Global Mission Toolbox

What does it look like to care well for single missionaries?

In this episode, Maggie sits down with Ruth Ann Graybill to explore the unique realities faced by single men and women on the mission field. Together, they discuss loneliness, community, accountability, friendships, and the practical ways churches can better support the singles they send.

Ruth Ann also shares encouraging insights on moving from loneliness to solitude, building healthy support systems, and embracing the unique opportunities that singleness can bring in cross-cultural ministry.

In This Episode:
Challenges unique to single missionaries
Why isolation can be difficult on the field
The difference between loneliness and solitude
Practical ways churches can support singles well
Habits and support systems that help missionaries flourish
The unique blessings of serving as a single missionary

Key Takeaway - Single missionaries thrive when they are intentionally supported, meaningfully connected, and valued for who they are, not their marital status.

Connect - For more resources on missions, missionary care, and sending well, check out our other resources on our website.

Questions or comments? We'd love to hear from you – our contact form is a great way to connect.

Bio - Ruth Ann Graybill is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist based in Fullerton, California. Drawing on years of experience in both counseling and missions, she serves individuals, families, and missionaries through counseling, debriefing, crisis care, and training. Having lived and served on the mission field herself, she is deeply committed to helping people navigate life's challenges and flourish in their relationships and calling.

You can connect with Ruth Ann Graybill through her email – [email protected]

Resource - Emotional Needs of Women on the Mission Field : https://global-mission-toolbox.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/media/8bfcfaa6-9e96-417c-8d68-127de176f513-Emotional-Needs-of-Women-on-the-Mission-Field.pdf

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Topics: Member Care, Caring for Missions Workers

The local church is more than the place where a missionary’s journey begins. It plays a vital role in recognizing, preparing, supporting, and sending those who go.

In this episode, Mags sits down with Elliot Clark to explore how churches can intentionally encourage aspiring missionaries. Elliot shares six practical habits that can help prepare someone for cross-cultural ministry, while highlighting the importance of faithful service, biblical grounding, relational maturity, practical skills, and patient preparation.

Whether you are exploring missions yourself or helping someone in your church discern their next steps, this conversation offers practical encouragement for preparing and sending missionaries well.

Bio - Elliot Clark (MDiv, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) has served in international missions since 2009, first as a church planter in Central Asia, and then as a teacher equipping international church leaders. He currently serves with Reaching & Teaching and is the author of Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission as Strangers in Our Own Land (2019) and Mission Affirmed: Recovering the Missionary Motivation of Paul (2022).
https://store.thegospelcoalition.org/tgc/products/4527/evangelism-as-exiles
https://store.thegospelcoalition.org/tgc/products/11129/mission-affirmed

Resources

Reaching and Teaching - www.rtim.org
Joshua Project - https://joshuaproject.net
Emily Bennet - Before You Go: Wisdom from Ten Women Who Served Internationally - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/98181053-before-you-go
Matt Bennett - Before You Go: Wisdom from Ten Men on Serving Internationally: Wisdom from 10 men serving internationally - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198394114
Aaron Menikoff - Prioritizing Missions in the Church - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213898813
Upcoming book from Elliot Clark (March 2027): The Ordinary Missionary: Everyday Grace for an Extraordinary Work - https://www.crossway.org/books/the-ordinary-missionary-tpb/?srsltid=AU7gw4Vw3Y-nEmx6nGSO6yER2seUmTNzuZOwv2ay3j5Fo33eIe95Gn1D

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Topics: Calling and Preparation

In this conversation with Rich Noble and Jenny Karr, we explore the blessings found in support raising as well as the practical steps that goer and sender can practice in the process of support discovery.

Rich bio: Richard Noble is the founder and director of the Center for Missional Engagement in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he lives with his wife, Amy, and serves as the Global Neighbor Ministries Coordinator at Allegheny Center Alliance Church. Together Richard and Amy raised four children and gained three sons-in-law and five granddaughters along the way. Richard also serves as a mission's mobilizer with The Christian & Missionary Alliance, a regional coordinator for the Refugee and Immigrant Network of the C&MA, and adjunct faculty at Crown College and Geneva College. As a mission's mobilizer, his focus is graciously nudging pastors to lead their congregations into missions, as well as encouraging people from all ethnic groups to engage in God’s work around the world.

This is how you can reach Rich Noble:
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-noble-67544137/
Substack: https://substack.com/@ranoble412
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerformissionalengagement

Jenny bio: Jenny Karr has been a fundraising trainer and coach for 13 years, starting while she and her family served as missionaries in Vietnam. That ministry experience developed in Jenny a passion for training, equipping, and supporting people in ministry and she currently serves at The Christian and Missionary Alliance teaching their roughly 650 international workers how to support raise. Show notes:

This is how you can reach Jenny Karr:
[email protected]
Instagram @jennykarr
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-karr?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

Jenny and Rich’s recommended resources from Part A:

Henri Nouwen, A Spirituality of Fundraising
Nathan Ball, A Spirituality of Fundraising Workbook Edition
Steve Shadrach, The God Ask
Betty Barnett, Friend Raising: Building a Missionary Support Team That Lasts
Scott Morton, Funding Your Ministry Subscribe to us on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@globalmissionspodcast7493
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalmissionspodcast/ or @globalmissionspodcast
Reach out to our team: [email protected]

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Topics: Support Raising, Caring for Missions Workers, Member Care, Prayer, Sending Church

Jenny Karr and Rich Noble join us to trace the biblical foundation of support raising, exploring God’s pattern of generosity and provision from the Old Testament through the early church. Together, they consider what Scripture reveals about why God invites His people to participate in providing for those He calls and sends.

Rich bio: Richard Noble is the founder and director of the Center for Missional Engagement in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he lives with his wife, Amy, and serves as the Global Neighbor Ministries Coordinator at Allegheny Center Alliance Church. Together Richard and Amy raised four children and gained three sons-in-law and five granddaughters along the way. Richard also serves as a missions mobilizer with The Christian & Missionary Alliance, a regional coordinator for the Refugee and Immigrant Network of the C&MA, and adjunct faculty at Crown College and Geneva College. As a missions mobilizer, his main focus is graciously nudging pastors to lead their congregations into missions, as well as encouraging people from all ethnic groups to engage in God’s work around the world.

Jenny bio: Jenny Karr has been a fundraising trainer and coach for 13 years, starting while she and her family served as missionaries in Vietnam. That ministry experience developed in Jenny a passion for training, equipping, and supporting people in ministry and she currently serves at The Christian and Missionary Alliance teaching their roughly 650 international workers how to support raise.

This is how you can reach Jenny Karr:
[email protected]
Instagram @jennykarr
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-karr?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

Show notes:
Jenny and Rich’s recommended resources:
Henri Nouwen, A Spirituality of Fundraising
Nathan Ball, A Spirituality of Fundraising Workbook Edition
Steve Shadrach, The God Ask
Betty Barnett, Friend Raising: Building a Missionary Support Team That Lasts
Scott Morton, Funding Your Ministry

Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@globalmissionspodcast7493
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalmissionspodcast/ or @globalmissionspodcast
Reach out to our team: [email protected]

Watch this episode on YouTube

Topics: Biblical Foundations, Support Raising

Join Heather Dellamater of Global Outreach International as she shares encouraging stories of God's faithfulness and the ways He is growing His Church across the Maasai people in Kenya.

Show notes:
Learn more about GOI at https://globaloutreach.org
Subscribe to us on YouTube: Global Missions Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalmissionspodcast/ or @globalmissionspodcast
Connect with our team via email: [email protected]

Topics: Mission Field