Is there still a need for cross-cultural workers in the Arab world? 7:45-9:00 Are the Arabs you train mostly MBBs or CBBs? 9:01-10:17 What kind of training are Arab believers looking for? 10:18-12:33 What is discipleship? 12:34-17:50 Modeling the Gospel when discipleship is messy? 17:01-19:32 The challenge of connectivity 19:33-20:34 A lie workers believe is “I have to stay connected to everyone back home” 20:35-22:46 Lies Workers Believe #1 Language will come by just being on the field 22:47-23:33 Advice for people who have plateaued in language learning 23:34-27:54 Lies Workers Believe #2 If I just become like the culture I’ll see fruit 27:55-32:27 Lies Workers Believe #3 The “If I just had…” lie 32:28-40:15 Lies Workers Believe #4 The Work/Rest lie. I need to watch more Netflix because I’m so tired. Or, I can’t rest or take a break because I’m supported by other people. 40:16-42:27 The snare of compare 42:28-48-28 Story Telling: Why is it so hard for Westerners to tell stories? 48:29-53:01 Tips and tricks for telling stories to Arabs 53:02-54:44 What mistakes do we make when we tell stories?

https://pmpod.org/keeping-close-to-the-gospel/

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In this Pod, I talk to a woman who will blow your mind. We talk about the dangers of social media in missions, as well as the positive impact it’s having. We talked about suffering and the cost of discipleship for Arabs, the challenges DBS leaves us with, the value of coaching for workers ministering in hard places, finding purpose and meaning in missions when not much is going on. And so much more.

"They’ve started to do some really good work, they’ve opened up a great English center, maybe they’re running kids clubs, a sports center. But they’ve lost the edge of the Gospel. The CP coach’s goal is to keep the edge of the gospel sharp. We need platforms, we need ways to meet people. But if we lose our intentionality in sharing the Gospel and discipling people, we might as well just call ourselves English teachers or sports coaches."

Timeline 1:00-7:08 Is Netflix destroying missions? 7:09-11:45 What is the positive side of media in missions? 11:46-14:52 The challenges to online discipleship 14:53-18:45 Do we overlook the cost of following Jesus in our discipleship? 18:46-24:16 Do we pursue rapid growth at the cost of good discipleship? 24:17-28:29 What is coaching for missionaries? 28:30-33:45 Common issues workers face when they seek out a coach 33:46-37:25 Discipling influencers vs marginalized people 37:26- Does our longing to see a movement harm our ability to see individuals? 38:18-39:25 What are the trends shaping missions today? 39:26-50:18 How do you stay long-term without getting bored or burning out? 50:19-55:48 Why do missionaries find it easier to share the Gospel than to experience it?

Resources Mentioned in this Pod The Social Dilemma. Available on Netflix

https://pmpod.org/totally-committed/

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In this Pod, I talk to someone who clearly knows a lot about doing missions in the Arab World. We talked about forgiveness in the Arab context, seeing groups of people come to faith, some keys to longevity, and bringing the Gospel to the least reach women in the region. We also take an important look at raising children on the field.

"We both have a very strong sense that we’re not leaving unless God calls us to something else. We don’t have the attitude that, well, we’re staying here until we feel like it’s not fun anymore and then we go on to something new."

Timeline 1:00-2:13 23 years of on-field learning 2:14-5:55 What are your gauges for success? 5:56-11:12 What stirs your heart, and what are the mundane parts of missions? 11:13-16:00 What struggles do you face bringing the Good News to women in rural villages 16:01-19:59 How hard is it for a woman in a rural Arab setting to come to faith? 20:00-22:59 How do you last long-term without becoming cynical? 23:00-26:57 What character qualities are you looking for in people coming out to the Middle East? 26:58-30:32 What does Islam look like in rural communities? 30:33-32:33 How much superstition do you see in the villages? 32:34-34:18 What does the Gospel look like for women in rural settings? 34:19-37:31 Making the switch from Guilt/Innocence to Honor/Shame 37:32-43:40 The Story of the Parodical Son for an Arab 43:41-48:11 Raising Children in the Middle East 48:12-53:54 Thinking through education for your children on the field 53:55-57:12 Dealing with children becoming young adults on the field

https://pmpod.org/called-to-something-great/

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In this Pod, we talked about the lack of women leadership in missions, as well as the lack of resources and strategies that take women’s issues in mind. We also take a deep dive into surviving reentry, as well as a very honest conversation about sexual harassment on the field.

