Modern Day Missionaries

In this interview with Grant Haynes, president of Global Frontier Missions , we look at some of the specific spiritual battles and struggles missionaries face on the field...things like finding our identity in being a missionary, attacks on team relationships, our marriages, and our souls. We talk about the roots of these struggles, how to prepare for the attacks that come, and how to stand strong...

In this encore episode of one of our most listened-to episodes of our second season, we talk transitions. If you are in or soon to be in a season of transition and you need some strategies to navigate it well, you won’t want to miss this incredibly practical and encouraging conversation with transition coach and former missionary, Sara Simons, of The Way Between . Hey missionaries—how are your fin...

From serving as a nun to becoming a widow to earning a Ph. D. to winning an Emmy to becoming an esteemed professor to living in refugee camps to losing a leg to working as an advisor to the Clinton administration to serving on Desmond Tutu’s peace council…and that’s not even all of it!—you’ve NEVER met anyone like Dr. Judith Mayotte.  Judy's life has been filled with more ups and downs than a...

Did you know two-thirds of missionaries have this in common?: They are women! We can’t afford to not understand the majority, and often underestimated and overlooked powerhouses, that are women missionaries. In this episode, Denise Beck, executive director of Velvet Ashes, delves into the unique challenges faced by female global workers and the unique gifts they have to offer! From single missiona...

On today's episode, we're looking at resilience. What are some of the common factors in people who are resilient––specifically missionaries? Geoff Whiteman, a marriage and family therapist, and researcher on missional resilience breaks this down, taking it from theory to your actual life on the field. This episode includes a powerful activity Geoff shows in real time that you will be abl...

On one of our top episodes of the last season, we were joined by leadership expert, bestselling author, and founding pastor of Connexus Church, Carey Nieuwhof . We talk boundaries, burnout, time management, and so much more.  This encore episode brings you brilliant advice on how to live more intentionally, avoid burnout and be at your best in missions and in life. Hey missionaries—how are your fi...

Have you experienced team tension on the field or worked with missionaries who have? Unresolved team conflict is one of the biggest reasons missionaries decide to leave the mission field prematurely. How can we grow in this critical area? Dr. Janeen Davis has made it her life's work to help teams actively pursue peace. She joins us to uncover the myths and attitudes we unconsciously hold abou...

Is the vision and mission for both your life and ministry clear? Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr., author of Grace to Grow and president of Converge, shows missionaries how they can discover, develop, and communicate their purpose.  How can we turn the passion inside us into a clear, inspiring destination with a well-defined path to reach it? And what practical steps can we take to communicate our visio...

Emotions can be exhausting—our own and other people's. We know God gave us feelings, but what do we do about the ones we don’t like or understand? Drs. Bill & Kristi Gaultiere, founders of Soul Shepherding, use the tool of the Enneagram to show missionaries how understanding our emotions and unique personalities can set us free to know who and how God really made us to be so we can grow i...

The complex topic of sexuality is everywhere—including on the mission field—and it can be hard to know how to engage it well, especially when you add in cross-cultural factors! How can we find the holy balance between truth and love? How can we invite instead of isolate? How can we help the kids, teenagers, and adults in our families and those we are serving who are asking the hard questions? In t...

If you'll be traveling back "home" for Christmas—or anytime soon!—former global worker, author, and TCK expert Michael Pollock has excellent advice on how you can prepare well emotionally, mentally, and logistically for your trip back to your passport country. This encore episode is back just in time to set you up for success on your next visit back to the country that used to be ho...

Want to know how you can double your monthly donations this December? In this episode, Modern Day’s president, Elias Reyes shares how! Statistics show that if you take a few simple steps, you have the potential to supercharge your end-of-the-year gifts. Discover how you can make the most of this golden opportunity and end your year with a financial boost! Hey missionaries—how are your finances on...

