In this episode, we introduce an important and long-needed conversation on missionary member care—what it is, why it matters, and how it works in real life.

If you would like to ready the complete Member Care Best Practices Guide, follow this link: https://mcusercontent.com/c12b196b16e71128874e5d2b1/files/02b32357-a1c3-4f65-8d70-0ad96c0ba91b/Member_Care_Best_Practices_v1_2026_01_08.pdf

Travis Snode sits down with Jeffrey Bush to unpack a three-legged approach to caring well for missionaries:

1️⃣ The Sending Church

2️⃣ The Mission Organization

3️⃣ The Missionary Themselves

Missionaries often receive strong financial and prayer support, but the emotional, relational, spiritual, and practical challenges of life on the field can be overlooked. In this conversation, we explore how missionaries are truly on the front lines—and why intentional care is essential for long-term faithfulness and fruitfulness.

You’ll hear:

A clear definition of member care and why it must be proactive

Practical ideas for how local churches can care for their missionaries

How Vision Baptist Missions is strengthening its support structures

The role missionaries play in caring for their own spiritual and emotional health

How isolation, burnout, and discouragement can be prevented through connection and communication

This episode is designed to start conversations, encourage churches, and remind missionaries that they are not alone. Whether you are a pastor, missionary, missions leader, or someone who cares deeply about world evangelism, this discussion will help you think biblically and practically about caring for those God has sent.

📌 This is the first step in rolling out a broader member care initiative—more resources and specifics will be shared in the future.

👉 Listen in, be encouraged, and join us as we work together to strengthen those serving on the mission field.

If you would like to hear more about how God is working in missions, please COMMENT, LIKE, AND SUBSCRIBE!

SUBSCRIBE to our podcast "Mission Post" on all platforms.

To learn more about Vision Baptist Missions, go to visionmissions.com

Follow us on social media and check out our website.

Quotes from this episode about Member Care

“When we talk about member care, it’s more than financial support and prayer support—missionaries face challenges that require intentional care.”

“Think in terms of the military: missionaries are on the front lines.”

“Member care has three legs: the sending church, the mission organization, and the missionary themselves.”

“Member care is the intentional provision of spiritual, emotional, relational, and practical support for missionaries throughout all stages of their service.”

“Missionaries don’t come from colleges or conferences or denominations—they come from local churches.”

“VBM exists to partner with the local church—to go alongside and help.”

“Nobody needs to fall through the cracks.”

“Not every church has the same resources, and not every missionary is in the same life stage—have a plan, but be willing to adapt.”

“There’s no perfect church, but God made you the church that missionary was sent from.”

“It always feels good to know somebody’s praying for you—so let the missionary know.”

“Rather than comparing what your church does, focus on what your church does do—and be grateful for it.”

#MissionaryCare #MemberCare #Missions #ChurchPlanting #SendingChurch #MissionOrganization #MissionLife #VisionBaptistMissions

Mission Post | In this powerful conversation, Pastor Andrew Stensaas shares his journey from growing up on the mission field to serving as a pastor in the United States—and how God clearly directed every step along the way.

Raised by missionary parents and having served for years in Uganda, Pastor Stensaas never expected to return to America to pastor a church. Yet through closed doors, undeniable confirmations, and God’s unmistakable leading, the Lord redirected his calling without removing his heart for missions.

In this episode, Pastor Stensaas discusses:

• Growing up on the mission field and serving in Uganda

• The unexpected call from missionary to pastor

• How God makes His will clear through open and closed doors

• Building a missions-minded church in a rural community

• Raising up the next generation of pastors and missionaries

• Why every believer should consider the mission field

This interview is full of encouragement for missionaries, pastors, young people, and anyone seeking clarity about God’s direction for their life.

📖 “When God wants to be loud, He can be very loud.”

If you’re praying about your calling—or wondering what God wants you to do next—this episode will challenge and encourage you to fully surrender to Him.

If you would like to hear more about how God is working in missions, please COMMENT, LIKE, AND SUBSCRIBE!

SUBSCRIBE to our podcast "Mission Post" on all platforms.

To learn more about Vision Baptist Missions, go to visionmissions.com

Follow us on social media and check out our website.

Quotes on God’s guidance

“When God wants to be loud, He can be very loud—He can swing the doors wide open.”

“I knew the answer was ‘no’… but I didn’t have peace about telling him no.”

“God shut the doors to go to Rwanda… and that’s when He showed me maybe this is what He wanted.”

“I’ll be here as long as God tells me to be here. When God says leave, I’ll leave.”