"A lot of the language is so gendered, and I struggled to see myself in that whole methodology. How do I work in that – in a way that is reproducible, and values indigenous leadership, and those things that are really great, how do you do that if you’re a single woman?"

Timeline 1:00-3:26 Working with vulnerable people groups 3:27-6:40 The lack of resources for women in missions 6:41-11:32 Recommendations for those working with women or vulnerable peoples. 11:33-12:52 Is it easy to undervalue strategy on the field? 12:53-18:02 What was reentry like for you? 18:03-21:06 Are there ways to mitigate reentry struggles? 21:07-25:05 Dealing with the highs and lows of reentry 25:06-29:19 Re-understanding identity after reentry 29:20-31:52 Trying to re-contextualize the Gospel after leaving the field 31:53-33:12 What was your organization’s role in re-entry? 33:13-34:17 Why do workers find it hard to go to church after leaving the field? 34:18-37:35 When should someone start to think about serving again after they leave the field? 37:36-40:22 What’s it like being a single woman in the Middle East? 40:23-47:55 Dealing with harassment on the field 47:56-51:00 Dealing with loneliness on the field 51:01-52:54 Dealing with the blurry lines of ministry, friendships, and time off 52:55-58:04 Sharing the Gospel in an Honor and Shame context

https://pmpod.org/rethinking-missions/

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In this Pod, I have a great conversation with a man who knows God well and knows Him personally. He talked with me about dealing with anxiety on the field, the feeling of lack of identity after reentry, his dramatic conversation to Christ, his desire for the lost to be saved, and so much more.

"My biggest problem was that my objective was to do things for the people around me. But I realized that God is not requiring you to do things. He’s requiring you as a person, not what you are doing."

Timeline 1:00-14:42 How did you come to faith and end up in the Middle East? 14:43-17:31 The gap between expectations and reality on the field. 17:32-22:08 What are some characteristics of a healthy cross-cultural worker? 22:09-27:00 How do the values of the West differ from the Middle East? 27:01-32:59 Anxiety on the field 33:00-36:24 How did you measure success and deal with comparison? 36:25-41:22 Were you able to find a healthy rest/work rhythm on the field? 41:23-47:34 What did reentry look like for you? 47:35-52:56 Was your faith shaken during reentry? 52:57-1:02:4 Did you struggle as you moved back into a secular context?

https://pmpod.org/knowing-god-personally/

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In this interview, I talk to a good friend of mine who left the field several years ago. He speaks very vulnerably and honestly about his post re-entry doubts, anxiety, and depression, and how he managed to hold on to his faith. Re-entry is an underdeveloped area in most organizations and churches. This interview helps to give us a clearer picture of what it’s like.

“I could either believe blindly, leave it all behind, or lean into it.”

Timeline 1:00-5:40 Being an introvert in missions 5:41-7:10 Dealing with comparison on the field 7:11-11:59 Re-entry: 100% chance you will struggle 12:00-14:14 Re-entry: Its header going back home than going to the field. 14:15-17:20 Re-entry: I hit a wall of anxiety, doubt, and depression 17:21-20:15 Re-entry: What was causing the doubts and anxiety? 20:16-23:18 Re-entry: What did your depression look like for you? 23:18-32:09 Re-entry: Turning the corner and getting healthy 32:10-40:50 Re-entry: The challenges of moving from a Muslim context to a secular one 40:51-53:25 Re-entry: What advice would you give to the person struggling in re-entry?

https://pmpod.org/pod-3-re-entry-challenges/

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In this interview, I talk to a man who has over 20 years’ experience in four different countries in the Middle East. I asked him about doing ministry as a couple, how the church in the ME has been shaped by the culture around it, and what are some helpful trends he sees in missions right now. We also talk about leading MMBs, being catalysts for organic growth, and the relationship between MBBs and CBBs.

