Missionary Talks

Erin Rigsby is a missionary in Nigeria, Africa. She has been working in Africa for the last 4 years as a nurse in a ministry for street children. These would not necessarily be orphans, though many are. She has had to learn to deal with new illnesses and work around the practices of traditional Nigerian medicine.

Erin and Shedrach

In this interview she talks with us about a couple of short term missions trips to Zimbabwe and China that helped shape the direction God had for her life. She also highly recommended that the listeners read biographies of missionaries. She said of missionary biographies that they “are a very non-threatening way to learn about missions and to learn about different countries in the world.”

She concluded her interview with this bit of advice:

[I would encourage you that] if God has placed in your heart a desire to go overseas or to be a part of a ministry in the states, that you really take the opportunity. It has nothing to do with how you feel, it has to do with obedience and what the Lord is asking of us.

You can read more about Erin at her blog and ministry website.

 

 Missionary Talks 32: Erin Rigsby [17:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Thank you for praying. We did have strong winds all day yesterday (Tuesday), but we never really got much rain. The storm passed below us by about 100-150 miles. As it moved across the peninsula it broke down considerably and the north side of the storm did not hold together.

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 an episode I put together just before hurricane Dean came into the Yucatan Peninsula. We are well prepared and don’t expect to experience much damage, but we will probably lose power for a while.

There was a very kind and encouraging review written about Missionary Talks at the Cool Podcasts website. The reason I say it is encouraging is that the reviewer seemed to pick up on the purpose of the podcast as I envision it.

We appreciate your prayers as we move through this. If you would like to keep up to date on our personal safety after the storm, please check our ministry website as I will try to radio information back to a friend who can update that site for me.

 

 Missionary Talks: Update [8:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

How does a Sheriff’s Deputy wind up on the mission field? Michael Hart tells his story.

Bro. Hart is now a missionary in Veracruz, Mexico.

I had the privilege to preach in his church recently while traveling through Veracruz. Though he is near the city of Veracruz, and 3 million people, he has a work in a small ranching community outside of the city. He tells a great story of a lady he was able to lead to the Lord and disciple. In the process of discipling her, she kept introducing him to new people to whom he could witness. God used this new convert to lead several others to Him.

 

 Missionary Talks 31: Michael Hart [10:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

While at camp for the Deaf near Tampico Mexico, I got the chance to talk with Cathy Henning. Cathy has been a missionary for several years. After she arrived in Mexico on her original mission as a school teacher helping Debi Duryee, she started working with the Deaf. Interestingly, though Cathy is an American, she does not know American Sign Language. She learned Mexican Sign Language after she arrived here and has never had need or opportunity to learn the American Sign Language.

 

 Missionary Talks 30: Cathy Henning [12:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I have known of Bro. Jim Sloan’s ministry for quite some time. Even though we have been in meetings together over the last 15 years, I really have never had the chance to sit and talk with him much about his ministry. I enjoyed doing this interview in that he gave insight into his unique ministry in such a way that I believe the 25 minutes I chatted with him will change my future ministry.

Bro. Sloan has dedicated his life to working with the Deaf for 50 years!

You are welcome to email Bro. Sloan for further information.

 

 Missionary Talks 29: Jim Sloan [15:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rick Powers is not a missionary, but he has been on several missions trips. As the leader of a youth group which has organized and taken many trips, I found it interesting to hear his insight on what it takes to go on a trip to help a missionary on the foreign field. He also shared with me some of the ways that young people are changed after a trip such as this.

When I spoke with him, he was with a group of 14 young people and leaders who were painting a church in Mérida, México.

If you would like to contact Bro. Powers with questions about organizing your own mission trip you can do so by visiting his church’s website.

 

 Missionary Talks 28: Rick Powers [16:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download