Modern Day Missionaries

Gen Z is stepping onto the mission field with big questions on their hearts. Is missions moral? Does the West still have a role to play? How do you navigate support raising in today’s world? And what does healthy emotional and spiritual sustainability really look like?

In this conversation, Mark Matlock—author, Insight Lead at Barna, and Executive Director of Urbana—helps us understand the shifts happening with today’s young adults. He shares how their imagination, honesty, and bold questions are shaping the future of missions, and what leaders can do to walk alongside them with wisdom and hope.

Whether you’re a young missionary yourself or mentoring the next generation, this episode will spark fresh insight into how Gen Z is changing the way we think about calling, leadership, and global missions.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• The tough questions Gen Z is asking about missions and why they matter
• How their imagination and creativity are reshaping global ministry
• Why mental health and emotional honesty are becoming strengths on the field
• Practical ways Gen Z can connect with supporters in their own style
• How older generations can mentor without shutting down curiosity

We can all agree, just hearing “end of year support campaign” feels weighty and overwhelming. That’s why I created this comprehensive guide to help you approach your EOY campaign feeling lighter. 

Get your free digital download, walk the plan out step by step, and I believe you will see your fundraising efforts thrive this year! - Coach Ben

EOY Giving Campaign Field Guide 🗺️

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions

X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

Are you frustrated by fundraising? Feeling stuck, under-supported, or embarrassed about the whole process?

In this episode, Dr. Steve Shadrach, author of The God Ask and one of the leading voices in personal support raising, helps reframe fundraising not just as a financial task but as a deeply spiritual journey. With decades of experience mentoring and training missionaries, Steve shares the fears that keep us from asking, the beliefs about God that shape our support journey, and why staying fully funded is one of the greatest ways to sustain your calling long term.

Whether you’re just getting started, stuck in the middle, or needing to re-engage supporters after time on the field, this episode will challenge and encourage you to take bold, faith-filled action.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How fundraising can actually be a spiritual battle (and why it feels so hard sometimes)
• What “The God Ask” really means and how it can shift the way you approach support raising
• Why your view of God matters way more than you think when it comes to asking and receiving
• The simple prep most missionaries skip that makes support meetings go way better
• What it really takes to stay fully funded long term and why it’s worth it

We can all agree, just hearing “end of year support campaign” feels weighty and overwhelming. That’s why I created this comprehensive guide to help you approach your EOY campaign feeling lighter. 

Get your free digital download, walk the plan out step by step, and I believe you will see your fundraising efforts thrive this year! - Coach Ben

EOY Giving Campaign Field Guide 🗺️

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions

X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

Do you ever struggle with knowing how to keep your team motivated? Especially when the work is hard, the stakes are high, and the pay is low (or non-existent)? How can you create a team culture of health from the top down?

In this encore episode, we sit down with Nic and Rachael Billman, founders of Shores of Grace. They have spent over 14 years leading missionaries and staff in Brazil. They open up about the challenges and rewards of managing complex teams, from balancing paid staff and volunteers to navigating the complexities of cross-cultural leadership.

You’ll hear their practical tips on keeping teams unified, motivated, and healthy—plus some personal stories that are sure to resonate with anyone leading in ministry. Whether you’re running a small team or a large ministry, this conversation will inspire you with fresh ideas for leading your team in an effective and healthy way.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to keep your team motivated, even when life gets tough
• Simple ways to build unity across different cultures and personalities
• Practical ways to set a sustainable pace for your team’s long-term success
• Tips for handling conflict and keeping relationships healthy
• Why focusing on relationships and care makes all the difference in ministry

We can all agree, just hearing “end of year support campaign” feels weighty and overwhelming. That’s why I created this comprehensive guide to help you approach your EOY campaign feeling lighter. 

Get your free digital download, walk the plan out step by step, and I believe you will see your fundraising efforts thrive this year! - Coach Ben

EOY Giving Campaign Field Guide 🗺️

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions

X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

Are you constantly pouring out but feeling spiritually depleted?

