I am proposing a new show format that would be in addition to the interviews. This new format will be called Missionary Chats. The format will have me talking with a co-host. The co-host will not always be the same person. This will be a less edited conversation focusing on some particular topic.

I am looking for feedback on Missionary Chats in the following areas.

• Would you like to be able to ask questions to previously interviewed missionaries?
• The Missionary Talks will stay in the current format. The Chats will be in addition to, not in replacement of the Talks. Would you be interested in only one or the other? Or, would you prefer to get all the Talks and Chats in the same “feed” like you are currently getting the Missionary Talks and the Listener Feedback episodes?
• Can you give suggestions for intro/outro music for the Chats?
• The Chats will allow more interaction for you. Would you be interested in being able to leave a voice mail that could be played, or just be able to email questions?

Specifically I asked you to email me or go to one of the discussion threads on Facebook concerning this topic. Alternatively, you are welcome to leave a comment on this episode posting.

The Facebook Group discussion is where I originally asked the questions. I have also set up a Facebook Page that I plan to migrate more personal interaction to. If you are a Facebook user, feel free to join the Group or Page, but know that I am going to try and push people over to the Page soon.

You are always welcome to leave a comment at the Missionary Talks website at the posting for each Talk or Chat.

The interviews I talk about in this episode are:

• Debi Deryee
• Ignacio Rovirosa
• Bethany Thompson
• Chris and Carol Woodley

My Prayer is Heard streaming radio station is playing Missionary Talks twice a day. Visit their site to get the program schedule and to hear other good programming.

If you have any questions, for the husband or wife, then please send me an email or leave a comment to this post.

Because of where the storm did enter and pass through the peninsula, there are no deaths, nor even major injuries being reported here in Mexico. There were thousands of acres of crops destroyed, but unlike people, they grow back.

God was gracious to us.

This is not in the podcast feed. You will need to download it directly from the website. I hope it is a blessing to you. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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I am very excited about the next program that I have coming out. I am in the final editing process now and hopefully will have it available early next week. I am doing a 2 part story of the life of David Livingstone. These will obviously be different types of episodes in that I will not be interviewing him (he died in 1873). I will post the text to these episodes along with the audio.

I know it has been a couple of weeks since the last episode came out, but I think it will be worth the wait. I also have some interviews planned, we are just trying to work out schedules to be able to record. There is a possibility that I will be taking a trip in a few weeks that will give me a chance to meet with a small number of missionaries that I may be able to get interviews from. Of course, this will all be happening at the same time I will be busy with camps and other obligations. If you will stay subscribed and be patient, I plan to get back to a regular release schedule.

Please let me know what you think about the David Livingstone episodes as they come out. I would like to occasionally do others in that same format if you would like to hear them. I think there are many people who have heard the stories of Carey, Moffat and Borden, but it is also possible that many of the Missionary Talks listeners may have never heard of these great missionaries of the past.

Votes and reviews are how podcasts become more visible when people are browsing for new shows to listen to. iTunes is the most effective directory for garnering new listeners. Your review will go a long way to getting the show more publicity.

Of course, the best promotion you can do for Missionary Talks is to tell your friends. Your personal recommendation will help the show grow quickly.

We have some great interviews planned over the next few weeks. Be sure to hear the show that should be posted April 2. I will be taking a trip with a medical team to a city near here and I plan to bring a special show talking about short term trips that can really be a blessing to those on the trip and those to whom they serve.

Thank you for listening and staying subscribed.

Use it however you will. I appreciate any promotion you can give.

A bit of the problem with interviewing many missionaries is that some are in places where they do not have reliable telephone or Internet service. I also knew that it would be easier to interview some missionaries while they are in the US on furlough or deputation, but that has been equally problematic since they do not always know when and where they will be to get an interview in. We are working through these issues. While I still have several missionaries from town here that I could interview, I would like to spread them out a bit. If you are a missionary, please drop me a message and we will see if we can get you on the show.

Though I have always released the shows on Saturday in the past, it was never my intention to do so. Saturday is a hectic day for me. I was planning to release them on Mondays. It was just that when I got started, I could not wait to get the first show up and it was ready on a Saturday.

Because of the nature of the show, I really don’t have much time to talk about previous episodes and future ones. This is because I want each show to stand on its own and therefore could be listened to in any order by an individual or groups without feeling like they have missed out by missing one show. Therefore, I am planning to record a short format show once a month or so to give you any follow up information that you might like to know with some of the missionaries. In this show I will tell you what are in the plans for future episodes as well. This will be where I can read some listener mail and tell you how people are using the Missionary Talks program. This will not take the place of one of the weekly interviews. It will be in addition to the weekly show. I will probably release it about halfway between two regular episodes.

Please take the time to write me and let me know what you think of Missionary Talks and how you are sharing it with others. I would love to hear from you.

It does not really explain the purpose and scope of the podcast as much as it tells what the program is all about. I will get more into the purpose and the format of the program in the first two episodes.

Thanks for listening and spread the promotion audio around. Look for the first episode to be uploaded soon.

Missionary Talks Promotional

I plan to release these interviews once a week. My goal is to hold them to 15 minutes each. That will be tough as I have enjoyed talking to the missionaries that I have interviewed so far and really hate cutting out any of the audio. I have 2 episodes almost ready to go and 2 more in the works. This should give me a bit of a buffer as I look for more missionaries to interview.

I don’t know at this point what day of the week the podcasts will be uploaded. Be patient as we get started and find our way around the scheduling. On top of conducting and editing interviews, I also have a ministry of my own that requires its own attention. For those of you familiar with missions, you may know that we don’t necessarily hold regular business hours. But we also don’t know from week to week what is in store. There is little about the idea of “routine” that applies to the mission field.