“When God’s ready to move you, He’ll show you.”

Quotes on surrender and calling

“Just be yielded to whatever God wants you to do.”

“Surrender and say, ‘God, I’m willing to go.’ If God sends you, praise the Lord. If God doesn’t, that’s great too.”

“Not everybody is called to go to the mission field… but a lot more could be if they would just surrender.”

“Somebody has to do it. Why not you?”

“We’ve never pushed our kids to be in ministry… but if God calls them, praise the Lord.”

Quotes on missions philosophy

“We’re not there to be the pastor. We’re there to train other guys to reach their own people.”

“If we don’t give them the opportunity, they’ll never learn.”

“They may not do it as good as you—but if you never let them try, they’ll never grow.”

“We’re not there to make them be like America.”

“The purpose is to turn it over—to train leaders who can carry it forward.”

Quotes on ministry and people

“People are people here just like they are there.”

“I tried to fit what I thought was the American pastor… and it didn’t work. I had to be myself.”

“I basically took what we did on the mission field and did it here.”

“It’s fun to serve the Lord. It’s exciting.”

#ChristianPodcast #ChristianMinistry #FaithJourney #GodsCalling #ChristianLeadership #Missions #WorldMissions #MissionField #GreatCommission #MissionsMindset #PastorLife #ChurchLeadership #LocalChurch #ChurchGrowth #Testimony #Obedience #SurrenderToGod #FollowJesus #CalledToServe #RaisingLaborers #NextGeneration #Discipleship #ChristianYouth #FaithPodcast #MinistryPodcast #VisionMissions

Mission Post | In today’s episode, Dr. Jim and Sandy Roberts share a powerful and emotional testimony about praying for your children, loving them unconditionally, and trusting God when your kids walk away from Him. If you’re a parent, missionary, or ministry leader struggling with a prodigal child—or simply wanting to strengthen your family’s walk with God—this conversation will deeply encourage you.

The Roberts open up about their son’s journey through rebellion, addiction, and military life, and how God used prayer, patience, and love to bring him back. They share practical wisdom for raising children in ministry, avoiding provoking them to anger, and laying your children at the feet of Jesus when you can’t fix them yourself.

Whether you’re raising little ones, teenagers, or praying for an adult child who is far from God, this episode is filled with hope, faith, and biblical truth.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• How to pray powerfully and consistently for your children

• What unconditional love looks like for a wandering or prodigal child

• Why parents must “stop preaching and start loving”

• How to trust God when your child isn’t saved

• What it means to “place your children at the foot of the cross”

• Encouragement for missionary parents raising kids overseas

• How God’s grace can turn the darkest season into a testimony

Watch Next:

👉 https://youtu.be/05G2KpsfO48 - Parenting On the Field

👉 https://youtu.be/pSmoQ-ZsTdw - Loving Where You Are

Subscribe for more Christian parenting encouragement, missionary stories, and faith-building conversations.

If you would like to hear more about how God is working in missions, please COMMENT, LIKE, AND SUBSCRIBE!

SUBSCRIBE to our podcast "Mission Post" on all platforms.

To learn more about Vision Baptist Missions, go to visionmissions.com

Follow us on social media and check out our website.

#PrayingForYourChildren #ChristianParenting #ProdigalSon #NeverGiveUpOnYourKids #UnconditionalLove #PrayerChangesThings #HopeForParents #FaithAndFamily #RaiseThemInTruth #TrustGodWithYourKids #ProdigalChild #ChristianTestimony #MissionaryFamily #ParentingInMinistry #ChristianEncouragement #GodsGrace #WalkingInTruth #FamilyFaithJourney #PowerOfPrayer #KeepPraying #VisionMission

List of Powerful Quotes from this episode:

“Never give up praying for your children—God is always working, even when you can’t see it.”

“The darkest days may be the very ones God uses to bring your child home.”

“You can’t fix your children—only God can. Your job is to love them and pray.”

“When we try to fix everything ourselves, God steps back and says, ‘Go ahead.’”

“Our children will do what we do, not what we say.”

“You can’t think about heaven when your child isn’t going. It breaks your heart.”

“Stop preaching at them and start loving them.”

“God’s Word will not return void—even when slipped into jean pockets.”

“Unconditional love is often the loudest sermon your child will ever hear.”

“Just be real. Kids can spot fake a mile away.”

“When we finally laid our children at the foot of the cross, God began to work.”

“As long as we tried to control our kids, nothing changed. But when we surrendered them, everything did.”