SEND Resources

On the Ground in Myanmar and Nepal: Hope, Resilience, and Opportunity

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 12:30:00 GMT

On the Ground in Myanmar and Nepal: Hope, Resilience, and Opportunity

By Michelle Atwell, CEO, SEND International US

Over the past few weeks, I had the privilege of joining several SEND leaders on a deeply moving survey trip through Myanmar and Nepal. This journey wasn’t just about exploring ministry opportunities—it was about listening, learning, and witnessing firsthand how God is at work in some of the most complex and challenging corners of our world.

A Glimpse of Grace in Myanmar

Tucked away in a rural community in northwest Myanmar is an international school that stands as a beacon of hope to over 1,000 students and their families—many of whom have been displaced after their villages were destroyed in the ongoing conflict.

What moved me most wasn’t the size of the school, but the heart behind it. Tuition is waived for refugee children, which costs about the same as a night at the movies for a family of four in the U.S., and many graduates return to teach the next generation. A small coffee shop on campus helps students develop practical business skills. Monthly evangelistic services and mission initiatives show that this is far more than just a school. It is a movement—a place where hope is taking root and growing.

The founder’s life verse, Proverbs 22:6, echoes throughout the campus: “Train up a child in the way he should go…” In a country where each day is uncertain, this is what it means to redeem the time.

Navigating Complexity with Faith

Myanmar is a land of paradox: rich in cultural diversity (home to more than 135 ethnic groups) and spiritual hunger, yet burdened by a crushing military regime. We heard story after story—of families cut off from the internet, pastors under surveillance, and children attending school in active conflict zones.

And yet, the gospel is being lived out with boldness. Christian leaders are using every available platform—schools, publishing houses, training centers—to sow seeds of the Kingdom. One partner quietly told us, “We don’t know if the doors will stay open. But while they are, we will keep teaching, preaching, and sending.”

SEND has a unique role here—not only as a mobilizer of missionaries but as a partner in resilience. We see an opportunity to stand with local leaders, strengthen existing networks, and help equip the next generation being raised up in these very schools and churches.

The Road Ahead in Nepal

Our time in Nepal offered a vivid reminder of the deep spiritual need that still defines much of the Hindu world. One morning, we found ourselves at the edge of Pashupatinath — one of the country’s largest and holiest Hindu temples. Thousands had gathered along the banks of the Bagmati River, offering prayers, burning incense, cremating the deceased, and seeking blessings. The smoke was thick in the air, rising with chants and cries for healing, prosperity, and peace.

And yet, what we felt most deeply in that moment was not reverence — but longing. The faces in the crowd carried the weight of searching without finding, of hoping without clarity. This is what spiritual darkness can look like: devotion without truth, sacrifice without assurance.

Nepal is a land of stunning beauty and resilient people, but also of profound spiritual lostness. Fewer than 2% of the population profess faith in Christ, and attempting to convert others is against the law. And yet—even here—we saw God at work. Small house churches are forming in mountain villages. Pastors are being trained. Young leaders are hungry for the Word.

Why This Matters for SEND

SEND exists to mobilize God’s people and engage the unreached in order to establish reproducing churches. What we saw in Myanmar and Nepal are seeds already planted — ministries quietly multiplying, sometimes without visibility or outside support. Our role is not to reinvent the work, but to come alongside and catalyze it. We can help train, support, and send missionaries from these very contexts — yes, even in the hardest places.

We’re asking the tough but necessary questions: What must SEND learn to prepare for the next chapter? Which relationships has God brought into our path for such a time as this? This trip was a significant step in that discernment journey.

And so, I invite you to pray with us—for wisdom, for clarity, and for courage. May we, like our brothers and sisters in Myanmar and Nepal, be found faithful as we seek to redeem the time.

Spiritual Climate on 3 Mission Fields

Thu, 22 May 2025 09:00:01 GMT

Describe the spiritual climate where you serve.

Sharing Jesus in spiritually tough places isn’t easy. People’s past experiences, cultural differences, and deep doubts often shape how they respond to the gospel.

We asked our missionaries to describe the spiritual climate in the communities where they serve. Here's what they said...

It’s interesting here, as the majority of people would claim to be Muslim, yet live very secular lives. Because of this, many don’t really see a need for God, but if they do, they turn to Islam. At the same time, there’s a growing push from the more religious part of the community to deepen their devotion to Islam and prove that they truly are good Muslims.

Since we serve among a Muslim people group, there are both bridges and barriers. Many have been deeply hurt by those who call themselves Christians but don’t live in a way that reflects the character of God. Because of this, we must be intentional in both living out and clearly explaining what it truly means to follow Him.

At the same time, there’s a remarkable openness to spiritual conversations. Faith is central to their lives and culture. This creates a significant opportunity to share truth in meaningful and respectful ways.

Spain has a very difficult spiritual climate, largely shaped by its history and a deep-rooted distrust of the church. However, since the pandemic, we’ve noticed a shift. People are more open to conversations and are starting to ask deeper questions. The impact of the pandemic stirred a spiritual curiosity in many, but most Spaniards still don’t see the church as a place to explore those questions. But they are open to conversation, so it's our responsibility to meet people where they are and engage in those discussions.

Do what you love and live intentionally with Jesus.

Missionaries aren’t super-Christians. They’re ordinary people choosing to live with purpose—wherever God leads them.

For over two decades, Christian—a SEND missionary in Slovenia—has done just that. With a skateboard in hand and a heart for his community, he’s built real friendships and reflected Jesus in a place where faith is often misunderstood. Watch Christian's story .

How could God use your skills and passions to reach people with the gospel?

Have you heard about Urbana? Since 1946, Urbana has inspired thousands to pursue God’s mission through ministry, global service, and everyday life. Held only every three years, Urbana 2025 is coming this December in Phoenix, AZ. Designed for young adults (17–28) and their leaders, it’s a powerful opportunity to connect with the global church, explore your calling, and be equipped for impact.

Our team will be there — come say hi, we’d love to connect! Get your pass to Urbana .

 Not sure where God’s leading you?

Explore mission opportunities and connect with a SEND missions coach who’ll walk alongside you.

Can you describe a time when you felt stretched or questioned your calling?

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:29:52 GMT

Can you describe a time when you felt stretched

or questioned your calling?

From Siberian winters and language barriers to pandemic isolation and regional conflicts, our missionaries share deeply personal moments of doubt, spiritual stretching, and questioning their calling.

While serving in challenging contexts abroad, each find renewed purpose and deeper trust in God's sovereignty through these difficult seasons. We asked our missionaries: Can you describe a time when you felt stretched or questioned your calling? Here's what they said...

God has stretched me over and over on the field. I remember the early days in Siberia when the cold wind felt like it was blowing straight through my skull and I wondered what I was doing there. Then came the language learning and how it felt (and still sometimes feels), like I will never be able to truly express my heart and what I believe about God and how He is at work in my life and all around us. Language and cultural barriers can leave you feeling limited, even wondering whether you’re truly making a difference.

I also felt very stretched when I took on various leadership roles. At times it felt like I was trying to oversee too many things and I just couldn’t help all the people I was overseeing across the many time zones of our area and region.

Finally, I felt very stretched and a bit lost when we suddenly left Russia at the beginning of the Russia/Ukraine war. Our family left and we didn’t know where to go, what we would be doing or if we would ever see our dear friends and brothers and sisters in Russia again. Eventually, we moved to Central Asia where the Russian language was still helpful, but we were moving from a majority Buddhist region to a majority Muslim region, from a smaller city to a larger city, from a place with almost no other expats to a place where there was a school for expat workers. I felt lost and questioned what I was doing and how I was really helping God’s plans to move forward. In all of these stretching times, God has continued to remind me that He is in control, He loves me, and He is working no matter how weak or lost I feel.

The context I work in is difficult. We experience secondhand trauma by witnessing the crises the people in our community go through on a daily basis. Some days there is a tangible spiritual darkness. There are times that God doesn’t answer prayers or speak in ways we expect.

In all of this, I have not necessarily questioned my calling. But I was extremely stretched. I knew that life in my home culture isn’t easy, but it felt like if I returned, life would be simpler and more straightforward. I was sure that this work is the purpose God has called me to in this season, but I did wonder about what life might look like if I left.

I arrived to the field full time only a few months before the pandemic started. There was a time while I was locked in my apartment that I did start to question what I was doing and really question what God was thinking. I had finally arrived only to be locked in my home. But now I can look back and see the purpose and I was able to learn and grow. I was able to learn to depend fully on God when I can see things clearly and even when it makes no sense to me. I have to trust Him and His ways.

Feeling stretched or unsure about your calling? That’s okay. It’s normal to have questions or feel uncertain as you follow where God leads. Keep praying, keep trusting, He’s still at work in your story.

You don’t have to figure it out alone. We’re here to walk with you. Explore mission opportunities and chat with a SEND missions coach who gets it.

Fasting for Favor

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 19:57:42 GMT

Fasting for Favor

March 7, 2025

Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution only to break it in less than a week? On March 1, 1.8 billion Muslims began their annual fasting month called Ramadan. They are supposed to fast completely—no water or food—during daylight hours from March 1–Mar 29. It begins with much fanfare, promises, and declarations, as fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims believe that faithfully keeping the fast ensures one’s place of favor with God.

But many Muslims won’t be able to keep the fast through the whole 30 days. The reasons and excuses are myriad. Sometimes they will continue to claim to be fasting, but in reality, they are eating behind closed doors. To gain God’s favor, they must fast through the whole month, not just part of it. So, they live with the guilt and shame of not fulfilling the requirements of Islam. What was supposed to help gain their salvation now stands in condemnation.

A Feast Within the Fast

To complicate matters even more, Persian New Year’s Day is March 20, right in the middle of the fasting month. Persian New Year is one of the most important cultural holidays for most Iranian and Afghans, as well as many others with a Persian background scattered throughout Central Asia and the Middle East. In fact, many people with Persian heritage don’t just celebrate on one day. Their New Year’s celebrations extend over two weeks!

How do they reconcile these two weeks of festivities within Ramadan? For Arab Muslims, it is a non-issue. But for the Persian world, it IS a struggle. The hard-core Taliban will try to push people to keep the fast. However, many will lean more towards keeping their more ancient pre-Islamic traditions of New Year’s.

I would encourage you to take time to explore with your Muslim neighbors and colleagues why they fast. Then share why Christians fast. Perhaps read Isaiah 58 with them, summarize it, and ask for their thoughts on this passage.

One more thing to note during Ramadan is the Night of Power. Each year, during Ramadan, on or about the 27th day of the month, there is a special time called the Night of Power. This year it will happen on or around March 26. Muslims believe the Night of Power is when Mohammad first received the revelations of the Quran from the Angel Gabriel.

Prayers offered up by Muslims during Ramadan—especially prayers in a mosque—are believed to be weightier than prayers at any other time. However, prayers on this special Night of Power, prayed in a mosque, are considered infinitely more valuable than any other prayer. Many Muslims will stay up all night praying on the Night of Power to earn extra points with God.

There is a small problem in all of this, though—Muslims can’t agree on which night is actually the Night of Power. It is sometime during the last ten days of Ramadan, with tradition stating that it is on the 26th or 27th night.

There are several resources to help Christians and churches pray for the Muslim world through this month of Ramadan. I would encourage you to connect with some or all of them. Please make others in your church aware of these resources.

Perhaps you could even host a special prayer time at your church, utilizing these resources.

Ramadan 30-Day Prayer Guide Booklet – This can be purchased as a hard copy or PDF.
Prayercast – A wonderful website with many videos on the Muslim world. If you sign up, you can receive daily prayer videos that also work great during a Sunday worship service to help raise awareness of the need for prayer for the Muslim world.

Flexibility in Ministry

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 03:57:10 GMT

Flexibility in Ministry

Have you ever had your plans unexpectedly rearranged? That’s exactly what happened during my visit to a refugee family.

After greeting each other and saying hello to the family, I was led into the living room where one of the windows was shattered. The curtains billowed as the cold wind rushed through the open space.

“Well, the children were playing, and the ball you gave them went through the window!” the father explained.

What—the ball I gave them? Was this somehow my fault?

He showed me the broken window and asked, “Can you help us? It is starting to turn cold. Where do you buy glass, and how do you fix it?”

I laughed and agreed to help. Thankfully, I always carry a toolbox in my car. Together, we carefully removed the remaining shards of glass, measured the frame, and went to the hardware store to find a replacement. Fixing it was a bit of a challenge since it was an older house, and the frame did not come off easily. But by the end of the day, we fixed the window, and the family’s home was ready for the cold winter months.

It wasn’t how I had planned to spend my visit, but it was exactly what was needed. Working with refugees and immigrants is like that—you have to be flexible and ready for anything! The window repair, along with the simple lunch they served me as a thank-you, gave me valuable time with this family. As we worked, I learned more about their lives, asked about their children, and had the opportunity to pray for them.

That is how you build relationships with Muslims—one step at a time. Stopping by to check in, helping with practical needs, and giving your time speaks volumes because most people don’t give them any time or attention. Do you have room in your schedule to respond to unexpected needs?

Making Room for the Unexpected

Another example comes to mind. A few months ago, I had just finished teaching an English class and had 30 minutes before I needed to head to the airport. I decided to visit a family who had recently arrived in the country. As I drove, I debated whether a short visit would be worth it or maybe skipping it would be better. But in the end, I followed God’s prompting to go.

When I arrived, it became apparent very quickly that the wife was quite ill and needed to go to the emergency room right away! That 30-minute visit turned into a 7-hour stay as I accompanied them through the long ER process of registration, exams, and tests.

I called someone else to cover my airport run and cleared my schedule to be with this family in their time of need. I know we can’t always fit sudden changes into our schedules. But, through this visit, my relationship with this family suddenly went much deeper than it was before. I have been able to pray and share more with this family than I had been able to previously.

Whenever possible, I encourage you to leave some room in your calendar to help you adapt to sudden changes. God can use the unexpected to open doors to people’s lives.

Planning for Ramadan

Ramadan, the Muslim month of Fasting, starts around March 1st. There are several resources to help Christians and churches pray for the Muslim world during this time. I would encourage you to connect with some or all of them. Please share these resources with your church and consider hosting a special prayer time.

Ramadan 30-Day Prayer Guide booklet : Available as a hard copy or PDF.
Prayercast : A wonderful resource website with many videos on the Muslim world. If you sign up, you can receive daily prayer videos, which work well in Sunday services to help raise awareness of the need for prayer for the Muslim world.

EXPLORE NEWS: Goals

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 23:24:21 GMT

EXPLORE NEWS: Goals

Intentional planning, preparation, education, and rest are all essential components of effective mission work. This is especially true for missionaries working overseas.

We asked three of our SEND International missionaries what their personal ministry goals were for 2025. Here are their responses…

For the first half of the year, I am on home service or furlough. My ministry right now is meeting with current partners and connecting in person, and meeting with new people to share my experience and how God is working in Spain. I’m spending time envisioning what my ministry will look like when I return to the field for my next term, and praying about what I should commit to. My goals are to set clear boundaries and to care for myself so I can be my best for the work that I do.

For the first half of 2025, we are on our first furlough. My goals in that time include rest, connecting with past and new partners, eating as much Mexican food as I can, and taking courses to better equip myself for my return to the field.

Upon arrival back to the field, my goal for the rest of the year is to spend dedicated time learning the native language of the people we work with before jumping back into full time ministry.

My goal is to help our new church planting team unify on a plan for moving forward and solidify our vision for the new church. At this point we have the enthusiasm, but not necessarily the vision for how to move forward. Another goal is to continue to build short-term and long-term opportunities for workers who wish to join us in Central Asia from different parts of the world.

Have you been following our missionary panel for a while? Take the next step to discover your place in God's mission. Join the Explore Together community. Our next coach-led cohort launches March 10

Freedom from Shame

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 04:13:00 GMT

Freedom From Shame

“Hello, can you come right away?” Our new friend blurted out the words without the usual greetings, and we knew instantly there was a problem. “I need you to translate for the funeral home, they are calling at 3:00 p.m.” Our heads were spinning. What had happened?

We gently asked what was going on and where they were. He said, “We are at the hospital. My wife is suddenly very sick and has just lost our baby at 23 weeks, and we don’t know what to do. Can you come help us? I need to find a place to bury the baby.”

Of course, we quickly answered, “Where are you? Which hospital? We will be there as soon as we can.”

We received this gut-wrenching call and have been trying to support this refugee family, who had only arrived in the US six months ago. The young 23-year-old mother was very sick and fighting for her life with multiple medical issues.

Their hearts were broken, and yet they hardly had time to grieve because the mother was so sick herself. They have a three-year-old son, who was with them in the hospital because he had nowhere else to go. They have no family and no relatives to help out, as would have been the case back in their home country. We joined them at the hospital and brought some toys and books for the little one to be distracted amid a difficult setting.

My wife leaned over the bed and hugged the young mom to give comfort and support. We asked to pray for them, and they agreed with red, swollen eyes and heavy hearts. We cried with them and prayed for God’s peace and mercy to comfort and sustain them in this time of shock and uncertainty. We prayed for God’s healing hand upon the young mother, that she might recover and be restored to health.

By the third day, she was out of the ICU but still on strong medications to manage her blood pressure. Her body was only partially responding, and we called out to God for a miracle. We shared the need through our local church’s prayer chain. Thankfully, God heard our prayers and the prayers of many others. By the end of the week, the wife had recovered enough for the family to return home.

Jesus can Break the Chains of Shame

The husband said, “We called you because we had no one else, and we knew you would come. Thank you for coming. We are so sorry to bother you.”

I said, “We are so glad you called. In fact, we wished you had called earlier.”

He said, “It is a shame that we lost the baby and we can’t tell anyone else from our community.”

We shared that there are things in this world that are difficult to understand, but there is no shame in losing a baby. The weight of shame for Muslims is all-encompassing, overwhelming, and so painful. It causes them to avoid seeking help at all costs. Join us in praying for this hurting family and for Muslims around the world to experience true freedom in Christ and be released from their burden of sin and shame.

As Christians from the West, we rarely understand the depth that the grip of shame holds on these dear people. It is very real, causing them to be fearful and controlled by it. Shame is a tool of the devil to keep them in bondage. They truly need Christ to set them free.

Your Right Now is Not Your Forever

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 04:10:22 GMT

Your Right Now Is Not Your Forever

If you had an emergency today and could not watch your kids, who would you call? If they could not help, who would be your next call? It is likely you have quite a few people on your list. Maybe you even have someone on your list that is not what you would consider a good influence, but who, in a pinch, you would still ask to watch your kids in an emergency.

Compassion

How many backup plans do you have? How many plans have to fail before you are completely out of options and would want even that undesirable option? There are a lot of people, especially in Alaska, that have only one backup plan. And then they are out of options. Can you imagine the terror and panic of dealing with a severe crisis while also knowing you have nowhere to take your child that is safe? What if you had literally no one to watch your child?

Mercy

Our missionaries often see firsthand the pain and the struggle that these families go through. Many of our missionaries show the love of Christ by being available and helping at-risk families by taking care of children for short-term periods or even sometimes long-term. Our missionaries do not do this because they believe they are themselves perfect parents. Instead, they simply desire to serve and show kindness where there is a great need.

While this type of help can be done on an individual basis, several of our ministry workers are involved with a ministry that helps facilitate this sort of mission on a larger scale by connecting families in crisis with churches and volunteers willing to help.

Love

A family in crisis is not a pretty sight. The situation is always messy, and there are many reasons why it is easier to not get involved. Their life may be in shambles. They might not have food for the table. They might struggle to care for their kids properly and fear losing them to the State. As followers of Jesus, why do we step into these difficult situations? One of our missionaries tells families in crisis and new volunteers, “We do this because we love Jesus and He loves us.” The love of Christ is what allows us to care and help without stipulation. The love of Christ is what allows us to pour themselves out at all hours of the day continuously laboring to bring these families back together.

 Your Right Now is Not Your Forever

One missionary recounts this story of a child his family temporarily cared for:

“One night, I had sent [this child] to bed because he had made some bad choices. Now, it was hard to be frustrated at him. He was very young, yet he already knew how to make breakfast, change diapers, and prepare formula with the correct number of scoops. He clearly had grown up in a difficult situation where he was expected to do far more than he should of at his age.

After I sent him to bed early, he was crying and upset and long after everyone else had gone to bed, he was waking up the whole house wailing. I went into his room and found him in the dark gnawing teeth marks in his wooden bunk.

I rubbed his back and said, out of sheer exhaustion and totally accidentally, “Bud, you know, when you wake up tomorrow, you won’t be in trouble. The consequence is just right now. You need to go to sleep. But my wife and I will be happy to see you when you get up and you WON’T be in trouble.”

He was tired too. But he stopped gnawing on the headboard and said, “Really?”

“Yeah, bud, it’s just a little consequence. Just for right now, not forever.”

He let out a deep breath and went to bed.

This is the very heart of the good news of the Gospel. This is the news that Christ has brought to us. Our current state or even our future on this earth is not our forever. He has given us a new forever if we believe in Him and claim His Name as our Lord and Savior. Like a gentle father, He loves us and is totally committed to us. Hebrews 12:6 tells us that the Lord disciplines those He loves. He allows consequences into our life to teach us, but He will never abandon His children!

“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:13-14

Do Christ’s words resonate with you? Do you have a heart to share this good news? Do you have a heart bursting with compassion, mercy, and love? The North needs you! These families need you to come and share Christ with them. These children need to hear that Christ wants them and is calling them to Himself.

There are many ways that you can help or get involved in children’s ministry work. One way you can do this is through volunteering with our Project Caribou Youth Outreach Team . You would be a member of a team working to create outreach opportunities to the underreached youth in isolated villages.

During the summer, many villages and organizations put on summer camps to reach youth coming in from many different villages. This is a great way to reach many kids from a variety of locations with Christ’s love. Another opportunity that is available here in Alaska is volunteering with Child Evangelism Fellowship . This ministry is focused on putting on camps and clubs for children with a strong evangelistic goal.

Another way you can always be involved, from any location, is through prayer. Prayer is the most powerful tool given to a believer. Please be praying for these families and the children here in the North. Pray for their lives to be transformed through the life changing work of the Gospel. You can also sign up here if you would like to receive our monthly prayer updates.

HOLIDAYS: A TIME TO EMBRACE AN ETERNAL MINDSET

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:04:03 GMT

HOLIDAYS: A TIME TO EMBRACE AN ETERNAL MINDSET

For some, holidays with family are important, especially with grandkids in the picture. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, moms, and dads sitting around the Thanksgiving dinner table are all accounted for except for that one family in bush Alaska .

On Christmas morning, as grandkids open their gifts under the tree, with hot cocoa in hand, parents and grandparents dote on the young ones with smiles of appreciation for how everyone is together this year—except for that one family in bush Alaska.

And as the Fourth of July rolls around, the summer heat leaves nieces and nephews with sunburnt, happy faces after the afternoon parade. The family sits together under blankets in the darkness, watching the sky light up with colors aglow. Everyone is together once more—except for that one family in bush Alaska.

A Sacrifice Worth Making

For many, choosing an occupation near extended family is a must, so grandparents, aunts and uncles can watch the younger generation grow into adulthood. But for a missionary, this choice is often sacrificed. They’ve chosen to forgo family events and holidays for a purpose that surpasses the comfort of being home—proclaiming Christ to the unreached.

I have been blessed beyond measure with much of my extended family supporting our call to bush Alaska. Their hearts yearn for us as holidays come around, but they also see the importance and urgency of getting the gospel out to the ends of the earth.

Yet the pain is real—on both sides.

From an Adopted Family to an Eternal Family

Here in our small village, holidays are a time for the family units to come together and celebrate. Units range from ten to twenty family members at each holiday gathering—and everyone is related. Except us.

Our village is very gracious, and most families invite us over for the holidays. One year we attended five Thanksgiving meals in one day! Yet as we sit among these generous souls, we remain outside—not for lack of trying to on both sides—but because we aren’t blood-related families. And family is important in both our culture and theirs.

It’s at these moments, sitting in the home of an Athabaskan friend, that we hear stories from childhood. Laughter erupts from those who remember that incident with joy. But for those of us who weren’t there 20 years ago, we smile politely, following the lead of those around us, oblivious to why the memory is even funny.

As a missionary in a strange unfamiliar land, with an unfamiliar culture, we remember to put on eternal lenses as holidays arrive. We aren’t here to fit in or assimilate so deeply into the family units that we can sincerely laugh at memories.

No, we’re here to see God plant a church where family is deeper than blood—where family is deeper than sitting around the Christmas tree exchanging gifts. We’re here to faithfully share the gospel and watch as God works his power on Athabaskan souls to repent and believe. And as people from different families all over our village repent and believe, a lasting family is formed.

This family is one with Christ as the cornerstone, and no 20-year memory is needed to create a joy and bond that lasts. For Christ is that bond.

Here in our village, we aren’t there yet. After a decade of ministering the gospel in the North, the number of souls saved remains small. But perseverance is essential if we desire to see a church planted and a family of God formed here.

And persevere, we shall.

Because Christ is worthy of “sacrificing” hot cocoa on the couch with nieces and nephews opening their gifts. He is worthy even in moments of being in a room with several family members laughing at memories, while we remain on the outside looking in.

These moments will pass, like rain clouds sweeping through the mountain range. What remains forever is the family of God—the church—which we, as missionaries in the North, seek to plant in areas where many refuse to go.

As holidays come and go, may we remember to celebrate the privilege we have as missionaries to proclaim the gospel to unreached people so that one day holidays will be celebrated as the body of Christ—the never-ending, all-surpassing, eternal family of God—the church.

Matthew 8:20, “Jesus replied, “ Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. ”

Contributed by a SEND North missionary.

Hospitality in a Unique Cultural Context

hmacalalad@send.org (Helene Macalalad) — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 20:30:15 GMT

Hospitality in a Unique Cultural Context

What does hospitality look like to you? For me, hospitality has meant opening my home to family and friends—hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas, a summer BBQ, or a game night. It’s decorating the house, preparing favorite foods, and sharing quality time together. It’s comfortable, familiar, and controlled: guests are invited, know when to arrive, and have a sense of what to expect.

My Middle Eastern and Persian friends, however, have shown me a new kind of hospitality—one that is spontaneous and generous. For them, hospitality often includes coffee, tea, a plate of snacks, and sometimes a meal, regardless of whether they themselves are eating. It’s rarely planned or scheduled; it just happens when someone shows up.

This new way of hospitality hit home for me one evening when my wife and I joined a Moroccan English student and his family for dinner.

As we entered their small Detroit home, we were immediately welcomed with hugs and kisses on the cheek. We were given the best seats in the house, and a beautiful, large silver tray with nuts, fruit, cookies, and candy was placed in front of us.

Next came tea. Our student raised the beautiful teapot high over our glass cups, expertly pouring a long stream of tea. We sat together, enjoying tea and snacks while talking, waiting for dinner. Helping in the kitchen was out of the question—guests were treated as honored visitors.

When we finished, our host insisted that we didn’t need an invitation or an appointment to come over. “If you ever want some Moroccan food, just stop by and ask. You don’t even have to stay; you can take it to go.” Offering a drive-up level of hospitality was something I had never experienced.

In the New Testament, the word for hospitality is “philoxenia”, a combination of “phileo” (a deep love shared by friends) and “xenos” (meaning “stranger” or “foreigner”). If you’ve seen the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, you may remember the Greek father, Gus, referring to non-Greeks as “xenos”—strangers, foreigners, those outside the family.

By joining these words, the Bible paints a picture of hospitality as loving the stranger, the one who isn’t “us.” Through hospitality, the stranger becomes a guest, an honored person welcomed into the group.

Here are a few tips for welcoming spontaneous guests:

Keep a variety of snacks, nuts, and candy in your pantry, along with a beautiful platter for serving.
Store some extra food in the freezer to pull out if needed.
Remember that people are more important than plans.
Add hospitality to your budget.
Some cultures and religious groups have dietary restrictions; it’s helpful to have options that meet halal, kosher, or vegan needs if your community includes people with these preferences.

While my Arab and Persian friends still need Jesus, they have expanded my view of hospitality by welcoming me into their families.

