PMPod

Your Host
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Updated Semiweekly

I’m not an expert. I don’t have all the answers.  And I’m not interviewing authors, conference speakers, or experts on the subjects, just normal people learning from one another.

  1. 18h ago

    #105 How Being on the Field Rewrites your Identity

    Today on the Pod, we talk honestly about how long-term life overseas reshapes you until you feel like you belong in your host country and still do not fit back home. We trade stories from Africa and the Middle East about boundaries, health, spiritual life, and the daily pressure of need so you can last with joy and clarity.  We talk about • a conversion story that turns into a call to hard places  • falling in love with an African people group through friendship  • the real cost of selling your house and moving into a mud hut   • illness, decision fatigue, and learning to troubleshoot alone  • practical changes we would make for long-term health and sustainability  • why boundaries matter, including privacy and security  • outsider identity, belonging, and third culture life  • reverse culture shock, shifting politics, and painful misunderstandings  • responding to constant requests with wisdom, limits, and compassion  • syncretism, prosperity gospel pressures, and the need for clear teaching  • staying spiritually healthy through Scripture, prayer, and community  Timeline 00:00 Intro01:00 From first bible to a surrendered life04:08 Finding a people and moving5:40 Comfort shock and Lyme disease 10:43 Healthier rhythms for longevity 16:20 Boundaries that keep you healthy 19:06 Outsider forever and yet known24:37 Retuning home a different person31:58 Dealing with real needs everywhere 36:58 Syncretism and the need for Gospel clarity 39:51 Spiritual health and real community 42:26 Building staying power

  2. Jul 16

    #104 How Do You Do Church Planting If You Don’t Know What The Church Is?

    Today on the Pod, we work through a clear, biblical definition of the local church and why that clarity matters for missionaries and cross-cultural workers who have been shaped by unhealthy church experiences.  We connect church membership, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and congregational authority to everyday discipleship. learn more at PMPod.org  Topics   • confusion created by saying “the church isn’t a building” while ignoring the need for a covenanted body  • the value of expositional preaching versus preacher-driven topical proof texting  • a practical definition of a church as a baptized, covenanted congregation that gathers weekly  • baptism and the Lord’s Supper as covenant signs that shape membership and accountability  • why leaving a church during conflict reveals a thin view of covenant commitment  • the “keys of the kingdom” and the church’s authority over doctrine, membership, discipline, and leadership  • moving from “what do I get?” to “how do I love and build up others?”  • what to do in frontline ministry with only a few believers and no established church  • the dividing line between a Bible study and a church gathered around the ordinances

  3. Jul 1

    (RePlay) #21 The Joy of Surrender

    Today on the Pod, we challenge the obsession with outward ministry metrics and argue that lasting fruit in missions depends on the inner life with God. We talk through discipleship in community, hard heart issues, and the spiritual disciplines that keep workers joyful, rested, and faithful.  Find out more at PMPod.org  • defining discipleship as the Holy Spirit revealing identity in Christ  • building community early by involving seekers with family and other believers  • shaping a simple house group rhythm of singing, Scripture, prayer, and sharing  • reading the Bible with purpose through Ephesians, Acts, and the whole redemption story  • addressing heart issues like addiction, pornography, fear, marriage, and parenting from the start  • practicing hospitality that models love, service, and a different kind of family life  • reclaiming Sabbath as wise rhythm rather than legalism  • naming screens, scrolling, and news as counterfeit rest for many of us  • describing fasting as embodied hunger for God’s will, often paired with solitude  • redefining solitude as being alone with God in private prayer  • rejecting “just do more” prayer and pointing to Christ praying in us  • making the case for scripture memorization for temptation, teaching, and witness  • reframing self-denial as total surrender to a good Father  It’s okay to be normal.

