Modern Day Missionaries
The “Modern Day Missionaries” podcast discusses topics that affect the lives of Christian missionaries on the mission field in the areas of faith, freedom, family, and finances. It is produced by "Modern Day Missions" and hosted by Stephanie Leigh Gutierrez. Each episode in the “Modern Day Missionaries” podcast is a conversational interview where Stephanie hosts guests who are experts in their fields and who either are or have been missionaries, or who serve in the missions space. At Modern Day, we want to help missionaries be their very best so they can give their very best! Learn more about "Modern Day Missio...
The Most Powerful Relational Tool You’ll Ever Learn (In 4 Simple Steps) with Dr. Dee Dee Mayer
Have you ever had a huge reaction to something that seemed small to everyone else? Do you shut down, take control, or numb out when a relationship on the field starts to feel unsafe?
Stephanie calls the pain and peace cycle the most powerful relationship tool she and Danny have learned in more than 25 years of marriage and relationship work, and in this episode, Dr. Dee Dee Mayer, University Chaplain at Pepperdine, walks you through it. Dee Dee uncovers the two questions you’re unconsciously asking all the time, why missionaries ge...
Missionary Money Guilt and The Verse We Keep Misquoting with Elias Reyes
Do you feel a pang of guilt or worry every time you spend a dollar your supporters gave? Is it wrong to save for retirement or dream about owning a home when you’re surrounded by need? In this episode, Modern Day Missions president Elias Reyes joins us to unpack what a healthy relationship with money looks like for missionaries.
Drawing on Scripture, a few unforgettable stories, and years of walking alongside global workers, Elias explains why money is a tool and never your master, why the Bible never treats po...
How to Make the Most of End-of-the-Year Giving with Marvin Slaton II (Encore)
In this encore episode, we ask the question, how can missionaries make the most of end-of-the-year giving trends? People are looking for places to sow seed, and you want them to know you are good soil!
Get ready for some game-changing stats and financial advice in this week’s episode!
“Modern Day Missions” Executive Director, Marvin Slaton II, shares some shocking statistics on how end-of-the-year giving really works. And he gives timely advice—that when put into practice, could make a dramatic impact on your financial support this December!
We can all agree, just hea...
Are You Starting Year-End Fundraising Too Late? With Mike Kim & Mary Valloni of Fully Funded Academy
What if year-end fundraising isn’t really about year-end?
For many missionaries, November and December can feel like a mad dash to close a budget gap. But what if, instead of fundraising for survival, you used the end of the year to invite people into the vision God has given you for what’s next?
In this episode, Coach Ben sits down with Mary Valloni and Mike Kim of Fully Funded Academy to talk about a different approach to year-end fundraising—one that starts earlier, focuses on relationships, and gives your supporters a compelling vision to par...
Guarding Your Life: Leadership Boundaries, Habits & the Long Game of Integrity in Missions with Dr. Rob Hoskins
What actually protects a leader for the long haul? And why do the ones who fall almost never see it coming? In this episode, Dr. Rob Hoskins, a deeply respected leadership expert and president of OneHope, joins Stephanie to talk honestly about the isolation missionary leaders face, the habits that guard against moral failure, and the powerful concept of overlapping accountability (you need this!).
Rob shares personal stories about his own governance structures that have protected him as he leads for the long haul, and the daily practice of staying ...
Young, Single, and Sent [to the Mission Field] with Mark Phillips, Sierra Lee, Natan Marcal
![Young, Single, and Sent [to the Mission Field] with Mark Phillips, Sierra Lee, Natan Marcal episode artwork](https://storage.buzzsprout.com/kc1ysai9nmbfc25smico2bl33smg?.jpg)
Do you ever feel like you're falling behind? Like everyone around you is buying houses, getting married, having kids, and finding a career while you're out here saying yes to the calling? You’re not mad about it…sometimes, you just wonder. What are you up to, God?
In this episode, three single missionaries in their 20’s and 30’s, Mark, Natan, and Sierra, open up about things rarely talked about that single missionaries deal with and think about on a regular basis. Things like: the significant challenge of finding a spouse on the field, assumptions married teammates have tha...
The Thing That Makes or Breaks Your Team on the Field with Dr. Jay Raines
You love the people on your team. So why does working with them feel so hard sometimes? What if the tension you keep experiencing isn't a people problem, it's a culture problem? And what if the culture shaping your team was never chosen, it just happened?
