Facing a Task Unfinished

From trauma and loss to healing and purpose, Rodney sits down with Caleb and Angel to hear the story of how God brought them together and called them to missions. Caleb shares what it was like growing up in a missions-focused, Christian home. Early exposure to missionaries planted in him a lifelong passion for reaching the nations. Angel’s story is markedly different—marked by hardship, but also b...

The mission field is closer than we think.  In this episode, Rodney is joined by Angie, John, and Amy to talk about Global Neighbors, a growing ministry within OMF that helps churches engage East and Southeast Asian peoples—many of whom live right here in the United States. Their conversation unpacks God’s heart for the nations, the changing landscape of our neighborhoods, and practical ways churc...

“Whatever You want me to do, I’ll do it.”   In the face of profound loss and disillusionment with church culture, Trey Harper prayed this single, surrendered prayer. And everything changed.  In this powerful episode, Trey recounts his journey from a strict military family upbringing, to the battlefields of Iraq, wrestling with trauma and addiction, to a deep spiritual awakening. Trey became a past...

"I asked the Holy Spirit — can I feel your love?" In this episode, Hawa joins Rodney Pennington to share how she grew up between war zones, raised by grandmothers and aunties, navigating civil wars, refugee visas, and a faith she was still discovering. Today, she's a social worker, a wife, a mother — and she's answering a call to Taiwan. Her episode is out now. This one's worth your full attention...

Born with the umbilical cord around his neck and given just 3 days to live, Jonatan Alvarez became a "miracle child" after his mother's prayer of dedication. But his story was just beginning...    In this raw and honest conversation, Jonatan sits down with Rodney Pennington and shares:  Growing up between Mexico and Texas, navigating identity and cultural shock  His struggle through...

Rodney Pennington sits down to have a conversation with Tim and Susan, a remarkable couple who met in Bible college and have been joyfully married for nearly 34 years. Together they’ve raised three sons—all now grown, married, and passionately serving Jesus in ministries around the world—and they’re blessed with eight precious grandchildren!    For almost 31 years, Tim and Susan have faithfully se...

This episode of Facing a Task Unfinished will be of particular interest to TCKs (Third-Culture Kids) and those interested in the lives of missionary kids. Michael Best was born and spent most of his early childhood on the mission field where he struggled with a sense of belonging and, at times, his faith.  You'll hear how after settling in the states in high school following his years in other...

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose," is a challenge that led Neil Thompson into a life of missions, specifically medical missions in Thailand.  Dr. Thompson and his wife Wannee join us on this episode of the podcast.  Medical missions plays a large part in Neil's story and he shares how a newly established hospital became a place of discipleship...

How clear should your call to overseas missions be? We welcome Megan Sarian to our podcast this month. Her journey to becoming a missionary in Cambodia was a slow and gradual process.  You'll appreciate her honesty that a "call" overseas may not be as clear-cut as many people might think it is, or should be. And even a call to go doesn't necessarily mean "soon" or &quot...

What if you limited God with your own definition of what missions should be?   Rodney Pennington welcomes to the podcast Grant Haynes from Global Frontier Missions (GFM). Grant founded GFM in 2000. It's a fascinating origin story that illustrates how God has a plan that is so much bigger than we can often comprehend, taking us to places that we might not have ever considered on our own.  Grant...

What would you sacrifice for just one person to know Christ?  What if a specific desire you had to serve Christ was potentially turning into an idol to you? And what if God said "No" to that specific desire to serve? Amanda Slaughter joins Rodney Pennington on the Facing a Task Unfinished podcast to talk about those questions and so much more. As Amanda prepares to become an OMF missionary in Japa...

OMF missions mobilizer Lisa Mellinger joins us on the podcast to share her journey into missions.  Often our guests tell us about the family support they had. Lisa's story is different.  As a Chinese family living in America, wanting to serve in China when she was young was not looked upon favorably by her parents, a story that Lisa shares with humor looking back on it after so many years. She...

You've probably heard the saying, "Be careful what you wish for." It can hold true for our prayers, too.    That's a foundational part of the story we're excited to share on our podcast. Eric and Katie Unruh tell us how praying about Japan led to hearing the call to serve as missionaries in Japan.    You'll hear how the one person Eric and Katie needed to talk to (unbekno...

