Modern Day Missionaries

How long have you been on the mission field? Did you know that the challenges you’re facing and the perspective you’ve developed are likely more similar to others at your stage than you might think? In this episode, authors and missionaries Jonathan and Elizabeth Trotter share the five stages of the missionary life cycle they’ve observed. They also share the potential pitfalls and opportunities in...

Have you ever felt caught between your faith and the political chaos around you? Are you unsure how to navigate conversations with supporters who expect you to take sides? Or maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed by the political headlines and wondering how to stay focused on your mission. We dive deep into these questions and more with Dr. Russell Moore , editor-in-chief of Christianity Today , as we...

Are you looking to connect with business leaders to partner with you financially in your missions work? In this episode, we sit down with Lee Domingue, the visionary behind Kingdom Builders , a movement that's revolutionizing how missions are funded around the world. Lee shares how you can effectively engage with business leaders and churches to accelerate your impact and fund the work God ha...

In this episode, we dive deep with Dr. Sammy Wanyonyi , a passionate missionary and evangelist who’s not only spreading the Gospel but staying grounded in his faith despite a very active and ever-changing schedule. Sammy shares powerful insights on maintaining intimacy with Jesus, even when life is pulling him in multiple directions —whether he's in the U.S., Ethiopia, Kenya, Korea, the Nethe...

Do you ever struggle with the need to control others? Have you noticed how easily offenses can build up, even to the point of making you question your calling?  What if the key to lasting leadership isn't about keeping everyone in line but about something much deeper? In a day and age where scandals are shaking the church and leaders are dropping like flies, how can we become healthy leaders...

Do you ever wonder if your past or struggles with your identity are holding you back in your mission work? In this episode, Tom Hallas opens up about his journey of discovering what it really means to be a child of God. From the struggles of his upbringing to the lessons learned in Youth With A Mission , Tom shares how letting go of false identities—whether tied to nationality, education, or gende...

Have you ever felt puzzled by how differently Christians experience and express their faith? How can we walk in unity when we sometimes see things so differently? In this episode, member care and missionary veteran Harry Hoffmann shares five unique spiritual worldviews, all rooted in the Bible and the dogma of the Christian faith. From the warrior-like approach of spiritual warfare to the nurturin...

If you feel called to be a missionary, today is for you! Get out your pen and paper, because in this encore episode, Modern Day Missions executive director Marvin Slaton gets extremely practical with next steps to take once you’ve discerned God is calling you to the field. You’ll learn about the five options for being sent, the three key areas of preparation, and how to form a plan of action. At M...

This episode is packed with so much wisdom from the electric Lou Engle. He shares on the powerful topics of dreams, prayer, fasting, and the unique call God has on women's lives. Lou also shares some very specific things God has put on his heart that he believes God is calling women into in this season. Get ready to be deeply energized in your faith! Hey missionaries—how are your finances on...

Do you feel confused, fired up, or just deeply sad about everything you’ve been hearing in the news lately about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? There is so much conflicting information out there and even more anger coming at us from both sides. How can we know what to believe and feel? What is a godly, compassionate response? As a missions community, we felt it was important for us to take a we...

Whether your marriage is on the breaking point or just in need of some fresh ideas and perspective, we’ve got you covered. In this episode with Danny and Stephanie Leigh Gutierrez (guest hosted by Amy Young), we talk very honestly about what to do if your missionary marriage is in crisis. We also look at how couples can get back on the same page if they find themselves growing apart, and we give p...

If you’re curious what a sabbatical is and if it is something you need…or if you’re skeptical about it and are wondering if sabbaticals are even a real thing, today is for you! Jeff Simons of The Way Between answers all your sabbatical questions: why, how, where, how much and if! And make sure to listen all the way to the end, because Jeff has a great giveaway for the first few missionaries who ta...

Obedience. Why do we sometimes have a visceral reaction to that word? Or maybe you don’t struggle with obedience and find it easy to follow God, but your struggle is discerning if something is his voice or not? Or have you ever noticed that obeying God in the small things can be even harder than obeying him in the big things? In this episode, we are joined by Modern Day missionaries Jonathan and A...