In this episode, Dr. Jay Raines, founder of LeadersQ Coaching, seven-year cross-cultural leader in Bangalore, India, and author of Culture Brand, gives you the language to finally name what is off, and a simple framework to do something about it. Whether you built...
Should I Stay Or Should I Leave (the Mission Field)? with David Joannes
Have you ever thought about leaving the mission field? Not just in a passing moment of frustration, but really thought about it? What would it actually cost you to stay? And how do you know the difference between a hard season and God genuinely closing a door?
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with David Joannes, founder of Within Reach Global and 28-year missionary, for one of the most honest conversations we have ever had. This is not about grinding harder or believing bigger. This is about what the...
Missionaries, Fundraising Isn't Your Only Option with Elias Reyes
What if the financial ceiling you've been living under was never actually real?
Have you ever wondered if there's a limit to what your ministry can afford, and that limit was set the day you sent your first support letter? Have you ever felt stuck between cutting back again, asking supporters for more, or wondering if it's time to come home?
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Elias Reyes, President of Modern Day Missions, to talk about secondary streams of income for missionaries. They unpack what these look like in real life, how to...
The Fundraising Advice We Wish We'd Had Sooner With Danny & Stephanie Leigh Gutierrez
What do you do when one of you is terrified of fundraising and the other one grew up doing it like it's second nature? Danny and Stephanie Gutierrez found out the hard way, over twelve years, two daughters, and one very memorable $666 support check.
In this episode, Coach Ben sits down with them for a conversation about what they'd do differently, from how they divided the work, to what a “soft no” really costs, to the season neither of them saw coming until it was almost over.
If you've ever felt behi...
Here's What Your Body Has Been Trying to Tell You, Missionaries with Steve & Lisa Cuss
What does your body already know that your mind hasn't caught up to yet? What if the thing most burning you out on the mission field is not the workload, the culture shock, or the lack of support, but something else? And what if the very traits that made you say yes to the field are the same ones slowly wearing you down?
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Steve and Lisa Cuss, founders of Capable Life, to talk about the Big Five false needs and what happens when the...
When Nobody Calls to Check On You: Soul Health, Hidden Burnout, and What Missionaries Actually Need
The missionaries burning out fastest are not the ones who stopped caring. They are the ones who cared the most. Mindy Caliguire, founder of SoulCare, joins the podcast to talk about what research with missionaries in the Global South revealed about soul health, the relational deficit nobody wants to touch, and what it actually takes to find your way back.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
Why the most devoted missionaries are often the most at risk, and how a can't-stop-won't-stop work mentality builds until the flywheel breaks.How prayer and B...Being a Woman on the Mission Field: What We All Need to Know with Denise Beck (EE)
Two-thirds of global missionaries are women. And most of them will tell you they have never heard an episode like this one.
Denise Beck, Executive Director of Velvet Ashes, has spent years sitting with women in every season of missionary life, and she is not afraid to say what most people skip over. The single woman who wonders if anyone on her team actually values what she gave up. The married woman stretched between her family and her calling. The woman who has been pouring out for so long she has stopped asking what she needs. And...
What Missionary Kids Need Their Parents to Hear with Macy Gutierrez, Gabriel Gomez & Michelle Escobar
Your MK’s are watching everything. They see how you handle the hard seasons, how you hold it together when everything is falling apart, and how much space there is in your family for the hard stuff to be said out loud. But what are they actually holding inside? And what do they wish you would ask?
In this episode, three young adults who grew up on the mission field sit down to share what that life actually formed in them, what they carried silently, and what they wish their parents ha...
Spiritual Warfare on the Mission Field Nobody Warns You About with Jacob Ebersole
Have you ever been in a season where everything seemed to be working against you, and you could not tell if it was spiritual warfare, burnout, or just the hard reality of missionary life? When you can tell the difference, you know how to fight.
In this episode, evangelist, World Harvest founder, and Modern Day missionary Jacob Ebersole shares what spiritual warfare actually looks like on the mission field, the dramatic and the invisible, and the surprisingly practical ways missionaries can stand and fight without losing their joy in the process. You will...
The Crisis Response Plan Every Missionary Needs with Phil Cooke
What do you do when everything falls apart on the field? When the team fractures, the funding dries up, or a decision you made starts unraveling in ways you never anticipated? What if the way you respond in the first few hours determines whether your ministry survives?
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Phil Cooke, filmmaker, media producer, PhD in theology, and one of the most sought-after crisis communications experts in the Christian world. Phil has worked in over 70 countries, walked countless ministry leaders through their worst moments, and written the definitive...