  4. Jun 17

    #103 The Power of Enduring Hope

    Today on the Pod, I talk to a woman who has raised her kids in war zones, discipled illiterate church leaders, and has shown the incredible power of having enduring hope on the field.  Read more at PMPod.org  Timeline 00:00 Intro 01:00 First Impressions and real Arab Women 02:52 The Joy and Stress of Lawlessness 04:53 Language, Culture, And Earned Respect 06:16 Marriage Kids And Social Authority08:32 Polygamy and the Real Struggles of Women 11:27 Women’s Power Inside Family Systems14:34 Discipleship That Changes Social Patterns16:56 Teaching Forgiveness In A No Forgiveness Culture19:27 Figuring out Education on the Field 27:44 Raising Third Culture Kids 32:35 Deciding Whether To Stay During War39:48 Crisis Creates Hunger And Open Doors42:15 Why Women Respond Powerfully To Jesus47:59 Discipling Illiterate Women 52:28 Barriers In Discipling Women Long Term56:45 The Power of Endurance

  5. Jun 3

    #102 What If Fruit Isn’t The Measure Of Faithfulness?

    On today's episode, we look at the effects of staying close to the Father, what real success on the field is, how to bolster both your effort for God and your rest in God, the power of weakness, what makes a good leader, and how understanding where we came from will help us deal with the challenges we face now.  For more information, go to PMPod.org  Timeline  00:00 Intro 01:00 At 16 years old asking God where to serve 06:12 Resting in God, and working hard are not opposites 9:44 Feeling weak and useless is the path to trusting God 14:00 How missions has changed since the 1990s21:28 What makes a trustworthy leader? 30:34 How to avoid cynicism 34:53 The History of Missions and Innovation Cycles 41:50 Understanding where we came from helps us address the the challenges we face now

  6. May 20

    #101 The Best Explanation of DMM You've Ever Heard

    The heart of DMM is the empowerment of ordinary people Look, I know you've heard a million talks about DMM, but I think this is going to be the best conversation you've ever heard on the topic. And if DMM is not your thing, don't worry, we talk about a whole lot more than just DMM.  We also have an incredible conversation about misplaced hope in missions and how that can lead to cynicism or burnout. My guest also talks about the importance of contemplative spirituality, especially if you want resilience on the field longterm.  Checkout more at PMPod.org  Timeline  00:00 Intro 01:00 Impassioned by the Kingdom of God 03:26 The reality of disappointment 08:54 The invitation to go deeper with God 15:22 Falling in love with missions  20:50 How DBS/DMM became so popular  26:55 What is a DMM? 31:00 Empowering ordinary people 37:21 Misconceptions of DMM

  7. May 6

    #100 Is Compassion a Renewable Resource?

    Caring for the least reached places of a missionary's heart.  On today's Pod, we take a look at Compassion Fatigue from a new angle. What if compassion was not a limited resource? What if compassion was something that didn't need to ever run out? That's what my guest addresses in today's fascinating episode.    For more information, go to PMPod.org  Timeline  00:00 Intro01:00 Being Compelled to Reach the Unreached 06:03 Changing Gears from Evangelism to Carrying for Missionaries 08:56 The Difference Between Burnout and Compassion Fatigue 12:08 The Famous Compassion Fatigue17:50 My Experience with Compassion Fatigue 24:25 Does Compassion Really Run out? 35:08 Growing your Compassion Muscles••39:50 Learning to Have Compassion on Others and Yourself

  8. Apr 22

    #99 Framing Our Lives For Deeper Joy

    In this episode, we cover three main themes: 1) the importance of collaboration in the field, 2) the importance of healthy marriages and families, and 3) overcoming the siren call of technology in your life.  Find our more at PMPod.org  Timeline  00:00 Intro 01:00 Being discipled by George Verwer 08:00 The power of collaboration  15:42 The results of collaboration 21:26 A passion for healthy families 25:57 Good family habits 32:08 Building character in the home 41:40 Technology's eroding effects on our soul

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5
out of 5
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About

I’m not an expert. I don’t have all the answers.  And I’m not interviewing authors, conference speakers, or experts on the subjects, just normal people learning from one another.

Information

  • Creator
    Your Host
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    114
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 PMPod
  • Show Website
    PMPod