Timeline 1:00-39:00 How my guest got into missions. 20 years experience. Kicked out of three countries. Serving the last 13 years in one place. 39:15-46:50 Whats it like getting married after you’ve been on the field for years? 46:51-52:00 Doing ministry with your wife 52:00-57:00 How the history of the Middle East shaped the church 57:40-62:30 How different is it for MBBs vs CBBs to reach muslims? 62:31-64:00 Do CBBs and MBBs mix well? 64:00-68:30 Helpful trends in missions right now 68:30-1:11:014 What does it look like to empower local believers? 1:11:15-1:14:50 How to move an MBB from consumer to leader

https://pmpod.org/pod-2-20-years-experience/

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In this podcast, the tables get turned, and your host gets interviewed. The guy who interviewed me is one of my best friends, and together we talked about how the Middle East has changed us, and differences between the church in the ME and in the West. We covered some important topics like the Underground Church, Evangelism, Dealing with conflict, Folk Islam, and even a little bit about Folk Christianity.

Note: CBB = Christian Background Believer. MBB = Muslim Background Believer

Timeline 1:00-3:50 What would you be doing if you weren’t a missionary? 3:51-10:20 How has 12 years in the Middle East Changed you? 10:21-18:14 How do Arab believers differ from Western believers? 18:15-23:47 The seen church and the underground church in the Middle East 23:48-27:45 What has surprised you about evangelism or discipling on the field? 27:46-32:50 What does the underground church in the Middle East contribute to the Body of Christ? 32:51-48:50 Dealing with conflict with Arabs 48:51-55:35 What is folk Islam? 55:36-62 What folk Christianity looks like?

https://pmpod.org/pod-1-your-host-gets-interviewed/

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Pod # 4 What I do does not give me my value In this interview, I sat down with a very dear friend who spoke with amazing insight into what it’s like being a wife and mother on the field. There is not one dull moment in this interview. We covered many topics, including growing up an MK, the value of mentors, taking days off, balancing family life and ministry, getting overwhelmed, and giving money to locals.

"You came equal with your husband. You were equally sent out. You both had passion and vision to reach the locals. And then suddenly you’re just working with your kids, in your house, doing laundry."

Timeline 1:00-2:00 Taking a sabbath year and dealing with COVID-19 2:01-5:10 Growing up as an MK 5:11 -7:27 Did you ever think you would end up back in missions? 7:28-10:00 Getting married to a guy who had a different calling 10:01-11:50 Did you ever get a sense of “calling” to the Arab World? 11:51-14:30 What is ministry like for a married woman with kids? 14:31-15:55 Does your role bring you enough purpose? 15:56-17:25 Does having kids make it easier to do ministry? 17:26-18:36 Do you see big differences in Muslims and Christian families? 18:37- 24:35 The importance of mentors on and off the field 24:36-25:37 How do you “submit” to the local Arab church? 25:38-28:22 What is the value of attending a local Arab church? 28:23-29:01 What role does the organization play in your need for fellowship? 29:02-32:12 What are common struggles missionary mothers face? 32:13-35:11 What were the challenges moving from single to married on the field? 35:12-41:41 How does the Gospel inform your marriage on the field? 41:42-43:49 What have you learned from local families? 43:50-47:49 Navigating honor and shame with giving to poor local families 47:50-51:00 Dos and don’ts when giving money to locals 51:01-53:05 Do you ever feel overwhelmed? 53:06-55:24 What does rest look like for you? 55:25-59:14 What do you do as a family to rest?

https://pmpod.org/missionary-mother-of-three/

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It’s clear my guest loves the work, loves the people, and loves the region. Every answer he gives is dripping with optimism, passion, and pride for the ministry and what God has enabled him to see and do over his 12 years in the Middle East. We talked about sustainable ministry, black magic, marriage, mentors, the difficulty of calling, time management, and much more.

"I met some of the wealthiest people in the region, and some of the poorest. And realizing through conversation that their circumstances looked very different, but their root problem, sin, was the same. And that really struck me."

