During July and August, we are highlighting our all-time top 10 episodes for you, in case you missed them! We are enjoying time with family and some needed rest. If this episode speaks to you, share it with a friend!

Mission work is more than preaching the gospel; it's a spiritual battle that involves the Holy Spirit and spiritual forces of darkness. We should not be unaware or flippant about the enemy's work and influence as we go about mission work. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers. Resistance to the gospel should not result in frustration towards people; but a frustration that leads to desperate prayer. Listen in as our South Asian friend and ministry partner Noah J gives a thorough, biblical teaching on the necessity of the Holy Spirit and the Word to gain victory over the enemy.

How do we as outsiders learn to communicate the gospel and provide biblical counsel cross-culturally in a way that gets to people's hearts? Listen in as Matt and Sheryl share from their experience in church planting and counseling in the U.S. and South Asia. Matt is South Asian and grew up in South Asia. He has done ministry in the U.S. and currently in a megacity in South Asia. Sheryl is a licensed marriage and family counselor. 

Many times, coworkers arrive on the field expecting to be handed an amazing national believer ready to partner in church-planting. In reality, national partners aren't usually "handed over" or "found," but developed over months and years of investing in lots of believers. Listen in as Jared and Michelle, missionary leaders (and dear friends) in South Asia, share best practices from their almost 20 years of experience.

Culture stress is an inevitable challenge for sent-out ones living in foreign cultures, and it doesn't seem to go away! Listen in as we discuss some of the heart-level causes of culture stress, and how to shepherd our hearts in a way that glorifies God and honors the people we came to serve.

Culture stress is an inevitable challenge for sent-out ones living in foreign cultures, and it doesn't seem to go away! Listen in as we discuss some of the heart-level causes of culture stress, and how to shepherd our hearts in a way that glorifies God and honors the people we came to serve.

A part of our job as team leaders on the field is partnering with Stateside (home country) churches, which includes planning for and hosting short term volunteer teams. This requires a lot of work, time, planning, and often stress; however these volunteer teams can be a fruitful part of our field strategy! Listen in as we share best practices for using short term teams well (without losing your minds!)

Burn-out - or exhaustion due to chronic work-related stress - is a danger for everyone. Listen in as Bobby F, a missionary with 26+ years of field experience and currently a counselor to missionaries, shares his own story of burn-out, signs to watch for, tips for prevention, and the root cause of burn-out that surprised us! 

Bobby recommended several "soul care" authors and books:
Steve Smith
Trevor Hudson - Cycle of Grace
Richard Foster
Dallas Willard
Ruth Haley Barton- An Introduction to Silence and Solitude; Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership
Pete Scazzero - Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

As we engage with local believers and churches on the mission field, largely for the purposes of training, what do we do when they have different doctrinal beliefs than we do? To what extent should we partner with them, and how? What about churches that are more "charismatic" or have some "prosperity gospel" leanings? Listen in as we discuss how to handle this common issue on the field. 

Jesse, Jacob C, and Will J are coworkers and brothers in our city that have been meeting weekly for the past 3 years intentionally to "walk in the light together" - to be able to intentionally share the hard stuff and sin struggles in a safe, trustworthy place. This has been extremely influential for all three in their health and growth. Listen in as they share how their group grew in trusting one another and how you can pursue similar trusting, open relationships in your life.

The guys have gone through the following books in their time together:
Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
Future Grace by John Piper
The Voice of the Heart by Chip Dodd
Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at your Table by Louie Giglio
Knowing God by JI Packer