On this episode, we're tackling a crucial topic: burnout among missionaries, and we’re joined by Laura Howe, founder of Hope Made Strong. We explore the unique pressures of cross-cultural ministry and examine what sustainable self-care looks like. There’s even a link to burnout quiz you can take to see where you’re at. Join us today for real life examples and actionable strategies to help you...

Do you ever feel like you just don’t get Gen Alpha? Dr. Jolene Erlacher breaks down this fascinating generation for us. She explains the unique way they see the world, the challenges they face, and the strengths they bring to the table. They’ve been born into a crazy world unlike any previous generation, and God has a unique call on their lives. How can we nurture that call, help them understand w...

Have you ever had a season when everything in you wanted to quit and leave the field, the church, the project, the team, the miracle you’ve been believing for But deep in your spirit, you knew God was asking you to keep standing. There are moments in life when God asks us to persevere in areas that feel too much for us. How can we keep from quitting? How can we gain the fresh strength we need to k...

In this encore episode, Dirk Smith, vice president of Eastern European Mission, shares his very personal story of losing his wife to ALS last 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 it is not the end of our story, but is the beginning of something new. Hey missionaries—how are your f...

Hey single missionaries, we see you. You make up a third of missionaries on the field, and 80-85 percent of you are women. We need to know the unique challenges you face and the unique strengths you bring! In this interview with Sarita Hartz, we explore the common things you experience on the field. We also discuss how those of us who serve you and work with you, can empower you to be all God’s ca...

In this episode, we take a look at what today’s missionary looks like and explore some of the similarities and differences to missionaries in the past. We’re joined by Dr. Mary Ho, the executive director of All Nations. Mary gives us a behind-the-scenes look at All Nations missionary John Allen Chau, who was killed a few years ago on mission and whose story was feature in a Disney + documentary. W...

Do you ever feel overwhelmed in life, relationships, or ministry? In this encore episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Margaret Nagib, looks at the role our body plays in overwhelm.  We talk about common physical symptoms missionaries experience when they are in overwhelm, and Margaret looks at the ways God speaks to us through not only our spirit and soul, but also our body. What is good stress vers...

Spiritual warfare. It’s a topic, that for most people, either gets them fired up and ready to battle the enemy, or it leaves a bad taste in their mouth because of how they’ve been taught or seen it used. Whether you love it or are repelled by it, there’s no denying spiritual warfare is real, and Scripture calls us to it. And as missionaries, we especially cannot ignore it. We are all fighting batt...

Missionaries, how would you answer this question: “Are you holding a secret that if your supporters, sending church, or sending organization knew about it, could jeopardize you being on the field?” Amy Young, LPC, president of Global Trellis and former missionary, asked this question of 358 global workers, and boy, did they answer! Senders, you’re going to want to know the profound answers and sur...

Today’s episode is a masterclass in deep listening from executive coach, Cheryl Scanlan, a master certified coach and founder of Promised Land Living. Cheryl has trained more than 3,000 coaches and has 15,000 hours of coaching experience. Her ability to hear the hearts of her clients is unparalleled and consistently leads to dramatic growth and change. In this conversation, she shares her secrets...

Are you frustrated by fundraising? In this episode with Dr. Steve Shadrach of Via Generosity and author of The God Ask , one of the most well-known books on raising support, we talk about the fear of rejection, feeling stuck, and how the way we see God affects our ability to be successful in support raising.  Dr. Shadrach shares practical advice on how to increase your monthly support and gain lon...

Is your soul weary and in need of some rest? Do you feel weighed down by life and ministry? Are you in need of a reset? Today Lynne Themelaras, pastor, counselor, and author of Soul Detox , looks at the types of debris that clutters up our souls and gives practical steps for us to begin our own soul detox. Hey missionaries—how are your finances on the field? At Modern Day Missions , we make it sim...