Let’s welcome the strangers among us into our homes, our communities, and ultimately, a life with Jesus.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…” — Hebrews 13:2

Contributed by Tom, Diaspora Worker in Detroitz

Rest for the Restless

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 17:37:20 GMT

Rest for the Restless

We have a Christmas ornament that states: “Wise men still seek Him.” I like that statement, but it is missing something. We seek him because he first sought us. Inside each of us, there is a voice calling us to know our creator. Saint Augustine wrote in his Confessions,

 “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

Our Muslim friends need to hear these wise words written so many years ago. They seek to settle the restlessness and uncertainty they feel through their actions or merit by following the Five Pillars of Islam: Fasting, Giving to the Poor, Pilgrimage/Hajj, Daily Prayers, and Reciting their Creed. But it is God’s gift for us to find our rest in Him. It is not based on who we are and what we do, but on him and what he has done for us. Our call as followers of Jesus is to speak the Word, live out the Word in front of them, and help them see that this rest, this grace, is not based on good deeds but through submission to the Lord.

Share and show what resting in God looks like

We know that Muslims follow the Five Pillars of Islam, trying to earn God’s favor. They do not understand that they just need to rest in him. They need to stop striving and start yielding; stop pursuing and start listening; stop trying to force God to accept them based on works and start receiving his gift of grace. Yet if I am being honest, I have to ask myself, “Would they see that in my life?” Would they see it in yours? Are we modeling what it means to find our rest in God? I have to confess that I don’t think they would always see it in me. Too often, I pray for God’s will to be done, but I work like it depends on me. Lord, give us grace to live out your truth for all to see and understand.

We have some Muslim friends who are gently pushing back against our gospel-sharing with them. They are making videos and exhorting their fellow Muslims to live better lives, to look out for others, and to have hope in this difficult world. I think it’s because they are feeling the pressure of Christlike lives lived out in front of them by Christians they know. It is making them feel uncomfortable, and they want to do more.

They have said on more than one occasion, “It is not enough to just, ‘let Jesus save you’, you need to earn your own salvation and way to heaven through good works.” May God give abundant grace to these dear friends and to all Muslims seeking to earn their salvation. May he give them eyes to see him for who he is, so that they may find their rest in him.

Would it be possible for you to invite a Muslim or Muslim family to join you and your family’s Christmas celebration this year? Maybe for an Advent lighting and reading or Christmas caroling? Perhaps they can help you make homemade Christmas treats to share with friends and family. It would be wonderful for many Christians this year to shine the light of Christ with a Muslim family or individual who has never celebrated Christmas before.

10/10 Prayer Initiative

On the first Friday of every month, we have covenanted to join in prayer for 10% of the Muslim world to come to Christ in 10 years. This is a bold and challenging prayer that can only be answered by a bold and all-powerful God! Feel free to ask others to join in for these first Friday prayers, or if another day works better for you, that is fine, too!

Please also pray:

That Jesus, the true Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, would reveal himself through dreams and visions to Muslims around the world.
For those affected by conflict around the world that they may be comforted and find rest.
That the good news of Jesus Christ would be shared over meals and get-togethers throughout this Christmas season.
For Ryan Corbett to be released by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pray for grace for his family as they struggle through the second year of his captivity.

Prepared for Landing

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 23:05:41 GMT

Prepared for Landing

“Every good landing starts with a stabilized approach.”

As a student pilot, I often heard my flight instructor remind me of this truth. In part, he meant that achieving the goal of a safe landing starts with intentional preparation. Wouldn’t we say that this principle applies to many aspects of life? In fact, the more difficult the task we face, the more important the preparation becomes.

In a real sense, the Radical Training Center (RTC) embodies this truth. Located in a major city in Western Asia, this 8-month program exists to train workers for the incredibly challenging mission of taking the gospel to unreached people across the globe, and to be fruitful, long-term church planters in whatever cultural context(s) they encounter. In order to achieve a “good landing,” thorough preparation is of vital importance.

How does this happen? One obvious way is through excellent teaching in areas like culture and language acquisition, our role in God’s mission, ministry life challenges, and effective ministry teams. Experienced staff members and guest teachers deliver the instruction in a module format. Teaching content combined with reading and assignments provide a solid foundation for lifelong learning. Beyond the instruction, though, students also regularly connect with ministry team leaders around the world to hear their reports, be inspired by their vision, and spend time together in prayer.

Okay, but is this just another classroom experience? A second important aspect of the RTC program is the intentional and discipleship-centered mentoring by a staff team of veteran cross-cultural church planters who bring experience from Africa, Europe, and Asia. The RTC staff engage with students using “life on life” ministry preparation which delves into life issues, spiritual growth, ministry questions, prayer, encouragement, and more.

You might be asking, “Why not just get the training at my home church or online?” I’ll answer with an example from the world of sports. Are you familiar with the idea of a scrimmage? That’s where the coach sets up game-like conditions—clock, pressure, competition—in order to get the feel of the real thing. That’s what happens at RTC.

If you are wondering, “What’s it like to leave my comfort zone, enter an unfamiliar culture and deal with all the stress it brings?” Come and find out. “How do I learn a new language, even if there is no formal language school?” Let us teach you the process. “Where can my spiritual life and character be made ready for the challenges that global ministry will bring?” Under the guidance of dedicated and capable teachers and mentors.

Church planting work among an unreached people group is likely the most difficult task many of us will ever attempt. Someone recently commented to me that unreached people are unreached for real reasons—difficult languages, harsh living conditions, challenging social and religious factors, and more. The stakes are too high to think we can shortcut the necessary preparation and training. People desperately need the message of hope in Jesus, and God has entrusted us to take this Gospel to the ends of the earth. Let’s lean into being the most prepared, effective, and faithful messengers we can be for God’s glory.

To know more about Radical Training visit https://radical.net/training/ .

Contributed by Barry Rempel

Barry & Ruth Rempel have been SEND members for 38 years, engaging in church planting, ministry leadership, and training. They currently serve as instructors and mentors at RTC. You can reach Barry with further questions and comments at brempel@send.org .

When the Unreached is Within Reach

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:10:57 GMT

When the Unreached is Within Reach

As I walked out through the cold metal gate of the grey Internal Affairs complex near the checkpoint, close to the Y where one road led to a small border crossing to Mongolia and the other into the mountainous area of Buryatia, I had mixed feelings.

I felt thankful that I had passed here a few months earlier to go on a hiking trip and had already met the officer who interviewed me. Thus, I was able to pass through this day’s interview quickly and easily. I was glad that I turned down my friend’s offer to buy half a yak’s worth of meat, as that probably would have created issues with the officers at this checkpoint. I was excited that I had been able to finish this trip together with two pastors and another brother to visit the home area of the Soyot people. But I was a little sad knowing that I probably wouldn’t make future trips as it was clear that my presence as a foreigner brought too much attention to the group traveling to this remote part of Siberia.

The Buryat and Soyot Connection

The catalyst for this trip took place over a year earlier. After years of trying, we were finally able to run a Kairos course in Buryatia. This course, an introduction to the Biblical basis, history, and current picture of world missions, helped open the eyes of brothers and sisters in local churches to the many people groups that have little to no access to the good news of Jesus. Russians themselves have only an extremely small percent of true disciples of Jesus, and the Buryats are considered an unreached people group by the Joshua Project , but brothers and sisters from both ethnic groups realized there are those that are even less reached.

As the participants in the course began discussing unreached people groups around them, one brother began to think particularly about the Soyots. The Soyots are a small people group of only a few thousand, they live far from any cities, and they have culturally integrated in many ways into the Buryats that surround them. Mission organizations and even local church networks have not paid much attention to the Soyots because they live far from others in an isolated area where smaller towns are shrinking as people move to cities in search of work.

But these brothers who I traveled with saw things differently. If they didn’t work to reach out to this people group, then the Soyots would not just be considered unreached, but also unengaged. If they didn’t travel hours along the Siberian mountain roads within their own republic, then who would? They knew there were strategic questions to answer, but the more pressing question was one of obeying God’s commission or not. Would they go to all the peoples of the earth?

Small Steps with Big Impact

The process is still a slow one, but these brothers continue to reach out to the Soyots. They have now made several trips and have been thoughtful in the timing and purpose of these trips. They have met with local leaders in the town such as the school administration, cultural leaders, and even one of the local shamans, all to show transparency and openness with what they are doing.

They have visited during local holidays when they know that guests are welcomed and seen as a blessing and have brought gifts with them as they visit homes in the largest town of the Soyot people. These brothers have connected outside translators to those in the Soyot villages as they work to revive the dying Soyot language. They make use of the local Buryat dialect spoken by most Soyots in order to bring understandable translations of the Scriptures to those who have never encountered God’s word in the language they use.

This challenging work in a difficult place has also brought together brothers and sisters from different church backgrounds to work together as they each recognize that this work is bigger than what any one church can do. It is something that needs help from all the churches and unity among those who too often find reasons to be divided. I really believe that God is in the middle of this, and he will bless this and bring Soyot brothers and sisters into his family through the faithful work of our Buryat and Russian brothers and sisters.

Contributed by LG of SEND Eurasia

Leveraging Shared Experiences

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 15:42:11 GMT

Leveraging Shared Experiences

Friday, November 1

Whenever a hurricane or a typhoon of the highest category hits a country, lives are lost. Even with emergency services deployed ahead of time and numerous warnings, there will still be loss of life. It is tragic and inevitable.

I was talking with a Muslim family about the recent floods and loss of life in the US Southern States. They were amazed that even in America, people die from storms. I mentioned that everyone needs to be ready at any time to meet their Maker and they agreed. No one knows how much time they have left on this earth. These tragic storms remind us that our lives can be snatched away in a second, in the blink of an eye.

I explained that when that moment comes—and it will, not if—the time for confession and repentance is over. Muslims feel the weight of having to earn their salvation and God’s favor. They are uneasy with sudden disasters because they are cut off from being able to seek God’s favor. This leads them to become very fatalistic saying, “If God wills it, what can I do?” So, they just muddle through life as best they can.

There is an Afghan proverb that says, “In childhood, you are playful. In youth, you are lustful. In old age, you are feeble. So when will you worship God?” Sometimes we have to be gently challenged to take time to think and reflect on God in a personal way, whatever culture or society we live in.

Finding common ground for gospel conversations

I mention this because sometimes Christians have said to me, “I don’t know how to share Christ with a Muslim.” Or, “I don’t know what to say to a Muslim, they are so different from us.” Yet, in many respects, we are very similar. We all feel pain and loss. And this is a way to use current life events to share with your Muslim neighbors or colleagues.

Draw from current events or relatable experiences as a natural segue to bring the good news of Jesus Christ. There is real pain and tragedy in everyday life, and sometimes that is what it takes to wake us up to think about God. Too often, we read the news, pray for those affected by tough circumstances, and then move on.

But for those whose lives have been turned upside down, life is a huge struggle and challenge.

Many of our Muslim refugee friends have lived through or have family members currently experiencing major upheavals in their lives. Being able to talk and share about it helps them to process it. It gives us an opportunity to listen, feel their pain, and pray with them. It allows us to share God’s love for the nations and for them to hear of his tender mercy and compassion. It also gives us the opportunity to pray for God’s peace that surpasses understanding into their lives.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Muslim friends

Speaking of opportunities, the fall brings the harvest season. Please try to take advantage of Thanksgiving and consider it a season. Canadians have completed their official Thanksgiving Day, and Americans are still awaiting theirs, but if we all consider Thanksgiving (and Christmas) as a season then we can celebrate it for months!

Take the opportunity to invite Muslims you know to join in celebrating God’s provision and harvest. Take them to an apple orchard, have a bonfire, take them for walks in your local state or national parks to enjoy God’s handiwork. There are countless ways you can connect with your Muslim friends and colleagues every autumn!

10/10 Prayer Initiative

Please also pray for:

Peace in the Middle East. Local Christians who are from and live in the area are caught in the ongoing conflict between Israel and her neighbors. Pray that they would be spared and that they would be able to live out the love of Christ in a difficult place.
Ongoing conflicts around the world. Pray that these will not impede the gospel from going forth with power and in truth to needy areas.
Those hit by severe weather events all around the world. May local churches be responsive to help and be a blessing, so that Christ may be praised.
Ryan Corbett to be released from the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pray for grace for his family as they struggle through the second year of his captivity.
Christians living in Muslim lands. Ask God to give them the boldness to share their faith while showing sensitivity to the people they minister to.

When in Taiwan: Cultural Do’s and Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 11:54:47 GMT

When in Taiwan: Cultural Do’s and Common Pitfalls to Avoid

In order to understand Taiwanese culture, you first need to know that Taiwan is a mix of many cultures due to its history of being colonized by several nations including the Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese. There have also been influences from Confucianism, Buddhism, and folk religion, which can be seen in the taboos and superstitions that are pervasive in Taiwanese culture. Other influences include Taiwan’s indigenous people groups and Han Chinese culture. Another evident influence is Western culture, particularly among the younger generation in modern-day Taiwan.

After living in Taiwan for four years, my family and I have learned some ways to adapt to Taiwanese culture, but we are still learning every day. The best way to learn culture is through observation! As you get to know the culture more, you will become aware of the nuances of appropriate behavior and realize that even some Taiwanese “break” these rules too.

Taiwanese people are generally very polite, helpful, and indirect. As a foreigner, you might not know if you have offended someone but try your best to respect cultural norms and customs. While you may experience the occasional outspoken auntie or grumpy bus driver who will scold you in public, you’re most likely to just be judged silently by locals. Read on to learn just a few of the dos and don’ts in Taiwan.

Did you know that Taiwan has one of the highest recycling rates in the world?

They take it very seriously here.

Recycling

DON’T

Litter. It might be difficult to find a trash can at times, so hold on to your trash until you find one.
Be disappointed when you hear tinkly music coming from a truck—it’s not ice cream, it’s the trash truck! Trash trucks come at certain times of the day, and you will see people coming out to meet it with their trash.

DO

Try to separate your trash and dispose of things in the correct bins. At the very least, trash is sorted into food waste, recyclable, and regular trash, but depending on the place, it could be further broken down into even more specific categories. Some apartment buildings will publicly shame those who violate the trash sorting rules by posting a picture of the culprit for all to see or giving you a fine!

Public Transportation

Using public transportation is a great way to travel in Taiwan. Whether it’s the local city buses, long distance buses and trains, or the subway or elevated rail, you can get around easily in most major cities.

DO

Give up your seat to those who need it, like the elderly, disabled, or a pregnant woman. There are special priority seats designated for those who need them on most public transportation.

DON’T

Eat, drink, or talk loudly on public transportation. This rule applies to children on board as well. Taiwanese society values harmony and quiet in public spaces.
Rush on to the bus or subway. Stand to the sides and wait for others to get off first, before getting on.

Showing Respect

Ways of showing respect in Taiwan are similar to those in other Asian cultures.

As a result of Japan’s occupation of the island from 1895-1945, many aspects of Taiwanese culture have been influenced by Japanese culture, especially in terms of orderliness, cleanliness, and politeness.

DO

Use both hands when giving and receiving something like a gift, business card, or money. It’s a sign of respect. When visiting someone’s home, always bring a gift. Fruit, pastries, or snacks are common gifts to give.
Take off your shoes when entering a home. Sometimes you leave them outside of the door, sometimes inside, or on a shoe rack. If visiting a local’s home, you might be offered slippers to wear.
Find the end of the queue and wait. Taiwanese are quite orderly, and don’t mind queuing in long lines, especially if it’s for food.

DON’T

Open a gift in front of the person who gave it to you. Thank them warmly, then set it aside to open later. It can seem rude or impatient to open it immediately.
Greet people with a big hug. A handshake is ok, but not common. A wave, nod or smile is best. Taiwanese people appreciate friendliness but avoid overly physical gestures unless you’re very familiar with the person.

Superstitions

Taiwanese superstitions are rooted in a mix of Chinese folk religion, Taoism, Buddhism, and indigenous customs.

DO

Be aware of superstitions your local friends might have, even if you don’t believe them yourself.

DON’T

Stab your chopsticks vertically into your rice and leave them. It looks like incense sticks used at temples and is considered bad luck. Instead, rest your chopsticks horizontally on a chopstick holder or the edge of a bowl.
Give clocks/watches, umbrellas, white flowers, or sharp objects. The reason these are considered unlucky gifts is either because the word in Mandarin sounds like another word relating to death, or because the object is a reminder of something related to death.
Write names with red ink. Red ink is traditionally used for writing the names of the deceased on funeral banners, so it’s considered bad luck to write names in red ink.

These are just some of the do’s and don’ts you should know before coming to Taiwan. Remember, there are always exceptions to every rule. Observe how things are done around you or ask a friend who understands the culture for help. Don’t worry if you make a mistake, Taiwanese people are very forgiving towards foreigners, and you might not even realize that you’ve offended anyone. After living in Taiwan for a while, many of these things will become second nature to you!

Contributed by: Jessica Mao Smith of SEND Taiwan

Taiwanese Christians Answering God's Call to the Unreached

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 23:27:47 GMT

Taiwanese Christians Answer God’s Call to the Unreached

Contributed by Jessica Smith of SEND Taiwan

Taiwan has had a long history of missions, from Dutch and Spanish missionaries in the 17th century, to the many international and local agencies that currently work in Taiwan. SEND has been in Taiwan for over 70 years and our goal has always been to share the gospel, plant healthy churches, and disciple believers who will then repeat the process.

In recent years, GCM (Global Chinese Ministries) Taiwan has grown from being a receiving field to now also being a sending field. This is an exciting new work that is still in its beginning stages, but God has already blessed the work by providing connections with churches, organizations, and individuals who want to do cross-cultural work.

GCM Sending is a global movement of Jesus followers engaging Chinese communities and empowering them to make disciples among the unreached .

Since 2020, one short-termer, one couple, and two families with kids have been sent through or joined SEND through the GCM Sending office. These missionaries are working with unreached people groups in the Philippines, Chad, and Thailand. It’s exciting to see how God is calling Taiwanese Christians to cross-cultural work and it’s a privilege for SEND to be a part of that process. Below is an excerpt from a recent newsletter of one of the families working among Muslims (translated to English and edited for security reasons).

Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus to Muslims

“At the end of June, we flew south to move into the MIGA (pseudonym) community, where our team has a local non-profit organization and serves the students at a university. At one event, I was having dinner with a group of boys, and I asked the boy on my left what ethnic group he was from (there are more than 90 ethnic groups here, 13 of which are Muslim alone). When he answered MIGA I paused mid-bite, a subtle smile formed at the corners of my mouth, and I thought to myself, "Finally! Our family is finally here, among you." As I continued to eat, I wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes before anyone noticed.

My wife and I are responsible for being one-on-one coaches every month for Muslim students sponsored by the organization, listening to them, helping them with their academic difficulties, and guiding them to find a way out of the difficulties they face in life. These young people have never had anyone to sit beside them and give them one-on-one time, so we hope to make them feel cared for and supported through this kind of companionship.

One of them is a senior who I coach one-on-one. He’s the president of the Muslim Association of the university and the dean of the boys' dormitory. Every student’s impression of him is that he is active and busy in various activities. During our first meeting, I asked him about his family background. He told me that his parents had divorced when he was young, he had been raised by an aunt and uncle on his mother's side, and he had no memory of his birth mother. It was not until he was seven years old that his biological father realized he existed and brought his stepmother to pick him up and bring him from the northern part of the country to the southern part. Since his stepmother was a Muslim, so his father had to become a Muslim in order to marry her. Naturally, he also became a Muslim and grew up in the Muslim community in the south, learning the dialect and the Islamic faith, although he did not understand it at all.

However, not long after, his father left to work in a distant country, leaving him to live with his stepmother and her two stepchildren, who, as you can imagine, favored the two biological children and often left him out. A few years later, his stepmother left him in the care of her sister, who was not his blood-relative and took the two children with her to work elsewhere. By this time, when he was already in middle school, he had very little to live on. The transportation to and from school alone cost him almost all of his daily allowance, leaving him with barely enough to buy lunch.

He didn't complain. After working hard to get into college, he told me that he always kept his schedule full because he finally felt in control of his life. Now he is a senior, writing his thesis on national law. He spoke to me about his uprooted childhood and the subject of conflict with sharia law.

It is hard to tell that this young man, with his smiling and gentle exterior, has had such a difficult background. I honestly didn't have any clue or confidence to bring him to Jesus since he only had one year of school left, but I chose to encourage him and recognize what he has gone through, from having such a difficult upbringing to becoming the beloved Muslim student leader that he is today. I told him that I would be there for the rest of the day, and if he had any questions, he knew where to find me and I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to be there for him.”

God’s Work Continues

This Taiwanese family heard and obeyed God’s calling in their life and now has the opportunity to be a beacon of light in a dark place. While Taiwan has religious freedom and there are many churches, a widespread missions movement has yet to take root. Local churches and church leaders are still mostly inward-focused or lack training in cross-cultural missions.

There is also a lack of organizations that can process and send Taiwanese missionaries, especially when it comes to receiving and distributing funds. That’s why the work of our sending office is so important. We are able to support, prepare, and send these believers. Continue praying for the missionaries who have already been sent out, and for more Taiwanese to answer God’s call to cross-cultural work!

The Only Mediator We Need

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 18:17:52 GMT

The Only Mediator We Need

“I love her, but I could never marry her. Her father would never allow it as I am from a different ethnic group and lack the social standing to even approach him.” These sad words poured out from a local friend when we were working overseas. He moped about his loss and lack of opportunity for months, until an older doctor friend, with much higher social standing, agreed to speak to the girl’s father on his behalf. This doctor acted as a mediator and interceded for the man. Through his intervention, her hand in marriage was secured. Years later, this happy family has numerous children and is doing well.

Muslims understand the role of a Mediator very clearly. They realize that by themselves, they can do nothing. But with the help of a mediator, and with the proper negotiation skills, all things are possible. The mediator always has to be someone of higher standing in the local community than the person they want to negotiate with, as this gives them leverage. The mediator must achieve something in the negotiations to protect his reputation.

Jesus Mediates for Us

We can share with Muslims that Jesus Christ is our mediator, freeing us from the bonds of sin and shame. We can’t do this on our own, but through Christ, all things are possible. He can intercede for us and plead our case before the Throne. He is our mediator, our intercessor, and redeemer, the One who calls into existence things that are not. His name is above all names, and he sits enthroned in the heavens. I would say that pretty much makes him of the highest standing! Timothy writes, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” (1 Tim 2:5-6)

I encourage you and your church group members to invite a Muslim family out to an apple orchard this month. Explore a corn maze, search the pumpkin fields for the perfect one, and carve pumpkins together. Come up with an event, something local to you, that you could invite them to join you and shine the love and light of Jesus into their heart and life. Muslims love community, and as you seek to spend time with them, they will reciprocate. Write us at musliminfo@send.org and share the creative ways you reached out to Muslims this month!

10/10 Prayer Initiative

God can do miracles. That’s why we pray for more boldness and increased response from the Muslim world. We continue praying for 10% of the Muslim world to come to Christ in 10 years. Would you consider asking your church, Sunday School class, or small group to join us in praying for this at least once a month?

Fighting rages on in the Middle East and tensions remain high for all-out war. Pray for the Prince of Peace to rule and reign in Muslim hearts and draw many to himself throughout this region.

Pray for visions and dreams to challenge and change hearts throughout the Muslim world.

Pray for boldness among believers in difficult places, along with wisdom and opportunity to share the love of Christ.

Pray for churches in the West to be a beacon of light, with a willingness to reach out to Muslims in their neighborhoods.

Continue to pray for those held hostage in Afghanistan that they would be released soon and that their families would be comforted.

Beyond What We Could Ask or Imagine: God’s Mighty Work in LOVE Europe

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 22:27:36 GMT

Beyond What We Could Ask or Imagine: God’s Mighty Work in LOVE Europe

I dropped off the final participant of LOVE Europe at the airport in Madrid after our three-day debrief from their week-long mission trip. As I got in the car with Hannah from SEND Slovenia, I just looked at her, with tears forming in my eyes, and told her how I was just in awe and shock. I had thought that the trip would go well, but what I experienced and heard from the participants during debrief was way beyond what I could have ever imagined.

From idea to reality

It all started a few years ago when my SEND Spain team leader, Debbie, handed me her journal from the 2012 LOVE Europe short-term trip. She presented me with the idea of doing a short-term mission trip for European youth to serve alongside our different SEND missionaries throughout Europe. I was immediately sold on the idea as I started to read through the journal and talk ideas with Debbie because it was not just a trip, but the idea of training, debriefing, and continued mobilization along with the mission trip—something I personally have had both positive and negative experiences with over the years, and I am passionate about doing well with the youth that I work with in Spain.

I started presenting the idea to different SEND co-workers who work with young people in their countries and whom I thought would like to be involved. Next thing I knew, we had planned LOVE Europe 2024, and 16 different European youths were serving alongside SEND missionaries in four different countries. After their week-long ministry trips everyone headed to Spain for a three-day debrief at my teammate’s house in Guadalajara

Hearts changed and minds opened

Upon arrival, I heard surprising feedback as I was talking with one of the youths who had served in Sigüenza, Spain. He talked about how when the team arrived, they were all so eager to serve and offered to do as much as they could. But after a few days, he realized that it was not helpful and that he needed to listen to what was needed. Sometimes we can make assumptions or be too much when we just need to stop and listen to how to best help. I just smiled as I told him that was a big thing to realize and be able to understand, as many people miss that on mission trips.

The following day when talking with one of my fellow missionaries, he told me how his youth had shared in their small group discussion time that this one-week trip had changed her. She had doubted her value before, but through this trip and her teammates, she learned how she was a precious daughter of God. She was not the same person who had left for the trip a week before.

That evening we enjoyed a worship night where we spent hours singing and worshiping God in various languages. The youth switched around playing instruments, suggesting songs, and teaching each other worship songs from their home countries. I personally loved when we would sing a song that has been translated into each language, and every person would sing in their native tongue. It felt like just a slice of heaven listening to these young people worship our amazing God.

Throughout the debrief the team of SEND missionaries (Brooke, Alyson, Brett, Hannah, Johann, Giles, and Debbie) held sessions with the participants on different topics: Christianity in a post-modern Europe and prayer for the people we encountered, re-entry and sharing with others about their experiences, and next steps for where God is calling them now. One night, we also shared our stories as missionaries and how we were called to full-time missions and answered any questions the participants had. One of the biggest pieces of feedback we heard from them was how much they enjoyed hearing our stories and just getting real and practical conversations about what missions is like. Multiple people expressed interest in doing another mission trip and even possibly praying about whether God is calling them to full-time ministry.

Now, almost two months later, I again give praise to God for what he did in LOVE Europe 2024. God is moving and working in Europe and in the lives of the young people who participated in LOVE Europe. I look forward to seeing how God continues to move in each of these young people’s lives and how they will make an impact for his kingdom. Thank you to everyone who prayed and supported this mission trip. Join us in continuing to pray for these 16 participants and for Europe.

We hope to be able to organize another LOVE Europe mission trip in the summer of 2026, but we cannot do it alone. We need your prayers and your support! If you would like to be a part of what God is doing in Europe, please consider giving at https://www.send.org/give/projects/love-europe .

Contributed by Brooke Nagel, SEND Spain

www.send.org/nagel-b

How Summer Activities Enhance Year-Long Ministry

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 19:05:21 GMT

How Summer Activities Enhance Year-Long Ministry

What comes to your mind when you think of summer? In SEND Europe, summer is a scrapbook of uplifting stories and core memories. A student from the Czech Republic helps teach English in Romania. A group of students from Croatia encourages a church in Poland. A multicultural team serves at a community center in Spain. A group of Romanians joins American missionaries in Croatia to evangelize in a tourist area. American missionaries help lead a college camp in Romania and serve on a mission trip to Moldova. Teams and interns from the United States serve at summer programs in Macedonia, Albania, and Poland. A group from Great Britain helps facilitate a teen camp in Romania. All these summer activities took place in Europe during the summer of 2024. In a variety of ways, these activities will have long-term effects on the year-long ministry happening in Europe.

They open doors for more recurring activities

Back in 2012, SEND facilitated a summer missions trip called LOVE Europe to encourage youth from America to consider serving as missionaries in Europe. In July 2024, LOVE Europe was reinvented, with European youth participating in a week-long mission trip in another country, serving on multicultural teams to strengthen their faith and consider God’s place for them in Kingdom work.

