The Field Leaders Podcast

How should mission leaders prepare their people to serve wisely in high-risk and unstable environments?

In Part Two of this conversation, Dr. Bob McNabb talks with Scott Brawner, President and CEO of Concilium, about the practical side of leading through crisis. They discuss contingency planning, evacuation “tripwires,” communication, decision-making under uncertainty, care for families and local partners, and the importance of debriefing after a crisis.

Scott emphasizes that security and crisis management are not about eliminating all risk, but about faithfully shepherding people through uncertainty so they can remain effective in gospel ministry.

Concilium Website

Threshold for Departure, Benchmarks for Return

Critical Incident Debriefing Guide

What happens when your leadership role becomes your identity? In this episode, Dr. Bob McNabb and co-host Scott Lundy talk with Gregg Nicholson and Dr. Bob Flayhart about the hidden traps of role-based identity, the team damage it can cause, and the freedom that comes from leading out of sonship or daughtership in Christ. You will learn how to recognize unhealthy identity patterns, why psychological safety matters for team health, and practical steps to reorient your heart.

The Gospel Waltz: Experiencing the Transformational Power of Grace - by Dr. Bob Flayhart https://tinyurl.com/4fwuj756

"Becoming a Leader of No Reputation" - by R. Scott Rodin https://tinyurl.com/39rkvhef

What does faithful leadership look like when ministry involves real risk? In this episode, Bob McNabb and Scott Lundy are joined by Scott Brawner, President and CEO of Consilium, to explore the biblical foundations of security, suffering, and wise stewardship in missions. Together they unpack the difference between courage and recklessness, victimization and persecution, and show why security is ultimately a leadership responsibility—not just a policy. If you lead missionaries, church planters, or ministry teams, this conversation will help you build a culture that is both courageous and wise.

How can leaders help their team members stay fully funded without treating partner development as a necessary evil? In this episode, Bob McNabb and Scott Lundy talk with Chris Guzzardo about addressing the fear, guilt, and shame that often surround fundraising. They explore practical rhythms for maintaining strong partner relationships, ways leaders can provide compassionate accountability, and why heart-level freedom is essential for long-term financial health. Discover how to help your team approach partner development with greater confidence, consistency, gratitude, and joy.Partner Development Training: https://www.freetobefunded.com

One Page Worksheet - "How to Maintain Your Financial Partner Team" https://www.freetobefunded.com/teamcare

In this episode, Bob is joined by Scott, Jim Doggett, and Jonathan King to talk about sabbatical leadership — not simply how to take a sabbatical, but how leaders, supervisors, coaches, and organizations can help others step away well, experience deep renewal, and return healthier.Together, they explore why sabbaticals are more than extended vacations or emergency responses to burnout. A well-led sabbatical can become a deeply transformative season of replenishment, healing, clarity, and renewed dependence on Jesus.The conversation covers how organizational leaders can normalize sabbaticals, how supervisors can prepare teams before someone steps away, how to avoid making people feel guilty for resting, and why sabbaticals can strengthen both the individual leader and the whole team.Whether you lead a ministry, oversee team leaders, coach missionaries, or care for staff, this episode will help you think more intentionally about creating a culture where rest, renewal, and transformation are part of healthy leadership.Resources: https://missionexus.org/improve/ministry-sabbatical-tools/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

How can field leaders stay spiritually healthy, resilient, and full of the Holy Spirit over the long haul? In this episode, Kyle Fannan, author of Overflowing and Godly Grit, shares practical wisdom on enduring in leadership without running dry. We talk about the mindsets, habits, relationships, and team dynamics that help leaders thrive and serve from overflow rather than exhaustion.https://www.kylefarran.comEVALUATION TOOL FOR POTENTIAL TEAMMATES Connect for Mentoring or Peer Groups

How much does team composition really matter in ministry?

In this episode of The Field Leaders Podcast, Dr. Bob McNabb, Scott Lundy, and special guest Jim Doggett explore why building a high-performing team takes more than spiritual maturity and shared mission. They unpack how gifting, temperament, character, competency, chemistry, and cultural context all shape team effectiveness.

You’ll hear practical insights on:

• why the right mix of people matters

• how “wiring” and SHAPE influence team roles

• common mistakes leaders make when building teams

• how team composition should change with mission phase

• warning signs your team may be missing key strengths

• how to evaluate your current team without dishonoring people

This conversation is especially helpful for field leaders, church planters, ministry team leaders, and anyone seeking to recruit, build, and lead a healthier, stronger team.

Worksheet

Resiliency is not just about keeping individual workers healthy, it is about building ministries that can withstand attrition, visa issues, transitions, and seasons of hardship while the work keeps moving forward. Scott Lundy interviews Dr. Bob McNabb on “resiliency re-examined,” including mindset shifts for leaders, how to cultivate national ownership early, why teams need a deep bench, how sub-teams create critical redundancy, and what support structures every field leader should have (coaching, peers, and gospel community). Join the discussion and share what you have seen help the work endure.

https://missionexus.org/podcast-listing/the-field-leaders-podcast/

Missionary leadership is demanding—and many leaders feel overloaded, isolated, and under-supported. In this episode of The Field Leaders Podcast, we share what 76 missionary field leaders told us are their greatest challenges—ranked. You’ll hear the Top 15 missionary leadership challenges, grouped into three buckets: overwhelming demands, team issues, and the leader’s internal landscape + inadequate support systems—plus the practical supports that help: mentorship/coaching, peer support, gospel community, and shared leadership.

Contact us: https://missionexus.org/podcast-listing/the-field-leaders-podcast/

Webinars: https://missionexus.org/events/list/

Research Finding Paper: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PNj47upU-J1wbqK7uNJGDFAP5nhAoXMV/view?usp=sharing

Keywords: missionary leadership, field leadership, missions leadership, cross-cultural leadership, team leadership, burnout, isolation, mentoring, coaching, team conflict, resilience, training.

Why do so many well intended ministry efforts stall, even when teams are healthy and committed?In this episode of The Field Leaders Podcast, Bob McNabb is joined by Scott Lundy and veteran missionary Greg Nicholson to explore why strategy matters in cross cultural ministry. Drawing on decades of experience in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, they reflect honestly on lessons learned, mistakes made, and why coming alongside national leaders, rather than trying to do the work ourselves, often leads to greater fruit.This conversation dives into humility, posture, trust, team leadership, and the realities of partnering with local believers in complex contexts. If you are a field leader, team leader, or cross cultural worker wrestling with strategy and effectiveness, this episode offers hard won insight and practical wisdom.