Resiliency

Sometimes as expatriate believers, we underestimate how much our words impact local believers. John Weaver talks to us today about how to facilitate a culture of hearing from God in local believers--which, he says, results in resilience. He says that sometimes we get in the way of our local disciples hearing what God is saying to them because we interject our own thoughts, feelings or opinions. Instead, he encourages us to help our...

“Retirement off-shore” is NOT why Ron and Janine Parrish are living in the tropical paradise of the Indonesian archipelago! Instead, as 60+ year-old grandparents they are making disciples and mentoring the next generation to plant churches among the 129 UPGs of this nation they love and for which they thank God daily. “We may not be addressing the thousands in front of us, but we can address those who will be addressing the thousan...

Michael Sullivant works with the organization, Life Model Works, which resources churches and organizations by combining cutting edge brain-science with spiritual formation to optimize human maturity and transformation into the image of Christ. Not only was our conversation about the intersection of brain science and theology amazingly interesting, Michael gives us some very practical things to help us all on our way of becoming mo...

Today's guest, Chris P-veteran overseas church planter and pastor-had this revelation as he reveled in the rest and restoration he received and the very intentional separation he was able to make from ministry work and other responsibilities during his recent sabbatical. Hear Chris share about the powerful potential of a well-planned and executed sabbatical and a committed Sabbatical Coach.

“I worked hard (at planning and preparing...

“The best thing we’ve done is…stay and provide a long-term presence.” And stay he has, as David has lived among, served, and loved the most vulnerable of the poor since 1998 in the Eastern European nation or Romania.

Silas and Steve treasured every moment sitting and talking to this long-time friend of Silas’s as he shared keys to his longevity and resilience in an extremely difficult - and rewarding - ministry. As you’ll hear, par...

In this episode, Steve and Silas are joined by guest interviewer and podcaster, Mick Murray. Mick helps Steve and Silas reflect over the past 57 episodes of Resiliency and pull out favorite parts, things they have learned and what they think are priceless moments of interviewing so many amazing guests over the past two and a half years.  

Show Notes: 

• Meditations with Mick Murray 
• Ideology with Mick Murra...

Henri Nouwen wrote an article "From Solitude to Community to Ministry" where he writes that it is only in knowing who we are in solitude with God that we can effectively live with one another in community and then together, do ministry. For years, Rachel has been living from that paradigm in her work among the most vulnerable children in Chisinau, Moldova. She has learned from her posture of solitude with God and from her relations...

You know those people who just exude peace as you spend time them? Or wisdom? Or love? Our guest for episode 56 is such a man…on all three accounts! Waco physician Dr. Hess (Previous guest in Episode 52) is with us again, zeroing in this episode on personal disciplinary habits and rhythms that help you maintain holistic health and build resilience while on the field. He shares about establishing and maintaining a rule of life, the ...

A number of global workers have shared how difficult it is to face the loss of the holiday season. COVID-19 complicates an already difficult time of year for some people. At the request of some of those who have asked Silas to share what he has shared with them on the podcast, he draws from experience, reading and other podcasts some things he often discusses with his grieving clients. 

Resource:

The Grief Tower by Lauren Well...

How would you respond if the month before you were to deploy to a war-torn nation, the leader of it publicly declared that any nationals who converted to Christianity would be subject to imprisonment and/or the death penalty, and any foreigners associated with that conversion would experience the same fate? Such was the case for Jonathan and Nicole 20 years ago when they first deployed to the field. Join our conversation with them ...

“I Have a Work for You to do in Edinburgh”. That word of the Lord, confirmed through a praying saint, launched Tom and Leigh Anne to Scotland 13+ years ago. God’s word was tested by a battle with cancer and a 50% chance of survival prognosis. The testing continued through the first seven years of antagonism and no response to the gospel. But resiliency through persevering faith and daily abiding has led to God-ordained fruit that r...

Cami was an impoverished latchkey kid growing up in a single parent household. That's where she first encountered Jesus through, of all things, a TV commercial where He invited her to share His heart for vulnerable children in Africa. Christ’s heart of compassion grew from a concern into a calling. Cami joined Word Made Flesh Sierra Leone and has now served in Freetown, the capital of the W. African nation, for 17 years. Cami’s sto...

"Its never too late for a fresh start". These words still ring in my head whenever I (Silas) am faced with an offense or loss. In 2004, during a sabbatical year from the field, Steve and his wife Mindy invested in our lives personally and through their ministry which is now called Fresh Start For all Nations. It was always my intention to get Steve and Mindy on the podcast. However, sadly Steve passed away last year and embarked on...

After 20 years of marriage and ministry in Asia, this beautifully broken bi-cultural couple have an experience of and perspective on ever-increasing nearness to Jesus that will nourish your soul and build your faith. “We should have this expectation-that the journey is difficult,” says Josh with a joy-filled heart and smile on his face (even if you can't see it). Josh and Tsagaanaa have persevered through many BIG-TIME trials toget...

A bi-cultural family in La Paz, Bolivia shares with us what makes them resilient. Learning to embrace one another's cultures and investing in the culture they live in has been key to making it work for Cara and Mache Contreras. But so has intentional prayer and valuing the role of their community even when community is not easy. They also share how important it is for them to let their investment in their community or team define t...

Twenty years ago this summer, Dayna Curry was among a group of Western and Afghan NGO workers imprisoned by the Taliban in Afghanistan. While that story made international headlines, the now 22 years of cross-cultural life and Christ’s love that Dayna has shared with Muslims in three nations hasn’t made the news. In this episode, Dayna shares about the four years in Central Asia prior to that fateful day not long before 9/11 in 200...