Anastasia, a young lady from the Czech Republic, served alongside SEND missionaries in Craiova, Romania, to host a three-day English camp for kids. Her enthusiasm for cooking really inspired and enhanced the theme and activities for the week of English camp. Together, the team taught the children English words for a variety of foods and drinks, practiced how to ask for or order something, and learned fun English songs related to the theme. The children also heard how Jesus is the Vine, the Bread of Life, and the Living Water. Of the 20 children who attended the camp, several are not actively involved in a church community, so this was a wonderful opportunity to share the truth and love of Jesus with them.

This camp was the first time the SEND team in Romania has hosted an English outreach ministry and it seems to have opened the door for more opportunities. For one family, it rekindled friendships with SEND missionaries, and more meetings are already planned. For another unbelieving family, it built trust between them and a local church community. As neighbors of SEND missionaries, more conversations have already happened. In addition, several parents have asked the SEND team to consider leading more English language events for kids and adults. Our team in Craiova is actively seeking ways to engage the broader community using English as a second language.

Please pray for more European youth to serve cross-culturally. Ask God to give the team in Romania wisdom on how to engage the community with the gospel by teaching English

They sustain connections with the people we serve

Youth camps happen all around Europe during the summer months, most typically in July and August. I’ve heard of at least seven camps that SEND missionaries have been involved with this summer, and although this story comes from just one of them, I know it represents many others. One SEND missionary shared that at the college summer camp students had deeper discussions and asked more questions than typical of a usual college event night. During the school year, the college group meets at least once a month for a few hours, but the night is planned with activities, leaving little time for long conversations. While at camp though, students sit with one another and their leaders late into the evening, asking questions about the importance of attending church and the value of discipleship.

As with many young students, questions about religion are common during college years, and students in Europe are no different. They are looking for people to sit with them, hear their stories, and answer their questions.

For many students, this is their first time at a Christian event; for others, they’ve been on the margins of the church for a while, and a few are actively looking to grow in their faith. While at summer camp with these students, SEND missionaries, along with their national partners, can just be present with the students, listening to where they are in life. Whether hiking or sitting around a campfire, conversations are typically more authentic and meaningful when people have a shared experience. At camp, students open up to their leaders and share more heartfelt stories and questions. After taking the time to really listen, the leaders can then respond as the Spirit leads with gospel encouragement.

The conversations started at camps across Europe have already led to continued discussions at coffee shops or in homes of SEND missionaries. Pray with us for the students to understand the gospel for themselves, to become actively involved in a church, and to pursue discipleship in their home communities. Pray for the SEND missionaries involved in summer camps every year.

They energize the leaders

Although summer programs usually require extra planning and effort on the part of SEND missionaries and local church leaders, they are always worth the effort, especially as we hear stories of how the summer programs have impacted individual lives. One leader in the church reflected on his own story sharing how a summer English camp he attended for college students allowed him to spend countless hours with believers before he ever stepped foot into a church. He left that camp determined to read the Bible to prove the Christians wrong but instead found the truth of the gospel. His story like many others, energizes the church leaders and SEND missionaries to keep going even when the summers are hot, the planning takes months, and the camp days are exhausting. May God receive the glory for each individual who hears the gospel through these summer programs.

Consider how you might serve in God’s kingdom using your English-speaking skills or serving through a summer opportunity. Connect with our SEND Europe team at https://portal.send.org/pq

Rising Above the Noise

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 14:28:05 GMT

Rising Above the Noise

I can hardly wait—football season is coming! The anticipation is keen, and people are talking and gearing up for it. The excitement of a new season is hanging in the air!

It’s a new chance to start over for most and a challenge to defend a title for a select few. We await the click of the towering floodlights as they come on, filling the field with a blinding light. We can already smell the fresh scent of newly cut grass and look forward to the loudspeaker squawking in the background, the roar of the crowd, and the band playing to cheer our team on to victory.

But…wait . How is it that we can get so excited about a 12-game sports season, something that passes by ( pun intended ) so quickly, and yet many hearts hardly quicken when someone challenges us for the eternal work of the kingdom?

Let me be clear: it's perfectly okay to be excited about football or any other sport. But we are not to be consumed by it. Amidst all the clamor and noise of sports, we must still hear the clarion call to reach the lost for Christ. We can admire someone’s giftedness and effort to be successful in a sport, but we must also realize that it is fleeting and temporary. What is eternal must get our utmost attention, and friends, where we will spend eternity—where our favorite athletes will spend eternity—is of utmost importance

Put the spotlight on what matters

This world excels at taking something good and making it all-consuming. It happens in sports, with food, and with success in every field of the working world. We get distracted with something good and forget to focus on the most important thing: our relationship with Jesus Christ and the fact that most of the world does not know him as Savior and Lord. There are entire groups of people, Muslims for instance, who have little to no opportunity to hear of him.

You could help change that. Use something you are interested in, such as a sports event, to invite a Muslim friend, neighbor, or colleague to join you. You can explain the game to them while cultivating a deeper relationship with them. Ask them about their favorite sport or hobby and, if you are not familiar with it, ask them to explain it to you. In the midst of the conversation, take time to explain that while you are interested in sports, you also know that eternal matters about God are much more important.

Ask if you can share the gospel story with them. While the average Westerner has eliminated God from their conversation, Muslims often remain open to hearing about your thoughts and beliefs about God. Also, please take the opportunity to ask how you can pray for them, and spend some time right there praying for them.

And now, you have had the chance to share that Bible story you have been working on!

10/10 Prayer Initiative

We are praying for 10% of the Muslim world to follow Christ in 10 years. It would take a miracle, and that is what we are asking God to do—something so big and amazing that all the glory goes to God alone. Please join us in prayer in seeking his glory spread among the Nations!

Other Prayer Requests:

As schools begin a new school year, pray for Christian students and teachers to be bold and seek out Muslims and befriend them.

On college campuses around the world, Muslim international students from unreached countries and people groups are arriving to study. They will only be there for only a few short years. We have an unprecedented opportunity to reach people who would otherwise never have the chance to hear the gospel. Pray for college campus outreach ministries as they begin fall activities.

Pray for Muslim Olympic athletes who heard the gospel at the recent Olympics in Paris. Pray for the Good News to sink deep into their hearts and minds, and that they would give their lives to Jesus.

Pray for Ryan Corbett, who has been held hostage by the Afghan Taliban for over two years now. Pray for strength for him and his family as they struggle through this very difficult time. Pray that the Taliban leaders would have a dream and that they would release him.

Tensions are high in the Middle East as Israel faces numerous challenges from all sides. May the voice of peace and truth be heard. Pray for mercy for the remaining hostages and their families as we soon approach the first anniversary of the attack on Israel. Pray for those fleeing the unrest, that they would find true peace and rest.

Creating “Home” in Your Host Country

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 01:52:27 GMT

Creating “Home” in Your Host Country

By JG, one of our workers in Eurasia

Home. So much meaning can be felt in this one word. While most of us have heard and believe sayings such as “home is where the heart is,” there are also some elements of security, stability, and familiarity that we long to experience when relocating to a foreign land. We feel this all the more when our lives on the field are often anything but predictable or within our realm of control. We need a place where we can fully be ourselves. A place where we can rest. A blessed place where we can share our hearts with others.

Our family has lived away from the United States for 18 years now, and these are some ways that I have found to create a sense of home when we are away from our homeland:

Routines and traditions

We have found that for our family, it’s been important to keep certain routines and traditions. We eat breakfast together every morning. We pray together before bedtime. We have game nights. We celebrate major holidays from our home country and also important holidays of our host country. Even though my kids aren’t crazy about football, they are always excited to host a Superbowl party each winter because it’s something we do every year. The tradition can be something really easy like eating macaroni and cheese for lunch every Saturday. The importance lies in consistency—something that can be counted on.

Beauty

Our first few years overseas, I think I undervalued this and had a lack of beauty in my life. We lived in a polluted city with grey buildings. I had a baby, and it was harder to get out. At one point, I realized how good it is for my heart to be around beauty. Maybe it was something as simple as walking near a patch of trees, lighting a scented candle, or buying flowers and putting them on the kitchen table. But I realized that being around beauty helped me to feel more at home. I also realized that locals didn’t expect me to have home decor all in their style. It’s interesting for them to see decorations that I’ve brought from my home culture. Some of these items include pictures, cozy blankets, throw pillows, and photo albums. They help a house feel more like home and can also be great connectors and conversation starters with new friends.

Gratitude

A discipline I have found to be powerful in my life is keeping a gratitude journal. I bring the book with me and record blessings (both big and small) as I see them. This really has helped me to have a sense of joy and to see blessings all around me. It is a reminder of God’s nearness, even in the midst of difficult situations.

Praise Music

In the early years of our lives overseas, we were constantly coming up against obstacles, frustrations, and difficulties. Our hearts were constantly heavy, and it felt like there was nothing we could do. One of our friends who had lived overseas for years encouraged us to play praise music in the house. We began this practice and really felt a difference in the atmosphere of our home and hearts.

Conveniences can be good!

It’s often hard to know as an overseas worker which modern conveniences are appropriate to have and which will make you stand out too much from the culture. I remember when we had two little ones, staying up late many nights doing dishes after large groups of guests, with a baby strapped to my back and my legs so sore from standing on the hard floor. I thought that if we got a dishwasher it would seem extravagant to our local friends. But my husband came home one day with a dishwasher, and it was a game changer! It saved so much time and helped me to be happier and more willing to have guests. It turns out that soon after, many local families got dishwashers, too! Some conveniences make it possible for you to spend more time with your family or others. Be prayerful about this decision, and be sure to include this consideration in your decision-making process.

Don’t Skimp on Language Learning

Learning a new language is hard, and it can be even more complicated if you have young children when you arrive on the field. It can be easy to give up or to end the language-learning process before you can interact freely with local people. But don’t skimp on this! Keep working on language learning until you can communicate freely. This truly will help you to feel more at home in your new country.

Rest and Outlets

It can be so easy with the nature of our work to never stop working or serving others. But God made us to need a sabbath. We need time to pull away. Time to rest and rejuvenate. Protect these rest days and protect time with your family. Also, whether it’s through exercise, a hobby, or finding a way to be creative, make sure you have regular outlets in your life.

Abide in Christ

While there are many physical things we can do to create a sense of home in a foreign land, it’s important to remember that this world is not our home. We will never completely be at home until we are at home with Christ. We are not living overseas so we can be comfortable, but we are here to know Him and have Him formed in us. Only by staying close to Jesus will we have the security and belonging that our hearts long for.

Conflicts, culturally-insensitive mistakes, health issues, difficulties with teammates, and other challenges will come unexpectedly and shake our world. But we have a Rock we can count on to uphold us and use us despite our difficulties. It’s best to expect these things, to know these things will happen because we are in a spiritual battle in a fallen world. We have His promise of ultimate restoration of home and relationships when we leave our earthly home for Christ’s sake. Let’s not forget that home is where Christ is.

Above is one SEND worker’s journey and the wisdom she gained along the way as her family created their home in Eurasia. Global workers who follow Jesus have the unique challenge of creating a home that blends elements of their passport country and their host country, a place of both retreat and hospitality. A place that makes sense to a family living as foreigners, as well as to the host community they live amongst. Please pray for global workers as they create “home” in their places of service. May these homes reflect their rootedness in a God in whom they can abide with safety, intimacy, and joy.

What It’s Like to Live in Bush Alaska

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 06:05:10 GMT

What It’s Like to Live in Bush Alaska

6. When going swimming, remember a gun. This one always makes me think of the line from The Godfather: "Leave the gun, take the cannoli." Except here in bush Alaska, it's the opposite. Take the gun. You can leave the food if you want, but what's swimming without a little picnic too. Towels: check, Sunscreen: check, snacks and water: check, revolver: check. Ready to swim!

7. You can go outside and keep an eye out for that moose that's wandering around. Animals in your yard are a part of rural life in Alaska. Moose are often in town and could be about anywhere. It is amazing how such big animals could be so stealthy, but they can. We always tell our kids to be aware of their surroundings and watch for moose. One of my scariest moments was when a calf moose came speeding through my yard three feet from my kids. Thankfully, mama wasn't right behind him!

8. No, they can't go out now; a bear was spotted, and they are chasing it around. Bears are not tolerated in town. We will put up with moose but not bear. So, if there is a bear, it will be chased until it is caught or disappears. It is usually chased by many men with guns on 4-wheelers or snow machines. It is best to stay out of the way and let them do their job!

9. Wear a hat. It's fifty below. This is such a common thing to tell my kids. I don't know why it is so hard. They have lovely fur hats. It's -50 degrees, but they insist on wearing nothing or almost nothing. I am sure some other parents out there can relate.

10. No, you can't run outside barefoot because it warmed up to -30 degrees F. Here, -20 degrees is almost t-shirt temps, but -30 is still cold for bare feet... I have to remind one of my children of this. For some reason, she thinks it is summer just because it's not -60 to -40 anymore.

We have been living and serving in bush Alaska for about nine years now, and so many things seem so ordinary that I forget they aren't typical in other places. When we travel back to city life, sometimes what used to be normal now seems odd. In conclusion, things are different out here. There are so many more stories and adventures to be told about living in rural Alaska. Maybe someday I can tell you more. Come and explore the North with us!

Does Depression Disqualify Me from Becoming a Missionary in the North?

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 05:45:59 GMT

When pursuing missions as a 22-year-old, a big concern I had was my ongoing struggle with depression. Even though dark thoughts plagued me on and off since early high school, I never talked about them with anyone. I remember one summer day before my sophomore year of high school, looking out my bedroom window and feeling despair settle over me.

Prepared for Battle

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 03:16:13 GMT

As children and parents alike enjoy this season of dress up and goodies, it is easy to relegate the spiritual realm to child's play. This past year held two examples of the varied, yet futile tactics of our enemy to prevent God’s Kingdom advances.

A Day in the Life of Caleb & Raquel

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 14:45:17 GMT

We came to Thailand with the long-term plan to join a church planting team to reach the Shan people with the gospel. Because we only moved here about a year ago, our current focus is learning the language and culture and settling into our new life and community here. These are important days of learning and preparation that are laying the foundation for the ministry God has prepared for us in the years to come.

From Theory to Reality: A Family’s Journey to Ukraine

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 04:30:11 GMT

From Theory to Reality: A Family’s Journey to Ukraine

The paths into cross-cultural ministry can be as unique and varied as the people who God calls to serve him in his global harvest. The Holy Spirit knows us and knows how to move in his followers as they contemplate cross-cultural service. David knew this and marveled,

Lord, you have examined me;
you have known me. ² You know when I rest ^[ ^a ^]
and when I am active. ^[ ^b ^]
You understand what I am thinking
when I am distant from you. ^[ ^c ^{]

3} You scrutinize my life and my rest; ^[ ^d ^]
you are familiar with all of my ways. ⁴ Even before I have formed a word with my tongue,
you, Lord, know it completely! ⁵ You encircle me from back to front,
placing your hand upon me. ⁶ Knowledge like this is too amazing for me.
It is beyond my reach,
and I cannot fathom it.

Psalm 139:1-6

David rested in and was encouraged by God’s perfect understanding of all his habits, his conversational style, his preferences, etc. Therefore, it seems to follow that the Holy Spirit, himself, cultivates each person’s passion, provides each person’s guidance, and opens doors for each person to gain experience and skills, all in the most unique ways for each person he calls.

Some people begin this journey by reading books, some by meeting people from a culture different than one’s own, and some by growing up bi-culturally. But no matter where we start, God’s unique path into cross-cultural service always moves us out of theoretical connection with other people to real relationships with genuine people who happen to be very different from us.

Facing faith questions head-on

That is what happened to one Arizona family whom God has called to serve him in Kyiv, Ukraine. Tim and Angela Mitchell spent many years following Jesus, growing in their understanding of his Word and his transforming work in the world. Their family expressed the redemptive love of Jesus by fostering children. The generosity of their love would sometimes even extend to their kids’ families of origin, as they hoped and helped some families reunite healthily.

Tim’s faith journey included struggles when he encountered Bible critics that sowed doubt about the veracity of the Scripture’s claim to be the Word from God. In fact, Tim’s search for answers led him all the way to doctoral study in textual criticism.

While engaging with an academic organization of theological educators and thinkers, Tim met SEND International, cross-cultural theological educator, Rick Perhai, who serves in Kyiv, Ukraine. Rick challenged Tim to use his training to help Ukrainian pastors, lay people, and fellow theological educators address questions and doubts in their Ukrainian context.

As their conversation went on, the Mitchells did sense that God was indeed leading them to serve Jesus by helping train Ukrainian Bible scholars, pastors, and leaders.

However, this conversation happened before Ukraine’s people were plunged into war in 2022. What did this mean for this leading of the Spirit they had sensed? Deep concern and questions added a new layer of complexity to their discernment process.

Putting theory into practice

It became clear to the Mitchells and to our long-term workers currently in Ukraine that the theory about serving Ukrainians needed to continue in Ukraine to give way to genuine connection and real relationship building. So, instead of testing the waters, they boldly plunged in.

In January 2024, Tim and Angela and their three eldest kids, headed to Ukraine for ten days to make real connections with real Ukrainian people, understand the true conditions on the ground in Ukraine, and experience what it means to trust God in a very new context than what they knew in Arizona.

They joined Rick and his wife, Marilyn Perhai in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, for a seminary student retreat. And here, they met Ukrainian students. They were struck by the students’ hospitality, kindness, and trust in God’s continued goodness despite the war.

They sensed how different life was for these seminary students—students who spoke a different language, who worked multiple jobs to deal with chronic underemployment, all while juggling family and ministry, and all in a country under attack.

These students also had the chance to connect with Tim and Angela. One thing Tim didn’t anticipate was that these seminary students were very curious about Tim’s doctoral work in textual criticism. They asked many questions about Tim’s faith journey and his studies. The very questions and concerns that had sparked Tim’s own Bible education were also the same questions many of these students had encountered as well.

Embracing new realities

Once in Kyiv, Angela says it was a real blessing to see the actual places where they might live, where the kids would go to school, and where Tim would eventually teach. They met other SEND teammates and even had the chance to meet Ukrainian language teachers, and other families living in Kyiv as expats. Being in a real Ukrainian context allowed them to understand that culture and language learning are big priorities if they are to thrive in such a challenging place.

Even feeling the real weather differences gave them another chance to see the challenges of adapting to life in Ukraine. “For us desert rats,” Angela explained, “(one challenge) is accepting the cold and different changes of seasons. But that it can also be fun and exciting—the kids liked that. But also just realizing that being able to adapt to the bleak cold winters is definitely a challenge we know we will face.”

In today’s world, faithful followers of Jesus will be challenged to keep pushing out of the theory of living as salt and light, and further into his light, where real gospel-fused relationships are forged. Knowing that he encircles us front to back and knows our unique path into his harvest, enables us to love real people on their paths. As we continue to follow the Holy Spirit’s calling, we begin to discover the areas we need to grow in which will help us in facing real challenges in a suffering world hungry for Jesus.

Explore Panel: “Looking back, what is one piece of advice you’d give yourself if you were starting off as a new missionary again?”

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 03:34:50 GMT

“Looking back, what is one piece of advice you’d give yourself if you were starting off as a new missionary again?”

We asked SEND missionaries to reflect on the lessons they've learned over the course of their service. Specifically: "Looking back, what is one piece of advice you'd give yourself if you were starting off as a new missionary again?" Their responses provide insightful perspectives for those embarking on missionary work.

I think there are a lot of things that are really important that were shared with me, and very helpful, about focusing on the long-term with patience and not giving up on the vision God has given.

But the piece of advice I really would give to my younger self is to focus more strongly on prayer. Prayer in my personal life (an area I always feel like I need to grow) and prayer in the team and church, and evenn more to focus on calling my supporters and supporting churches to pray for the people I am working among. I would suggest giving very regular small updates and/or prayer reminders (weekly is my goal) to hundreds of people.

I am convinced more than I ever was before, that the prayers of many are answered by God and that He is glorified in this!

New I would tell myself to prepare for a worldwide pandemic to start within two weeks of your starting your first term – haha. ��

I would also tell myself to let go of expectations of what something "should" be like. Whether that be my attitude, ministry, marriage, language learning, relationships with others or God, etc. It’s important to simply authentically process things as they are, rather than feeling pressured or bothered by how they "should be."

To really learn to depend on God. I was very fortunate to come to Spain already knowing the language, but then COVID hit, and even with language, I had no in-person community. It was a difficult time for me, but I really had to learn what it meant to depend fully on God, trust in His timing and always prioritize my relationship with Him. It is something that they talk about in training and we all know as Christians, but it is another thing to really live it out in the day to day.

Take the time to do the hard heart work before getting to the field. I heard that the pressure of cross-cultural ministry will widen any cracks that exist, and this is true. So work hard to deal with those cracks before you leave.

Have you been following our missionary panel for a while? Take the next step to discover your place in God's mission. Join the Explore Together community. Our next coach-led cohort launches March 18.

Picnic Conversations

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 01:43:32 GMT

Picnic Conversations

Friday Aug 2, 2024

A few weeks ago, we attended an international conference for those working with Muslims. We heard many wonderful stories of Muslims coming to Christ. One attendee shared, “I have had several Muslims who recently came to our city call me, saying they heard I was a Christian and asking me if I would disciple them!” This was amazing to hear! We rejoiced together as we were reminded of God’s ability to draw people from the kingdom of darkness into his wonderful light. Yes, there are still 1.8 billion Muslims who have not yet come to Christ. Yet, there are signs that God is at work in marvelous ways. People have been praying for the Muslim world for many years, but I have never heard of the same person getting multiple phone calls from Muslims asking them to disciple them in the ways of Jesus Christ! This is exciting and an incredible answered prayer.

Connecting over food and stories

How are you reaching out to Muslims in your neighborhood, town, or workplace? Summer is a great time to host a picnic or cookout. However, many if not most, Muslims are strict about food. Please make sure you have Halal food, unless they have specifically told you they are not following Islamic dietary laws.

Always remember that your picnic food should never be pork or made from pork products. Even if they say that they eat non-Halal meat—that almost always means they will eat beef or chicken that is not labeled Halal. Muslims will never eat pork , as they understand it to be not only strictly forbidden but also filthy. Most often when we go on picnics with Muslims, we will let them read the food package before we open it. This makes them feel at ease knowing it is okay for them.

A local church we know well recently sponsored a picnic for Muslims and it was a success. Church members turned up early to set up and cook. Others provided rides for families without vehicles. There were outdoor games, and of course, an opportunity to throw water balloons at each other!

There are several great reasons to host a picnic:

I am guessing that most new Muslim immigrant or refugee families in your city have never been on a picnic with a Christian family.
Most refugees and immigrants live in cities where it tends to be more crowded and parks may not be nearby.
Many new refugee families and immigrants have limited budgets and buying an entry pass to a national or state park might be difficult for them.
People who have newly arrived to a city or area are not familiar with the local areas or what might be available.
For those taking ESL lessons, going to a local park can be a wonderful field trip and a place to learn and practice some new vocabulary.

While you are on your picnic, I would encourage you to tell a Bible story that takes place in a natural setting like the Samaritan woman at the well, the feeding of the five thousand, or perhaps the Parable of the Sower. If you are near a body of water, you could tell of Moses and the people of Israel crossing the Red Sea or Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. There are many stories to choose from and you can tell one each time you go on a picnic.

Please also take the time to pray with your Muslim friend. Muslims are open to prayer and honored by your request to pray together. Ask how you can pray for them and then pray right there. Continue to pray for the needs they raise so you can ask on your next visit, “Has God answered your prayers yet?” or “How has God answered your prayers?”

10/10 Prayer Initiative

We continue to pray for 10% of the Muslim world to come to Christ in 10 years. We have been praying for this since 2018, and we are praying with faith that he will do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask or imagine.

Pray for many Muslims attending the Olympic games in Paris as participants and guests. Pray that as they rub elbows with people from all over the world, that they would hear stories of Jesus from other athletes and guests.

With growing tensions in the Middle East, pray that God’s love that surpasses understanding will touch and change many lives. Pray for the church worldwide and its view towards immigrants and refugees. May we be gracious and mindful of the sojourners living among us.

When God Tells You to Move: How We Ended Up in Obanazawa

ewestcott@send.org (Emily Westcott) — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 21:02:24 GMT

When God Tells You to Move: How We Ended Up in Obanazawa

My wife and I were just a couple of months away from leaving for home service when the above post from the Operation Japan Prayer Facebook page captured my attention. Around this time, COVID had significantly reduced our ministries with D House interns unable to enter Japan. Most outreach activities in our house and our church were canceled for the foreseeable future.

Obanazawa caught my eye because in August 2018, Susan and I drove to Yamagata Prefecture from our home in Sendai for a short vacation. While there, we learned that the Hanagasa Festival was happening in Obanazawa. It was a joyous event highlighted by the Hanagasa dance. Ginzan, a picturesque onsen village, is also located in Obanazawa. So, we drove about an hour north and spent a day there.

From a Short Vacation to a Ministry Opportunity

Fast forward to 2021, Susan and I drove to Shion (Zion) Christ Church on a Monday morning in March, arriving there shortly before noon. A man was changing light bulbs in the sanctuary.

I introduced myself, “Hello, we’re missionaries in Sendai. We read that this church is doing outreach in Obanazawa, and we’d like to know more about it.”

“I’m not the pastor. Let me call him,” the man replied. I later learned his name is Oyama-san, and he’s a member of the church leadership committee. Mr. Oyama handed me his phone.

“Hello? Who is this?” Pastor Kenichi Sakamoto asked hesitantly.

After introducing myself and my purpose for visiting Shion Christ Church, Pastor Sakamoto said, “I’d really like to meet you in person. Can we meet you at the church tomorrow morning?”

Susan and I had planned a two-day trip, so we agreed to a 10:00 AM meeting. We drove up to Obanazawa. The closer we got, the deeper the snow we saw. We drove around the town. We located the elementary school, middle school, local shops, and a few chain stores. We greeted one man on the street and commented about the deep snow (about two meters). He told us that half of it had already melted!

Knowing and Embracing the Vision

The next morning, we drove back to Shion Christ Church. Expecting to see only the pastor, we entered the church and were greeted by Pastor Sakamoto, Mr. Oyama, and two women—Mika, the pastor’s wife, and Mrs. Wada, a retired elementary school principal and a member of the church leadership committee.

They sat us down and showed us a PowerPoint presentation about the history and vision of the church. The church was started by Dr. Haneda, a Christian medical doctor, who started Bible studies in his clinic. The vision for the church is threefold: to establish local chapels in the area towns, to serve the community through education, social welfare, and medical care, and to contribute to world missions.

We also learned about Dennis Foster, a black American missionary who lived in Obanazawa for 25 years. Three Japanese women who were under his pastoral care when they were in high school were now part of Shion Christ Church. They talked about a few other missionaries who served in Obanazawa from the 1990s up until 2004. None had remained for more than four years.

After the presentation, Pastor Sakamoto turned to us and said, “When you called yesterday, I was thankful but honestly, I was shocked. You see, the day before you came to our church, we had a leaders meeting to talk about how to reach Obanazawa. One of our members said we really needed to find a missionary to live in and assist the believers there. The next day, you walked in!”

Susan and I talked a little bit about ourselves. We shared our faith journey, how we came to Japan, and our ministry experience to date including our ministry with Japanese high school students through the hi-ba ministry and with children. We explained the D House (discipleship house) internship program for English speakers exploring the possibility of becoming missionaries themselves. We promised to talk with our SEND Japan leadership about the possibility of moving to Obanazawa in Spring 2022 after our home service.

Moving and Adjusting to Life in Obanazawa

In June 2021, we returned to Shion Christ Church with two of SEND Japan’s leaders. The same four people met us at the church and served us lunch. They drove us to Obanazawa and showed us the area. After much prayer and encouragement from our supporters during our home service, we moved to a strategically located home in Obanazawa in June 2022. Another first-term missionary, Andrew Phillips, joined us. He settled in an apartment in the middle of the town.

We’ve survived our first winter; shoveling snow is a daily activity and necessary for good relationships with neighbors. Obanazawa is known for three things—snow (3-4 meters every winter), suika (watermelon), and the Hanagasa (a dance created when Tokura Lake was dug up as a reservoir for the rice fields).

