Staying the Course in Member Care and Mission
2024-2025

Hosted by Kelly and Michèle O'Donnell

This podcast series features several of the authors and consulting editors in Global Member Care Volume 3 (GMC 3)--Stories and Strategies for Staying the Course (2024). Member care focuses on the wellbeing and effectiveness of staff and includes their families and sending organizations. The podcast hosts, consulting psychologists Kelly and Michèle O'Donnell, interview and feature material from several of this volume's 55 contributors to explore member care in mission frontiers, regions, sectors, and good practice. They also consider the many challenges and opportunities for member care in the future. And the book contributors share about what  helps them to stay the course in member care and mission!

You can also listen to the audio podcasts from 2024 on Spotify HERE
and watch the video versions with the Spotify app.

The 2025 podcasts feature previously recorded presentations
(videos and/or audios)  by GMC 3 consulting editors and chapter authors. 

STC Podcasts 2024
Staying the Course--Episode 1
GMC 3 Overview (August 2024)
Kelly and Michèle O'Donnell
In this first episode we (the editors) overview the new Global Member Care book (volume 3) and describe some of its distinctives and relevance for member care and mission.  Power point HERE. See also "My Journey into the Missio Dei Frontiers" (Kelly's video presentation at the International Society for Frontier Missiology Conference in 2022). 
Short video version--10 Minutes
Short audio version--10 Minutes

Full video version--33 minutes
Full audio version--33 minutes

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Staying the Course--Episode 2
Prioritizing Frontier Peoples (September 2024)
Interview with RW Lewis
This episode focuses on the historical expansion of the Church and the current status of mission to unreached people groups (UPGs) and frontier people groups (FPGs)--in total about 2 billion people. Interspersed with the presentation are applications and interactions about the types of member care and member care workers that are needed to support mission workers as they persevere in the midst of the many challenges and suffering inherent in reaching UPGs and FPGs.  Power point HERE. See also "Fifty Unbelievable Years of Gospel Advance" (RW Lewis' video-podcast interview with MissioNexus' Mission Matters in 2024).   

Full video version--48 minutes

Full audio version--48 minutes
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Staying the Course--Episode 3
Developing Member Care in Indonesia (October 2024)
Interview with Traugott and Hanni Boeker
This third episode takes us into the history and heart of developing member care in Indonesia (chapter 9). Over a 10+ year period (after a 20 year absence from their previous time in Indonesia) the authors lived in Indonesia and collaborated closely with Indonesian colleagues to develop a comprehensive and contextualized approach and training guide for member care. How did this come about, what remains to be done, and what lessons can we learn from it? Power point HERE. The English version of the training manual (in Bahasa Indonesia) was just published--We'll Never Let Go of the Rope! A Member Care Training Manual for Sending Churches and Agencies.

Full video version--56 minutes

Full audio version--56 minutes
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Staying the Course--Episode 4
Our Journey into Trauma Training and Care (November 2024)
Interview with Emily Hervey and Dean Mellerstig
In the fourth episode we interact with the authors about their trauma work in "mental health as mission"  in Africa, the Middle East, and Chile.  Specifically they share about the "The Tree of Life" training they have developed over the past 10 years--five day workshops for personal healing from trauma and learning how to help others who have experienced trauma. A core feature of the training is experiencing a personal healing encounter with Jesus guided by the Immanuel Approach. Power point HERE. See the resources on authors' website including information on The Tree of Life and  Lighten Up or Burnout--Self-Care Strategies for Those Who Serve the Suffering. See also: Mission Frontlines–A Couple’s Journey into Member Care and Mental Health, Member Care Update (August 2022). 

