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.

Why do so many well intended ministry efforts stall, even when teams are healthy and committed?In this episode of The Field Leaders Podcast, Bob McNabb is joined by Scott Lundy and veteran missionary Greg Nicholson to explore why strategy matters in cross cultural ministry. Drawing on decades of experience in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, they reflect honestly on lessons learned, mistakes made, and why coming alongside national leaders, rather than trying to do the work ourselves, often leads to greater fruit.This conversation dives into humility, posture, trust, team leadership, and the realities of partnering with local believers in complex contexts. If you are a field leader, team leader, or cross cultural worker wrestling with strategy and effectiveness, this episode offers hard won insight and practical wisdom.

Conflict on the mission field is unavoidable—but it doesn’t have to be devastating. In this episode, Dr. Bob McNabb and co-host Scott Lundy sit down with John Shindeldecker, President of Peace Pursuit International, to explore how conflict can become a tool for transformation instead of a source of burnout, broken teams, and lost joy.With 46 years of cross-cultural ministry experience, John unpacks why conflict is so common among global workers, what really lies beneath our frustrations, and how the Peace Pursuit model gives leaders a clear, biblical process to restore relationships, rebuild trust, and strengthen teams.You’ll hear real examples of reconciliation, practical first steps leaders can take this week, and the simple habits that build a culture of peace on your team.If you lead in a multicultural, high-pressure environment, this episode is a must-listen.

Peace Pursuit Tools: https://peacepursuit.org

Why do 360° evaluations make so many leaders nervous—and why might they actually be one of the best tools for your growth?
In this episode, Dr. Bob McNabb, Scott Lundy, and special guest Bryan Brown explore how 360° feedback can reveal hidden strengths, increase self-awareness, strengthen cross-cultural leadership, and help you grow with courage rooted in Christ. You’ll also learn practical tools for implementing 360s on your team—whether you have a big budget, small budget, or no budget at all.
A practical, encouraging conversation for leaders who want to grow and help others flourish.

Trusted Leader 360° Tool: https://trustedleader360.com

Guest: Henry Clay
Hosts: Dr. Bob McNabb & Scott Lundy

When it comes to leadership development, there’s no shortage of concepts—but practical, reproducible tools can be hard to find. In this episode, veteran ministry leader Henry Clay joins hosts Bob McNabb and Scott Lundy to introduce a simple yet powerful tool called “Dress Codes.”

Henry unpacks how this tool helps leaders have developmental dialogues that turn everyday experiences into learning opportunities. Together they explore:

• Why many leaders struggle to think developmentally

• How to use the “Dress Codes” acrostic (Describe, Role, Expectations, Success, Surprise, Change, Observation, Development, Execution, Share)

• Ways to create a culture of safety and growth on your team

• How to use developmental dialogues with individuals or groups

• Common mistakes to avoid and how to build trust

If you lead others—especially in ministry or cross-cultural settings—this episode will equip you with a memorable, field-tested process for helping people grow.

Dress Codes Tool

The Secret to Real Leadership Growth | If you could multiply a leader’s growth tenfold, where would you start? In this episode, Dr. Bob McNabb explores the most overlooked yet transformational practice in leadership development. Discover how vulnerability, identity in Christ, and leading from the heart can transform not only what you do, but who you are. Learn practical habits—like confession, solitude, reflection, and community—that help leaders grow from the inside out. Stay tuned to the end for details about upcoming Field Leaders Tables, Missio Nexus’ cross-agency peer groups for leadership development, soul care, and community.

Most leadership models tell you what leaders should do. This one flips the script and asks: “What do they need most right now to thrive and succeed?” In this teaching episode of The Field Leaders Podcast, Dr. Bob McNabb introduces the Champion Leadership Model—a simple, biblical, one-page framework to help you serve the people you lead with relevance and timeliness. You’ll see how “championing” others shows up throughout Scripture (John the Baptist, Barnabas with Paul, Paul with Phoebe) and how to translate that posture into practical weekly leadership.

The Champion Leadership Model Tool: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MNXTEe2_bb-bWVH7mFuMozYJ_ZD26nuS/view?usp=drive_link

Too many leaders stay busy doing the work and under-invest in leading the work. In this episode of The Field Leaders Podcast, Dr. Bob McNabb talks with long-time field leaders Scott Lundy (Middle East) and Jen (Southeast Asia) about the crucial shift from frontline ministry to shepherding the people who shepherd others. They unpack how to balance care and direction, avoid “ministry mistresses,” and build healthy rhythms that keep a team aligned, developing, and fruitful.Resources mentioned:The Champion Leadership Model: https://youtu.be/ZPBt5OzgtfcLead • Develop • Care (LDC) frameworks & trainings: https://www.leaddevelopcare.com/Trusted Leader 360 (for feedback & growth planning). (https://trustedleader360.com/)Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership — Ruth Haley Barton.Peace Pursuit / peacemaking tools for team health. (https://peacepursuit.org/)Peer Coaching / Field Leaders Network opportunities via Missio Nexus. (https://missionexus.org/table/)