Admittedly, the idea of moving to Obanazawa was a little frightening. We had always lived in or near large cities in Japan with plenty of resources for English-speaking foreigners. Moreover, SEND had never had missionaries in Yamagata Prefecture and as an organization did not have established relationships with pastors and churches there.

Most places we’ve lived were easily accessible by public transportation. In Obanazawa, there is no train station, and the trains that come in to neighboring Oishida are infrequent. We get around by walking, bicycling, or by car. We learned that four distinct Japanese dialects in Yamagata Prefecture are impossible to understand with just knowledge of standard Japanese.

We had no friends, and we knew of no foreigners living in Obanazawa or even in neighboring towns. Going here meant leaving established ministries and relationships and facing much that was unknown. We learned later that some of the people as well as the pastor at Shion Christ Church were also anxious having not worked with American missionaries before.

Since moving to Obanazawa, we have found ways to get involved in the community. However, the simplest way is to engage people in regular life activities—grocery shopping, eating at local restaurants, shoveling snow, playing in the park, walking or jogging the streets, and soaking in a local onsen. Andrew and I have also learned the Hanagasa dance and joined a group that dances at the festival.

Bringing the Message and Being the Presence of Jesus

A need we did not foresee is the need for fellowship among rural believers. COVID caused some isolation, but even for others, they rarely saw each other except on Sunday mornings. Shion Christ Church is a fairly long drive for people living in Obanazawa, especially in the winter. Opening up our house for believers once a month and also for anyone weekly has hugely benefitted local believers in their faith walk.

By having a D House in Obanazawa, we expose potential long-term missionaries to the needs and opportunities in rural communities and give Japanese believers an opportunity to share their testimonies and vision for their beloved home communities.

Our relationships with the pastor and believers at Shion Christ Church have been remarkable. Those who live in Obanazawa usually join us for our local events. The church members have told us that our coming has been a great boost to the church. The pastor mentioned that his workload has been cut in half, not because we do much of his work, but because we care for him and his wife and pray with and for them.

We greatly appreciate the frequent presence of Japanese believers with us. Their knowledge and experience with local customs, along with their testimonies as followers of Jesus Christ, are powerful considering that most did not grow up in Christian homes.

God is at work, sometimes in miraculous ways, in lesser-known areas in Japan. There are Japanese churches like Shion Christ Church that want to reach not only their own local community but also neighboring unreached towns and villages. Perhaps they too are praying for harvest workers to assist them. Could you be the answer to those prayers?

How Missions has Changed Over the Last 30 Years in Japan

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 21:19:56 GMT

How Missions has Changed Over the Last 30 Years in Japan

When I arrived with my family in Japan in 1993, we first worked with a para-church youth ministry. The ministry almost exclusively happened at Christian locations. Our job as missionaries was to prepare for the program and maintain the facilities. This was gratifying as Christian high school students gathered in rented rooms to encourage one another in their faith walk. We also planned evangelistic events and camps to both encourage believers as well as to proclaim the gospel to the unsaved.

From what we heard and observed, most missionary work was like this—conducting worship services, presenting Christian concerts, hosting banquets with salvation testimonies, and teaching English classes at the church building. These were instrumental in how missionaries did their work in building up the church, starting churches, and spreading the gospel. To get people to attend these events, missionaries urged believers to invite their friends. Also, many missionaries and Japanese pastors went to neighborhood houses to put invitations into all the mailboxes. Occasionally, invitations were handed out in person at train stations or in front of schools.

For me personally, I began to see a major shortcoming in relying almost exclusively on this kind of ministry, especially as it pertained to evangelism. It required the unchurched and unsaved, to enter into a Christian environment or go to a Christian location to hear the gospel. I began to pray for courage and opportunities to engage with people outside the Christian places, and God answered those prayers as I met and talked with people on trains, in restaurants, in parks, in stores, etc. I remember one missionary in the early 2000s who was starting a church in eastern Tokyo urged his church members to skip church IF there was an event happening in their community like a festival or a cleaning day. He wanted Christians to be at these gatherings where many unchurched and unsaved people would be.

From inside the Christian circle to outside

A major shift occurred in 2011 when the triple disaster struck northeastern Japan. Missionaries and even many Japanese Christians went up to the stricken areas of Miyagi, Fukushima, and Iwate. The activities did not take place in Christian places. Missionaries simply showed up to help and serve. In the first days and weeks, it was bringing in supplies like food and blankets. In the following months, it was helping to clean up houses and businesses. Picking up rubble, shoveling out sand and dirt from foundations, and scrubbing walls and floors.

Christians worked alongside non-Christians. Silent prayers would be offered and sometimes groups would pray together before and after a work day. In the following years, missionaries and Japanese believers served in temporary housing areas. They would perform music, lead in some craft, serve a meal, and just sit and listen to disaster victims. The ministry at this point wasn’t much different than before except it was now happening outside a Christian location. Rather than the Christians waiting for people to come to them, they were going out to be among the people.

Meeting them where they are

Perhaps because of this change, I’ve observed more service ministry being done outside of church buildings. I hear of missionaries teaching English at kindergartens and in community centers even though they are not permitted to “proselytize.” Several missionaries visit people in their homes, perhaps bringing them some donated food, but mostly just going to listen to them and when permitted, pray with them. Perhaps it was always there, but I now see and hear more about missionaries getting involved in activities with unbelievers.

One missionary regularly plays tennis and jogs with unbelievers. Another missionary joined a soccer group and another a volleyball group. My wife and I joined a Japanese sign language group. Another coworker and I have joined a traditional dance group and dance in our local Hanagasa Festival. We get to talk about our faith in one-on-one conversations, not in large groups.

The Japanese pastor with whom we work says this is a harder kind of ministry. It takes longer, but it prevents Christians from being viewed as separate from the community, and even being perceived as important contributors to the community. In an interesting twist, the church we currently cooperate with has allowed their building to be used for community events. A men’s choir practices here; a senior citizens group meets there. Often people in the church are involved in these groups that are by no means Christian in their purposes or activities.

Traditional ministry continues to happen in Christian places like churches and camps, but I think in our three decades here in Japan, we’ve seen a balance of focus on both these places and also on the public places where most Japanese people live their lives. The salt and light of the gospel is being spread out rather than being overly concentrated in a few “Christian” places. Missionaries are valued not only for preaching, but more so for their caring nature, strong relationships, ability to serve, shared interests, and the faith and courage to reach out. As a result, I think we’re seeing a change in younger missionaries who come with a heart for this kind of outreach.

Mentoring Matters: Christine's Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Mentoring Matters: Christine's Story

My mentor and good friend, Cindy, lost her battle to cancer last month, but certainly won the fight of faith. Even to the end - there was joy in her heart. My friend was with her days before she died and said that while they worshiped together, it was like she was glowing. My friend wondered, maybe she's already halfway into Heaven. I like the thought of that.

Jeff and Cindy are the kind of people who tossed around the idea of having a bunch of us young adults move in with them once their own kids left. Not in a "we want to mentor/disciple you" kind of way, in a "let's do life together" kind of way, which is essentially the same thing in practice. That's how it was - whenever I was at their house, we were making food or coffee or tea. I learned from Cindy while she helped me plan my wedding, while we went to the movies, while she was the vice principle as I taught for two months. I stayed overnight at their house so Jeff could help me with my Bible and Cindy could help me with my lesson plans. We went out for breakfast and we went out for frozen yogurt. They did our pre-marital counseling (and another mini-follow up session with me last month). Cindy reminds me of truth and of the need to slow down, create boundaries around your time, and be courageous.

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Learn about SEND's Ministry in Southeast Asia

Debriefing Questions

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Debriefing Questions

Questions that can help you think through your cross-cultural ministry experience and evaluate next steps.

1. What part did you like best about your trip?

2. What did you learn about the country? The people? The culture? What do you miss about them?

3. What were you glad to leave behind?

4. What do you remember most about the people you served there? What would you rather forget?

5. Tell me about a special story, event, or person you met.

6. Tell me about something that surprised you or you didn’t expect.

7. Tell me about one thing for which you were most thankful to God.

8. What was the hardest part for you? The most disappointing?

9. What did you see God do in the people you met?

10. What did God do through you during the outreach?

11. Tell me the most important thing you learned about God and His character.

12. What did God show you about yourself? (i.e. physical limitations, spiritual gifts, basic values, etc.)

13. Tell me about what you learned about missionary life.

14. What did you learn about the world and missions (globally)?

15. What were your expectations before going? How were they met or not met?

16. Was there anything you would have done differently to prepare?

17. What things will be different for you now that you’re home? Difficult for you?

18. How do you feel about being home? Can you condense it into one word?

More about debriefing

Fly-by Pastor

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fly-by Pastor

It is a little cloudy, but overall we've had a clear view the last 30 minutes. Four people are squeezed into the Cessna 182. Our destination should be already in sight, but clouds are covering the area. Our pilot circles the area and finally finds a gap. A few seconds later we land on the snow covered airstrip. At the end of the runway are two men waiting for us on their snow machines. Everybody finds a seat on the machines or in the sled. A dozen people in the small log cabin church are already waiting for us. I start preaching right away.

The little congregation has no pastor and for weeks we had planned to go there once a month, but there were two blizzards the last two weeks, and the minimum temperature for flying with the Cessna is -25° F. But now we are here. After the service, we have a potluck together. We have moose stew, salmon sandwiches, and dry fish. The people praise our coming out to their village.

It´s afternoon, and the first teens show up in front of the church. We invite them in for lunch as well. The next two hours we have a teen program. In the beginning we play some games, later on, we talk about the first Christmas in Bethlehem.

It is almost three o'clock, so we gear up again in our warm winter clothes before it gets too dark to fly. A tail wind gives us a quick return home. Our mission for today is accomplished. In the evening we get another foot of snow.

-A SEND North team member

Follow SEND North on social media: Facebook Twitter Google Plus LinkedIn Pinterest Download the free report, God's Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the Far North .

Pray for Dirt

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The gospel in the marketplace

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The gospel in the marketplace

The workplace. The marketplace. The place where Muslims, like most people, spend the majority of their waking hours each day. That is the setting members of Marketplace & Development Enterprises (MDE) embrace to build purposeful relationships in order to share the gospel. MDE members go to unreached Muslim communities as employees, entrepreneurs, and community developers and gain access into people's lives through the connections made naturally through their occupations. Men and women who desire to be missional as they work using their God-given vocational skills can play a unique role in disciple-making and church planting in unreached communities.

There are now over a billion Muslims who have little to no hope of experiencing God’s love or hearing truth in their community. A billion. We need to send seminary-trained, full-time missionaries to Muslim communities. But this is not enough. We also need to send “regular” people with jobs or businesses to the workplaces of those communities. The marketplace offers an avenue for people to legitimately live and work in communities that are closed to “missionaries,” and their lives offer a view of Christlikeness that their co-workers, bosses, neighbors, vendors, and clients can understand and copy. In order to broaden the reach of the gospel, marketplace people must go.

MDE is a service organization specifically designed to come alongside these marketplace workers to help them with their unique challenges and opportunities. MDE does this by casting vision for missions in the marketplace and by connecting its members to the training they need in a format they can access while working full-time. It also provides support through mentoring, coaching, and advice from fellow believers in the workplace, both in the US and abroad. MDE helps by requiring its members to develop ministry plans and follow them.

MDE also partners with nationals seeking to make disciples and plant churches. Unable to support his family of seven on a pastor’s “salary,” a former Muslim brother in Central Asia asked MDE to help him enter the shuttle bus business. MDE found investors who loaned him the money needed to purchase a bus, and a contract was signed. In the first month alone, this brother was able to bring in additional income and pay towards the loan. With the burden of finances lifted, he is freer to shepherd his young, growing flock and to share the Good News with the Muslim people around him.

In another setting, MDE workers are serving the Muslim community in which they live by providing life skills training and mentoring for orphans. Often launched from the orphanage at an early age, these young people have little training or experience in order to be successful in life. MDE’s affiliate in that country offers practical help and personal hope as they explain the reason for their service to these young people. The MDE workers have had incredible opportunities to share why they are there and why their love for Christ compels them to help orphans with government officials, orphanage workers, national partners, accountants, lawyers, and the list goes on.

We need to reach the unreached. We need to reach Muslims. Marketplace workers are playing a key role in meeting these needs.

Learn more about MDE opportunities.

Lessons help little ones develop big hearts for the nations

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Lessons help little ones develop big hearts for the nations

By Jayne Russell

SEND theological educator in Ukraine

I met my first missionary when I was 7 years old. I still remember a startling claim she made: that a child attending Sunday School in the West has more biblical training than most pastors in Africa.

I’ve spent 16 years serving cross-culturally in Ukraine, my own life a demonstration of the power of teaching children about missions.

Now I’m focused on writing a missions education program for children. The program aims to introduce Slavic children to different cultures and to missionaries who have worked in those countries, while also developing each child’s Christian character.

The idea for this curriculum, which eventually will be translated into Russian and Ukrainian, was sparked in 2007 while I was in graduate school. Now it finally has a name: “Blessed to Bless.” This concept is taken from the Abrahamic Covenant when God said He would bless Israel and that through the Israelites, people throughout the earth would be blessed. We are part of that covenant by faith. Believers are blessed and they, in turn, are to be a blessing to others and to share with those who have never heard what God has done.

I envision a program in which, upon arrival, children will step into a “culture museum,” where they will explore food, customs, greetings, maps, flags, clothing, crafts, music and other learning centers relevant to the culture at hand.

During large group time, children will practice songs about missions, learn a memory verse and experience a missionary story, told conventionally or through drama or another method.

Afterward, in small groups, children will discuss the activities of the day in a review fashion and make personal application. The leader will read a devotional about the Christian character emphasized in the unit, then children will respond individually in a journal throughout the week. The character study will have self, home, peer and church application.

SEND International’s work in Ukraine involves encouraging the Ukrainian church to participate in cross-cultural missions. This ministry — 3M, or Missions Mobilization Ministry — teaches teen-aged and adult believers about the Great Commission through a curriculum called Kairos. But graduates of the Kairos course have expressed a desire to see the children in their churches also learn about Jesus’ heart for the nations. I hope “Blessed to Bless” will meet this need by planting seeds about missions in the hearts of children.

Mentoring Matters: Merla's Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Mentoring Matters: Merla's Story

When I was at Bible college, I was mentored by a lady who was a retired missionary. She loved the Lord and cared deeply about me and the other lady she was mentoring. The thing I remember about her was her prayer life, she was a woman who spent time with God in prayer.

There was one other person who mentored me, not formally but what I would call informal mentoring -I was challenged and changed just by observing his life. He was the youth pastor at my church during my last year of high school. I noticed many things about him - his love for God, his humility and just his servant heart. Anyone who was watching him would have been touch by how he lived. He also modelled what it meant to be in ministry, and it was because of this one year of working with and observing him that impacted my life and opened my heart to consider going into ministry.

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Stories of courage and faith

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Stories of courage and faith

In the midst of war in Ukraine, Kiev Theological Seminary graduates continue to serve faithfully and fearlessly. Anatoly Prokopchuk, president of KTS, shares these examples of courageous service.

Since the seminary’s inception, our operation has been surrounded by complexities. But God’s mighty hand has led us faithfully along the way. Presently, we are learning to trust God in the midst of war, not just from books, but now from personal experience.

We welcome times of complexity. Such times provide nurturing soil for our personal faith and communal practice, allowing us to connect our studies of theology with daily living, which results in building the church of God in Ukraine and, we pray, globally.

Many of our students and alumni who lived in the conflict zone have been forced to relocate, leaving their homes, belongings, businesses, jobs, sometimes relatives and friends behind. They go to locations where peace abides. And yet other graduates leave peaceful locations and go where the need is greatest, even to the front lines.

A Displaced Church Plant

Oleg Larkov, a small business owner with a passion for God, had planted a church in Bryanka, a city in eastern Ukraine. While leading the church, he felt the need to deepen his understanding of the Bible and develop his skills for effective ministry. So he came to study at KTS’ church planting program and graduated in 2009.

He and his family had to flee the war zone, leaving behind their home, his small business and ministry. They hoped to return to their city soon but it became clear that such move was not possible until peace is settled there.

What did he do being uprooted from his home? Oleg prayed and formed a new church planting team, including other KTS graduates, students and faculty. His team planted a new church in Kyiv reaching out to families displaced by the war. They named this new church God’s Design Church, expressing their faith in God’s sovereign reign over their lives.

Cross-country Help

Vyacheslav Nedzelsky graduated this year with a degree in pastoral leadership. He serves as the Pastor of a Baptist church in Khust, a small town located on the western border of Ukraine.

He was deeply moved by the story of a wounded Ukrainian serviceman who died due to lack of timely transportation to the hospital. He shared his vision of meeting this need with the church. Members of his church raised money to buy a vehicle for Ukrainian servicemen in the east.

They deployed the vehicle to the front lines along with 500 pocket-size New Testaments. Vyacheslav said, “We send this vehicle to protect their bodies, and we also send the Scriptures to protect their souls.”

A Chaplain on the Front Lines

Maksim Gusev, a KTS graduate from Sumy, a city in northern Ukraine, sensed an urgency to minister to servicemen on the front line as a chaplain, right when the conflict erupted in eastern Ukraine.

He spent months privately seeking God’s will. He asked his wife to pray and they sought God’s will together as a family. Gaining confidence in God’s calling to minister as a chaplain he filed an application for the service.

He shared his experience of being a chaplain during chapel at KTS last February. When he finished, he was surprised with a needed gift, a bulletproof vest, purchased with money raised by a local church and the KTS community. We committed him to the Lord in prayer (picture above).

Relevant Training

Our school has also held a conference for chaplains to provide much-needed training on Post Traumatic Stress and how to minister to families of servicemen who have been directly affected by the war.

I am grateful to see our school continuing to fulfill our vision to be an international center of relevant training and instructive resources for Christians in ministry.

I want to conclude with the words of Joseph, whose life story is a wonderful reminder of God’s redeeming work in history, “God meant it for good.”

Thank you for keeping us in prayers.

Eight Missions Conference Ideas

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Eight Missions Conference Ideas

Preparing for your next missions conference? Here are some good ideas we have heard about. And if you have ideas of your own, we’d love to see them .

All Scripture to All People

There are nearly 7,000 languages in the world today, with the entire Bible translated into 438 of them. This service is designed to help us understand how that might feel and to consider how God might use our unique gifts and skills to participate in His plan bring all Scripture to all people in a language they can understand. Used by permission from College Church, 332 E. Seminary Ave, Wheaton, IL

Host an international dinner

At a dinner sometime toward the end of the missions conference, spread out the missionaries at different tables and then ask a person (not the missionary) at each table to share something they learned about the missionary or their ministry. To facilitate discussion, there might be a small sheet of general questions on the table. Used by permission from Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, PA

Host an international bazaar: Around the world in 80+ minutes

Get families involved with a Missions & Me (M&M) workbook

Great for children's ministries. The church chooses six projects and makes up a children’s workbook with each project. The church hands out the books seven weeks before the mission fair; the children work on them and hand them back on the Sunday prior to the fair. Used by permission from Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, PA

Minister to your missionaries

On the Sunday after your missions activities, host a debrief luncheon with just your missionaries, pastoral staff and missions committee. Give an encouraging devotional. Allow for good quiet discussion, pray as they go on their way. Used by permission from Lancaster Evangelical Free Church, Lancaster, PA

Concert of Prayer

Congregations are often told that they are the senders, the ones to give and to pray. Yet frequently, apart from passing the offering plate and poorly attended Wednesday evening prayer meetings, Joe Pew-Sitter has no clue how to be involved praying for missions. Every other year, Calvary Church holds an all-church concert of prayer during Global Missions Week. All other Wednesday night family ministries become part of this all-church event in the sanctuary. Used by permission from Calvary Church, Lancaster, PA

Readers Theater on missions

This is a program for a church that has a large number of missionaries come together for a conference. Instead of introducing individual missionaries, they are involved throughout the entire service. The morning’s message is a Readers Theater style of presentation. Everyone’s role is important in communicating this message. Used by permission from College Church, 332 E. Seminary Ave, Wheaton, IL 60187

Scavenger hunt

Great for children's ministries. Have missionaries send in the description of an item or two from their display table that children can check off from a list. Print up some “missions bucks” for the kids to collect either from the missionary, or from a cashier based on found items and then allow the kids to buy items from the store, or better yet from the missionaries who came prepared. Gifts can include interesting candies or global snacks, small cultural icons, pencils or pens, small books, etc. This gets the kids involved and they often sweep their parents into the action. Used by permission from Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, PA

Christmas play offers a new twist on an old story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Christmas play offers a new twist on an old story

By Martina B. in Ulan-Ude

We were excited about this play for a couple of reasons. First, it was going to clearly explain the birth of Christ to those unbelievers who had been invited. For many, this play would be their first time hearing the Good News!

Second, the play presented the Christmas story in a culturally appropriate way. Lena had written the script to include three “spirits of fear” (the spirits of loneliness, disappointment and materialism) that were working hard against the main characters in the story to try to trip them up, to keep them from following God’s commands or to keep the biblical prophecies from coming true.

"Spirits" try to distract a young woman from seeking Truth.

The spirit world is a very real presence in peoples’ lives in Ulan-Ude due to the pervasive influence of Buddhism and Shamanism in this region. The audience could easily relate to the battle between the spirit world and the individual characters. The play clearly demonstrated the power of prayer to combat the forces of evil. This is an extremely important message for people here, especially because so many of them live in fear of the spirit world.

A good number of unbelievers came to the play, which was so popular that we gave a second performance.

The play was also posted online, and we know that members of our church showed it to their unbelieving family members who would not come to the church to see it. This was our first time performing in Russian, and it was such a privilege to be able to communicate God’s most amazing gift in this way!

More stories from Ulan-Ude

'White' gathering brings light during a dark, cold month

One thing leads to another

Fruitful Practices #2- Language Fluency

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Carrying soldiers’ letters gives volunteer chances to deliver words of hope

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Carrying soldiers’ letters gives volunteer chances to deliver words of hope

As told to Rick Perhai, Kyiv Theological Seminary academic dean

In the spring of 2014, as the conflict in southeastern Ukraine grew more intense, one member of an evangelical church in Kyiv felt led by God to serve his country and his fellow Ukrainians. He had attended a seminar led by the director of the chaplaincy program at Kyiv Theological Seminary, so he understood the possibilities of that type of ministry to the Ukrainian troops.

Sergei* went to the local army recruitment office and volunteered, asking, “What can I do? I won't carry a gun, but am willing to do whatever you need — kitchen duty, whatever you would like. Can I help with the physical and spiritual needs of our soldiers?”

The recruitment officer wasn't sure what to do with him, but eventually signed him up as a “non-physical medic and driver as needed.” In this role, Sergei, who attends a church pastored by a Kyiv Theological Seminary professor, went to the front lines, where he found ill-equipped soldiers who lacked body armor and felt very alone.

Sergei used his own funds to purchase equipment, food and other necessities. He carried letters from family members to the soldiers, returning with notes from the soldiers to their loved ones. He became a courier of sorts for those who were risking their lives on the front.

As time went on, Sergei gained a reputation for caring and for giving encouragement and spiritual counsel. Prior to a military operation, when a commanding officer would ask who was a priest, the soldiers would point to Sergei. The men shared openly with him regarding their struggles and fears, and about how they used alcohol, pornography, and other vices to escape and fill the void.

Sergei invested in the soldiers' lives, spending time with them, caring for them, listening to them, walking with them through their days and struggles. Through his serving, he built a bridge to feed them spiritually. Requests came for New Testaments, and he has been able to provide the soldiers with other spiritual materials.

“The troops fill their bodies with food and drink — good or bad,” he said. “I want to give them good food, not just physical food, but good spiritual food.”

Most of the soldiers are young, a mixed group from around Ukraine. Sergei began serving with a battalion of 100 men. Fewer than 10 are left after six months of fighting, the rest lost to either death or injury. He has been able to share Christ, as everyone can see that life is fleeting.

A cylinder from a mortar shell sits on Sergei’s desk at home as a reminder of God's hand on his life. One day he was sharing with a group when a mortar shell landed 20 meters away. It was a dud. If it had exploded, he and the others would most likely have been killed.

Sergei has gone dozens of times to the front lines, building relationships and caring for the soldiers. His worst job is going back to tell a wife or mother that her husband or son has died. He accompanies the officers who share this tragic news with immediate relatives. Many times the officers ask him, the volunteer, to speak on their behalf as they do not know what to say.

The relationships that Sergei has built with those serving will have a long-term influence; the men and women who are involved in this conflict will need help when, Lord willing, it ends. God is using individuals like Sergei, humble servants who are faithfully serving Christ in the midst of terrible circumstances.

Pray that God would raise up more people to serve in this way. Pray that the leadership of the armed forces would see the value of having chaplains as part of the armed forces. And pray that God will use the chaplaincy program at Kyiv Theological Seminary to meet the spiritual needs of Ukraine’s soldiers.

*Name changed to protect his identity

Sugary gifts tell the sweetest story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Sugary gifts tell the sweetest story

By Josie Oldenburg in Kyiv, Ukraine

The Ukrainian children’s cheers bounced around the classroom when Andy and Holly Rist announced that they came bearing a gift: a special candy all the way from America.

The Rists passed out candy canes to each of the children in their son’s second-grade class at their local public school.

“I attached a special card, written in Ukrainian, that tells the gospel story through the candy cane,” Holly said.

The card concludes with John 3:16.

“The teacher read the whole thing – even the verse,” Holly said. “And she explained that is doesn’t matter what country you live in or what language you speak, the birthday of Jesus is something to be celebrated.”

The Rist family’s neighbors and shopkeepers in their area also received candy canes.

“It’s a small thing,” Holly said. “But we pray over it, and we believe that God’s Word never returns void.”

Backstage

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Backstage

A vibrant home office is essential to SEND ministries around the globe. SEND Canada's "Backstage!" campaign helps you learn more about what goes on behind the scenes and how you can support SEND Canada's home office.

Learn more about the SEND Canada Home Office.

Recharge

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Recharge

Ministry is draining. If you don’t believe me, just ask your pastor. This is why we purposefully plan or coordinate with other ministries to give our team a couple of times a year to take a break and travel outside of their villages. The most important of those meetings is the SEND North Annual Conference.

There are several reasons this gathering is so important (besides the legal requirement for a business meeting). Instead of describing those reasons, I invite you to hear directly from a few of our teammates. Please check out this fun two-minute video: https://youtu.be/j8a5mA3jtwg

This gathering is the most expensive event we put together, and it is worth every penny. If you wish to help us cover the extra expenses of the conference, please contact us . You will help make Joe's job easier! (check out the video to understand how.)

A Higher Power

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Higher Power

A story of one Ukrainian family:

"I got to meet the people from this church for the first time four weeks ago when I came, like everyone else, for humanitarian aid.

Our life has changed after February 24, and simple things became impossible due to the lack of money, problems with employment, and lack of understanding how much longer we will need to live in this saving mode. Therefore, the primary reason for coming to church was the possibility to get some humanitarian aid.

The church people greeted us with smiles. My husband and I were invited to a table discussion with a leader. At the table we found out that we are helped here not only by believers from Ukraine, but also by parishioners from other parts of the world. It was so surprising to find out that someone on the other side of the globe was taking care of you.

The chance we get here to communicate with internally displaced people who have the same problems as ours, made it clear that we are not alone in our plight. Our leader’s explanation why all of this is happening to us brought an awareness that our situation isn't hopeless.

For two Saturdays in a row, our sons, aged thirteen and eighteen, have also been attending church. The children finally want to leave home and communicate with others, their despair and fear about tomorrow are gone. They get answers to their questions and go to church with a big pleasure.

I am very glad that some power from above has brought me to the church. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank people who dedicate their free time in order to minister other people."

Give now to help relief efforts

Inviting the nations to our tables

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Inviting the nations to our tables

The United States and Canada have welcomed more than 50 million immigrants, many of them from countries with the least access to the Good News. In response to this great opportunity, SEND has launched a new outreach: Diaspora | North America . You can also get to know workers in New York City and Seattle , where ministry teams are reaching out to diaspora peoples in diverse ways that reflect the complexities of each group’s culture. Below, read an interview with interview MS, who has spent just a few months engaging Muslim refugees near Atlanta.

