Escaping the Missionary Productivity Trap with Amy Young

Modern Day Missionaries

Do you ever feel like you’re running hard in ministry but still falling behind? Missionary life can be an endless swirl of urgent needs, unfinished to-do lists, and pressure to prove your worth through results.

In this episode, Amy Young of Global Trellis helps unpack the hidden productivity trap that drains your energy—and the surprising shift that frees you to focus on what truly matters.

Discover how to spot “fake wins,” embrace slow productivity, and protect your calling from burnout so you can finish well in the work God’s given you.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• The subtle signs you’re stuck in a productivity trap without realizing it
• How to tell the difference between urgent and truly important work in missions
• Why pseudo productivity can leave you drained but not effective
• Practical ways to slow down without losing momentum in your ministry
• How to align your daily actions with your long-term calling

Hey missionaries—how are your finances on the field? At Modern Day Missions, we make it simple for missionaries to receive donations and for donors to give. Serving 1,100+ missionaries worldwide, we free you to focus on your calling. We also offer resources like our weekly podcast, fundraising coaching, and a resource-packed newsletter. Connect with us at modernday.org

Thanks for listening! Email us your questions at [email protected]

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Chapters

1. Escaping the Missionary Productivity Trap with Amy Young (00:00:00)

2. The Missionary Productivity Trap (00:00:40)

3. Urgent vs. Important: A Missionary's Dilemma (00:01:29)

4. Exploring Slow Productivity (00:05:18)

5. Pseudo Productivity and Real Accomplishments (00:09:06)

6. Balancing Tasks and Purpose (00:12:40)

7. Long-term Perspective in Ministry (00:15:34)

8. Consistency with Values in Crisis (00:27:00)

9. Reflecting on Values and Productivity (00:28:17)

10. Balancing Life's Demands (00:29:42)

11. The Importance of Deep Work (00:32:53)

12. Navigating Personal and Professional Life (00:35:18)

13. Faithful Productivity in Different Seasons (00:40:19)

14. Engaging with Global Trellis (00:46:06)

15. Conclusion and Final Thoughts (00:49:07)