You care deeply—for people, for God’s mission—but somewhere along the way, your soul has gone dry. What if one small shift could change everything?

If you're thinking, "Empathy is overrated. People need tough love!" then this episode is especially for you. Drs. Bill and Kristi Gaultiere unpack how true empathy—the kind rooted in Christ—can become a powerful source of spiritual renewal. You’ll learn why many missionaries resist receiving empathy, how shame keeps us from asking for care, and what happens when we finally let ourselves be seen, heard, and felt.

This isn’t weakness. It’s spiritual strength. It’s the kind that restores your soul and revives your calling.

You’ll discover what Jesus-shaped empathy really looks like—and how it can transform your relationship with God, yourself, and others.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why many missionaries resist receiving empathy—and how that resistance could be draining your soul
• The difference between true empathy and enabling (hint: it’s not about coddling)
• How shame keeps us from asking for care, even when we desperately need it
• Why empathy is a strength, not a weakness, and how Jesus modeled it perfectly
• Practical ways to receive empathy—from God, from others, and even from yourself

We can all agree, just hearing “end of year support campaign” feels weighty and overwhelming. That’s why I created this comprehensive guide to help you approach your EOY campaign feeling lighter. 

Get your free digital download, walk the plan out step by step, and I believe you will see your fundraising efforts thrive this year! - Coach Ben

EOY Giving Campaign Field Guide 🗺️

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions

X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

Whether it’s pornography, mental health concerns, faith struggles, same-sex attraction, gambling, or emotional collapse—many missionaries are silently asking: What would happen if anyone knew?

In this episode, Dr. Janeen Davis joins us to talk about the silent battles missionaries face—and what it takes to tell the truth when shame tells you to hide. We talk about how secrecy steals your strength, why we’ve created a culture of judgment instead of grace, and how to become the kind of person—or organization—where confession leads to restoration, not rejection.

Whether you’re facing your own struggle or walking with someone who is, this conversation will help you move from fear to freedom, secrecy to healing.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why secrecy around “unmentionable” struggles can slowly erode your spiritual and emotional health
• The unintended ways our missionary and church culture creates judgment rather than restoration
• How shame silences people—and what it really takes to break that cycle
• The difference between gossip, venting, and biblical confession
• What safe, grace-filled restoration can look like—for both individuals and organizations

We can all agree, just hearing “end of year support campaign” feels weighty and overwhelming. That’s why I created this comprehensive guide to help you approach your EOY campaign feeling lighter. 

Get your free digital download, walk the plan out step by step, and I believe you will see your fundraising efforts thrive this year! - Coach Ben

EOY Giving Campaign Field Guide 🗺️

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions

X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

You felt sure. God gave you a vision, you raised the funds, you moved overseas. But then things didn’t go as planned. The vision changed—or maybe you changed. In this episode, Jonathan and Amanda Vining share their powerful story of navigating unexpected shifts, how they learned to walk with God in uncertainty, and why vision isn’t a one-time download—it’s something you live, adapt, and grow into. 

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What to do when your vision shifts unexpectedly
• How to tell the difference between passion and calling
• Ways to communicate change with supporters
• Why small steps of obedience lead to breakthrough
• How to move forward when you're unsure what's next

We can all agree, just hearing “end of year support campaign” feels weighty and overwhelming. That’s why I created this comprehensive guide to help you approach your EOY campaign feeling lighter. 

Get your free digital download, walk the plan out step by step, and I believe you will see your fundraising efforts thrive this year! - Coach Ben

EOY Giving Campaign Field Guide 🗺️

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions

X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

How’s your fundraising working for you right now? Do you feel stuck? Are the methods you're using just not connecting with supporters anymore? In this episode, fundraising expert Mary Valloni and branding strategist Mike Kim share modern, proven strategies missionaries can use to fully fund their ministry without awkward sales pitches or burnout.