1. What are some of the biggest challenges facing the people you serve?

Though the people we work with are trying to learn English, it is hard to navigate the government process and new places without knowing the language. It is also difficult to get a driver’s license, so the men often spend their time only at work or at home, and the women are at home most of the time. They also have a smaller community for support than what they were used to back home. Some families have been separated from each other.

2. Can you describe a “typical” day?

My wife takes women and children to the doctor or dentist in the morning. I usually spend my morning working on a script for a radio program that broadcasts in Central Asia. The current script is about the fruit of the Spirit. By around lunchtime, the men are up — most of them work nights at factories for credit cards or chicken — so we go visit people in their homes. This usually includes tea with a cookie of some sort. Sometimes we even get lunch! Then we will either go to a prayer meeting, a church service, or have a family over for dinner and/or tea.

3. How have you built relationships?

The biggest way to meet people is to invite the people you already know to do something and have them bring a friend. For instance, we hosted a Super Bowl party —something new and foreign to most people we work with — and had them invite friends. Twenty people in an apartment living room with the boom of sports and the smell of food is a blast!

My wife and the woman she partners with are working with pregnant women, and something amazing happens when you are involved in that area of life. As she helps refugee families navigate their pregnancies in hospitals that are foreign to them, they see how much she cares for them and how helpful it is to have someone there with them. This results in the families telling other families about my wife and our co-worker, which brings more families into relationship.

I am currently trying to figure out how to bridge the gap and reach the men. This has been a little difficult, but I am sure it will happen.

4. Tell us about one memorable moment.

I had a couple of men over for a game night, not knowing what to expect but hopeful that getting these guys together would make for an opportunity to see God work. Sure enough, as soon as one man got there, he began to tell us about how he had experienced miracles in his life — and he credited Jesus with them. He has even had dreams that are clearly from Jesus. He is on his way to becoming a brother and I can’t wait. The only thing that seems to hold him back is a fear for his life, and that is something that American Christians must realize. We don’t always pay for our faith up front, but many of the people we work with can and do get persecuted as soon as they admit faith in Jesus. This takes great courage, and I pray this man receives that from God.

5. What are some of the challenges?

The culture operates on an honor-shame system, so many of the refugees we work with rely heavily on the community to dictate what brings shame or honor. Trusting in Jesus for salvation can bring shame on their community; just showing interest and asking questions can, too.

When they decide to follow Jesus, they can be cut off from that community. Imagine being asked to do something that could risk relationship with your family and friends. That is a broad challenge for ministry to Muslims everywhere.

A challenge that is a little more personal for us is the language barrier. Though most of the refugees we work with speak decent English, it can still be tough to build up enough relationship to take conversations past the surface level and then to have them understand when you get there. Sometimes religious language can be the problem. For instance, when we say Son of God, we mean Jesus in relation to the Father, but when they hear it, they think God had sexual relations with Mary. They often have assumptions about Christians and what we believe based on what they have been told by their communities. We have to wade through that and uncover the truth with them.

6. What are some remarkable things you’ve learned about the people you serve?

We have found that Muslims are some of the most hospitable people we have ever met — way more than I have ever been used to. They are interested in talking about spiritual matters.

7. What are some effective ways to share the gospel with Muslim refugees?

As I mentioned before, they come from an honor-shame culture. Talking about how we are guilty before God and need to be justified isn’t as effective as it would be for Americans. I am still working on reorienting how I think about the Good News. I need to think in terms of when Adam disobeyed God, he brought shame not only on himself but on all of his family and children because he dishonored God. In their culture, the only one who can restore a person’s honor is the one who was dishonored — in this case, God. So helping someone see that all of mankind lives in shame because we dishonored the God of the universe is a great step. Then that provides the foundation for saying that God wants to reconcile and bring us back in through what Jesus has done. This kind of conversation is best over tea in someone’s home.

8. Why do you think diaspora ministry is valuable?

The answer is simple: Jesus said go to the nations. Well, the nations are all around us here in the U.S. Why not go to them here, too? My hope is that by reaching some here, they will then return to their home country and reach their own people at a level that I could never even begin to understand.

9. What are some practical ways that people can get involved with this ministry?

Find out what is going on in your city with refugees and join in. If you know a family that is not from here, invite them over to your house. Sadly, most refugees will live here and never be invited into the home of an American. Show them what you are like and how you live and, at the same time, learn how they live.

More about Diaspora | North America

Resources — Find videos, statistics and tools for connecting with diaspora people at SEND's new Diaspora | North America home page .

'What is Diaspora Ministry?' — Hear a discussion about what diaspora ministry entails on the Global Missions Podcast.

Seeking in Seattle — SEND worker brings the gospel message to the Japanese diaspora in the Pacific Northwest.

Reaching UPGs in NYC — Within this diverse city live ethnic enclaves representing more than 50 groups that have little to no access to the gospel.

Who is my New Neighbor — A visual look at how communities are shifting, with ideas for getting involved.

How Can the North American Church Engage in BAM?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

How Can the North American Church Engage in BAM?

A Global Missions Podcast discussion of Business as Mission, including frank talk about the financial realities involved. Listen to episode 36 of the Global Missions Podcast here: http://globalmissionspodcast.com/036/

Remembering the unreached during Lent

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Remembering the unreached during Lent

By Josie Oldenburg, SEND Communications — With its ever-changing date, Easter can sneak up on us. The candy eggs and stuffed bunnies piled on store shelves need not be our only reminders. The practice of Lent gives believers six weeks to prepare to mourn the death and celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.

Jesus' death and resurrection are the foundational facts underlying all that SEND does. Without Good Friday and Easter, we would have no Good News to share with the unreached. Lent, then, is a natural season to focus both on what Jesus did for us personally and on developing a heart, like his, for the lost throughout our world. Here are some ideas for Lenten practices that might help deepen your commitment to the Great Commission:

Pray daily.

Add regular intercession for an unreached people group to your prayer times through Easter. Click here to pick a group and find information to guide your prayers.

Encourage others.

Christian holidays can be difficult reminders to missionaries that they live far from family and friends. Some have the added struggle of serving in cultures that do not recognize these days as distinct in any way. In the weeks leading up to Easter, make it your practice to write letters or send emails to missionaries, encouraging them in their work and letting them know you are praying for them during this holy season. To make it easy, you can email SEND workers through our web site .

Focus your mind.

Pick key verses that reflect Jesus’ heart for the world. Memorize and intentionally meditate on them for the next six weeks. Here are a few to get you started:

He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” Luke 24:46-47

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7: 9-10

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Psalm 105:1

Give up, then give.

Many people abstain from something — coffee, sweets, eating out — during Lent. Consider donating the money saved by skipping these things to a missions project .

Put down the remote and pick up a book.

Take a break from watching TV in the evenings and instead read a missionary biography or another book about God’s work through missions. Two recommended by SEND staff are “What Is the Mission of the Church?” and “Reaching and Teaching: A Call to Great Commission Obedience. ”

Turn off the radio.

Instead, tune in to the Global Missions Podcast . This show, hosted by SEND Canada's director, has 46 episodes to choose from — one for each day between now and April 16. If you listen to them all, you’ll gain great insight into current trends in missions, how to care for missionaries and how to discuss the gospel with your neighbors who come from a different cultural background.

As Easter approaches, we hope these ideas will help you use your time, talents, and treasure to focus on Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, the foundation of his Good News for all people.

SEND International 2017 Annual Report

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

SEND International 2017 Annual Report

Join us in celebrating God's work in SEND and around the world in 2017!

Read the report

Listen to the Global Missions Podcast

Thank-you for sharing in the Lord's work with us!

Longing for Home

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Longing for Home

From a church partner in Ukraine:

"Every day except for Sunday we hold meetings for refugees in our church, where they come, sit at the tables, and we have some discussions. We pay special attention to their inner world because they have been through horrible things like bombing, when the Russian army was trying to destroy them.

"We were talking about the Ascension Day. The majority of these people dream about going back home to their cities. With each day their desire gets stronger. One man shared his pain with us today. He said that his house had been hit by a shell that had broken the roof and had gone all the way down to the first floor. So there is nothing left from that house anymore. He dreamed so much about coming back home, but his house isn't there anymore. We were all touched by his story because the war not only made these people move from their homes and made them refugees, but it also took their homes from them and they don't have a place to return to now."

John 14:2-3 "In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

"When we were reading this passage almost everyone cried, because they don't have an opportunity to return to their homes but they have a home, that Christ made for them in Heaven. And no one will ever be able to take this home away from them.

"We can see how God's Word gives encouragement and hope. We can see how important it is what you and we are doing together for these people."

Give now to help relief efforts

Teens Find Joy at Camp

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Teens Find Joy at Camp

From one of our church partners in Ukraine:

"Due to the war, millions of Ukrainian teenagers had to leave their home, friends, and school. Some of those teenagers fled to our city. Here they were lonely and scared since they are unfamiliar with this new city. That's why the youth of our church decided to become friends for them. It was a big joy for us to take the teenagers to the 'Young Life' Christian camp in the mountains.

"It was an unbelievable opportunity to give these young people hope and tell them about Christ. Praise God, we found the sponsors who paid for the teenage refugees. God also blessed us with the necessary equipment: sleeping bags / backpacks / flashlights.

"During the camp we became close with the teenagers and had a chance to make a positive impact on them. For example, one girl was seriously thinking about committing suicide before she got to meet us. However, at the camp she made up her mind that she wants to keep living and she has come closer to Jesus. We are also very excited that seven youngsters accepted Jesus as their savior. God is awesome!

"Now we want to help them grow as Christians through small Bible study groups and discipleship.

"I want to thank everyone who prays and supports the church financially. Together we can reach the great heights for God's glory!"

Give now to help relief efforts

Stories Over Tea

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Stories Over Tea

We sat in a mud-walled room, though I would not have known it from the inside. Smoothly plastered and painted walls held paintings, interrupted only by windows across the front of the room. Beautifully woven carpets spread out from underneath thin, cotton-stuffed mattresses where we sat crossed legged. Though it was at least 105 degrees outside, we started as we always do- with several cups of steaming hot tea, served with candies and locally baked sugar cookies. We talked briefly about our families, and then jumped right in to stories.

I asked my friend how his storytelling had gone since we had met the previous week. He told me he had shared the story we had discussed together with some close family members. Because it was culturally appropriate to offer tea to customers in his part of the world, my friend had also shared the story with some visitors who had stopped by his shop. Their acceptance of my friend’s polite gesture provided a unique opportunity for him to naturally pass on a story in the course of conversation during their visit. I was amazed at my friend’s boldness; but I advised him to be careful. He told me, “I am only telling a story; there is no harm in that.”

Discovering the Power of a Story

What a simple, yet brilliant, way to share the Scriptures! As we read the Gospel accounts, we see Jesus telling story after story. He told proverbs and stories from the Old Testament, and he told new stories that challenged and excited the people around him. As followers of Jesus, we have the joy and honor of passing along these same stories to people who have never had the opportunity to hear the Good News.

I wasn’t always this excited about telling stories. When I first came to the mission field, I felt I had to pass along all my seminary training in order to be effective. I would pull my books out and try to explain big theological terms in simple language that could be understood; and frankly, it did not work. I ran into deep frustration, both on my part and on the part of the people I was trying to teach! It was later, during a home service in the U.S., that I was first introduced to the idea of sharing the Gospel the way Jesus did 2000 years ago- through stories.

Upon returning to the field, I tried putting what I had learned into practice. I was amazed at the immediate difference I saw in impact , compared to my previous methods of teaching systematic theology to a class of one! I found stories to be much easier to remember and pass along to others. In a country with low literacy rates, high security, and an occasional frisking of the local population by police or soldiers- storytelling was proving to be a great way to pass along the Gospel, without worrying about someone getting caught with a Bible.

A Lasting Legacy

Our routine, each time my friend and I met, was to drink tea and then talk about how his storytelling went since the previous meeting. Then, we would pray for the people with whom he had shared. Next, we would start learning a new story. I would tell it, and he would repeat it back to me. He was always much better and quicker than me at learning new stories! As he began sharing these Bible stories, his wife and children were led to the Lord. After much prayer, he also began sharing them with his brother and another close friend. His friend liked the stories, but was scared to accept their teachings. However, his brother was soon compelled to follow Jesus and also began sharing the stories with others. Soon, both brothers were leading their own story groups each week.

Because he had been sharing so openly, my friend's younger brother was eventually forced leave the country. However, my friend remains there to this day- faithfully sharing Bible stories with family, friends, and customers. When civil unrest required our family to leave that part of the country, it was God’s Word- forever imprinted in the form of these stories in our friends’ memories, that carried them through some very dark days, months, and even years ahead. My experience in all those first meetings over tea with my friend has taught me that God’s Word, shared through stories, has the power to infiltrate and endure in even the toughest and most closed places- leaving a legacy that will endure long after we are gone.

Read About Opportunities in Muslim Ministry

Fruitful Practices #6- The Art of Storytelling

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fruitful Practices #6- The Art of Storytelling

This is Part 6 of the “Fruitful Practices” series. If you have missed former articles, we encourage you to follow the links at the bottom of the page to check them out! The methods highlighted in this series are, by no means, the only way to do ministry among Muslims, but have been found by Kingdom workers to be effective strategies in many Muslim contexts.

The Storyteller’s Bazaar

Everyone loves a good story! Years ago, in Peshawar, Pakistan– a major city on one of the ancient crossroads of Asia– I heard about and visited a market called the “Storyteller’s Bazaar.” I asked the local shopkeepers about this unique name. “Tradition has it,” they told me, “that before there were movies, videos, TV, radio, and even books, travelers would make their way to this market and tell tales of things that were happening in other countries and cities that they had recently visited. In addition, the accounts of local storytellers acted as a sort of collective memory for the community. These local storytellers continuously incorporated new stories into their collections, and repeated them to others as often as possible.

A History of Stories

The love of stories extends far beyond Central Asia. In the middle ages, traveling bards entranced audiences with songs and tales, some true and some fictional. In Europe, legends of King Arthur captivated the crowds; in the Middle East, stories about Arabian Nights spread like fire; and in North America, tall tale stories of Johnny Appleseed or Paul Bunyan and his blue ox entertained the common folk. What we can learn from these famous tales is that if stories are captivating and well told, then they will hold the attention of listeners, possibly for generations. If captivating fictional tales can spread so quickly and so wide with their influence, how might God use the telling of true stories from His Word among the unreached?

The Impact and Benefit of Stories

When seeking to engage the unreached with the Gospel, it is good for us to remember that the Bible was given to us largely in narrative format . There are several key benefits to sharing the Gospel through stories:

Most people remember a story much longer and more easily than facts, lectures, or teachings . Though I cannot remember a word from many college-level lectures and classes, I can still remember specific lessons that I learned about Jesus through stories told in Sunday School as a child.

Storytelling, or oral communication, is the common learning preference in most Muslim cultures. Fruitful Practices researchers state: “The reason storytelling is so powerful, is that it intersects with the learning pattern of most people in the Muslim world. Orality is a basic learning preference of many non-western peoples. This does not mean they are illiterate; it means they prefer to acquire important lessons about life in oral, not literary patterns. In many cultures, literary patterns of thought are associated with technical knowledge, but moral or religious thought is associated with oral patterns.”

Storytelling is a natural and non-confrontational way to impart truth in the context of daily life. Field studies have shown that Kingdom workers among Muslims- who employ a heavy use of stories, poetry, and proverbs throughout their daily interactions- demonstrate fruitful effectiveness in their work, build trust, and gain listening ears. Though it is easy to disagree and argue with doctrinal teachings or lectures, it is hard to debate a story. Arguing Christian doctrines can lead to division and defensive walls. On the other hand, stories create conversation and dialogue, and begin building bridges of trust.

Jesus used stories. Many Kingdom workers systematically and chronologically tell the stories of the Bible, leading up to the story of Jesus. Many also follow Jesus’ example by using Bible stories in the context of real-life situations to illustrate specific spiritual lessons or truths. Jesus used stories to answer questions; he used stories to elicit questions. He used stories to challenge his critics; he used stories to disciple his followers. Some of Jesus’ stories made his listeners think outside the box. Some were to remind them of God’s faithfulness throughout history. Jesus used stories to break down barriers among the lost and to encourage growth in those who already knew and followed Him. Jesus instructed his followers to use their own stories of God’s faithfulness to reach others (Luke 8:39). Sharing God’s story, along with our own life stories, is a powerful and effective way to spread the Good News.

Therefore, let us together “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all people.” Psalm 96:3

Read Fruitful Practices Issue #5- Building a Good Reputation

Listen to a podcast by expert David Garrison about how God is moving in the Muslim world today!

“It is God’s story, I’m just living it!”

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

“It is God’s story, I’m just living it!”

Written by Merla Gogel, SEND Canada Mobilizer

Tiffany has been on a 10-year journey, and one thing she has learned looking back on this time, is that an open heart to God puts a person on an unbelievable path.

Tiffany grew up attending church because it was the family thing to do, but she never became serious about her faith until she began studying at Capernwray Bible School in Australia. During this time, it "clicked" for Tiffany what it meant to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

One evening, as a lady was praying with Tiffany, she heard a voice saying, “Go into all the world”. Tiffany wasn’t sure what this could mean for her. That evening she wrote in her journal that she would begin praying to discern exactly what God was saying to her.

Back into the Regular Routine

Tiffany finished her studies at Capernwray then returned home to Alberta. After a few years, she fell back into her routine of going to church and not being intentional about growing her faith. She also began to doubt God, and her interest in attending church waned. However, one Sunday her pastor preached on doubt; the Holy Spirit convicted her and helped her to see again that God is real!

Once more Tiffany began to think and pray about going into all the world. However, she imagined that she would be married and in a supportive role to her husband. One day, Tiffany was listening to a Podcast and the subject was God’s provision. The Holy Spirit impressed on her heart that God would provide her needs according to His will and not according to her wishes.

Since Tiffany was familiar with SEND, she went on their website and saw an accounting opportunity at Okutama Bible Chalet in Japan. Could God be leading her to use her education and work experience in this way? God kept reminding her of this ministry which led Tiffany to fill out SEND’s on-line questionnaire and then begin the application process.

One Step at a Time

Tiffany was initially terrified and was not thrilled about going overseas single, however her deeper desire was to be obedient to God. As the application process progressed, Tiffany became more convinced of her calling. She learned to focus on the next step and not worry about what’s down the road.

After Tiffany was accepted, she was asked by SEND to participate in a vision trip. She thought it would be impossible to get time off from work because of an audit that was going to be conducted while she would be away. She talked with her boss and he went from initially saying “no” to eventually giving his approval. Tiffany experienced God working on her behalf!

During this trip, Tiffany had many questions which she chronicled in her journal. Later, when she re-read these entries, she noticed that after writing her concerns she also wrote “but”, and saw how God had responded to each issue.

While in Japan, Tiffany saw God’s love for the Japanese people and she is developing a heart for them as well. She also observed how family-oriented the SEND Japan missionaries are and experienced their kindness. She is grateful to God for leading her to SEND.

God Provides Again!

One other need that Tiffany had was for a financial coach since raising support was not her forte. After sharing about her future ministry in Japan at her church, a lady contacted Tiffany and offered to coach her even though she was not aware of Tiffany’s hope for this! Again, Tiffany experienced God going before her!

God promised that he would provide. Tiffany believed that this would begin after her arrival in Japan, however she has experienced God providing in amazing ways and going before her right from the beginning. She is filled with gratitude to God!

Tiffany’s advice to young people is to have an open heart and be willing to follow God. She admits that this is not always easy, however she has experience firsthand that God’s provision outweighs our needs and concerns.

Tiffany is being a willing servant but she sees this as the only appropriate response to God’s call on her life!

Is there anything that God is calling you to do but you are fearful about? What is the next step(s) that you would have to take to obey him in that?

Here are some titles of inspiring missionary biographies to challenge your faith.

Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret

Through Gates of Splendor

Watch Video: "So You're Thinking of Serving in Missions?"

Listen to a Podcast Episode "How Can I Know God's Will for Me?"

Discover Opportunities to Serve in Missions

Fruitful Practices #7 and #8 - Intentional Reproduction and Courageous Witness

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fruitful Practices #7 and #8 - Intentional Reproduction and Courageous Witness

In the past two years, we have been looking at “Fruitful Practices” in ministry to Muslims. These approaches have been gathered by people researching successful church planting among Muslims over many years. It was an interagency collaboration, not the work of any one individual or organization. The goal was to find things that were working well and then share those ideas or themes widely with other agencies and individuals working with Muslims. We hope they have been a blessing to you.

The last two Fruitful Practices are Intentional Reproduction and Courageous Witness. You can find links to the first six Fruitful Practices at the end of this article.

Intentional Reproduction

It is wonderful when someone you are sharing with comes to Christ, especially someone from the Muslim world. And while we treasure these new believers and want to work with them to help them become as strong in the faith as possible, we need to be careful not to shelter and coddle them as they grow. When you work in a dangerous location or with a difficult people group like Muslims, there is a temptation to be overly cautious — not only with yourself, but with new believers, too.

In whatever setting we feel called to use to reach Muslims — community development, emergency relief, education, medical work, etc. — it is important that we find ways to intentionally share Christ. In some settings we will have more freedom than others, but in all settings we must find ways to be intentional in living out and sharing our faith. This calls for sensitivity and understanding, but it is not enough to just live a good life among Muslims. We need to share the Good News verbally as well. This is true for cross-cultural Christian workers and for those who come to faith in that setting.

When we went out to the mission field and finally began working with Muslims who came to faith, knowing the Muslim world to be a dangerous place for new Christians, we felt we had to prepare them to be the best Christians possible before they shared with others and the heat got turned up on them. We didn’t just share Bible verses with them, we tried to share deep theological concepts, centuries of detailed church history, and on and on.

What we didn’t emphasize enough in our early years was the fact that new believers (and old) needed to share the faith that they had, right from the beginning. No, they were not to share frivolously or carelessly, but they were to share what they did know, to take the amazing Good News and pass it on.

Telling others what God had done in your life has power, and that is something people cannot deny. The demoniac’s healing, recorded in Luke 9:26-39, is a clear illustration of this fact. The freed man wanted to join Jesus and the disciples, who were getting ready to set sail and move on. In fact he begged Jesus to allow him to leave and travel with him. But Jesus said, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you. So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.”

This is intentional reproduction. Not just keeping the Good News to yourself, but telling others, so that they too might be saved, is very important. It is the very lifeblood of the church and is what keeps her healthy and vibrant, as it keeps the focus on Jesus and his amazing power to heal and save. This is what it means to be a follower of Jesus, having your life transformed and then telling others how they can have their lives transformed as well.

I really like what a Christian worker from another Muslim field said, “We want to put it into (a new believer’s) DNA … that to know Jesus, is to speak of Jesus.” We need Muslims, when they finally come to Christ, to speak of him immediately, not years later when they are well grounded, not years later when they have a seminary degree. We want those who come to Christ to respond the way the Apostles did in Acts 4:20, “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." We need to encourage all new believers to memorize this phrase: “To know Jesus, is to speak of Jesus” — that, my friends, is Intentional Reproduction.

Courageous Witness

Courageous Witness goes hand-in-hand with Intentional Reproduction. Do you think it was easy for the former demoniac to return to a town that he had terrorized for years? Hadn’t the people of that town tried to restrain him hand and foot with chains, only to have him break those chains and flee into the tombs and solitary places? And Jesus was telling him to return to that place and to tell those people about all that God had done for him? Yes, indeed, that was Courageous Witness!

This same Jesus calls you and me and new believers in the Muslim world to trust him and to go to these difficult places and to tell all that God has done for us. This means we cannot go on our own strength, but only in his strength and by his power, claiming his promise that he will never leave us or forsake us, and remembering that he will be with us to the ends of the earth.

Too often, well-meaning Christian workers actually create fear in the hearts of new believers. This has happened on many fields. Do we need to be cautious when we work in Muslim countries? Of course we do, but there is a difference between being cautious and being fearful — and I think we sometimes cross from caution to fear without knowing it, and also teach the same thing to those we are trying to reach.

May God give us strength and grace to trust him for who he is, the Lord of heaven and earth. To trust that he is big enough to handle all that life can throw at us and our friends, even in a Muslim land. We have excellent models for this kind of trust:

SEND Hope and Light is seeking that same courageous witness and spirit that we have seen in days gone by, people whose hearts burn and yearn to see unreached Muslims reached for Christ. All the easy places have been reached for Christ; what remain are those places that are not only hard to reach, but also hard to remain in as a witness for Christ.

That is not to say that all will be safe. We have known a number of friends and local believers who have been faithful even unto death at the hands of those following Islam. This does not mean that they should not have been there. God never promised to keep us safe; he promised to keep us in his hand. In the West, we have simply chosen to understand that to mean that if God keeps us in his hands then we will be safe.

Most Muslims have all kind of religious vocabulary in their conversations, especially in their greetings and goodbyes. Find ways to bring Jesus (and prayer and comments about God) into your daily conversations. Of course, this doesn’t mean every conversation, but sometimes in the States, we seem to avoid bringing Jesus into our conversations, and we can be overly conscious about speaking of religious things and using religious words so that someone doesn’t take offense or to avoid violating our workplace restrictions on tolerance. For example, when we avoid praying visibly for our food at mealtime, we miss a great opportunity to let others see us say thank you to God.

For most Muslims, coming to faith is a journey. I cannot emphasize this enough. Many North Americans can point to the day and time they came to Christ; it is not that way for most Muslims. For the most part, Muslims who come to faith in Christ do so over a period of time. It is a journey, not a single, one-time event. Let us be patient and gracious, as our heavenly Father is gracious. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some of you understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9

Fruitful Practices #1 — Prayer

Fruitful Practices #2 — Language Fluency

Fruitful Practices #3 — Varied Use of Scripture

Fruitful Practices #4 — Social Networking

Fruitful Practices #5 — Build a Good Reputation

Fruitful Practices #6 — The Art of Storytelling

What a Journey it has Been!

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What a Journey it has Been!

From Josie who is on a one-year mission in Macedonia.

Since being accepted to serve in Macedonia for 11 months, I've been blown away by how God has provided for me and prepared me, and how caring people have been!

Soon after being accepted I learned how much support I would have to raise. The total seemed daunting to me, yet God stirred the hearts of people and within two weeks , half of my support was in! It was so humbling to see God Almighty being mindful of me and providing for my needs!

Involve Church Leaders

Not only have people in my church encouraged me, but the Elders have affirmed my calling. The personal care that they have provided has been an unbelievable blessing in my life! Just a side note for anyone considering a ministry opportunity: I would strongly encourage you to connect with the spiritual leaders of your church. Involve them early in the process and seek their wisdom – you will be blessed by them!

While I experienced lots of encouragement and support, I also experienced times of loneliness and a roller-coaster of emotions. I am excited to be serving God cross-culturally, yet I am sad to leave my wonderful family and friends and my loving church. I found that other things trigg er ed me emotionally too – like seeing my friends begin dating while I prepared to go overseas.

Fluctuating Feelings

However, d uring these months of preparation and change, I praise God for the way He protected my heart from letting fluctuating feelings get in the way of what He was calling me to do. I also see that as I prayerfully w orked through those emotions, God met me and used these experiences to grow my faith.

I ’m thankful too for the honest conversations with my parents and a close friend that help keep me focused. The same goes for the mission coaches who have walked with me through this whole process. They have used their expertise when I did not know what to do next. They have been a safe place to talk about heart issues and they really want to see me be successful and fruitful on the field. They are so encouraging!

Through this process of applying to serve and preparing to go, God has confirmed His calling on me to serve Him in Macedonia. I am firm about that! Also, through this whole journey I have experienced the goodness of God and care of His people! I am overwhelmed by G od ’s faithfulness !

I want to encourage anyone reading this – be willing to step out in faith! Do what God is calling you to do and experience first-hand how God and others will journey with you.

Choosing an internship or missions opportunity can be overwhelming! We'd love to help you find an opportunity that matches your gifts and passions. Our experienced mission coaches are ready to connect with you!

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What Happens When You Follow God’s Ideas!

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What Happens When You Follow God’s Ideas!

From Lee*, a SEND mission worker in Asia.

There are good ideas , then there are God’s ideas !

