PMPod

Everyone we talked to said it was normal, but we felt that something wasn't right.

We often talk about the struggle missionary kids have following their parents’ calling, but how do parents respond to their calling when their kids aren’t thriving on the field? Today on the Pod, I talk to a guy who had to make some hard decisions when he and his wife found out their oldest son had autism.

To read more go to PMPod.org

Timeline 

• 00:00 Intro 
• 01:00 Getting called to missions 
• 06:46 Being effective in the culture 
• 09:45 Expectations on the field  
• 12:30 The dangers of people pleasing 
• 16:00 The stress on marriage 
• 20:45 Having young children on the field 
• 24:38 Ministering as a couple 
• 28:20 The need for community 
• 31:05 Autism diagnosis 
• 40:37 Hard decisions 

"May the Lamb who is slain receive the reward of his suffering."

Today on the Pod, we get a healthy reminder of God's sovereignty over all things for the joy of all people. My guest is both clear and gentle and proactive and pastoral. He has ministry experience in both the 1-/40 Window and in one of the most secular countries in the world.   

Find links and resources mentioned in today's episode at pmpod.org 

Timeline 

• 00:00 Intro 
• 01:00 Getting Kicked out 
• 09:21 From overseas to cross-culture back home
• 12:16 Why is the church collapsing in the West? 
• 15:40 Raising Children in the West 
• 18:56 Why is family worship so hard? 
• 22:15 Technology and raising kids 
• 27:35 Discipleship 
• 31:40 Healthy signs of spiritual growth 
• 35:00 Six Characteristics for church leaders 
• 36:26 Pitfalls in Discipleship
• 41:08 Biblical Counseling 
• 45:42 The sovereignty of God brings comfort
• 50:28 The sovereignty of God for cross-cultural workers

Life itself takes more time on the field.

Today on the Pod, I have a very real conversation with a cross-cultural worker who has spent the last 15 years ministering and raising his family overseas. Expect to learn some basics about Orthodox Christianity, some tips on helping people with physical needs, what some of the signs of spiritual maturity are, the toll missions takes on marriages, the value of spiritual retreats, the importance of mentors, the power of learning the local language well, avoiding the comparison trip, and much more.

Find out more at Pmpod.org

Timeline 

• 00:00 Intro 
• 01:00 Orthodox Christianity 
• 7:42 Dealing with the physical needs of the people 
• 12:42 Signs of spiritual maturity 
• 16:00 The toll missions takes on marriage 
• 24:15 Spiritual retreats 
• 26:03 Family rhythms of rest 
• 30:10 Raising third-culture kids 
• 36:20 The Value of learning the language 
• 42:45 The comparison trap
• 53:35 Advice to the weary worker 

The message of the Gospel is for all those who are weary and carrying heavy burdens to come to Jesus and find rest. Today on the Pod, my guest shared how she was able to let go of her feelings of failure and not being good enough and cling to God and who he is for her. My guest also shared with me about her own inability to have children and how difficult that was.

"It takes a lot of courage to be honest with yourself about what’s happening in your life."

To find out more, go to PMPod.org

Timeline 

• 00:00 Intro 
• 01:00 Figure out if missions for me
• 04:10 The first two years in the Middle East 
• 07:45 Being a single woman in the Arab World 
• 10:42 The support of families on the field 
• 12:55 Re-entry and transition 
• 17:00 From cross-cultural to home office
• 19:00 Getting married and moving back to the field 
• 21:50 Feeling like a failure on the field 
• 25:30 Feeling like you’re not enough 
• 33:00 Dealing with anxiety 
• 40:00 Dealing with the inability to have children 

Today on the Pod, I talk to a guy who first left for the Middle East back in 1972! No matter where he was in the world, the Middle East was always in his heart. In today's Pod, expect to learn about the power of prayer, the value of short-term trips, the importance of languages, dealing with new believers, the strengths and weaknesses of DBS, the importance of knowing Islam, and the importance of knowing the Bible.

"My heart is to get across the deity of Christ in a way that Muslims can understand it."


Find out more at Pmpod.org

Timeline 

• 00:00 Intro 
• 01:00 Impacted by prayer and need 
• 05:25 Spain in the 70s
• 07:12 The Arab World in the 70s 
• 11:55 A passion for languages 
• 15:10 Helpful translations in Arabic 
• 19:12 The values for workers to know the Bible in the local language 
• 22:18 Teaching English on the field 
• 27:00 Moving back to the field after 17 years 
• 32:50 Discipleship issues 
• 35:12 Strengths and weakness of DBS 
• 38:45 The value of knowing Islam 
• 42:15 The value of knowing the Bible 

Today on the Pod, I talk to my guys from episode #45 Spiritual Abuse , and see where God has taken her life over the last three rollercoaster years. Expect to learn about trusting God through difficulties, finding new approaches after change, the blessings and challenges of living alone, what resilience is, the role others play in our decisions, starting over, re-entering into the Middle East, the pyramid of care, and the impact of the story of Joseph. 

Get more access at Pmpod.org 

Timeline 

• 00:00 Into
• 01:00 Recap from last time
• 04:55 The ability to not doubt God
• 06:30 Understanding where God is during difficulties
• 08:30 New approaches to communication
• 12:22 Living alone
• 13:08 Experiencing loneliness
• 17:20 Resilience
• 21:10 The role others play
• 24:10 Starting the process again
• 26:25 Choosing a new org
• 31:15 Getting back to the Middle East
• 36:00 What is different this time?
• 38:45 The pyramid of care
• 43:00 The story of Joseph

I read from Athanasius's Statement of Faith which he wrote in the mid-AD300s! It's amazing to see how Christian faith has been articulated and believed down through the ages.   Listen to this mini episode and rejoice that your faith is the same as theirs all those years ago.

Read the transcript here

In today's PMPod Mini, I talk for ten minutes about a theological topic you've probably never really thought about, which is at the center of the Christian faith.   

Are you willing to renounce everything and follow Jesus?

Today on the pod, I talked to a guy with over 30 years of experience in cross-cultural ministry.  He has the heart of a pastor and wisdom that only comes through decades of following Jesus. 

"This guy looked at me and said, "Are you willing to die in the Middle East?"

Find more quotes from today's episode at pmpod.org   

Timeline 

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:00 Getting called 
• 07:25 Called together  
• 8:59 Advice for couples with tension in calling 
• 11:15 The passion to keep going 
• 14:03 Willing to suffer 
• 17:00 The desire to quit 
• 19:54 Raising a family on the field 
• 24:55 The tension of ministry and family 
• 28:44 Meditating on God’s Word 
• 33:00 Preparing mission sermons 
• 40:20 Preaching to other cross-cultural workers 
• 45:00 How the devil attacks workers 
• 49:00 Serving without a rule  

Today on the Pod, I have a hilarious and highly insightful conversation with a woman with lots of experience on the field. In this episode, you can expect to learn what it looks like for God to call you into missions, what it’s like to minister to Arab women, the complexities of figuring out the culture, the complexities of ministry in closed countries, the importance of language, how to build friendships with Arabs, and much more.   

"In my exhaustion, God opened up the most amazing opportunity."

Read and learn more here pmpod.org

Timeline 

• 00:00 Introduction 
• 01:00 Taking measures to avoid missions 
• 02:35 Ministering to woman  
• 04:58 Figuring out culture 
• 12:23 Enjoying the culture 
• 15:25 Ministry expectations
• 20:30 Worship with locals 
• 21:40 The importance of language
• 28:35 Friendships with Arabs
• 43:20 Getting rest 
• 50:30 Healthy boundaries 
• 54:56 Staying healthy on the field