Timeline 1:00-7:33 An insane first six months in the Middle East 7:34-12:32 What his calling looked like 12:33-18:29 How do you maintain a passion for the work over the long term? 18:30-20:36 How do you deal with MBBs falling away from the faith? 20:27-22:10 What patterns do you see in those that lose faith? 22:11-24:34 What as it like going from single to married on the field? 24:35-27:46 What do you wish you would have known about being married on the field before you were married? 27:47-33:14 What was it like for your wife to move to the Arab World with you? 33:15-36:46 How has having three kids on the field changed what ministry looks like? 36:47-38:59 How do you balance your time between work, family, ministry, marriage? 39:00-40:56 What advice do you have for someone wanting to do missions in the marketplace? 40:57-42:38 What Spiritual rhythms do you have in your family? 42:39-43:39 Getting time away from the kids with my wife 43:40-47:39 Have you ever wanted to quit missions?

https://pmpod.org/the-joy-of-missions/

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In this pod, I talk to a very close friend of mine and we take a deep dive into the realities of re-entry. My guest talks about his frustrations going home, and how he has overcome them and how he has kept his faith strong. We also cover things like finding good routines, make sure you don’t isolate, getting into community, and the value of member care after you’ve returned home.

"I felt like people were saying, ‘Reach out if you need anything.’ But I didn’t even know what I needed."

Timeline 1:00-1:30 What was your role on the field? 1:31-4:25 How did you end up in the Middle East? 4:26-7:00 Starting in the Middle East without an organization. 7:01-8:06 When expectations don’t match reality 8:07-11:49 The power of reaching out for help 11:50-15:11 The value of Member Care and Mentors 15:12-23:00 What frustrations did you have with the home office during re-entry? 23:01-24:25 How can we do re-entry better? 24:26-27:15 Being asked who you are sharing your struggles with 27:16-29:05 How do we start a culture of better re-entry? 29:06-38:25 What did the stages of re-entry look like for you over the first year? 38:26-42:00 How are you going to prevent your faith from dying during re-entry? 42:01-45:41 What’s it like going from full-time ministry to not having any ministry?

https://pmpod.org/doing-re-entry-better/

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In this Pod, I have a co-pilot hosting with me, and together we talked to a woman who has worked with Beduin in rural villages for nearly a decade. We had a fascinating conversation about Arabic music, Christian Arab hymns, why doing ministry in rural settings has meaning, the struggles of Beduin woman, being single on the field, and much, much more.

"The Beduin have always fascinated me. When I realized I would be working with the Beduin, I knew this was the place where I wanted to stay. That’s why I’ve stayed in one place for so long; because they take so long to trust because they watch, they see. They do sense things very quickly, but they want to see if it’s consistent before they take it as their own. And then they are unstoppable."

Timeline 1:00-9:38 How an Ethnomusicology degree led to nearly a decade in missions 9:37-12:44 What do you love about Arabic music? 12:45-14:58 What is the concept of music in Islam? 14:59-19:57 What characterizes Arabic Christian music? 19:58-25:38 What’s the value of doing ministry in rural settings? 25:39-30:35 Knowing you work in a hard place, how do you measure success? 30:36-40:10 What’s something that Beduin society really struggles with? 40:11-45:59 Where do you find your identity and value? 46:00-52:02 What is something from the Bible that touches the heart of Beduin women? 53:03-60:00 What is your experience with folk Islam? 60:01-64:30 What’s one of your favorite things about Beduin dialects? 64:31-68:18 What is the strength of being an unmarried woman on the field? 68:19-73:13 When you feel like you have nothing left to give, what gets you through?

https://pmpod.org/ten-years-in-rural-ministry/

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In this Pod, I talked to a very dear friend of mine who is full of passion and insight. We talked about Arab friendships, sharing the Gospel, the power of mentors, and the difficulties of honor and shame culture. We also talked about the importance of humor, pray, Christian fellowship, and trusting God. If you’ve never been on the field, are new, or have been out for ten years, you will learn something from my guest.

"I’m afraid I will say, “Look at this great kingdom I have built”, and then God will transform me into a wild beast and I will eat grass for seven years."

Timeline 1:00-7:07 Who or what are you learning from right now? 7:08-9:50 Are people too timid when they share with Muslims? 9:51-12:03 Reading with a seeker vs a new believer? 12:04-14:11 What is the value of being part of a local church in the Arab world? 14:12-16:07 What are some differences between Arab Christians, and Arab Muslims? 16:08-17:47 The minority complex of Christians in the Middle East and will MBBs and CBBs ever get along? 17:48-21:38 What is the secret to having great friendship with Arabs? 21:39-26:32 What have you learned about honor and shame? 26:33-30:48 What are some of hurdles for westerner to share the Gospel in an honor and shame culture? 30:49-33:42 How does somebody start learning a new culture? 33:43-34:30 Are you afraid of anything in ministry? 34:31-35:31 The importance of prayer in our ministries 35:31-38:34 How do you measure success on the field? 38:35-39:40 Have you ever wanted to give up and go home? 39:41-42:02 Have you ever feel like you’re not making an impact? 42:03-46:36 What role does enjoyment play in longevity on the field?

