MissionSmart

Episode 17 — Loneliness and Friendships  Dealing with loneliness in the early years.  Building new friendships on the field 

Episode 16 — Confessions of a Missionary Couple  Our personal journey through evaluating our own motivations in global missions.   Personal reflections of how some incorrect thinking affected us as we went and after arrived on the field.

Episode 15 — Dangers in Wrong Thinking about Missions Pt2 Continue to talk about how wrong thinking about moving overseas for missions.  It’s so important to have people in our lives who ask us the hard questions regarding our motivations, expectations and the big decisions in our lives.  Part 2 is mostly about how wrong thinking can have destructive effects on how we treat others around us, like...

Episode 14 — Dangers in Wrong Thinking about Missions Pt1 Talking openly about all the mixed motivations, hopes and expectations we can tie to overseas ministry.  Learning to be honest with our hearts and others regarding our motivations and expectations  Part 1 is mostly about how wrong thinking can have destructive effects on us personally. 

Ep 13 Being Single on a Mission Team Interview with our friend and missionary member-care specialist Misty The broader concept of intimacy that we need as people in the Body of Christ, both as married and single people Experiences and patterns of thinking that can encourage falling into a dark place and ways to move toward hope and thriving

Ep 12 Airports and Borders Closing How do the present changes in global travel and border limits affect missions?  How can we respond to these limitations from a global missions perspective?  How will we need to adjust with these changes now and in the future? 

Ep 11 Missions and the Single Woman Vicki interviews her friend Kristin who has lived overseas as a single woman What are some of the issues a single woman needs to consider as a single woman?  What did you find were the unique challenges and advantages in living abroad as a single woman? 

Ep 10 Enjoying another culture Pt.2 Immersing yourself in another culture allows you to see yourself and your own culture differently and learn to hold your views of everything more lightly.  Rearing a family in a family / community-based culture enriches your family.  Warm cultures better reflect the culture of the Bible and help you understand the Bible better.

Ep 09 Enjoying another culture Pt.1 Living overseas in another culture enriches your life and the life of your family.  Experiencing another culture allows you to see another perspective.  Learning another language gives you a second self and view of life and the world.  

“Why do I want to go overseas?” “Why do I want to be missionary?” “What’s inside motiving me?” We always have a mixture of motivations in things we do, and it’s vital to be aware of this.  Wrong motivations can destroy you and your relationships, but with humble and honest understanding of motivations and healthy input from others, we can make sound decisions.

Ep 07 Grieving in transitions - w/ Bill Finnell An interview w/ Bill Finnell who works at Sanctuary Counseling Center in Memphis, TN.  What makes a transition overseas or back home particularly difficult? What is grieving and what does it mean to grieve well?

Ep 06 Marriage and missions Pt. 2 What did we do to protect and strengthen our marriage through the years overseas?   While a couple may have access to organizational conferences, member care counselors, and input from pastors and friends, learning self care / self maintenance is vital to survive and thrive in their relationship. 

Ep5. Marriage and missions Pt.1 Why is marriage such an important topic when considering overseas missions? Discussing the unique struggles for couples living and working in the overseas missions environment and what lessons helped us maintain a strong marriage. 

Developing life skills before you go What life skills are important to learn before launching overseas? Discussing areas regarding practical life skills related to money, personal responsibility, dependability, self-discipline, resolving relational conflict, appealing to authority, relational boundaries, and others.  

Practicing Your Calling  Why it’s important to start practicing your calling into cross-cultural ministry now, before you go overseas.    Personal stories and practical ideas for making lifestyle changes that help prepare you for cross-cultural life and work.

Discerning God’s Will  — To enrich one of the topics within our book MissionSmart, we’ll discuss how God guided us as we made life decisions using the following in unison: Scripture Prayer Circumstances, Counsel