When I was younger, my idea was to become a teacher and I fully expected to teach in America. However, through my girlfriend Karen*, I learned about international schools for missionary children! The more I understood this opportunity , the more I became convinced that God was leading me to teach abroad. Eventually, Karen and I got married, and we began preparing for teaching overseas. Since teaching in a foreign country was God’s idea , He was faithful to take care of the details: He led us to an organization and even provided for us financially. God’s idea sure looked different than my idea of teaching in America!

A New Opportunity

After several fulfilling years at the missionary children school, my heart became restless and I wondered what God might be doing. When I heard about an opportunity to develop training material for English teachers, the Holy Spirit immediately impressed that ministry on my heart! Karen and I began to pray for direction, and within 10 days God answered 7 of our 8 concerns. God had made His idea clear!

We worked diligently to develop quality training and saw it meeting the teachers’ needs. Eventually, though unexpectedly, God opened doors for me to take the training to another country in Asia. During my second trip to that country, Karen came for a visit. After experiencing the culture, she just happened to express a willingness to move if God would lead us there. This is when I shared with her that moving is exactly what He was revealing to me! We prayed and again, God’s idea became abundantly clear.

God Knows What Ideas Are Best

Karen had been extremely supportive of the teacher training ministry, but she wasn’t interested in taking the training herself. However, God brought Karen to the place where she realized that taking the training was His idea for her too. In obedience to God’s leading, Karen completed the training. She adapted it to make it her own and now enjoys this aspect of her ministry. God has given Karen a passion for training the teachers, and she does a fantastic job! God always knows what ideas are best for us!

Are You Open to God’s Ideas?

Karen and I have learned that as we are open to God’s ideas, He provides and is faithful. That does not mean it has always been easy. However, as we have followed God’s ideas, He has used us in ways we would never have imagined!

It is great to have ideas of what you would like to do with your life. However, my experience leads me to ask : Are you willing to ask God for His idea for your life? And, are you willing to take the risk and put aside your ideas to follow God’s? If s o, I believe that God will use you in a great way!

*Names have been changed for security reasons.

You've felt God's call to missions, but getting started can be overwhelming. We'd love to help you discern where God may be leading you and help you take the next step. Our coaches are ready to connect with you!

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Spiritual Hooks

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Spiritual Hooks

How easy is it for you to share your faith with your friends and neighbors? Are you on fire and share with ease or perhaps you don’t even know where to start? For many of us, the struggle is to start a conversation that doesn’t offend. This is especially true if you are in our situation, having friends from a different culture, and you don’t want to be misunderstood. Have you considered using ‘spiritual hooks’?

Spiritual hooks are a great way to circumnavigate this challenge. It is NEVER too early to plant them into conversations. What are they you ask? They are simple statements that point to your relationship with Jesus or spiritual realities. They ask nothing of the listener, but they create an opportunity for a response if they are interested. They give you an opportunity to see where God is working naturally.

For us in SEND North, this way of sharing our faith is especially helpful for those who are new to the North and don’t know the culture. We know that over time, with an increased understanding of the culture and people, God will guide us to be more overt in what we share. For you, being more overt may come as you build deeper relationships with your friends and neighbors. The truth is, from day one, we all can overcome any fear of evangelism by weaving “spiritual hooks” into our conversations. Here are a few examples that we might use in our remote communities:

These are just a few simple examples, but I am sure you have many more that you can come up with for your situation. If you find this helpful, take a moment this week and write out a few that you can share in your everyday conversations. Watch what God does as you faithfully go out as a "fisher of men".

A Sense of Hopelessness

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Sense of Hopelessness

May lived with a sense of hopelessness. Her home had been flooded by a tsunami, her health was a constant challenge, and she struggled with depression. On top of this, she did not enjoy a loving relationship with her husband.

Enter Dave and Eileen, SEND mission workers who moved to Sendai, Japan, to minister to the victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. One summer day May spotted Eileen in her community and quickly got out of her vehicle to speak her. May was excited to see an American lady living in her own neighborhood!

No Spiritual Responsiveness

After that initial meeting, May and her son began visiting Eileen and Dave’s home, enjoying American food and playing table games. Eventually, Eileen invited May to some Bible times to learn about God. She even had opportunities to personally share the gospel with May , but there seemed to be no spiritual responsiveness.

However, God uses many different circumstances in a person’s spiritual journey to draw people to Himself. During a trip to Taiwan last year, May struggled again with her health. Eileen had often prayed with May regarding her medical challenges, so May decided to pray. God wonderfully answered by giving her strength and May realized that God had heard her prayer! This was one experience among many that strengthened May’s desire to know God.

Impacted by a Believer’s Testimony

Late last year, Eileen and Dave started to see a difference in May. There seemed to be spiritual life and a responsiveness which they had not seen before. Then, just a few months ago, May met some Taiwanese Christians who were staying with Eileen and Dave. One of the believers shared his struggle with depression and how God had helped him. May was so touched by his testimony, she later texted Eileen acknowledging that she wanted to confess her sins and believe in Christ.

Eileen and Dave led May in prayer to express her faith in Jesus . Th ey are thankful for May’s clear assurance of her salvation! Although May’s health condition has not greatly improved, she recognizes that God is with her and is helping her!

That is just one of several notable differences in May’s changed life. She now responds kindly to her husband instead of fighting which May acknowledges she was not able to do before. And recently , May shared with Eileen that she feels compelled be to pray for others and tell them about Jesus!

It is inspiring to see how God drew May to Himself and used Eileen and Dave, living out their faith and sharing His Word with her.

View the Japan Ministry Guide

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Read Another Story from Japan

Listen to a Podcast Episode "Land of the Rising Run - Engaging the Japanese People"

Merry Christmas from SEND Canada!

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Merry Christmas from SEND Canada!

Canadian Director highlights 3 ways he has seen God at work through SEND Canada in 2017.

Make a Donation

Listen to the Global Missions Podcast

Learn About the GoJournal

God healed her heart, and people are noticing

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

God healed her heart, and people are noticing

By a diaspora outreach worker — Saturday around 2 p.m., I got a serious call from the doctor treating Baby S, who was born 16 weeks early to a refugee family near Atlanta. "I know the parents were here this morning, but can you get them back here quickly? She's not doing well." I asked him bluntly if he was expecting her to go. He said, "Right now, that's a very real possibility. Please get them to hurry."

I called someone closer to take them immediately, and then I battled traffic to get there as fast as I could. When I arrived, scrubbed in, and got to the NICU, baby’s mom ran into my arms sobbing. I looked over at Baby S and was shocked! I had just seen her the day before and she was fine. Now she was sickly yellow grey, and as time went on she became more and more grey. Her kidneys had shut down. She had only peed a slight amount on Friday night, and nothing since.

The doctor got an interpreter on the phone and sadly told the parents that with the kidneys failing, the heart wall was thickening, and there was little they could do.

We called for prayer. We cried. We prayed. We sent out a request for anyone available in the local area to come to the hospital to pray. Honestly, my faith was so small that I really just wanted a few extra sets of arms available to hold us when she died.

I asked the NICU nurses if the group coming could meet in a side room so we would not worry other parents arriving for visits — but instead they allowed the prayer team to come in and surround Baby S in her incubator.

Baby S lay grey and grimacing and twitching. The team began to pray. We did not pray in turns or even always audibly. We prayed in English, German, and sometimes just quiet, desperate cries of "please Jesus." After an hour, the team filed out so that the nurse could do her job.

The nurse opened the bed, and began to care for Baby S. As she opened the diaper, I heard a quiet, "She peed!" The nurse helping her repeated it, and they checked again. "Yes, she really peed!" Word spread around the nurses’ station, and shoulders slumped slightly, relaxing tension. She peed!

Her color began to change, slowly, slowly, less grey, until finally she was pink again. The parents watched. I watched. The nurses watched. She relaxed. No more grimacing. She wiggled more – she’s always been a feisty baby!

At 6:30 p.m., they asked us to leave for change of shift. I went to visit two other babies born that day. When I was done, shift change was over, so I went back to the NICU to see Baby S. She was resting peacefully, and the nurse said, "She peed again, a significant amount!"

At 1:30 a.m., I phoned in again. "She peed again. She's looking good. Her blood pressure is stable. Get some sleep."

Before church, I phoned in again. "She peed all through the night. We repeated her blood gasses and she's not in metabolic acidosis anymore."

God is good.

I texted baby’s mom the news, and she said "Thank you for prayers." That thank you is for all of you. A few representatives stood around her bed, but there was an army before God pleading for this tiny baby's life.

To me, it is so much more than the life of a child, as dear as she is to us. It is the name of our God. The community is talking about how God healed her heart. I told God that afternoon, "Do not let your name come to dishonor. You have set your name on her, and these unreached people are watching."

Keep praying. Baby S is fragile. God is showing his might, but also his tender loving care. And pray for us. The NICU is both an emotional rollercoaster and an endurance race all in one. Throw in a few near misses and miracles, and it's a lot to go through. But we are resting in God and our eyes are on him.

Discovering a New Home

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Discovering a New Home

Written by Amy Magwood.

“God, I do not want to be a missionary in Spain; close this door.”

Kaitlyn was a student in Cross Training at Rocky Mountain College studying Intercultural Studies. In this program, she was required to fulfill a six-month overseas internship. While discerning God’s direction in where to go, she asked her professors to pray for her. Shortly after, they called her into a meeting.

“We think God is calling you to be a long-term missionary in Spain,” they said in agreement. Kaitlyn looked at them and laughed. “I will never go to Spain,” she replied, “not even on vacation.”

A Growing Interest in Africa

Kaitlyn didn’t have any specific objections to Spain, but certainly didn’t feel called there. She quickly forgot about the conversation and headed to Malawi, Africa, for her internship. After coming home, she continued her studies with a growing interest for ministry in Africa.

One of her assignments while in school was to analyze mission organizations and choose one that would be the best to serve with. After some research, SEND became her top choice. However, since SEND did not have workers in Africa, she decided she would never serve with SEND.

A Surprising Conversation

Fast forward to the winter following graduation, and Kaitlyn found herself at Missions Fest Vancouver .  Pamphlets and flyers covered every table in the conference room, while mission representatives engaged in conversation with eager young adults seeking work on the mission field. As she looked around, she saw the booth for SEND and immediately walked over.  

“You guys are awesome,” she said. “I love your organization but will never serve with you because I am heading to Africa. How can I pray for you?” The man at the booth turned, and swiftly replied,

“Have you ever thought about being a missionary in Spain?” Kaitlyn stopped. Her mind suddenly flashed back to that moment in her professor’s office, “ We think God is calling you to be a long-term missionary in Spain .” Dumbfounded, she walked away from the booth and went back to her room.

Doors Open One After Another

That night, Kaitlyn could hardly sleep; she could not get that interaction out of her mind. The next day she went back to the SEND booth. She filled out a general application and did not tell them where God was prompting her. Handing in the papers she prayed, 

“God, I do not want to be a missionary in Spain; close this door .”

The doors did not close. At each step, she repeated that same prayer, but the doors opened one after the other.

By the time she reached the end of the application process, SEND came back with two potential countries in which to serve: Poland and Spain.

“You can take Poland out,” she said with confidence, having surrendered to where God was sending her. “God has been very clear that I am going to Spain.”

Kaitlyn left on her vision trip shortly after, and while in Spain she heard the confirming voice of God tell her,

“You’re going to go back to Canada, and then you’re going to come home.”

Although Kaitlyn never pictured herself in Spain or even serving with SEND, God had other plans. Two and a half years later, Kaitlyn would describe Spain as “very much home”. She is thriving in ministry , volunteering at the local church, and living with her sweet dog Nova. Although Kaitlyn began the journey towards Spain with her heart closed, God gently took her hand and brought her home. 

Please pray for Kaitlyn and other SEND missionaries in Spain who are in total home quarantine and are seeking to be the servants of Christ to their neighbours during the coronavirus outbreak. Read more here.

Survival not Sport

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Survival not Sport

On the first fall morning in Alaska, where the leaf tips are a bit frosty and yellow, the ripe blueberries are ready for picking, and your breath hangs in the air, there is a common, unspoken message sent to every Alaskan resident: hunting season is here. For many, this is an exciting time in anticipation of the hunt and an excuse to be outside, but it also means the impending winter is coming, and access to other food options will not be available until the following spring.

Hunting season spans late August through mid-October, with some openings in November through January and March or May, depending on the animal. Some animals that are commonly hunted during the fall season include black and brown bear, moose, caribou, and sheep. In the winter months, seals and whales are often hunted and trappers harvest fox, wolves, and beavers. Some summer openings allow for people to take whales, walrus, or seals as well.

Our members and locals alike rely on these animals for sustenance throughout the year, but especially in winter. The meat from one moose could feed a family of four for a year! In addition to the cost savings of meat from hunted animals, many use the hides for warmth and other body parts for sewing, baskets, hunting implements, and crafts, just as Alaskan and Canadian natives from years ago did.

Hunting is not just a means to an end for subsistence; it is a way of life passed down from generation to generation, especially in more remote areas. Using traditional and modern technology for the hunt, village members raise up their young adults on the importance of a clean hunt, utilizing all parts of the animal they are able to, and providing for their families. The wild, and the chase of hunting, teach many important life lessons including patience, fortitude, gratitude, and technical skill. It also facilitates an excellent opportunity for discipleship as hunters work together and spend time in the quiet of nature together. Removed from distractions, being on the hunt cultivates a natural time for discussion on the bigger elements of life and gives a time for honest conversation and growth and who God is and why He cares for us.

We recently spoke with a woman who had the opportunity to witness a traditional whale harvesting. She was fascinated and humbled by how the whale was brought in to shore, and the whole village partook in systematically processing the whale so each piece was used and each family had a portion. In Alaskan and Canadian native culture, it is especially important to share what is hunted with the widows and elders of the community. Timeless traditions such as this spark greater questions and conversations about how God cares and provides for His people, as well as how His security is greater than any obstacle we may face, be it a harsh climate, difficult circumstances, or otherwise.

It is easy to take for granted the rhythm of the natural world around us, but part of the beauty of living in rural Alaska and Canada is that you can become a part of that rhythm every day. In Genesis, God calls us to be stewards of the land, but He has given us the land for our use and dominion. In the Far North especially, this is a daily calling where His provision and safety are relied on heavily. It takes communities to support one another and be sure everyone has enough—a sacrificial mindset Jesus calls us to when He teaches us to share the bounty He has given. Still, hunting and gathering can be hard and grueling work, so join us in praying for the safety of our community members in the Far North as they enjoy God’s wild splendor and learn of relying on Him more during this hunting season.

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10

Changing by the Day - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Changing by the Day - Ukraine Crisis Story

From one of our church partners in Ukraine: "Everything is changing, not just each new day, but in the course of the day. No one knows what will happen and how it will be in just a few hours from now. Because this is war, and from it appear new tragedies and new needs. Our team is trying to respond to them and go there where people are waiting for help.

All the different avenues of our ministry have continued the same, but one new thing is that in the next two days we will be busy helping one of the smaller besieged cities, because there is a humanitarian catastrophe there.

Also tomorrow we plan to visit children's doctors and firemen, bring them a little gift, thank them for their service and share the Good News with them about God.

We are thankful to you for your ministry together with us."

Give now to help relief efforts

A Children's Event - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Children's Event - Ukraine Crisis Story

From a church partner in Ukraine:

"On International Children's Day (Day for Protection of Children), June 1st, our church held an event for children. Sadly, the war has taken away protection and security from our kids and living in Ukraine has become absolutely dangerous. However, we as a church want to make this event for kids so that they would feel, even in these terrible circumstances, that God is with them and loves every single one of them.

We had a Bible lesson for kids, then some sports and crafts. At the end we made cotton candies for the children and gave each of them a gift. While kids were busy with sports and crafts, the pastor spoke to adults about one of the Bible principles of raising kids.

One sister of our team who is responsible for refugees' registration and the registration for the children's event shared with us:

We want you to feel what we feel as well when we hear those words of gratitude and especially when we see the happy faces of the children and their smiles! Photos and videos cannot render it to the full extent, but we understand, that these children have been through horrible days and weeks under missiles and bombs, seeing destruction and hearing the sounds of planes, that were bombing them. And at the event they all could be just happy children again because it was their day."

Give now to help relief efforts

Making Room - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Making Room - Ukraine Crisis Story

Your gifts continue SENDing Help and Hope through local churches in Ukraine:

We are truly thankful for your assistance in working with internally displaced persons who were forced to flee their homes due to the Russian military aggression. We are also so very grateful to God for you and your work in God's field. The church has 2 rooms and a hall for refugee short-term or long-term shelter. We provide help in our area (villages) with migrants, namely: food packages for needy families (especially children under 3 and large families), people with disabilities (children), clothes, etc. We are also in the final stages of completing another room to receive people for the long term.

Give now to help relief efforts

Summer 2019 Newsletter

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Summer 2019 Newsletter

Here is SEND North's most recent newsletter. Read and rejoice with us for all that God is doing!

Warm Faith

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Warm Faith

January in Nulato, Alaska on the Yukon River and far away from other roads; a village of about 200 people...

We are in that season now where almost every conversation ends with some variation of "keep warm." Our record low so far this winter has been two days of -65F. We have had a solid week of -40 temps lately. Today a warm wind arrived and we are up to -8! Winter out here sometimes feels like a battle against the cold: keeping houses warm, keeping vehicles warm, keeping pipes from freezing. So when we say “keep warm” we are probably on our way to haul firewood, haul fuel, plug in a heater for a car, check on a wood stove, or another of the many tasks a cold winter requires. Yet, every time I hear the words come out of my mouth “keep warm,” I hear the echo of James 2 in my mind:

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. -James 2:14-17

I love that James reminds us to not say things that are not accompanied with action. Both our relationship with God and our relationship with others needs to be expressed in words and actions. This gets extremely practical for us in the village. We cannot wish someone to stay warm and then see someone walking in -40 weather and drive by in our warm vehicle. When our neighbors had to make an unexpected trip to Fairbanks, we offered to keep their wood stove going while they are gone; two or three times a day we were adding wood and checking that pipes didn’t freeze. Dog sitting, babysitting, house sitting, shoveling, rides, tire repairs, loaning gas, etc. All of these can be expressions of our faith in action.

We have to guard our hearts though. Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world and to let our light shine before men that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven (Matt. 5). Yet He also warns us not to do our good deeds in front of others to be seen by them (Matt. 6). The difference I see is the motivation of the heart.

In the midst of taking care of my neighbor’s house, someone texted me and said, "I see a love for people in you." A great compliment that I appreciate but I want to move that thought to the deeper Truth. My reply was, "Thank you. That love you see is a reflection of God's love for people." My hope is that in the midst of the physical helps, we are always pointing people to Christ. We are motivated by God’s love and help that He has shown to us and long for all people to know the depth of God’s love. Perhaps their first glimpse of God’s love is a reflection bouncing off of us. Then hopefully as we redirect their focus, they turn and see Jesus and experience the fullness of God’s love in their lives.

-Jon Casey

MDE (Marketplace Development Enterprise)

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

MDE (Marketplace Development Enterprise)

Marketplace and Development Enterprises (MDE) is SEND’s strategy to provide authentic access into unreached communities through business as mission, tentmaking and development ventures. Download the MDE brochure above, or l earn more at the MDE Home Page .

What’s Your Missions Strategy?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What’s Your Missions Strategy?

A comprehensive chart that describes seven approaches a church can take to global missions, plus suggests questions to help you evaluate whether your missions program meets your congregation's passions and priorities.

Catalyst Services, “Postings,” Oct. 2013

Expand Your Perspectives

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Expand Your Perspectives

By employing these 16 strategies, which include debriefing both during and after the course, churches can most effectively use the Perspectives missions education classes to grow their congregation's participation in missions.

Catalyst Services, “Postings,” Aug. 2011

Identifying Cross-Cultural Gifting

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Identifying Cross-Cultural Gifting

Seventeen characteristics to look for that can indicate a readiness for ongoing cross-cultural ministry.

Catalyst Services, “Postings,” July 2012: Who is God tapping for missions service?

Debt Reduction Plan

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Debt Reduction Plan

SEND requires all applicants to have a workable plan for paying off unsecured debt. We use a version of the Debt Reduction Plan worksheet to create that plan.

In Case of Emergency

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In Case of Emergency

I saw this picture on a friend’s Facebook wall yesterday. It comes up as his Facebook memory from 2013 when a devastating flood hit Galena Alaska. If you want a small indication of how bad it was, that is his blue Ford Bronco in the middle of the picture. All of this pulled up more memories of the amazing things God did through groups like SEND North to bring aid and restoration to the community of Galena. At the same time, another flood hit Ross River in Yukon, Canada. In cases of emergency, we all pull together really well.

One of the strengths of organizations like SEND North is that we have a strong network of churches, believers, and other agencies. When emergencies hit, we can be a valuable resource. All of this opens up incredible doors for God’s love to invade lives. In Galena, one our teammate’s rental home was damaged, and God provided another after the town recovered. This new rental home was so perfect for ministry use that we raised the funds to purchase it. It is now a ministry hub and not just a home. God can bring good out of any situation.

There is one other issue which comes to mind as I view the picture above; preparedness. It behooves us to be prepared ahead of time for the emergency.

Please consider pulling together with us to maintain a Recovery Fund so we can respond faster the next time disaster strikes. (Online giving portal coming soon.)

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The Real Treasure

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Real Treasure

The story of a Muslim man who chose to follow Jesus the Messiah.

Discover Ministry Opportunities.

Church Partnerships for Global Expansion

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Church Partnerships for Global Expansion

SEND, as a global platform for local churches, values the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding churches in mission. SEND seeks to partner with churches in engaging the world’s unreached with the gospel. In order for SEND and the local church to best determine if this is the right partnership for both SEND and the church, SEND has developed some basic guidelines and procedures. Find them in the booklet available for download above.

Church Planting from Scratch

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Church Planting from Scratch

Experience the joys and challenges of starting a church from scratch in one of the least-reached areas of Europe with this video from SEND International. Part of the "UnFinished: Reaching Europe" video series. Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

Lost for 45 Years

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Lost for 45 Years

On January 1, Guanfu Church in Taiwan celebrated its first baptism. The woman being baptized, Susan, gave a powerful testimony that day at her home in the mountains, with her husband, mother-in-law, and son there to witness the event.

Susan was baptized as a baby, but spent most of her life away from the church. She pursued her career and dabbled in folk religion for a while. But her mother was diligently praying for her.

Three years ago, Susan started to look for a church where she could be nourished. She met a missionary couple who had just arrived in Gongguan and started studying the Bible with them. But no suitable church was found until SEND missionaries Gary and Mabel Meade moved to the area.

Susan started coming irregularly to the Meade’s church in Gongguan. But when Guanfu Church was established closer to her, Susan finally found a new church to call her spiritual home. There she made a public profession of faith.

Susan’s husband is Hakka — a people group that is often steeped in tradition and folk religion. Her husband’s side of the family does not know Christ and would not come to the church to witness her baptism. So Susan, with her husband’s permission, invited the church to her home and had her baptism there.

The Meades had a great time with her family. Before the baptism, Susan told everyone how she was lost for 45 years, but God, in his amazing way, found her. She also made a point to reconcile with those she had offended. Then she thanked her family, especially her mother-in-law, husband, and son for supporting her. What courage!

We praise God for his wonderful grace in Susan’s life.

Exploring the missions call

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Exploring the missions call

Calling? Finances? Which agency?

The path into missions is littered with questions.

Let's first explore the missionary call. The Bible teaches that every believer’s life-purpose is to obey and glorify God. Cross-cultural ministry is closely tied to this purpose. “Mission exists because worship doesn’t,” says John Piper in Let the Nations Be Glad . The Great Commission says in Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations …” Although it doesn’t say “This is God’s will for YOU,” it is a general command to all believers to have some involvement in reaching the world through praying, giving or going.

Which part should you play? Knowing if God is calling you cross-culturally is both objective and subjective. Objective questions to ask yourself:

Subjective questions to ask yourself:

God speaks in many ways. Instead of waiting for a dramatic call, commit yourself to seek God’s leading and guidance and trust him to lead! God doesn’t give maps, but he does give you a compass. You may feel stepping out in faith is too risky, so ask mature believers and spiritual mentors for their guidance. God’s Word and the church will help you make decisions.

If you are ready to move ahead and take the next step, it is time to talk with several people: your pastor, a mission representative, missionaries you know, and other mature Christians. Want to know more? Connect with a mobilizer in your area. We’d love to hear from you!

'Because I don't know a better way'

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

'Because I don't know a better way'

By Troy Roberts in Thailand

The young daughter of a friend sent me this message tonight:

“Dear mr Troy, I want to ask you a question ok you ready to start where do you work and what do you do as a missionary what dose it mean to be a missionary why did you want to be a missionary ps please wright bake today”

Her questions led to my best devotional time with the Lord in quite a while. My response:

My wife, Cora, and I are missionaries with SEND International, but I work as a volunteer teacher at Chiang Rai International Christian School in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Our school helps families that share Jesus with groups of people who have never heard about him. There has been no one to tell them until now. Our school also teaches students from families that don’t know about or don’t understand Jesus. We teach them to read, write, do math, play sports, and to understand the importance of Jesus and what he did for us by dying on the cross and coming back from the dead.

“What does it mean to be a missionary?” Wow. I guess it means that I have a mission. It means that someone follows the example of Jesus who left heaven to bring his hope to a world that was dying without him. That’s my mission too. I want to take the hope of Jesus to every person who I can before my short life is over. I will go to meet God forgiven and glad when I die, but billions of beautiful people today, will not. They will be judged, found guilty, and go to Hell forever. They will suffer away from the God who made them. I don’t want that for them, and God deserves their joyful, happy worship for saving us.

Sometimes being a missionary means moving to a new place. Sometimes it means making new friends. Sometimes it means bringing a neighbor food. Sometimes being a missionary means shoveling an elderly person’s driveway. Sometimes being a missionary means praying for someone every day. Sometimes it means reading your Bible and memorizing really “good” parts.

But all of these, a missionary does because he or she wants to a chance to tell the person across the street, and across the oceans, that death is NOT the end. There is a God, and he made every person as his artwork to know him and enjoy him, to see how great he is and be amazed, completely blown away, that he is so powerful, but he still loves a tired teacher named Troy and a curious girl named ******.

Sadly though, we have rejected him, and the only way to come home to our God is to turn away from our old life and follow Jesus. “I am free because of Jesus and I want others to be free!” I think a missionary is someone who feels that way toward others.

“Why am I a missionary?” Because I don’t know a better way to tell Jesus, “Thank you.”

I really enjoyed writing this. I might have even needed to write this tonight. Thank you. Maybe you should message more missionaries. They probably all could use a reminder now and again. God bless you ***** to know him and enjoy him more than anything else in this world. I pray that you will become a “missionary” for Jesus wherever God leads you.

• • •

It’s refreshing to be reminded of the simplicity of why we Christians give it all away. There’s so much more to gain, for ourselves and everyone whom we are called to serve.

To read more from Troy and Cora Roberts, visit their blog.

On The Road Again

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

On The Road Again

You will recall that many of our communities are off the road system and connected only by boat or plane. So you might assume that the other communities which have a road would be like your town. Well…not so much. One of our teammates doing ministry in Canada has a unique take on this. May his words broaden your perspective and sharpen your prayers for our teams.

“Hi everyone

I want to tell you about the villages on the road system. I know not every village is as far away as mine, but still, it is NOT just a hop, skip, or a jump to get somewhere else.

Yes, it is true we can bring in truckloads of goods. While this is very convenient, it is still not a short ride.

Our next village on the road system is a 45-minute drive away. We have a river to the north of us and another to the south without a bridge to cross either one. In the summer we have access to this village with a ferry. If I miss this ferry, I have to wait up to 45 minutes to get on the next ferry. In winter it is easier since we have ice roads. However, we have one month a year, during the spring river break up, that we have no access to the road system.

The biggest town in our area is a 3 hour trip with the same problem of the ferry in the summer. When using the ferry, you need to closely watch the schedule otherwise one might spend the night in your car. This town has the closest church outside our community. Since their stores have more expensive products than in our village, there is no reason to go there for shopping. The next closest village to the north is a seven hour drive. Right now it is only accessible in the winter on the ice roads, but they are building a permanent road.