Why You Should Stop Performing for the People Who Sent You with Bob Goff
Have you ever caught yourself angling the camera just right, choosing the words that make your ministry sound a little more impressive than it actually is? What if the pressure to perform is actually the thing standing between you and the life God designed you for? What if joy is closer to your insecurity than you ever imagined?
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with author, speaker, and former ambassador Bob Goff for a conversation that is equal parts hilarious and deeply freeing. From Bob's own struggle with insecurity to why we should...
The Retirement Question Every Missionary Is Avoiding with Elias Reyes
Are you preparing for your financial future, or are you hoping it takes care of itself? What does it actually look like to invest on a missionary income? And is it even possible when support fluctuates month to month?
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Elias Reyes, president of Modern Day Missions and a financial consultant with 25+ years of experience serving missionaries and nonprofit leaders. They talk about the retirement realities most missionaries are not prepared for and simple steps they can take to get on track. This is a conversation about faith, stewardship, and practical...
Support Raising Without Shame Or Games with Ben Ankarlo
In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Ben Ankarlo, fundraising coach at Modern Day Missions, to unpack what is really happening beneath the surface of support raising. Together, they explore how fear unknowingly shapes decisions, why some missionaries default to self-funding or scarcity, and how embarrassment and control can distort the way we invite others into partnership. Ben shares from lived experience as a missionary who is still actively fundraising today.
You’ll learn why clarity builds trust, how to remove the awkwardness from the ask, and a simple text-to-text approach that helps yo...
How Should the Church Think About Israel? With David Blease
Have you ever wondered what the Church really believes about Israel? Have you felt confused by replacement theology, one law teaching, or political noise around the Jewish people? And does any of this actually matter for missionaries today?
In this episode, Modern Day Missions Executive Director Marvin Slaton II and Gateway Center for Israel Pastor & Director David Blease explore the three prevailing theologies shaping the global Church’s view of Israel and unpack what Scripture says about covenant, identity, and God’s faithfulness. This conversation is not abou...
The Fight to Stay Connected as a Missionary Family with Jonathan & Elizabeth Trotter
You didn’t move across the world to lose your family in the process. Mission life is full of purpose, but it can also pull at the very relationships we care about most.
Jonathan and Elizabeth Trotter, missionary parents, writers, and trusted voices in cross-cultural life, open up about what it looks like to stay emotionally connected as a family in the middle of ministry, transition, and loss.
We talk about how to create your own family’s culture (or find it if you’ve lost it), recovering joy when life feels heavy, and how sm...
Is AI a Ministry Ally or a Spiritual Threat? with Carey Nieuwhof
AI is changing everything—how we think, work, lead, create…How about how we hear from God? Without realizing it, are we letting it reshape our hearts, our habits, and our spiritual lives, too?
Today, we talk with Carey Nieuwhof about the very real tension missionaries face when using AI for ministry. From sermon prep to leadership decisions, we explore how to use this tool with wisdom, where it may be subtly weakening us, and how to stay rooted in the Holy Spirit with all of the noise around us.
This episode will enco...
Welcome to the Modern Day Missionaries Podcast!
Modern Day Missionaries is a podcast created specifically for missionaries navigating real life on the field.
We talk honestly about the questions missionaries actually ask—
How do I retain supporters?Am I burned out… or heading there?How do I stay connected to my spouse in the middle of ministry chaos?What does it look like to flourish as a single missionary?Our heart is simple: help you be well so you can serve well—and truly thrive in your faith, family, finances, and freedom.
Each episode features practical wisdom and encouragement from people...
Missionary, What If Shame Is Calling the Shots? With Dr. Curt Thompson
You're serving full-time. You're pouring yourself out. And yet, you still feel like it's not enough.
Many missionaries live with an unnamed pressure, a constant inner drive to do more, be more, prove more. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Curt Thompson helps us uncover the role that shame plays in shaping our stories and how it may be calling the shots in your life and ministry without you even knowing it.
Could shame be behind your exhaustion, disconnection, or sense of not-enoughness?
Discover why shame shows up s...
How to Receive More Missions Funds This December Than Ever Before with Elias Reyes (Encore Episode)
Want to know how you can double your monthly donations this December? Statistics show that missionaries who take a few simple steps can significantly increase year-end giving—and in some cases, receive more in the final four days of the year than any other month.
