Modern Day Missionaries

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 all aspire to be Roombas, to the time he walked into San Quentin dressed as Santa Claus, this episode will make you laugh, exhale, and give you full permission to stop spinning.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn
Why the most joyful people are often the most insecure, and what that means for the way you show up on the field
How to tell the difference between leading from love and leading from fear, and why one of them is slowly exhausting you
Why God delights in your small, bumbling, imperfect steps far more than you have been giving him credit for

Hey missionaries—how are your finances on the field? At Modern Day Missions, we make it simple for missionaries to receive donations and for donors to give. Serving 1,100+ missionaries worldwide, we free you to focus on your calling. We also offer resources like our weekly podcast, fundraising coaching, and a resource-packed newsletter. Connect with us at modernday.org

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions
X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

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 things you can do right now, no matter where you are starting from.
 
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
Why waiting to invest is one of the costliest decisions a missionary can make, and what the numbers actually look like over time
How to start investing on an inconsistent income, even if you can only set aside a small amount each month
The difference between saving and investing, and why you need both working together to protect your family's future 

Resources Mentioned:
Modern Day Missions: modernday.org
Contact Modern Day about the Guidestone retirement account: [email protected]
Investment Platforms Mentioned
Fidelity: fidelity.com
Charles Schwab: schwab.com
TD Ameritrade: tdameritrade.com
Guidestone: guidestone.org

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions
X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

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 you follow through with confidence. If support raising has felt emotionally draining or unnecessarily complicated, this conversation will help you approach it with steadiness, integrity, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Hey missionaries—how are your finances on the field? At Modern Day Missions, we make it simple for missionaries to receive donations and for donors to give. Serving 1,100+ missionaries worldwide, we free you to focus on your calling. We also offer resources like our weekly podcast, fundraising coaching, and a resource-packed newsletter. Connect with us at modernday.org

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions
X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

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 about politics — it’s about how we read our Bible and how that shapes our theology, our mission, and our confidence in God’s promises.
If you care about the Great Commission, the Jewish roots of your faith, and understanding your identity as a missionary, this episode will challenge and strengthen you.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:
How replacement theology so often subtly shapes modern missions thinking
Why understanding Jew and Gentile identity matters for your calling
Why unity in Christ does not erase identity

Resources Mentioned:
Israel Masterclass by Gateway Center for Israel

Hey missionaries—how are your finances on the field? At Modern Day Missions, we make it simple for missionaries to receive donations and for donors to give. Serving 1,100+ missionaries worldwide, we free you to focus on your calling. We also offer resources like our weekly podcast, fundraising coaching, and a resource-packed newsletter. Connect with us at modernday.org

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions
X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/

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 small practices like morning devotionals, Saturday rituals, and even silly moments can become anchors for your home

Your family matters. And it’s worth the work.
 
✍️ In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to recognize when your family is drifting—and what to do about it
Creative ways to bring back joy, fun, and laughter when life feels heavy
How to walk with your kids through change without losing connection

Hey missionaries—how are your finances on the field? At Modern Day Missions, we make it simple for missionaries to receive donations and for donors to give. Serving 1,100+ missionaries worldwide, we free you to focus on your calling. We also offer resources like our weekly podcast, fundraising coaching, and a resource-packed newsletter. Connect with us at modernday.org

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

Website: https://www.modernday.org/podcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu3ie6N7vXvESqcHrM-SRTC7-XoPEmnv6
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moderndaymissions/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndaymissions/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moderndaymissions
X: https://twitter.com/Modern_Day
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moderndaymissions/