Shonna Ingram is a missionary care specialist with over 17 years of experience supporting cross-cultural workers through transitions and trauma recovery. She serves as a Trauma Care and Career Transition Specialist with Pioneer Bible Translators and is the founder of Re-entry Experts, an organization offering coaching, resources, and community cohorts for global workers navigating re-entry. Shonna is also the creator of the Renewed Hope Approach, a faith-based, trauma-informed framework designed to guide individuals through healing and restoration. Her books include Beyond Broken: A Church’s Guide to Trauma and Growth and Navigating Life in Transition: A Global Worker's Guide to Discovering the Root of Stress, Loss and Anxiety.

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at care@modernday.org

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Ever felt misunderstood, sidelined, or frustrated by a teammate who just sees things differently?

Serving on a cross-cultural team on the field can be one of the most rewarding—and challenging—parts of missionary life.

In this episode, cross-cultural leadership expert I’Ching Thomas shares practical wisdom and real-life stories to help long-term teams build trust, work through cultural tension, and grow together in unity.

Whether your team is brand new or you’ve been navigating these dynamics for years, this is one conversation you’ll want to share with your whole team.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How we can navigate cultural differences with grace and clarity
• The simple (but powerful) shift that helps us build trust on diverse teams
• Why indirect and direct communication can cause confusion—and what to do about it
• How team leadership styles vary across cultures (and why it matters!)
• Tips for creating a team culture that’s unified without losing uniqueness

Questions to Ponder as You Listen:

• Do I tend to assume someone’s personality… when it might actually be their cultural norm?
• How well do I understand my own communication style and how it impacts my team?
• Am I creating space for quieter voices to be heard on our team?
• Have I been more focused on tasks or people in how I engage my team lately?
• What’s one small step I could take to be more culturally curious and honoring this week?

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at care@modernday.org

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Are you trying to hold it all together while quietly falling apart inside? Do you ever feel like you can’t afford to be honest about your struggles—especially as a missionary leader?

In this powerful conversation with Ian Morgan Cron, author of The Fix, we dive into the hidden world of addiction among missionaries—and not just the obvious kinds.

From people-pleasing and approval addiction to secret compulsions and burnout, Ian shares a compassionate, gospel-centered invitation to freedom, healing, and transformation. Whether you’re leading a ministry or simply trying to keep your head above water, this episode offers hope, truth, and practical steps toward becoming whole in Christ.

📌 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What addiction looks like beyond substances—and why missionaries are especially vulnerable
• Why willpower and ministry pressure aren’t enough to overcome our internal struggles
• How the 12 Steps can lead to spiritual transformation (even if you don’t consider yourself an addict)
• What to do when you’re leading while secretly falling apart
• How grace—not grit—is the real path forward

💭 Questions to Ponder as You Listen:

• What am I turning to for comfort, control, or a sense of worth?
• Where do I feel unmanageable inside—even if everything looks fine on the outside?
• Have I been trying to fix myself, or have I given God full permission to transform me?
• What’s one ‘sneaky’ compulsion in my life that I’ve been excusing or hiding?
• Who are the safe people I can process this with—and what’s keeping me from reaching out?

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at care@modernday.org

Website · YouTube · Facebook · Instagram · TikTok · X · LinkedIn