In this episode, Modern Day Missions president and financial consultant Elias Reyes shares how to make the most of this golden opportunity. Whether you’re nervous about overwhelming your donors or just unsure where to start, this conversation will give you practical tools, clear strategy, and the co...
The Missionary Brain Under Pressure with Dr. Karl Lehman
What’s really going on when you feel numb, irritable, or disconnected on the field—even when you’re doing what God has called you to do?
Why do high-functioning workers sometimes shut down emotionally, pull away from others, or lose the ability to feel God’s presence? How does long-term pressure affect your brain—and what can you do to move toward restoration?
If connection feels hard, there’s a reason—and a way through it. Psychiatrist Dr. Karl Lehman breaks down the neuroscience behind relational and spiritual disconnection.
You’ll learn why...
How Missionaries Can Build Kingdom Partnerships with Business Leaders (Encore Episode)
What if the support you need is waiting on the other side of a bold conversation with the right person? Many missionaries feel unsure about how to connect with business leaders—and even more unsure about how to talk about money. But what if those very people are called to partner with you?
In this encore episode, we revisit our conversation with Lee Domingue—entrepreneur, author, and founder of Kingdom Builders. Lee offers a compelling vision for how missionaries and business leaders can join forces for global impact. He shares practical wisd...
How to Lead Gen Z With Authority They’ll Actually Trust with Dr. Tim Elmore
What if the pushback you're getting from Gen Z missionaries isn’t rebellion—but an invitation to lead differently? Many leaders are navigating cross-generational tension in missions, unsure how to guide and motivate a generation that values autonomy, mental health, and meaning over traditional hierarchies and hustle culture.
In this conversation, leadership expert Dr. Tim Elmore joins us to unpack the cultural shift happening on the mission field. Drawing from decades of research and his new book, The Future Begins with Z, Tim explores what Gen Z needs most from their lead...
The Restless Missionary and the Invitation to Be Whole Again with Cheryl Scanlan
What happens when your identity in Christ feels solid, but deep down, you’re still exhausted, fragmented, and unsure who you really are? Many missionaries live in a cycle of spiritual striving and internal disintegration—even while faithfully serving. The result? Burnout, weariness, and a haunting sense that something is off, even if they can’t name it.
This conversation gently opens the door to a new way of living. Our guest is Cheryl Scanlan—Master Certified Coach, director of Promised Land Living, and author of The Way of Rest. Together, we unpack the deep internal...
What Missionary Kids Wish You Knew About Their Faith and Identity with Michéle Phoenix
What are missionary kids really carrying—and what can adults do to help lighten the load? From the pressure to perform, to the fear of disappointing others, MKs often carry invisible expectations they didn’t choose and can’t always name. These burdens can shape everything from their identity to their view of God.
In this conversation, we explore the emotional and spiritual weight many missionary kids carry and what it means to support them with greater empathy, patience, and grace. Our guest is Michèle Phoenix—author of Pieces of Purple, MK ad...
Making Mission Teams Work For You — Not Against You with Jesse & Andrea Kroeze
Ever hosted a short-term mission team and wondered, Was that really worth it? Or maybe you're gearing up for your next one and already feeling the weight of logistics, expectations, and exhaustion.
In this episode, Jesse and Andrea Kroeze—leaders of Touch the World and seasoned missionaries—offer a fresh take on how short-term teams can become a strategic blessing instead of a draining burden. Having lived both as hosts and senders, they bring hard-earned wisdom, practical tools, and bold encouragement to help you align teams with your long-term mission.
The Questions Gen Z Won’t Stop Asking About Missions with Mark Matlock
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 o...
Good Ask vs God Ask: Next Level Support Raising with Dr. Steve Shadrach (Encore Episode)
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...
How to Be the Healthy Leader of a Healthy Team with Nic & Rachael Billman (Encore Episode)
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.
...
This One Shift Can Restore Your Spiritual Energy, Missionaries with Drs. Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
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 wh...
Secrets, Shame, and the Risk of Telling the Truth: The Silent Battles Missionaries Face with Dr. Janeen Davis
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 facin...
What If Your Missionary Vision Suddenly Changes? with Jonathan & Amanda Vining
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 unex...Fundraising Strategies That Actually Work Today with Mary Valloni & Mike Kim
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...
Escaping the Missionary Productivity Trap with Amy Young
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 w...
The Art of Deep Listening: Learn to Listen on a Level You Didn't Know Was Possible with Cheryl Scanlan, MCC (Encore Episode)
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’...