If you travel south, the next community is an 8-10 hour drive. All those roads are gravel, and you can easily find yourself stranded since the road can closed for days at a time. You also have to keep in mind that there is only one gas station on the way to this community. We have to time our travels just right to be at the gas station before it closes in the evening. Then you have other small things like no cell phone access anywhere outside the villages or winds that can blow an 18-Wheeler off the road. The big city of Whitehorse is a simple 13-hour drive if all goes well. I usually take two days to make this trip.

My big trip each year is going to Anchorage for our annual conference. I split the journey into four days of travel. I remember the time, on my trip back from a conference, that I got stuck on a closed road for an additional two days. That year it took ten days of travel to attend a 3-day conference, but it was well worth it. If I made this trip in the summer, there is a road that opens up and I can shorten the trip by one day each way. However, if I take this shortcut then I don’t go through Whitehourse which means not being able to stock up on groceries. It is a decision to save time or get groceries.

I don't want to it to sound like I am complaining about the travelling, because the trips are always exiting. Along the way, I see the beautiful country side, scenery I never got tired of. And there are chances to see wildlife, just like in an animal documentary.

So there you have it. Don’t let the knowledge that a village is on the road system lead you to the wrong perception. Not every village is right around the corner from a big town.”

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Far North Opportunities

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Far North Opportunities

What do you get when you put an accountant, a pastor, and a pilot together? An opportunity! At SEND North, we thrive off combinations like these to fulfill our short and long term goals in the villages. One of our best resources is people like you: interested and with giftings and talents we need! Through our primary organization and affiliates, there are plenty of opportunities to serve here in the Far North.

On our website, we have a Help Out page that guides you to a potential area for service. Further, on our opportunities page, the positions we need to be filled are listed, along with their descriptions, time commitments, and required qualifications. Short term opportunities include camp staff, internships, and most recently available, Guest House hosts. Long term opportunities include the Chief Financial Officer position, Chief Pilot position, nurses, teachers, and much more. To see all our opportunities available, visit our Opportunities page .

So why go?

In Matthew 14, when Jesus walked on water, Peter could have stayed in the boat. However, by stepping out of the safety and assurance of the boat and onto the sea, Peter became so much closer to the Lord, as Jesus pulled him up above the waves. For Peter, this would only be a symbol of his coming ministry, and so it is with our work. Peter experienced God in a completely new way because he was entirely dependent on Jesus alone for survival. This is what it is like to join a faith based Christian ministry. Initially, many people feel that raising their financial support to do ministry feels as outrageous as stepping out of a perfectly good boat to walk on water. This is only the beginning of trusting Jesus more deeply. When being immersed among the unreached, our faith and reliance in God are reformed and strengthened in a way only possible through adversity.

The people of the Far North are truly a phenomenal people. Driven by survival, heritage, and family, our villages offer rich lessons and relationships, as well as beauty and simplicity. However, with these gifts also comes a harsh environment, darkness, and little interaction with the Truth of God. They are hungry for the Word, and God is pursuant of their hearts.

We appreciate every donation and every prayer for our organization, but we want to encourage you to go even further: go. Use your gifts and talents to serve the Lord among the unreached in the Far North: a place of extreme conditions, loved by an extreme God.

Naming the Starr Center

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Naming the Starr Center

Eileen Starr was born in Flint, MI in 1944. At just 13 years of age, she felt God calling her to be a missionary. She graduated from Taylor University in Indiana, with a B.A. in zoology and medical technology, with the goal of going to the mission field. As she desired more Bible training, she next attended Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, KY, where she earned a master's degree in Religious Education.

Following seminary, Eileen was planning to go to Africa. Instead, she joined SEND International and traveled to Alaska, on what was to be a "temporary assignment." She ended up staying for the remaining 47 years of her life.

Eileen worked as a medical technologist at Faith Hospital as well as a Professor of Christian Education at Alaska Bible College, both in Glennallen, AK. She was "adopted" into a local Ahtna native family, and they became extremely important to her. In 1981, Eileen founded Alaska Christian Ministries, which conducted resourcing events for Sunday school teachers and pastors across the cities of Alaska.

In 1989, she earned a Ph.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. A few years later she began annual, month-long trips to Far East Russia, conducting teacher-training seminars. In the final years of her life, she coordinated parenting seminars in the community and in the local prisons of Anchorage. She passed away suddenly from pancreatic cancer on September 20, 2018.

The Starr Center is named for Eileen - for her love for Jesus, her passion to connect Christian leaders together across denominational lines, and her dedication to marginalized and least-reached people of the North.

Gifts given to the Acts 1:8 Campaign ( send.org/give/projects/acts1-8 ) will be split evenly between this project and the funds to purchase an aircraft ( which currently has a matching grant )

Tense Situation - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Tense Situation - Ukraine Crisis Story

We praise God for allowing His church in Ukraine to be a place of refuge. Here is an update from a church partner in Ukraine:

Our situation is tense. The air raid sirens are constantly going off. We can hear explosions. The air defense system is working. Today a rocket hit a nearby town. Otherwise, everything is OK. We help people with food and many spend the night in the church. Yesterday 30 people spend the night in the church basement. Every night we have at least 10.

We organized for three busses and brought people out of a conflict zone. They are being bombed, shelled and shot. We also took some humanitarian supplies there. Right now, we are running a food bank. We are filling the stress.

We take refugees to the train station or the border. In a word, we are trying to be Christians during war. Praise God for everything!

Give now to help relief efforts

A Church In Macedonia Looks Outward

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Church In Macedonia Looks Outward

Learn from Sherri Ens, one of our SEND workers, about how a small church plant in Macedonia is asking how they can plant more churches. They recently sent a short-term missions team to neighbouring Albania. They came away with a new understanding of their skills and leadership abilities. Watch this video to learn more about an outward-looking church in Macedonia.

Learn More About SEND's Ministry in Macedonia

Discover Ministry Opportunities in Macedonia

Thank You World Magazine

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Thank You World Magazine

Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, and The Bush People are a part of the steady diet the media seems to be feeding the general public. We who live, love, and do ministry in Alaska know that these well-edited shows don't even scratch the surface, and many times give a distorted picture of living in Alaska.

But then came World Magazine. In August, one of our team hosted Sophia Lee as she was working on a few stories for WORLD Magazine.

The second feature of the two-part series published just a few days ago.

What a breath of fresh air. We've provided the links below so you can read both articles, comment and share. Good journalism needs to be rewarded.

The first article, Way Up North , was published on October 1st and takes a hard and honest look at the history that sheds light on Native Alaskan's current struggles. By telling the stories of four Christian Native Leaders, Sophia helps us feel the pain of their past, the joy found in Christ and the good that God is bringing forth in their lives. A truly beautiful article.

The second article, Life in the Bush , focuses more on the beauty of the culture and lifestyles of those who live off the road system. The best line in the article reads, "Life in the bush has its own unique challenges, but the people are proud of their rich land and resources and subsistence lifestyle."

So read these articles and thank Sophia Lee for helping the world to see a more accurate picture of the place and people whom we love to serve. Way to go @SophiaLeeHyun !

Out of Hell and into Hope

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Out of Hell and into Hope

From one family in Ukraine:

"Our lives changed at 4:30 am on February 24th. We woke up from terrible sounds. I ran to the window and saw the explosions. Everything was on fire. An hour later, the road was full of cars. People were leaving. We started to panic about what to do next. We decided to move to a godmother in a private house. When the lights were turned off, the heating was gone, and it was winter outside. Everything exploded overhead, the aircraft factory was bombed, we were all sitting in the cellar.

"In the morning, Russian soldiers passed under the windows in a column and became uneasy. In the evening there was a "cleanse" of the area, it was hell. Shooting, explosions, school 134 was on fire, equipment was on fire. The next day we decided to return home, but we lived there for three days and air raids began, there was nothing worse. At night, we decided to leave by evacuation train. Having collected all our lives in one bag, we decided to go. In the morning, on the news, we saw what was happening at the station, there was a terrible panic. I remembered that a couple of days ago a friend invited us to their city. The decision was made, we left...

"There were seven of us and a dog in one small car. But the main thing is that we left. Outside the city, another life immediately reigned, there were no explosions. On the way our friend was looking for an apartment for us. The journey took seven and a half hours. We arrived 15 minutes before curfew.

"We have been coming to our senses for two weeks. Then a friend suggested where we can find help. It was the church. Our family was helped with food, bed linen, clothes, medicines and food for our dog.

"Every Saturday we started attending meetings and our life changed. We have rethought our lives. We started coming over to help pack food parcels. We have made many friends. In the church we feel like at home, there are very nice people and atmosphere."

Give now to help relief efforts

Celebrating Easter - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Celebrating Easter - Ukraine Crisis Story

Celebrating Easter in Ukraine was very different this year. In the midst of war and tragedy they had much to be thankful for, so celebrate they did!

Read this from one of our church partners in Ukraine:

Due to the war we had to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ late, because there was a huge threat that Russian soldiers would target churches in Ukraine, because there could be a lot of people coming to the churches and the authorities had forbidden us to hold a service between Saturday at 1:00 pm to Tuesday at 6:00 am.

It was quite unusual, but in this horrible time, the opportunity to celebrate the victory of life over death -- that was astonishing. Christ overcame death and sin and freed [Himself? us?] from the clutches of death. We will be raised to eternal life. Death is defeated, everyone that we have lost will be resurrected and we will be forever with Him in God's Kingdom -- there, where there is no sin, no war, no sickness, no death.

Today we celebrated the victory of life over death. Glory to Jesus Christ for His victory!
1 Cor 15:55-57 "Death, where is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the Law. But thanks to God that He gave us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Because on Saturday a lot of refugees come to us, to our church project, we invited them all to celebrate the Resurrection with us. There were more than 200 adults. So we held two services. Both were full -- more than 400 adults. They heard the Gospel, that Christ died in our place on the Cross and was raised for our justification.

In the time when death is raging in Ukraine, we communicated the meaning of Christ's victory, and that "death is temporary, but life is eternal!"

Although there were two services, a huge vehicle arrived and brought 15 thousand [kilos?] of humanitarian freight. We invited the men to help us unload it. And they came -- more than 30 men. God sent us help. Thanks to all those who labored and those who sent humanitarian aid.

Praise God for wonderful works!

Give now to help relief efforts

A Heart is Transformed During Lockdown

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Heart is Transformed During Lockdown

“Now I understand! Yes, I want to believe!” Ana’s new friend exclaimed as Ana shared the Good News with her. She excitedly put her faith in Jesus and repented of her sins. Though they had never met in person, Ana led this woman into an eternal relationship with Jesus through a screen.

Screen to Screen

Ideally, ministry takes place face to face. But when stay-at-home orders are put in place, “the show” must find another way “to go on”! Ana Aquino , a SEND missionary in Japan, decided to pursue ministry over the platform Zoom (something I’m sure most are aware of and almost all are tired of using). After connecting through a mutual friend from Canada, Ana began having Zoom meetings with Isla*, a Filipina living in Japan.

From the start, Ana began to share God’s good news with this new friend on the screen. Although Isla had heard the gospel before, this time her eyes were opened! Leaving her old life behind, she believed in Jesus and took her first steps into a new life.

Discipleship in the Home

After Isla’s confession of faith, Ana knew that screen time with her would only increase. It was now time for discipleship. Ana and Isla began meeting each week to grow in understanding of God and what faith looks like when it’s lived out. This was all done while following the government's stay-at-home order.

“I can feel her hunger to know Christ,” Ana said, “she is experiencing the transformation, the power of the Holy Spirit in her life.” Before meeting Jesus, Isla led a troubled life in the darkness, with no light. Now God has radically changed her heart and Ana has seen the fruit of her decision even amidst isolation. Isla has chosen to give up things like gambling, immorality, and anything that is dishonoring God.

“She is very vocal in her declaration about how God is transforming her heart. She really wants to share this with her Japanese in-laws and her friends.” Ana is working very hard to train and equip her new sister in the Lord. As the country opens up again, Isla will be ready to spread the hope she has received with those around her.

Opening Up

God is not held captive to borders closing or houses being shut. Throughout stay-at-home orders and the chaos of the pandemic, the Spirit has been on the move. Even through buffering screen connections, God is opening the eyes of those in darkness, seeking the lost, and making them family.

*Name changed for privacy reasons.

Written by Amy Magwood

View the Japan Ministry Guide

Investigating Jesus

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Investigating Jesus

When a Ukrainian Muslim student moves to the big city, she hears the gospel for the first time and begins to keep score between Jesus and Mohammed.

6 tips for short-term trips

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

6 tips for short-term trips

When we visit a new country, especially if we are a short-term worker or on a vision trip to help our church at home understand where God is calling us to work, we fit into at least two categories. We are foreigners, true, but ideally, we also are learners. How can we look, learn, and yet not offend? After years of travel and cross-cultural living, I’ve developed a number of strategies that have helped me observe without offending.

1. Don’t arrive and take over

Take time to sit back and watch what is happening around you. Keep that camera tucked away for at least 24 hours. Watch how people interact, move, and live and think about how you can be least invasive. You are there to learn.

2. Work hard to be unobtrusive

This involves your whole person. Manners, voice, dress, body language. Research where you are going and find out what clothing is appropriate and especially what is inappropriate. Dress as conservatively as possible. Even if you are hot and uncomfortable, remember that you are the foreigner, not the local. How do people walk, move, and sit? Watch carefully for cues that will make you not stand out. I’m a very fast walker, but I have learned to stroll slowly, linked arm in arm with an Asian woman, because that is how SHE is comfortable. I’ve even learned to hold hands walking with another woman in some parts of Asia where they consider that a sign of close friendship.

Tone down your voice, especially when speaking to other foreigners. Your different language will stand out like a flag amidst a babble of another language, but your loud tone could be even more offensive.

Once three of us from SEND were traveling by train across Poland. We needed to change trains in a large train station with a local worker. He was concerned about theft because we were hauling very expensive video equipment (albeit in plain black bags). He gave us dark hats, and told us to follow him and move quickly. “Don’t speak any English,” he said. We walked swiftly through the long corridors, our friend chatting to us in Polish about who knows what. Every so often we nodded. When we boarded the new train we all fell into our closed carriage and laughed, but we had made it through unscathed, and unnoticed.

3. Shadow experienced people

Find out who is already working in that country and try to set up time to simply follow and observe them. They may be from other parts of the world, from other organizations, or very different from you theologically, but they live there and they are great resources.

4. Give yourself the grace to not like everything

Try to strike a balance between “loving everything” and “hating it all.” What you love you may find isn’t as wonderful as you thought on first blush and what you hate may grow on you over time. Or you might just learn to live with it and ignore what you don’t like. It is OK to have a split personality between two cultures/two worlds.

5. Question your questions

Learn to ask good questions that probe gently and don’t embarrass. This may mean finding out ahead of time what questions are considered embarrassing in the culture you are visiting, but mostly it means being discreet. Get people to tell stories and deduce from the stories how things work. Don’t ask “Why,” but ask “How?” or “Can you show me?” or “Could you help me understand?” Instead of telling the local workers or local people all your observations, say, “I’m observing XYZ. Is that correct?” or “How do you understand this or that situation?”

6. Be wary of blanket generalizations

Don’t base conclusions about a different culture on limited data. I’ve seen people arrive for a vision trip who “know everything” because they once had a friend from that country. Or who spend less than a week somewhere and now act as though they are experts; I’ve been lectured by people who spent five days in East Asia on how to do ministry there. Humility tells me that no matter how many times I’m in East Asia – and I’m pushing 30 years of travel in and out of East Asia with months and months living there – there are many things I will never understand. This summer a conversation with two administrators showed me in a much deeper way how constrained their lives are by government regulations, and these are men I’ve worked with for a decade. While discussing something trivial, I got a huge flash of insight that left me thinking, “Wow. How little I know. How much I still have to learn.”

More about short-term trips

Muslim Ministry Infographic

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Muslim Ministry Infographic

There are 1.7 billion Muslims in the world. This infographic shows us a little bit of who they are and how they can be reached.

'New degrees of unity'

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

'New degrees of unity'

In August of 1806, a group of students from Williams College met outside to pray for foreign missions. A sudden rainstorm forced them to take cover under a nearby haystack. This makeshift shelter lent its name to their ongoing Haystack Prayer Meetings, which are credited as launching the modern missions era.

In July of 2016, SEND missionaries quietly bowed their heads to pray about a new opportunity. SEND had been invited to launch a deep and generous collaboration with two other missions organizations: TEAM and SAM (South America Mission). As we prayed, we wondered with excitement if this was the start of another great missions movement.

While SEND has worked closely with other organizations in the past, this will be a new level of collaboration. The vision is to find ways to share our services, pool our resources, and blend our efforts to make us all more effective at making disciples among the unreached. Currently, groups from our fields and offices are meeting with their counterparts for discussion and planning.

Warren Janzen, SEND’s International Director, said of the association, “Based upon the belief that united we can do more, a year of talks have prompted TEAM, SAM and SEND to launch a Great Commission association that affirms our unique contributions and promotes generous collaboration for God’s glory and the rejoicing of the nations. We believe that through deep and generous collaboration we can share leadership, systems and resources so as to increase our collective ability to make disciples among the nations. We want to demonstrate new degrees of unity between organizations and achieve better stewardship of Kingdom resources.”

Mobilizing North Americans into missions is presenting new and complex challenges. But we’ve seen historically that waves of missionaries have been catalyzed by special events. Could this new association be a catalyst for God’s next movement of people into missions? We don’t know yet.

But we do believe that this is a breakthrough in SEND’s missions efforts.

Thank you, Lord, for this exciting new association. May it increase our ability to make disciples among the nations.

Reprinted from SEND International's 2016 Annual Report .

Too Shy

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Too Shy

Shyness is a perfect seed for boldness. How so? Doesn’t shyness lead to a quiet, reserved life? This is not always so, as God can use even the quietest person for bold work.

One such case comes from SEND North’s very own team member. Sue** grew up shy which made her uncertain if missions was where God was calling her. She wanted a family life immediately, but as Sue began to look into where she should go after graduating college, her path became clear. She needed to go to the unreached.

This decision was solidified in Sue’s mind as she thought back to her time on a short-term mission trip to Asia. That trip sparked many changes in her life. Sue was pushed beyond her limitations by teaching Sunday school and conducting street evangelism. Sue realized that at that time her shyness melted away as she chose God’s intentions for her service over her comfort. Sue now knew she wanted to return to that area to begin church planting.

After Sue made this decision, she attended a mission conference and met SEND International. SEND International provided her with the chance to return to the area she originally served and offered a team environment for her to thrive. For over 20 years, she served there, loving the people and continually stretching her comfort and personality.

Then several years ago God again pushed Sue out of her comfort zone and climate zone by clearly directing her to SEND North. Once again, she had to trust God’s instruction: moving to a climate completely different than what she knew, and once again, away from family. Her time overseas influenced who she was, and her ability to serve in the Far North, and she is completely content where God has her now. As she stated, “I am busy working for the Lord, so I don’t even pay attention to the rain and cold!” Now more than ever, she is acting boldly in her community as she invests in multiple different groups, hosts Bible studies, and partners with local churches and organizations.

Starting out shy and unclear about God’s direction in her life, our team member has grown in her boldness in proclaiming the Gospel. She attributes this to learning to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:11) and delighting herself wholly in the Lord. God has truly given her the desires of her heart (Psalm 37:4). Her desires are now focused on God’s desires for her, and she serves faithfully in the Far North.

No matter your personality, vocation, or desires, God can use you far more than you know! As our team member found, SEND International and SEND North may be the organization to encourage you and give you the tools for the ministry which God has been preparing you. To discover the many ways you can be a part of God’s work , check out this webpage: https://www.send.org/north/be-a-part* *Not her real name

Buryat Praise Workshop

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Buryat Praise Workshop

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2020 Annual Report. To read more, click here !

-----

Renata, a Canadian missionary in Siberia, decided to learn how to play the Morin Khurr - a traditional Buryat instrument. When she started taking lessons, she never imagined how it would impact the Buryat people.

In 2013, Renata, Daniela, and another couple started an instrumental music group to help their Russian church feel more welcoming to the Buryat people in the community. Renata played the Morin Khuur in the group!

The worship songs the Buryat believers sang had been translated into Buryat from other languages. The instrumental music group believed that the Buryats, who are an unreached people group (UPG), needed their own worship music and in their heart language.

Led by Daniela, a new group called the Praise Workshop was born in 2018. This group, including Buryat believers, began writing songs in the Buryat language. Daniela says, “Writing a song is a very long process. We need to persevere because there are five dialects in the language! Also, there is no complete Bible translation, so there are many discussions about how to translate terms like ‘God, Jesus, sin, and resurrection.’”

The Praise Workshop will probably never know the full impact of their music. However, three sisters eventually trusted Christ after a friend called and said, “Turn on YouTube. Our Buryats are singing there!”

Watch their videos here!

Though not directly involved in the writing process, Renata finds great joy in seeing her Buryat brothers and sisters worship God in their heart language!

Bibles for the Arctic

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Bibles for the Arctic

" We hear about outreach, but it never comes to our community. "
That is what Derek heard from an Inuit person in Nunavik. "We feel forgotten. How did you come to contact us and help us?" The story began as Derek was working with Samaritan's Purse Canada, Northern Youth Programs, and the Arctic Diocese of the Anglican Church to bring health kits to Canada's Arctic communities. As Derek began talking to various ministry workers in these remote places, he heard of the need for Bibles and resources in Inuktitut, the heart language of the Eastern Arctic.

SEND North has a mission to "make northern disciple-makers," so one of our focuses was to obtain discipleship materials in Inuktitut to go along with the Bibles and health kits. Through the help of Samaritan's Purse Canada, our team secured $40,000 in Bibles and discipleship materials to go to these remote villages, and the response of gratitude has been incredible.

As the people in this region looked at reopening churches from the Covid-19 shutdown, they were discouraged and frustrated that they did not have the masks, hand sanitizer or disinfectant spray needed to comply with the government's requirements. The health kits we offered them had exactly what they needed to reopen their churches! Some asked if we could send even more masks to give to their church members who needed them. When we asked Norm Miller, the Executive Director of Northern Youth Programs, about how to get more masks, he remarked that people had sent him hundreds of hand-made masks that he didn't know what to do with. God had already supplied for the need before we knew of it!

Over and over, we have seen God work out details, timing, and connections perfectly. Even when there were problems or conflicts, God turned them around for His glory. When Norm returned from one of the delivery trips, he said: "I can rejoice in the fact that 1 out of every 10 people in that region can now have a Bible in their language of choice, and churches can reopen on Sunday after being closed for over 3 months." To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Please pray that God would continue to work out the details as we deliver Bibles and resources to more and more communities. Pray for safety for the pilots and that God would use these resources to make northern disciple-makers.

Reaching International Students

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Reaching International Students

Nine compelling reasons local churches should reach out to the international students in their communities — plus four practical ways to start building bridges without leaving home.

Catalyst Services, “Postings,” November 2012

Unmistakably Divine: 2015 SEND Canada Annual Report

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Unmistakably Divine: 2015 SEND Canada Annual Report

Thank you for celebrating with us what God has accomplished through SEND in 2015. We see His “fingerprints” in many places, and the impact is "unmistakably divine".

Read SEND Canada's 2015 Annual Report

Watch Video about 3M Ministry

A passionate missionary force

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A passionate missionary force

It takes people from all nations to reach all nations with the gospel. From the very beginning, SEND International has recruited and sent missionaries from various countries. Len and Marrian Geddert mobilize Spanish speakers for SEND and shared these stories of the amazing people God is preparing to send to the harvest fields.

A couple weeks ago, we were on the campus of Rio Grande Bible Institute in Texas, our SEND pamphlets spread across our table and the SEND banner standing strong beside us, when we met Ricardo, a student from Honduras. He had emailed SEND several months ago with questions about education and we were very excited to meet him face to face. We were fascinated as Ricardo shared about the journey God was taking him on.

“I am a radiologist,” he said. “One day, while I was in the operating room at the Christian hospital where I was employed, a patient went into cardiac arrest. At that moment I realized his critical condition, and a huge weight came over me. I have never shared the gospel with this man! He may die and go into an endless eternity without Christ!

"Well the patient did die. That moment was life-changing for me. At that moment I knew I had to do more than just carry out the responsibilities of my medical profession. Processing this experience, I decided to set aside my career in radiology and find the means and the training to serve the Lord as a missionary. That’s when I came across SEND’s web site and wrote them an email.

"Later, I was relieved to find out that a nurse had shared the gospel with that same patient just a couple days before the surgery and he had accepted Christ!”

Ricardo is now focused on attaining a missions degree and is trusting God to provide for him and direct him to where and in what capacity he should serve on the mission field.

Later on, while enjoying some coffee at the campus coffee shop, we got to know Raquel and Melissa (from Honduras) and Darío (from Chile). These three young adults have a call to serve on a SEND field among “M” refugees. Tears welled up in our eyes as we shared the passion for the lost souls in many nations today. Diligently completing their degrees, these dear friends are trusting God to open the doors for them to minister overseas. This will take a miracle!

Back at our table again, we answered as best we could all the questions the students could throw at us. “I am a doctor,” a young lady said. “I will soon graduate with my Bible degree and want to use my medical skills as a missionary. Where could I serve?”

It’s all sort of overwhelming. We look at our world today, all the pain and suffering, thousands that do not even know their spiritual need and definitely do not know God — the task is huge and the means seems impossible. Who will go and tell them? God is forming multi-national teams for the task and, among others, He is calling Latin Americans. They are a missionary force with a tremendous passion yet with huge hurdles before them.

Josue and Laura, both teachers from Guatemala, are raising support to go to Spain with SEND. Danny, from Honduras, is an accomplished musician. He and his family want to serve in Spain as well. Ossman and Erica, both teachers in Honduras, also want to serve in Spain with their family.

Abel, the leader of our partner agency in Honduras recently told us that the average salary of a Honduran pastor is $400/month. How can we mesh that with what it costs to send harvest workers to live in places like Spain, where the cost of living is more than 10 times as much? It will take a miracle for sure! We encourage these ones to be courageous as they count the cost to go and to be confident in the One who calls them.

SEND is accepting donations toward the Global Worker Initiative , a program that assists cross-cultural missionaries from low-income countries by covering some of their mission-specific expenses. To learn more or donate, visit SEND’s GWI page .

A model for intentional evangelism

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A model for intentional evangelism

By J.W. in Eurasia

SEND proclaims urgency as one of its values: “In light of the urgency of the hour and the lostness of people, we are committed to a life of obedience which calls us to endure hardship as soldiers of Jesus Christ in order to proclaim the gospel and see His church established.”

One of our SEND Eurasia workers takes a very intentional approach to living out this value.

This worker meets people every day — on the street, in his neighborhood, in the schoolyard, at church, on the bus, etc. He makes a list of people he meets so that he can reconnect with them later. His goal is to try to establish a relationship that will allow him to share the gospel and to connect the person with other believers.

When he meets people, he gives them his number and lets them know they can call him at any time if they need anything. When they call to verify his number, he saves their number so he can reach them, too.

On his list, he writes down information that will help him reconnect with them in the future: name, age, phone number and the last time they met. He also records specific notes about the person, such as the location where they met or the topic of their conversation. Using his list as a guide, he tries to reconnect with each person within a week or so.

He also uses this list as a reminder and a way to intelligently pray for those people with whom he comes into contact.

The people on his list come from various economic and social backgrounds. Some of them he has met with just once; with others, he has been able to maintain a continual relationship. Some have started to go to church, and some have come to know the Lord! We can learn a lot from this worker’s intentionality and urgency in reaching the lost for Christ.

Choosing Sending Partners — Agency Services

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Choosing Sending Partners — Agency Services

10 areas where agencies should add value to your church partnership. Catalyst Services, “Postings,” May ’12

Engaging the Isaan for Jesus

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Engaging the Isaan for Jesus

Arnie and the Isaan

Maha Sarakham is a large educational hub in Thailand, hosting 70-80,000 students between the 6 universities and colleges present in the city. Many of the students who have come to Maha Sarakham to study are from the Isaan people group – an unreached, Buddhist people who have historically made a life for themselves working the land and living off the fruit of their fields.

Wander into the Faculty of Pharmacy in one of the main universities and you’ll find Arnie. Arnie is one member of the three-person SEND team, which has set its sights on reaching the Isaan people for Christ. A team that is only about a year and a half old, its members are diligently studying Thai and learning the ins and outs of the Isaan culture.

Who are the Isaan?