Whether you’re getting ready to transition from the mission field or to it, you’ll love hearing from father and daughter Nathan and Zoe Grams. As both an MK and missionary himself, Nathan has transitioned between countries many times. In this episode, he and Zoe share what things they have found to be most essential for any person or family determined to transition well. Hey missionaries—how are y...

What can we do when things in life turn out very different from what we had planned? In one of our most popular episodes from the last season, we talk with counselor and missionary Zach Lowrie about how to walk well through seasons of confusion and disappointment. If you missed this episode the first time around, we’re so glad you’ll have another opportunity to listen in and be encouraged! Hey mis...

In this episode, John and Pat Hazelwood founding directors of Yes! Marriage Works, look at what happens when unexpected (and expected) changes threaten to disrupt a missionary couple’s marriage. From their experience as missionary coaches, they share how couples can navigate both external and internal change well. John and Pat share proactive ways couples can build resiliency in their relationship...

This special episode on the stress of living off missions support was recorded with Modern Day's President, Elias Reyes, for the Church Mental Health Summit last month. In it, we share very practical ways to alleviate the anxiety that these financial challenges can produce by looking at four essential mindset shifts and three actionable steps missionaries can begin to walk out today. Hey miss...

In this episode, financial coaches to missionaries Anita Bosworth & Allie Black share how to create powerful support teams. Their innovative approach introduces the notion of crafting distinct roles within your support team, and it has the potential to make a major impact on your fundraising support team, relationally and financially. Hey missionaries—how are your finances on the field? At Mod...

On this episode, we take a deep look at personal loss and how we can walk through it with grace, strength, and compassion. Dirk Smith, vice president of Eastern European Mission, shares his very personal story of losing his wife to ALS this year. Dirk’s story is honest and it is also filled with hope. He shares real and helpful ways missionaries—and anyone—can navigate loss well and trust that thi...

What are the best ways for missionaries to keep learning and growing while on the field? Mark and Julie Morgenstern talk about the vital importance of purposeful, ongoing learning for missionaries and how to make it doable and fun! They share practical tips and insights to help us navigate the ever-evolving world of knowledge in today's info-packed age. Hey missionaries—how are your finances...

Pastors, missionaries, and MK’s Taylor Barriger and Jesiah Hansen open up about transitioning from being pastors' kids to growing up and deciding to serve with their parents in ministry. They talk about the delicate balance of honoring their parents' legacy while finding their own ministry voice, and they share the powerful decisions their parents made to help them in that journey. We lo...

In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Margaret Nagib, talks to us about overwhelm––the role our body plays, how it tries to communicate with us, and how we can learn to listen. We also talk about common physical symptoms missionaries experience when they are in overwhelm. Dr. Nagib looks at the ways God speaks to us through not only our spirit and soul, but our body, and what happens when we...

Author, leader, and long-time missionary Cynthia Anderson looks at your family as the ultimate team God has called you to lead. We dive into real-life ideas for making your kids active members of what God has called you to do. From navigating emotional highs and lows to creating unforgettable experiences, we look at life-giving ways you can include your kids and help them feel excited that God has...

In this compelling episode, we talk to trauma psychologist Dr. Jamie Aten about the complexities of trauma and how it impacts people in such varied ways. Dr. Aten shares practical strategies tailored for missionaries, who often face emotionally intense scenarios, to both manage their own trauma and support others who are affected. Filled with real-world applications and hope, this episode is a mus...

Leadership in a cross-cultural setting can be both richly rewarding and hugely challenging. Today, Gateway Church's global missions pastor and former missionary Charley Elliott looks at common mistakes cross-cultural leaders make and the unique skills and attitudes they need to effectively serve those they lead Hey missionaries—how are your finances on the field? At Modern Day Missions , we m...

If you’re feeling thrown off balance by life, you’re not alone. Today, we talk with best-selling leadership author, speaker, podcaster, former attorney, and church planter, Carey Nieuwhof, about boundaries, time management, avoiding burnout, and how to be at your best in missions and in life. Hey missionaries—how are your finances on the field? At Modern Day Missions , we make it simple for missio...