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 countries, a move overseas was coming, bringing up some strong emotions. 

But there was a turning point and it eventually led Michael to his work with TCKs today. 

To learn more about Michael's ministry, visit:
https://partnerhub.omf.org/MB1

"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 and showed that actions could speak as loudly as words. 

It was while serving in Thailand that Neil met Wannee. Her story includes an introduction to Christianity in her family that did not go over well with her father and led to persecution of her sisters. 

Their stories illustrate how God has a plan for us even when it's not immediately apparent or when it seems counter to what we think we want. 

We're thrilled to share their stories in this episode! 

Other resources for you: 

Get to Know Neil and Wannee Thompson 

https://omf.org/us/get-know-neil-wannee-thompson-omf-staff/

Caring for Body, Soul and Spirit in Thailand: A Story of OMF Medical Missions 

https://omf.org/us/caring-for-body-soul-and-spirit-in-thailand-a-story-of-omf-medical-missions/

Healthcare Missions: Past, Present, and Future 

https://missionexus.org/healthcare-missions-past-present-and-future/

(Missio Nexus membership needed to read the full article.) 

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 "right now." 

If you or someone you know has wrestled with the call to missionary service in another country, you'll be blessed by Megan's story and encouraged by God's timing and provision despite our questions or feelings of inadequacy. 

To learn more about Megan's work in Cambodia, visit: https://partnerhub.omf.org/MS1

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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://omf.org/us/

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's passion is to see as many individuals and churches as possible praying, giving, welcoming, and going to unreached people groups (UPGs). 

Grant spent 14 years serving in Oaxaca, Mexico with his wife and three children church planting among UPGs, hosting short-term mission groups, running an indigenous Bible school, and starting a missionary training school. 

He has spent the last 14 years serving among refugees in Clarkston, GA. In this episode of the podcast, you'll hear how you can be a part of that!

Learn more about GFM at: https://www.globalfrontiermissions.org/  

Get more details about the Train and Go Apprenticeship at: 

https://www.globalfrontiermissions.org/train-and-go-apprenticeship

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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://omf.org/us/

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 Japan, you'll hear how suffering as a child, including a near-death experience from a car accident at age 11, created a foundation that God would use to help shape how she looked at those who don't know the love of Christ.

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://omf.org/us/
 

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 also shares how God worked in her life, and around her, even as a number of doors were closed to her.

 Mentioned in this episode:

Lisa's article, To Be a Hidden Foreigner, can be found on the MissioNexus site, although an account with them is required to read it.

https://missionexus.org/to-be-a-hidden-foreigner-issues-christian-chinese-americans-face-living-in-china/

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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://omf.org/us/

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 (unbeknownst to them) at a pivotal moment was the person God placed in their path... while working on a Christian bookfair ship... during the pandemic. It's one of many stories of how God worked in their lives in ways they couldn't have planned.

You'll notice we've changed the name of the podcast to Facing a Task Unfinished. It's also the name of a song and you can read how it's tied to OMF on our blog: https://omf.org/the-story-behind-the-song-facing-a-task-unfinished/

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 more and more real to her as time went on in ways she couldn't have planned. 

You'll also hear how some interesting circumstances led to her marriage to husband, Fred, and how their life together led them to a stronger faith in God and their roles in His kingdom. 

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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://omf.org/us/

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 that we’re thrilled to share with you!

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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://omf.org/us/

"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 our YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/H_ruxefB6fw

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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://omf.org/us/