https://pmpod.org/an-unwasted-life/

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In this Pod, I talk to a guy who only spent one year in the Middle East but has incredible insight. He speaks openly and vulnerably about weaknesses, Arab friendships, managing expectations, sharing with supporters, and so much more. If you are looking to join missions in the Arab World or lead someone new to the field, this Pod is for you.

"I try to give an honest review of what’s going on. I don’t want to pretend that I’m doing ok and if I’m actually feeling bad. If I’m struggling in my faith, maybe what I need is actually for someone to pray for me rather than to put on a fake smile."

Timeline 1:00-3:30 What attracted you to the Middle East? 3:31-6:01 What sustains you in the Middle East? 6:02-7:28 The relationship between food and motivation levels 7:29-10:22 How to be motivated to Study Arabic 10:23-13:20 How did your expectations and reality clash when you came to the Middle East? 13:21-15:15 What was it like sharing the Gospel in the Middle East? 15:16-16:15 Did you have preconceived ideas of how people would receive the Gospel? 16:16-20:42 What’s your relationship with your supporters like? 20:43-24:14 The unseen, unreported reality of missions. 25:15-26:38 How do you know when you’ve done what you’re supposed to? 26:39-29:27 What have you learned about yourself since you came to the field? 29:28-30:59 Is living on the field lonely? 31:00-37:31 Was it hard making friends with locals? 37:32-42:32 How have you dealt with the reality that there is not much fruit? 42:33-47:03 What would you say to the person looking to join the field?

https://pmpod.org/new-to-the-field/

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In this Pod, we cover many topics from friendships with locals, sharing the Gospel, dealing with stereotypes, the value of language learning, and so much more. We go deep and cover a lot of territory together. My guest is authentic and honest with his thoughts and has a lot to teach us.

"Maybe back home, when our relationship with God is going down, we’re paying less attention to it, we’re putting less energy into it, we can escape thinking about it. We can focus on our studies or focus on our work. Maybe attend a cool conference, get our faith challenged, pushed up, and get excited again. And that doesn’t work here."

Timeline 1:00-5:31 Friendships in the Middle East 5:32-8:17 Telling acceptable lies and Honor and Shame 8:18- 12:07 Dealing with Arab collectivism 12:08-12:59 Dealing with locals putting you into a box 13:00-14:54 Using locals assumptions to point back to Christ 14:55-18:11 Does living outside your home country change your relationship with God? 18:12-19:30 The link between your personal time with God and your ministry 19:31-22:08 How have you balanced training and doing on the field? 22:09-23:21 What are some of the biggest struggles you face on the field? 23:22-27:04 How do you not let the statistics bother you? 27:05-30:40 What data points do you use to gage success? 30:41-31:56 Do you find it hard to find a balance between being lazy and over-productive? 31:57-34:31 What is the value of learning the local langue? 34:32-35:39 What would you say to the worker who is fine just using English? 35:40-37:35 Sharing the Gospel and language issues 37:36-40:12 Sharing the Gospel to Arabs takes a shift in how you think 40:13-42:01 What’s the value of listening as you share the Gospel? 42:02-44:47 Are there things from our culture you won’t let go of? 44:48-46:45 What is the importance of enjoying the people you minister to?

https://pmpod.org/deep-and-wide/

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In this Pod, I have two cohosts helping me interview a woman who has a lot of passion, perseverance, and faith in Christ. We cover many cultural issues facing cross-cultural women in the Middle East and issues local women face too. We take a deep dive into honor and shame, staying motivated, making friends, and sharing the Gospel. I learned a lot from this interview, and I’m excited for you to be a part of it as well.

"If there is a situation where I need help, it’s not because I’m a woman, it’s because I’m a person."