Full video version--53 minutes

Full audio version--53 minutes
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Staying the Course--Episode 5
A Team Model for Pastoral Coaching (December 2024)
Interview with Edward Bruce and Kendall Johns  
The fifth episode of Staying the Course features two of the four authors from chapter 20 in GMC 3. Senior member care colleagues Edward and Kendall discuss the pastoral coaching ministry--a comprehensive team approach--that they have helped to develop over the years for their organization. They share about some of their early struggles in cross-cultural ministry and some core emphases and resources that they use to foster resiliency--emphasizing abiding in Christ and mutual support--to help workers navigate the challenges of  unreached settings. Power point HERE.

Full video version--45 minutes
Full audio version--45 minutes
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STC Podcasts 2025
Staying the Course--Episode 6
Trauma and Tragedy on the Mission Field (January 2025)
GMC 3 consulting editor Nik Ripken, recorded in 2023 for the Witness and Persecution podcast series

"In this deeply personal episode, Nik Ripken reflects on his journey through trauma, health crises, and confronting deeply ingrained racism in his life and ministry. From growing up in a broken home to battling malaria on the mission field and dismantling racial prejudice, Nik shares how God has redeemed his struggles, transforming them into opportunities for reconciliation, humility, and Kingdom work." See also: Persecution Pandemics: What Is Jesus Worth? Member Care Update (December 2020).

Full video version
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Staying the Course--Episode 7
Trauma and Soul Care (February 2025)
GMC 3 consulting editors Nik & Ruth Ripken, recorded in 2023 for the Witness and Persecution podcast series

Part One: "After witnessing immense tragedy in Somalia, Nik and Ruth Ripken developed practices for counseling missionaries serving in extreme conditions, emphasizing faith, biblical narratives, and community care. Drawing lessons from the Old Testament and celebrating transitions, they offer a roadmap for healing emotional trauma and fostering resilience in the face of adversity." Full video version

Part Two: "Nik and Ruth Ripken share practical advice for supporting missionaries serving in the hardest places, emphasizing the need for balance, community, and spiritual care. They highlight the importance of separating worship from administrative tasks, engaging in mentorship, utilizing confidential support channels, and seeking prayer and direction to maintain resilience and well-being in the face of immense challenges." Full video version

Staying the Course--Episode 8
Sharing My Father with the World (March 2025)

GMC 3 consulting editor Michael Pollock, interview recorded in September 2024 for the Holding the Fort Abroad podcast by Rhoda Bangerter
"Growing up as the child of a minister and a father who was also actively involved in cross-cultural work, had a profound impact on Michael. His father's frequent travels for youth ministry, pastoral duties, and later, more global roles in raising awareness about Third Culture Kids, created a complex dynamic in their family life. While there was a sense of pride and recognition in the meaningful work his father did, it also brought challenges. Michael reflects on the mixed emotions of having to "share" his father with others, often feeling that it wasn't a choice but a necessity. This experience shaped Michael's perspective, giving him an appreciation for the importance of his father's work while also highlighting the personal cost of his absence during key moments of his upbringing. This insightful podcast highlights the complexities of mobile family dynamics and the importance of attachment theory in understanding the experiences of TCKs. Key takeaways...” (quote from the interview synopsis)

Full audio version (40 minutes)
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Staying the Course--Episode 9
What We Wish Mission Workers Knew About Their Mental Health and Wellbeing--A Counseling Staff Perspective (April 2025)
GMC 3 consulting editor Grace Shim, presentation recorded in 2021 for the Church Mental Health Summit

This novel overview on staff care and wellbeing is full of key concepts and seasoned advice mingled with compassion. It is a concise and compelling apologetic for prioritizing people's mental health during their mission work. Note: Grace was the Executive Director of Cornerstone Counseling Foundation when this presentation was recorded and currently is the Executive Minister of Serve Globally with the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Full video version (15 minutes)
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Staying the Course--Episode 10
Resilience, Meaning Making, and Post-Traumatic Growth (May 2025)
GMC 3 consulting editor Samuel Girguis, presentation recorded in 2024 for the Flourishing in Ministry Coaching Course. Dr. Girguis is the Director of the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at Azusa Pacific University. This one-hour training session includes excerpts of presentations by two other psychologists along with emphases on understanding resilience and the holistic impacts of trauma, the importance of making meaning of adverse events, and personal growth and applications.