Learn how to keep donors through big transitions, build a small but powerful advocacy team, brand yourself in a God-honoring way, and tell the three essential stories every missionary needs. If you’re ready for fresh ideas that work in today’s world, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What’s really working now in missionary fundraising—and how to spot tactics that are wasting your time.
• Ways to approach donors so conversations feel natural, not like a sales pitch.
• How to identify and recruit three to five key advocates who will open doors you can’t open alone.
• A simple mindset shift that makes branding yourself feel God-honoring instead of self-promoting.

We can all agree, just hearing “end of year support campaign” feels weighty and overwhelming. That’s why I created this comprehensive guide to help you approach your EOY campaign feeling lighter. 

Get your free digital download, walk the plan out step by step, and I believe you will see your fundraising efforts thrive this year! - Coach Ben

EOY Giving Campaign Field Guide 🗺️

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions

X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

Do you ever feel like you’re running hard in ministry but still falling behind? Missionary life can be an endless swirl of urgent needs, unfinished to-do lists, and pressure to prove your worth through results.

In this episode, Amy Young of Global Trellis helps unpack the hidden productivity trap that drains your energy—and the surprising shift that frees you to focus on what truly matters.

Discover how to spot “fake wins,” embrace slow productivity, and protect your calling from burnout so you can finish well in the work God’s given you.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• The subtle signs you’re stuck in a productivity trap without realizing it
• How to tell the difference between urgent and truly important work in missions
• Why pseudo productivity can leave you drained but not effective
• Practical ways to slow down without losing momentum in your ministry
• How to align your daily actions with your long-term calling

We can all agree, just hearing “end of year support campaign” feels weighty and overwhelming. That’s why I created this comprehensive guide to help you approach your EOY campaign feeling lighter. 

Get your free digital download, walk the plan out step by step, and I believe you will see your fundraising efforts thrive this year! - Coach Ben

EOY Giving Campaign Field Guide 🗺️

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions

X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

Today’s encore 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 to deep listening with us, speaking directly to us, as missionaries. This is an episode you’ll want to listen to on repeat.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How to identify your default listening style—and why it matters more than you think
• The difference between open and closed listening, and how each impacts relationships
• Why many missionaries unknowingly listen in a way that creates disconnection—and how to shift
• Ways to handle conversations where someone talks too much—without shutting them down
• A practical, biblical framework for transformational listening that missionaries can use daily

We can all agree, just hearing “end of year support campaign” feels weighty and overwhelming. That’s why I created this comprehensive guide to help you approach your EOY campaign feeling lighter. 

Get your free digital download, walk the plan out step by step, and I believe you will see your fundraising efforts thrive this year! - Coach Ben

EOY Giving Campaign Field Guide 🗺️

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions

X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

Do finances feel overwhelming, confusing, or just plain exhausting? Wondering how to run a budget, set up a nonprofit, or stay financially accountable, without a finance degree? We’ve got you covered.

In this episode, financial expert and missions CFO Vonna Laue joins us to share down-to-earth wisdom on how missionaries can manage money well, without losing their minds or their calling.

From personal budgeting tips to nonprofit setup, time-saving tools, and creative ways to get help (even if numbers aren’t your thing), this conversation is packed with practical, encouraging advice for your financial life on the field.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What to do first when you're handed the keys to a new nonprofit
• One small shift that makes asking financial questions feel less intimidating
• How to find free help from people who actually love spreadsheets
• Where missionaries go wrong with expense reports—and how to fix it
• Creative ways AI can save you hours (without compromising your integrity)

We can all agree, just hearing “end of year support campaign” feels weighty and overwhelming. That’s why I created this comprehensive guide to help you approach your EOY campaign feeling lighter. 

Get your free digital download, walk the plan out step by step, and I believe you will see your fundraising efforts thrive this year! - Coach Ben

EOY Giving Campaign Field Guide 🗺️

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions

X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/