What 76 Field Leaders Told Us: Their Greatest Challenges (Ranked) and Some Practical Solutions

GODLY GRIT: Leading from Overflow

How can field leaders stay spiritually healthy, resilient, and full of the Holy Spirit over the long haul? In this episode, Kyle Fannan, author of Overflowing and Godly Grit, shares practical wisdom on enduring in leadership without running dry. We talk about the mindsets, habits, relationships, and team dynamics that help leaders thrive and serve from overflow rather than exhaustion.https://www.kylefarran.comEVALUATION TOOL FOR POTENTIAL TEAMMATES [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PO6-vaLDEFKg8icWrNLSuNrMOPTmxGZX/view?usp=sharing] Connect for Mentoring or Peer Groups [https://missionexus.org/table/]

Building A High-performing Team: What Every Leader Should Know About Team Composition

How much does team composition really matter in ministry? In this episode of The Field Leaders Podcast, Dr. Bob McNabb, Scott Lundy, and special guest Jim Doggett explore why building a high-performing team takes more than spiritual maturity and shared mission. They unpack how gifting, temperament, character, competency, chemistry, and cultural context all shape team effectiveness. You’ll hear practical insights on: * why the right mix of people matters * how “wiring” and SHAPE influence team roles * common mistakes leaders make when building teams * how team composition should change with mission phase * warning signs your team may be missing key strengths * how to evaluate your current team without dishonoring people This conversation is especially helpful for field leaders, church planters, ministry team leaders, and anyone seeking to recruit, build, and lead a healthier, stronger team. Worksheet [https://docs.google.com/document/d/17qwmrCtH80zSoL-zDK9_IOG5hDlDBEf7Xta-L6_A7OY/edit?usp=sharing]

UNSHAKABLE LEADERSHIP: Finding Your Identity in Christ, Not in Your Role as a Leader

What happens when your leadership role becomes your identity? In this episode, Dr. Bob McNabb and co-host Scott Lundy talk with Gregg Nicholson and Dr. Bob Flayhart about the hidden traps of role-based identity, the team damage it can cause, and the freedom that comes from leading out of sonship or daughtership in Christ. You will learn how to recognize unhealthy identity patterns, why psychological safety matters for team health, and practical steps to reorient your heart. The Gospel Waltz: Experiencing the Transformational Power of Grace - by Dr. Bob Flayhart https://tinyurl.com/4fwuj756 "Becoming a Leader of No Reputation" - by R. Scott Rodin https://tinyurl.com/39rkvhef

Resilient Missionary Teams: Why Some Works Endure While Others Collapse

Resiliency is not just about keeping individual workers healthy, it is about building ministries that can withstand attrition, visa issues, transitions, and seasons of hardship while the work keeps moving forward. Scott Lundy interviews Dr. Bob McNabb on “resiliency re-examined,” including mindset shifts for leaders, how to cultivate national ownership early, why teams need a deep bench, how sub-teams create critical redundancy, and what support structures every field leader should have (coaching, peers, and gospel community). Join the discussion and share what you have seen help the work endure. https://missionexus.org/podcast-listing/the-field-leaders-podcast/

What 76 Field Leaders Told Us: Their Greatest Challenges (Ranked) and Some Practical Solutions

Missionary leadership is demanding—and many leaders feel overloaded, isolated, and under-supported. In this episode of The Field Leaders Podcast, we share what 76 missionary field leaders told us are their greatest challenges—ranked. You’ll hear the Top 15 missionary leadership challenges, grouped into three buckets: overwhelming demands, team issues, and the leader’s internal landscape + inadequate support systems—plus the practical supports that help: mentorship/coaching, peer support, gospel community, and shared leadership. Contact us: https://missionexus.org/podcast-listing/the-field-leaders-podcast/ Webinars: https://missionexus.org/events/list/ Research Finding Paper: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PNj47upU-J1wbqK7uNJGDFAP5nhAoXMV/view?usp=sharing Keywords: missionary leadership, field leadership, missions leadership, cross-cultural leadership, team leadership, burnout, isolation, mentoring, coaching, team conflict, resilience, training.