Full video version (60 minutes)
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Staying the Course--Episode 11
Special Member Care Events (June 2025)
Event 1--Asia Member Care Network Conferences

This episode features two brief "vintage" videos. The first video is about the Asia Member Care Network Conferences. This video was done in 2015, introduced by David Tan, and shared with us now by his wife, Florence, who helped to coordinate the 8th Conference in April 2025 with its theme "Ministry and Sacrifice-Sustainable Services. David passed last year (see the Tributes section on the MCA website). He was the co-founder and coordinator of the conference and also a consulting editor for GMC 3. Full video version (4 minutes)

Event 2--Member Care and Counseling Seminars, Narramore Christian Foundation

This second video is about the annual two-week seminar organized by Tim Hibma (GMC 3 consulting editor) and his wife Cindy. This seminar is designed for member care providers, team leaders, administrators, counselors, and those who want to be better equipped for their ministry or plan to design or improve care. It offers practical member care and basic counseling training with psychological insights that are strongly integrated with biblical and theological truth. Full video version (5 minutes)
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Staying the Course--Episode 12
How Is Coaching Different? (July 2025)

Rich Hansen
This podcast is a presentation by Dr. Rich Hansen, done in 2024. Rich is the founder of the Leadership Coaching Network (LCN) which is committed to "empower African leaders as agents of transformation for individuals, organizations and society." He is also a joint author of chapter 18 in GMC 3--Caring for Mission Leaders Through Coaching: Good Practices in the Global South. This presentation is one of the free introductory sessions of his Coaching for Transformation Course. See the LCN YouTube channel to explore the many free presentations done by colleagues in this network as well as the LCN website for more resources on training and certification. 

Full video version (27 minutes)
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Staying the Course--Episode 13
The Unseen Journey: 50 Years of Gospel Advancement (August 2025)
RW Lewis
This podcast features a special presentation given at the Perspectives Course's 50th Anniversary Celebration (2024). It reflects on "the tremendous impact of global mission efforts over the past five decades...how cultural and linguistic barriers are being tackled, the historical roots of contemporary missions, and the unique calling to reach Frontier People Groups. It also includes array of insights, maps, and quotes, this episode will inspire you to keep the momentum in global evangelism." 

Full video version (29 minutes)
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Staying the Course--Episode 14

Caring about Global Governance for the Sake of Human Flourishing (September 2025)

Dr. David Johnstone 

This presentation was given at the EMS-ISFM conference (8 October 2022). David’s central message is that "God is carrying out His mission in the world (the missio Dei) through the church in the power of the Spirit and that part of the proclamation of the Good News in word and deed is to work for peace, justice and human flourishing. The Good News also includes giving others a concrete foretaste of the New Heavens and the New Earth to come, when all nations will serve God and one another in total peace and prosperity."

Full video version (37 minutes)
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Staying the Course--Episode 15
Raising MKs Well (October 2025)
Jonathan Trotter
In this episode we present two podcasts on Third Culture Kids (TCKs) from Jonathan Trotter's  Digging In the Dirt podcast (2024): Don't Call Your Kids "World Changers" and One Simple Way to Bless TCKs (about 20 minutes total). "In this podcast, we'll delve into the disasters, the darkness, and the deluge, and offer some comfort, presence, and a gentle invitation to hope." (podcast description from the site). Johnathan is one of the joint authors of Tough People in Tough Places--chapter 16 in Global Member Care Volume 3--and the author of Digging in the Dirt: Musings on Missions, Emotions, and Life in the Mud (2023) and co-author with is wife Elizabeth of Serving Well: Help for the Wannabe, Newbie, or Weary Cross-cultural Christian Worker (2019). 

Full audio version (20 minutes)--see links above
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