Missionary Talks

I talked with LaMoin Cunningham about culture shock. In this first part of the conversation we define how culture shock can effect a missionary and how friends back home can communicate with missionaries to help them through their time of culture shock, or culture fatigue.

I interviewed LaMoin and her husband in a previous episode of Missionary Talks.

The reason I wanted to talk with LaMoin about this is she gave a lecture to missionaries last year that I was privileged to hear. In it she talked about many of the same things we cover in this conversation. Her focus then was on the missionary and what he could do to help overcome culture shock. In this conversation we tried to focus on the friends back home and explain to them how they can be a help to the missionary on the field.

You can get more information about LaMoin at her website.

Please be back next week for the conclusion of the interview.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:29 — 15.5MB)

It was a joy to sit and talk with Bill and LaMoin Cunningham about their adventures as missionaries. While they have had many changes through their long missionary career, it is obvious in talking with them that they have trusted the Lord each step of the way as He has led them through their journey in missions.

They share good advice for both new and veteran missionaries. In doing so they help the person in the pew who is praying for missionaries have an insight into some of the struggles and joys of working for the Lord in missions.

LaMoin has written a wonderful book that will help the reader understand that missionaries are normal people. While the outside struggles may be different on the field from what it is back home, the internal struggle, and fleshly battles are the same no matter what country you are in. You can check out the book as well as sign up for her monthly newsletter at their website.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:56 — 11.0MB)

In this episode I chat with Missionary Philip Rogers who has spent most of his life in Chile. He was not in Chile when the earthquake hit last week, but has contacted many of his friends and co-workers to find out what relief efforts are taking place around the church members.

Here are some missionaries that Phil and I know who are doing relief work in the effected areas. Feel free to contact them and see how you can help. Let me encourage you to contact any missionary that your church supports in Chile and see what more you can do to help those you are already supporting.

• Missionary Jason Holt
• Missionary Dave Disney

News and information in Chile:

• emol.com [Spanish]
• The Santiago Times [English]

To send money through Missionary Phil Rogers to help the local pastors with rebuilding and relief, you can send a check to Liberty Baptist Church at the following address and write “Chile Earthquake” in the memo field.

Liberty Baptist Church
485 Old Hwy 84 Rd.
Waynesboro, MS 39367

The purpose of this Missionary Chats episode is to help you see that you can be a real help in times of crisis. Even though the news may no longer be obsessing over the crisis in a far off land, remember that the missionaries are still there giving help and comfort as they share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:56 — 10.3MB)

Join me as I talk with Travis Snode, Missionary to Northern Ireland. Travis and his wife have been in Northern Ireland for 5 years as church planting missionaries. Like many missionaries, he is pastoring two churches; one he started and another one started by a fellow missionary. He shares with us the need for men to pastor one of the many churches in the United Kingdom that are without any kind of shepherd.

Bro. Snode also talked about how he was called to missions as a young boy. Outside of building a good personal relationship with God and His word, he said that he was encouraged by his parents and an older man in church to continue to pursue the ministry that God had called him to. Travis is a good example of what God can do with a child or teen that you may know who is called to be a missionary if you will just take a few minutes to encourage them to follow God’s leading.

Visit the Snodes’ blog to get up to date information on their ministry.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:26 — 12.0MB)

I chatted with Missionary Shane Rice about different ways missionaries can communicate with their friends and family back home. We talked about VoIP telephone systems, websites and mailing lists. One of the questions that came up in our discussion is, “How do you, the one praying for the missionary, want to be kept up to date?” Please send me an email, or post a comment with your response.

Episode Links:

• Shane Rice’s ministry website
• David Peach’s ministry website
• Librivox
• Project Gutenberg
• Joshua Project
• Shane Rice’s first interview on Missionary Talks
• Missionary Talks Group at Facebook

Please leave a comment or send an email with any feedback you may have for Shane or I.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:59 — 11.1MB)

Andy Shinabery is a church planting missionary in Costa Rica. In this interview Andy talks with us about the two churches he and his family have been able to start. He also shares about some of the recreational activities his family have been able to enjoy on the field.

Andy spoke with me when they were in the United States for furlough. He talks about how the two furloughs they have had have been different for them as a family.

Listen as he shares some of his vision for the future and how he believes Costa Rica can be used by God to evangelize nations that are closed to missionaries from larger countries such as the United States.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:56 — 10.3MB)

This is not a traditional feedback episode in that I am not sharing news from you for other listeners. However, I am asking for some feedback on some possible additions at Missionary Talks.

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:43 — 5.3MB)