#2: Singles in Missions: Trials, Triumphs, and How to Thrive- Mandi Vermilyea & Stephanie Kozick

What’s it really like to serve in missions as a single person—and how can churches and teammates support singles better?

In this episode, we talk with Mandi Vermilyea and Stephanie M. Kozick, two single missionaries who share candidly about the joys, challenges, and victories of serving God while single. This honest and grace-filled conversation explores what helps singles thrive on the mission field—and how married teammates, churches, and leaders can better understand and support them.
In This Episode, We Cover:
✅ Unique joys and opportunities that come with being single in ministry
✅ Common challenges singles face on the field—including loneliness, assumptions, and cultural expectations
✅ What singles wish their married teammates and sending churches understood
✅ Practical mindsets and rhythms that help singles thrive long-term
✅ Habits and spiritual practices of healthy, resilient single missionaries
✅ Ways married couples can better walk alongside and support singles in missions
✅ Words of encouragement for singles—and those serving with them
This episode is a powerful reminder of the vital role singles play in advancing the gospel around the world and how they can thrive in ministry.

Mandi Vermilyea grew up in Quebec City as an MK. Then, God called her to return to Canada to serve with ABWE in Montreal in 2016. Over the past 8 years, she has developed relationships with people in her community through various means such as book clubs, teaching English, and volunteering at Meals on Wheels. God has richly blessed those friendships and given her many opportunities to share His love with others. Her dog, Charlie, has also been instrumental in meeting many people in her neighborhood! 

She has also been actively involved in her French-speaking church, most recently with the single women in the congregation. She created a group to provide encouragement and mutual support just over 2 years ago. As she saw the fruits of that group, God laid on her heart a similar ministry for the single women serving with ABWE. She launched Flourish in early 2023 and prays that it will be used by God to bless, encourage, and come alongside the women serving Him faithfully all around the world. 

Stephanie M. Kozick has lived and worked in Europe since 2008. She spent her first nine years abroad working with various ministries in Dublin, Ireland. For the past seven years, she has served outside Athens, Greece with both ministry to nationals and the refugee population.  

​She very much enjoys connecting with people from many different cultures learning what she can from those around her. She also enjoys writing and engaging around the subject of singleness, as she has never been married and is passionate about helping others with the same status thrive as they discover both the blessings and difficulties that come with this gift. 


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RESOURCES:

Books:

• Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

• Being Elizabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn

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Blog:

• A Life Overseas- This is what courage looks like

Podcast:

• With the Perrys
  Husband and wife, Preston and Jackie Hill Perry chat about everything from relationships and theology to politics, race and parenting​

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