Timeline 1:00-6:00 Moving from thinking about missions to living in the Middle East 6:01-7:55 How was living in the Middle East vs how you thought it would be? 7:56-10:54 How did you deal with the loss of freedoms after coming to the Middle East? 10:55-12:08 How have your views of woman, honor, and shame changed since you have been on the field? 12:09-17:22 What did it look like for you to push back against injustice you saw in the culture? 17:23-18:30 Is respect hard to earn as a foreign woman in the Middle East? 18:31-21:12 How have you been impacted spiritually through seeing things through an honor and shame lens? 21:13-23:46 How does sharing your faith as a woman look like in the Middle East? 23:47-29:53 What are some of the biggest struggles local women are dealing with? 29:54-31:56 What is the role of local friends for you as a foreigner? 31:57-33:39 Do you ever struggle with the relationship between your mission and just being with people? 33:40-36:56 How would you counsel someone to make a friend in the Arab World? 36:57-42:21 Do you ever struggle with the motivation behind what you’re doing? 42:22-46:30 What rhythms of life keep you going on the field? 46:31-49:43 What are things you hold on to more tightly and what are things you let go of living in the Middle East? 49:44-52:49 How do you trust God in the midst of loneliness and discouragement?

https://pmpod.org/a-surrendered-life/

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In this Pod, I talk to one of the smartest people I know. We have a very interesting conversation about recovering from being a people pleaser, dealing with reentry anxiety, friendships with Arabs, leadership, the importance of coaching, and so much more. My guest is well read, thoughtful, and taught me some very important life lessons. I’m excited for you to listen in on our conversation.

"As Christians, we always have a good reason to do more. But we also need to make sure we make it to the end of the marathon."

Timeline 1:00-6:00 Moving from thinking about missions to living in the Middle East 6:01-7:55 How was living in the Middle East vs how you thought it would be? 7:56-10:54 How did you deal with the loss of freedoms after coming to the Middle East? 10:55-12:08 How have your views of woman, honor, and shame changed since you have been on the field? 12:09-17:22 What did it look like for you to push back against injustice you saw in the culture? 17:23-18:30 Is respect hard to earn as a foreign woman in the Middle East? 18:31-21:12 How have you been impacted spiritually through seeing things through an honor and shame lens? 21:13-23:46 How does sharing your faith as a woman look like in the Middle East? 23:47-29:53 What are some of the biggest struggles local women are dealing with? 29:54-31:56 What is the role of local friends for you as a foreigner? 31:57-33:39 Do you ever struggle with the relationship between your mission and just being with people? 33:40-36:56 How would you counsel someone to make a friend in the Arab World? 36:57-42:21 Do you ever struggle with the motivation behind what you’re doing? 42:22-46:30 What rhythms of life keep you going on the field? 46:31-49:43 What are things you hold on to more tightly and what are things you let go of living in the Middle East? 49:44-52:49 How do you trust God in the midst of loneliness and discouragement?

https://pmpod.org/running-the-race-with-endurance/

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In this Pod, I talk to an amazing man who left a well-paying job in the West to do missions in an unreached part of the world. He shares with me his philosophy of success on the field. We also talked about common pitfalls missionaries fall into, lies missionaries believe, observable results vs faithfulness, hospitality, marriage, and so much more.

"Success can’t be measured by something that is not in your control. Obedience is something that is on our side of the fence. We can choose to obey, we can choose to be faithful, we can choose to be unfaithful. We can choose to love one another. We can choose to hate one another. Results are not in our control at all. "

Timeline 1:00-1:45 What’s your favorite COVID-19 conspiracy theory? 1:46-8:42 How did you make the career change into missions? 8:43-9:36 Was your wife ok moving to the Middle East? 9:37-14:43 What does it mean to work in an unreached country? 14:44-21:44 The connection between obedience and success. 21:45-25:16 What is your philosophy of hospitality? 25:17-28:02 Is your hospitality pastoral care for others? 28:03-30:40 What do you and your family do for Christian community? 30:41-32:54 What pitfalls do you see in workers falling into on the field? 32:55-35:21 What are the differences between Asian and Arab versions of Honor and Shame? 35:22-40:29 How do you deal with the lack of accomplishment in missions? 40:30-44:49 A healthy marriage and the role of choice 44:50-46:17 Do you see a common thread in marriages that fall apart? 46:18-49:03 In marriage the highs are higher and the lows are lower 49:04-52:02 How do you and your wife deal with traveling separately? 52:03-58:16 What are the lies workers on the field believe?

https://pmpod.org/true-success/

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