If you've been listening to our podcast conversations for a while, you'll notice a few common themes. One is: I had plans for my life, but God had other plans that were better.    However, the journey isn't always smooth as you'll hear in the latest episode of our podcast.   Marjorie Young-Krauss shares about her life, from growing up in the Philippines to moving to the U.S., and how God became mo...

Imagine hearing at age five that a teacher thought you’d “never become anything.”  But God had other plans for the young Brian Newton, a shy child from England.  The road wouldn’t be smooth, though, and far from a straight line as God slowly positioned Brian to where He wanted him to be as a missionary. Even after beginning service overseas there were trials to overcome. It’s a fascinating story t...

"If you lived here, you would understand."This is often the response OMF Taiwan missionary Kat Tang wants to say to people who inquire about why, after five years in Meishan, Taiwan, has no one become a Christian yet? It can be a difficult subject, but the full answer is so important to understand! In addition to this audio, you can see her share this story (and see a bit of Meishan) on...

The United States is home to more international migrants than any other country, receiving 20% of the world’s “people on the move.” Today, 13.8% of U.S. residents are foreign-born, with 1 in 25 people having never heard about Jesus. Many East and Southeast Asians arrive in the U.S. from countries where the gospel isn’t easily accessible. Through our new Global Neighbors Ministries, we collaborate...

What happens when you think you have your life figured out, but God leads you in a new direction? And what happens when there's still suffering to endure such as a divorce? OMF's Sharon Tang joins Rodney Pennington on this episode of the podcast to talk about her life... how curiosity about a free gift led her to church one Christmas, her journey as a doctor, and how a patient of hers making a mir...

Former OMF (U.S.) President and National Director, Michael Littlefield, joins Rodney Pennington on this episode of the podcast. Michael shares about how his faith developed and led to a life in missions with his first wife, LeMei. After working for many years with OMF in Taiwan and Singapore, they returned to the U.S. to continue serving with OMF in Colorado.  Michael shares how God led them throu...

Instead of asking, “Am I called to missions?”, a better question might be, “How does God want me to participate in His mission to reach the world?” Writer Christopher Lane explores that question on this episode of the podcast. ----- Originally started as China Inland Mission and now as OMF, our mission is to share the good news of Jesus Christ in all its fullness with East Asia’s peoples to the gl...

What happens when an unpleasant person is the person God puts in your path to speak to? OMF Thailand missionary Bekah Farber explains what happened to her in that situation. ----- Originally started as China Inland Mission and now as OMF, our mission is to share the good news of Jesus Christ in all its fullness with East Asia’s peoples to the glory of God. Learn how you can be involved at: https:/...

"Do you want the pleasures of the world or are you going to seek Jesus? You can't be on the fence. It's one or the other." Cambodia missionary and OMF mobilizer Travis Pappa joins Rodney Pennington on this episode of the podcast.  A very clear call to missions still came with choices and challenges. Travis walks us through that journey of how God spoke to his heart and opened doors from an early a...

From a challenging past to a hope-filled future in Christ, OMF’s Kori Jackson shares her journey from Laos to the U.S., and how God’s patience helped her to see that a different life was possible. Kori talks about the pain of her past, including the murder of her brother, and how God continued to pursue her even in the midst of her lowest moments.  —— Originally started as China Inland Mission and...

Among our conversations with missionaries on the podcast, being a missionary as a single person has come up multiple times. Today, we focus exclusively on this important topic.  Executive Director for Mobilization, Rodney Pennington, talks with OMF Philippines missionary Andy Smith. As a single missionary himself, Andy's story sheds light on how single missionaries can thrive, especially when...

With over four decades ministering to the people of Thailand, OMF missionary Larry Dinkins talks with Rodney Pennington about how God has worked in the hearts of the Thai people, and in Dinkins himself.  Dinkins shares how he came to Christ, what led him to Thailand, the loss of his wife and ministry partner to cancer, and how stories and Bible memorization are so important to sharing the Good New...