There are 22 million Isaan people, comprising 32% of the Thai population, located primarily in the North East. Originally from Laos, the Isaan were forcibly relocated and have over time come to identify themselves as Thai, although they have a distinct language, diet, rituals and culture. They are a friendly people, with a strong sense of family and community.

As Buddhists, many Isaan people spend their lives seeking to eliminate suffering and improve their future through attaining merit in their present existence. Merit is sought through feeding monks, donating to temples and worshipping in temples.

Working among the Isaan

When Arnie isn’t studying Thai, Arnie is eating lunch with Isaan students, helping them practice their English and leading Bible studies when asked. Because most Isaan are dedicated Buddhists, traditional evangelism is difficult and often, unfruitful. The difficulty is increased as the Isaan know that if they choose to follow Christ, they can be sure to be ostracized by their community – a value they hold dear. The Isan team has taken the approach of building friendships and trust to use as a foundation for evangelism through discipleship – the ministry of "hanging out".

While the ministry of "hanging out" sounds enjoyable and fun, it isn’t without its challenges. Arnie has to remind herself often to be patient and flexible, finding that many of the students will change their plans on a whim and forget to inform her. Sometimes this means that students will show up late for appointments and sometimes it means they don’t show up at all.

Praying for Fruit

Although this is a new ministry, Arnie has already had the privilege of discipling two girls. She has been encouraged to see them grow in their faith as they study the Bible, faithfully attend church and have their own quiet time each day. A small group of students have asked for an English Bible study and Arnie looks forward to digging into the Word with them and seeing how the Holy Spirit moves.

As the Isaan team members diligently study Thai and befriend students in Maha Sarakham, pray that they would have wisdom in sharing the gospel in ways that challenge the Isaan worldview – opening their eyes to see that there is a loving, living God who has paid the price for their sin, because the merit they seek to earn in this life will never be enough on its own.

Pray for new team members to join the efforts to love and lead the Isaan to saving faith! Pray for courage for Isaan believers to speak out and be bold in sharing their faith. Pray that the Holy Spirit would be softening the hearts of the Isaan, preparing them to hear and understand God’s good news!

Learn More About SEND’s Work in Thailand

Discover Ministry Opportunities in Thailand

Update: Tomatoes and reconciliation

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Through the wasteland

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Through the wasteland Young people at a Russian summer camp donned gas masks and took part in a weeklong quest through the woods surrounding Transformation Christian Center in the Central Black Soil Region. The camp borrowed its theme from a Ukrainian-developed video game in which guides explore a radioactive wasteland, desperately seeking the rumored Wish Granter. In the camp’s take on the story, Christians are the guides, leading seekers to a person who grants forgiveness: Jesus Christ. Toward the end of the week of exploration and teaching, conversation and fellowship, a local pastor stepped into the role of guide. As he gave the evening message, he asked the campers if any of them were ready to meet Christ, but cautioned them to choose thoughtfully. Nine of the campers decided to follow him to the throne of grace! Two of the young women who repented, Nika and Vika, have started attending church with one of SEND’s families. Pray that, as their faith deepens, they will develop into strong believers equipped to guide others toward trusting Christ. — By Josie Oldenburg, SEND Communications More Harvest Heartbeat stories Practical prayers for overseas workers One thing leads to another A powerful partnership: A tribute to Carolyn King

Fasting For Life

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fasting For Life September 10th is National Suicide Prevention Day. In order to go on the offensive, we ask that you please mark September 8th as a day of prayer on your calendar. The Alaska Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church in declaring September 8, 2016 as a “Day for Prayer and Fasting for Life”. They have developed this 24-hour Prayer Guide for everyone use on that day. https://issuu.com/eccaksinew/docs/day_of_fasting_and_prayer_around_th/1 We are joining this endeavor and ask that you partner with us. We will be sharing short excerpts of the prayer guide every hour on social media on September 8th. Even if you can’t dedicate the full day to prayer, set aside a portion of time. Perhaps you can skip lunch, pray fervently during your commute to work, or involve your whole family in the evening before going to bed. We all echo the desire of our Interim Area Director: “My prayer for this winter is that there will not be a single suicide in any of the villages our people minister in. For too long despair has reigned over the lives of so many people, and I long to see our friends and neighbors set free through a relationship with Jesus. Together in the Battle, -Jim Stamberg” Follow SEND North on social media: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Instagram Instantly download the free report, God's Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the 60/70 Window.

Practical prayers for overseas workers

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Urgent needs: Passionate response

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Urgent needs: Passionate response

It often takes a team to save lives. When each member plays his or her role with passion, lives are changed forever. Like 15 Shan girls from a village in northern Thailand. They were the core of the new church plant, but they were in danger. Each was nearing the end of their free schooling and for the vast majority of girls in that village, that means being sent to the large cities to become prostitutes.

Girls like 13-year-old Nina who met SEND missionaries when she started coming to the community center to make crafts. As she listened to the Bible stories they told, she grew interested in reading the Bible for herself and soon joined their study. Through this, Nina trusted in Jesus as her Savior.

Nina wanted to share the gospel with her family as well and invited the missionaries to her home. After several visits, Nina’s parents offered their home to host a Bible study. Each Friday they listen as their daughter reads a story from her Bible and the missionaries lead a discussion.

The missionaries shared Nina’s story with SEND’s US and Canadian offices. Soon the story, including Nina’s prayer request for her family, was posted on SEND’s blog. As people around the world read it, they prayed for the salvation of Nina’s family. Just a few weeks ago, God answered those prayers and both of her parents put their faith in Christ as well.

We also heard about 12-year-old Pompan. After her brother died, her family connected with the SEND missionaries. She began coming to the Bible study and became a Christian a few months later.

During the Bible study, Pompan heard the story of the three men in the fiery furnace. Later, at her school, she was faced with a dilemma. Every morning, everyone in the school would bow down to worship a prominent statue of Buddha. But Pompan refused. When the teachers confronted her on it, she said, “The only Lord I bow down to is Christ.”

These were the very girls facing the terrifying likelihood of sexual slavery. Many have older sisters that are already enslaved. What could the missionaries do to break this cycle?

They came up with a plan. Since paying for school was too much of a burden for the families, they would find sponsors to fund the girls’ education and provide housing. Now they just needed to get the word out.

The SEND US and Canadian offices leapt into action. Media spread the message through blog posts and eblasts and features on the website. Representatives met with donors and shared the girls’ stories. Receiptors patiently and carefully documented each donation. In just ten days, all 15 girls had sponsors, and within a month, the dorm was fully funded!

Doug Harder, the Southeast Asia Regional Director, wrote, “I sat here today looking at the profile pictures of all these girls, and could hardly contain my joy.” Those girls are safe because three key groups stepped up: the missionaries, the SEND offices, and the donors. Each played a vital role.

SEND missionaries around the world have dreams and projects and plans just like those in Thailand. We in the US Office love to provide them with the resources they need. We do that best when our operations are fully funded. That’s where you come in. When you support the US Office, you enable us to continue to provide your missionaries with vital leadership and essential services. Your gifts keep the team moving forward.

One SEND partner who appreciates the value of the ministry of the US Office is offering a $75,000 matching grant. So right now, when you give, your contribution will be doubled.

Together, our team—the missionaries, the US Office, and you, our partner—can share the life-saving message of the gospel with the lost.

Give Now

Glory like water

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Glory like water

If you ever want to feel small, go to the ocean. Whether you are on a boat surrounded by water or are standing on the shore and see the never-ending waves crash on the beach, there is just something about the enormity of all that water, which comprises 71 percent of our planet.

Having lived in proximity to the ocean my entire life, I am enthralled every time I stand on the seashore. The oceans seem limitless, and that’s only at the surface where we can see. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggests that humans have explored only 5 percent of the earth’s oceans. That means 95 percent of the oceans have not been seen by human eye. How vast are the waters of earth!

In Habakkuk chapter 2, God, through the prophet, gives a scathing judgment to the nation of Babylon. God lets Babylon know that one day they will meet a bitter end. Just as they had conquered and plundered all their neighbors, they too will one day be conquered and plundered, and all the earth will witness their destruction.

In the midst of this judgment, God provides an assuring promise to His coming Kingdom in verse 14: “For the earth with be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

While Babylon will one day end up on the ash heap of history, God’s kingdom will fill the entire earth and all will know He is God. Every one of man’s kingdoms will come and go, but God’s kingdom will reign forever. Just as the waters cover the sea, so will God’s glory fill the earth.

This is not the first time God has made this proclamation. Numbers 14:21, Psalms 72:19, and Isaiah 6:3 all make reference to God’s glory filling the earth. It is a direct reminder to us of who is really in control and where human history will one day find its ending.

The disciples had the coming kingdom on their minds in Acts 1 when they asked the risen Jesus about the timing of the kingdom. Jesus did not rebuke their question. The kingdom was indeed still imminent, but not yet. Instead, Jesus gives them a responsibility to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.

This Great Commission is for all of Christ’s followers. We, like the prophets of old, are tasked to make this proclamation and invite people into the kingdom of God through the saving work of Jesus Christ. What a privilege! For we have confidence and hope that one day the evil strongholds of this world, like Babylon of old, will be destroyed. All sin and unrighteousness will be judged and punished. God’s everlasting kingdom will one day be established. The whole world will know God’s glory extensively and abundantly as the waters cover the sea.

One commentator put it this way, “The jagged rocks of injustice and the slimy seaweed of sin will be covered with the smooth surface of God’s righteousness.” Are we living our lives in light of this truth? Let’s be on mission to proclaim the message about this coming kingdom and this coming king! Explore how you can be involved by searching our missions opportunities .

Just Getting Started

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Just Getting Started

People must have thought he was crazy, leaving behind his music, career, and comfort of home to take his young family into the bitter remoteness of Alaska. Vince Joy, born 1910, knew the Lord wanted to use him in Alaska, far from his New Jersey home, to spread the Good News. In 1937, Vince and his wife, Beckie, with their son, moved up to Copper Center and began village ministry. God moved Vince to start the Central Alaska Mission, and 80 years later, God is just getting started. Join me for a moment as we look back on what God did through the leadership of our founder, Vince Joy.

Vince Joy had a knack for people, a keen eye for learning, and a provoking desire to follow God’s leading. Vince saw as a reality whatever God put in his heart to do, which resulted in the birth of several ministries. In 1956, Vince established what is now known as Cross Roads Medical Center in Glennallen, Alaska. In 1964, the Christian radio station KCAM went on air. And in 1966, months after he passed away, his dream of the Alaska Bible College was born.

One of Vince Joy’s closest friends and fellow missionary, Joseph Virgin, reflected on Vince’s vision and personality in a 1993 interview with Bill Schneider and David Krupa*. “Vince was exceptionally talented,” he said, noting how Vince was incredibly outgoing, which helped him to relate to others. “He was just one of those guys who was fun to be with… he enjoyed life to the fullest.” However, Vince also had a laser focus which on more than one occasion brought tension when he saw an opportunity when all others saw was an obstacle.

In Alaska, one such opportunity was using a plane to expand the reach of the ministry. So Vince Joy became a pilot. Many thought the expense of purchasing and maintaining an aircraft was too great. It took many years, but Vince didn’t stop until God provided him with a PA16 to expand the village outreach. Vince called it The Good News. Vince was not afraid to use every last drop of his talents as a pilot, singer, and preacher for God’s glory. With a fitting name, Vince brought joy and hope wherever he went in his plane, by dogsled, or by any other means necessary.

Vince sudden death in 1966 sent shockwaves through the entire CAM organization, but through this God showed that He was just getting started! CAM would go onto merge with the Far Eastern Gospel Crusade in 1971, later renaming to SEND International, but it never lost Vince’s vision and passion to the share the Good News.

Vince Joy made the absolute most of the time he was given. “Lord, I give up my own purposes and plans, all my own desires, hopes, and ambitions, and accept Thy will for my life,” Vince said in his written covenant with God. “I’ll follow on, my King!” Vince writes, “I’ll follow Thee, come what may, until my life’s work on earth is done, then… eternity with Thee! Amen.”

Vince Joy's labor has lasted 80 years because God continually sent us passionate and determined followers of Jesus. So much of the 60/70 Window is still without a Gospel witness which is why our vision is set on making disciple-makers. Pray with us for more fully devoted disciples so God's kingdom will continue to grow in the Far North. We truly believe that God is just getting started!

*To listen to the whole interview, https://jukebox.uaf.edu/site7/interviews/773

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Instantly download the free report, God's Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the 60/70 Window .

God Can Use Your Gifts

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

God Can Use Your Gifts

Written by SEND Missions Coach Merla Gogel.

Discerning God's Call

Ten years had passed from the time Tiffany believed God was calling her into cross-cultural work and when she started to apply to an organization. During these years, Tiffany often thought about what God wanted her to do and where He wanted her to serve. Tiffany considered missions to mainly involve church work, so she assumed her ministry would be in a supportive role to a church-planting husband. However, as time passed, Tiffany began to see that God could use her as a single person and that she could apply her administrative skills in a cross-cultural setting!

Discovering an Opportunity

Tiffany visited SEND’s website and saw an accounting opportunity in Japan. Afterwards, God kept reminding her of this ministry which led Tiffany to inquire and soon thereafter begin the application process.

During this time, concerns arose in Tiffany’s heart and mind about going overseas, but she did not let it derail her because her deeper desire was to be obedient to God! As the application process moved forward, Tiffany became more convinced of her calling to serve as an accountant, and she learned not to worry about what’s in the future but take her needs to God and watch Him respond.

One such occasion was shortly after her acceptance to serve with SEND. A practical desire Tiffany had was for a financial coach to give guidance with support raising. After sharing about her future ministry at her church, a lady contacted Tiffany and offered to coach her even though she was not aware of Tiffany’s hope to have a coach!

Open Your Heart to God's Plan

Tiffany admits that her journey was not always easy. However, when she opened her heart to God’s plan, she discovered that His plan is best, and He will respond to her needs and concerns.

Discover Missions Opportunities.

Find Out

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Find Out Sometimes the simplest thought can strike a chord. Danilo John told me, “You have to find out for yourself what God wants you to do.” For him, that meant taking a year before starting college to experience full-time ministry in another culture. He left the familiar comforts of Germany to serve in a remote Alaskan village, and in so doing found more direction for the next step in his life. That is what struck me, stepping out in faith means going into the unknown, and yet that leap brings to light the step that follows. The only way to find out is to step out; it continues beyond when you start out even to the point of when it is time to step down. George and Cheryl Reichmann faithfully served God in Alaskan radio ministry. Instead of staying where they were comfortable, they stepped out. The second half of their ministry career was in evangelism through Seaman’s Mission. At the end of August, George and Cheryl stepped down from full-time ministry to enter retirement, still another step of faith into the unknown. This truth is not just for the beginning or end of ministry. Dr. Barry Rempel found out that God can have other plans when things seem to be at their best. SEND North was growing with Barry as our Area Director when God nudged his family into new ministry direction. It encourages me that there is no coasting in following Jesus. You always have to stay close to his side, listen to his voice, and continually find out for yourself what God wants you to do. So what about you? If God is stirring your heart, we would love to know about is so we can pray for you! frontdesk@sendnorth.org Find out what God is up to in SEND North, Follow us on social media: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Instagram Instantly download the free report, God's Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the 60/70 Window.

'Juan invited me'

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

'Juan invited me'

By Josué and Laura Maldonado, Guatemalan missionaries to Spain — In a sense, Juan invited us to Spain.

After 10 years working with youth ministry in Guatemala through drama, evangelism and discipleship, we took a short-term trip to Spain.

After we preached to one youth group, I asked a girl, “How did you come to the church?” She answered: “Juan invited me.”

I asked a boy the same question, and he answered me the same way. I asked a third kid; she gave me the same answer.

After that, I thought, “I have to meet Juan!”

When I did, Juan shared with me his life, telling me that he always wanted to be a disciple and to have a mentor, so he could learn more from the Bible. But his pastor was only focused on adults.

Juan changed my life, because in Guatemala, he would be the dream disciple of any youth leader, but in Spain, he was alone. That’s why we are here in Spain — youth need to have mentors, friends and leaders so they can grow in Christ and bring the message of his love and salvation to their friends and families.

Now we work in a ministry focused on Spanish youth, as God raises up a new generation to expand his church and his mission in Spain. On a local level, we strengthen believers, serve in discipleship, do evangelism and develop activities for the youth of a Spanish church.

On a national level, God has allowed us to be director assistants for the Spanish missions event called MISION POSIBLE . This gathering encourages young Spaniards to focus on their role in the Great Commission. We believe that God has great plans for young Spaniards and it gives us joy to be part of what God is doing in this country.

Learn more

First Time in Church - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

First Time in Church - Ukraine Crisis Story

Today was the warmest day since the beginning of the war, 17 Celsius (63 F). And this warmth heated up not only our bodies but our souls also. In this way the Lord invigorates us during this dark time for the country. And God inspires us to care for the refugees.

Yesterday, we got closely acquainted with one man from a conflict zone. Up to this day he had never been in an evangelical church and among his acquaintances there was no one who had. We met him in the city when we were handing out bags of groceries and evangelizing. He wanted to help us and today he came to us at the church. Today he not only for the first time fellowshipped with Christians and was in a church, today was the first time he prayed together with other people.

I asked him to write down his story, a very difficult story:
"I was the son of my parents' old age. My dad was an invalid due to his old age and I took care of him. In the last while he really suffered and on February 18 he passed into eternity. Because of the quarantine and other reasons the opportunity to get him from the morgue and bury him kept getting delayed. On February 23 I was supposed to pay the funeral home, but God caused that not to happen, and on the morning of February 24, I was awakened by the shelling of the city. I still kept trying to bury him but because of the war it didn't happen. After a few days that morgue and the hospital were bombed by planes and rockets... I was never able to bury my father. War is a dreadful evil. Russia is annihilating both the living and the dead."

Please continue to pray for the men, women, children, and families who need our support. Pray that they would, like this man, be receptive to the Gospel and learning more about the love of God.

Give now to help relief efforts

Letter from a Mother - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Letter from a Mother - Ukraine Crisis Story

A letter from a Ukrainian mother:

"Peace of God!

I want to express my gratitude to all those who, in a difficult time for us, supported my family prayerfully and financially. May the Lord bless you and your homes, your work and all your life.

My name is Natalya*. Widow, mother of 10 children. We are refugees as our city is destroyed. There are not even words that would like to express gratitude to the Lord for saving us from that hell in which we have lived lately. He alone is worthy of praise. And now, through all of you, He has taken care of us and our needs. Even my 15 year old daughter who has a serious spinal problem. He never left and never leaves us.

Once again, thank you for your help! Be blessed! Pray for us and for peace in Ukraine."

*Name changed for confidentiality

Give now to help relief efforts

Providing Food and Sharing the Message

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Providing Food and Sharing the Message

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2021 Annual Report.

-----

For almost four years, Doug and Lynn Harder have been making trips to the Shan Mountain Village (along the Thailand-Myanmar border) to serve over 1,000 men and women recovering from drug addictions. The COVID pandemic, along with the military junta of February 2021, created the perfect storm. These events have spiraled the people into abject poverty and hunger.

Thanks to supporters like you, the Harders have been able to send nutritious food supplements to the drug-recovery camps, as well as to an Internally Displaced Persons camp nearby. Due to the trusting relationships built with the village headmen, Doug and Lynn alone are permitted to bring food and medicine into the mountain village!

Doug reported in February 2022 that they continue to work to provide the “super-food” for the people in both the Shan Mountain Village and the rehab camps. Each person receives just 50 grams a day! They boil the food and get their basic minerals and vitamins.

However, not only did the Harders want to give daily physical bread to the people, they also wanted to provide spiritual bread. The Harders and their team began to wonder how they could get Bible stories into the hands of the people.

A friend introduced Doug to solar MP3 players which only need the sun’s rays to operate. The Harders and their team began to load those players with the sweeping narratives of the Scriptures - from Creation to Christ, as well as songs and stories of Shan believers who have been transformed by Jesus. And all of this is in the Shan language!

The only Shan pastor in the mountain village area shared with Doug that the solar players were accepted with enthusiasm, and the people are listening. The stories, music and the Shan Christian testimonies are well received!

While it is essential to provide food for the Shan Mountain Village and the rehab camps, the Harders are praying that people will come to know and love Jesus Christ. Because of the faithful support of Senders, Doug and Lynn are able to share the message of Jesus with the Shan people.

Give to the Shan Mountain Village Project

Fostering Resilience in Others

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fostering Resilience in Others

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2022 Annual Report.

-----

Jon and Elaine Winter, from Ontario are living in Thailand, where they serve as the Directors of Member Care for SEND Asia. They describe their work as an opportunity “to walk alongside their peers to help them move towards healing and purpose in their ministries.”

It’s no secret that living and serving overseas can bring some unique difficulties. To overcome these challenges, global workers must develop resilience, relying on the unchanging character of God. Don’t we all need regular reminders of this, especially in difficult seasons of life?

That’s where Jon and Elaine’s roles come in. Jon works at The Well where he provides counselling to global workers in Asia. The Well provides debriefing sessions for individuals, families, and groups experiencing transitions and trials. Elaine works at The Well too. Her role includes triaging requests for care - a task that has been particularly important recently because of a surge of clients needing support.

Jon and Elaine have found that as they provide care, conversations, and counselling to global workers in Asia, they must rely on the Lord for the endurance they need to help workers who are hurting.

The Winters have also faced personal circumstances that tested their resilience. In the last year, Jon was in a bicycle accident that required a long recovery. The Winters also experienced the loss that comes with life’s changes when they moved to Thailand after serving in Japan for many years. Jon and Elaine have also experienced challenges resulting from the spiritual darkness present in Thailand. They must depend daily on the Spirit for the joy and strength required to be a light in this darkness.

God has enabled them to persevere with joy and purpose through their experiences. And, God has used their experiences to bless and strengthen fellow global workers. Praise God for the way He has faithfully carried Jon and Elaine through challenges and has positioned them to help others.

Pray for SEND Missionaries

Reaching UPGs in NYC

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Reaching UPGs in NYC

The United States and Canada have welcomed more than 50 million immigrants, many of them from countries with large populations of unreached people groups. In response to this great opportunity, SEND has launched a new outreach: Diaspora | North America . In the coming months, we will introduce you to workers in several cities, all reaching out to diaspora peoples in diverse ways that reflect the complexities of each group’s culture. Today, we interview K evin King, president of International Project .

Kevin and his wife, Jeanne, want to see a movement of churches among unreached people groups, starting with diaspora communities in international cities and spreading into least-evangelized countries.

In 1998, the Kings moved to New York City to help begin International Project. For the first 12 years of their ministry, they focused on reaching unreached people groups on college campuses, at the United Nations and in various communities.

In 2010, Kevin launched EQUIP, a 10-month program that trains cross-cultural church planters by giving them practical experience reaching out to members of the more than 50 unreached people groups in New York City. SEND partners with International Project to send workers to this strategic city.

1. What drew you to ministry in New York City?

The world is moving to the cities. Over 50 percent of the world now lives in cities, and that number will continue to go up. The normal paradigm of missions must (and will) change away from the jungle missionary to the urban missionary because we have to go where the people are. I was drawn specifically to New York City because it is home to more than 50 distinct unreached people group communities, where members of the same people group are living in ethnic enclaves.

2. How do you connect with the people you are trying to reach?

My involvement first means living in an apartment in a neighborhood with significant numbers of people from an unreached people group. Secondly, it means building relationships and intentionally living the gospel out loud with the people I come in contact with. Thirdly, it means working with a team to carry out an agreed-upon plan to engage the people group, start Bible studies and see churches planted.

3. Can you describe a “typical” day?

Every team in our ministry has a different strategy, but it always means spending significant amounts of time living, shopping, playing and eating where the people group lives, shops, plays and eats.

4. What are some of the biggest challenges facing the people you serve?

Immigrants and refugees are incredibly busy. Sometimes people have to have multiple low-paying jobs just to survive. In order to be effective in urban ministry, you have to let go of your traditional ideas of when ministry happens and be available and ready to meet with people when and where they are available. Ministry late in the evenings and on weekends is the norm.

The larger a city is, the more hectic life can be. Longer commutes and being surrounded by people can close people off. They build protective barriers around themselves for survival. You have to find ways to engage them so that they invite you into their protected world.

5. What effective ways have you found to share the gospel with diaspora peoples?

We specifically look for people who are called “people of peace.” The idea of a person of peace comes from Luke 10. It is a person who is not simply spiritually receptive, but will welcome you into their household or community to bring a spiritual message. A good example of a person of peace in Scripture is the Roman centurion in Acts 10. He was not only receptive to Peter’s message, he also gathered all his family and friends together to hear this message from God. We are looking for people who will gather their friends and family together to hear the gospel or learn about God in the Scripture by doing a Discovery Bible Study .

The other thing we are looking for in a person is someone who is ready to obey what God is teaching them. Our methodology of discipleship is called obedience-based discipleship. The focus of discipleship in the West is generally informational-based discipleship, so we have discipleship classes with little accountability or follow-up. Obedience-based discipleship seeks to have people immediately obey what they learn and not move on to learn new things until they are willing to obey the first things God is teaching them. This type of discipleship requires more life-on-life with people and is not focused on simply learning information.

These two characteristics in new believers are what allow the gospel to spread from one household to another. We are seeking out persons of peace who are ready to obey in order to see a church-planting movement.

6. How do you feel the church should respond to the great wave of migration happening around the world?

Before we consider issues from a political perspective in terms of our national citizenship, we should first look at things from a Biblical perspective as citizens of God’s Kingdom.

Rather than understanding God’s heart for the nations and seeing migration as an opportunity to bring the gospel to unreached people groups of the world, many in the church are responding in anger and hatred toward Muslims and others migrating. This saddens us because throughout Scripture we see the theme of God using migration to bring the nations to himself. We also see God commanding the nation of Israel to love the foreigners among them (Deuteronomy 10:18-19) and to help those who are vulnerable.

In order to help the church have God’s perspective, we recently put out a video called “The Foreigner Among Us.” We praise God that thousands have watched this video; we are praying that thousands more will watch and that God will use it to give them a new perspective.

7. Why is diaspora ministry an effective way to reach the unreached?

The great wave of migration opens strategic doors to engage people in real areas of need. Diaspora missionaries have doors open to us that missionaries in an unreached person’s native country often do not. Foreigners come needing help with language, basic necessities, employment, navigating the new culture and system — things, like getting heath insurance or a driver’s license, that we do naturally. Being vulnerable, these foreigners often are more spiritually receptive that when in their home countries. These felt needs give diaspora workers an incredible opportunity to engage unreached people groups not only physically but also spiritually.

8. How has diaspora ministry in New York City been affected by America’s current socio-political climate?

It’s probably a little too early in President Trump’s term to know how the political situation will affect or change ministry. One thing it has done is made many of our international friends very scared and anxious. So, whatever the cause, whenever people are anxious or scared, it is an opportunity to pray for them and show the love of Christ. One thing I do believe is that God is sovereign and whatever happens he will use these events to work in the hearts of people to draw them to himself.

9. What’s hard about doing diaspora ministry in New York City?

The city has a way of wearing you down and chipping away at you. The fast pace, the crowds, the selfishness — when you smash so many people together in a small space, the rawness of people’s sin comes to the surface and hits you in the face. I have found that for many people, it is a bigger sacrifice to live in a city than to live in a jungle with no electricity.

10. What are some practical ways that people can get involved in this ministry?

Consider joining NYC EQUIP , which is a 10-month, cross-cultural, church-planting training program. Many people who are looking to become full-time missionaries have never done ministry cross-culturally. They do not know how to share the gospel in a contextually relevant way. Or they don’t know how to disciple someone in a way that will lead to reproduction. Or they don’t know how to gather a family together and lead them through Scripture to faith in Christ and to the formation of a church.

NYC EQUIP is designed to teach people church-planting methodologies and, more importantly, to develop within people evangelism and disciple-making skills so that they can minister effectively when they get to their long-term team. Most overseas teams have neither systematic training in place nor the time to mentor, coach and train new team members. EQUIP has mentors, coaches and trainers all focused on helping the participants grow spiritually and in ministry effectiveness.

I would encourage people not to wait until they are trying to adjust to a new culture and learn a new language to start learning all these things. They will be far more prepared and emotionally stable if they learn these things prior to joining their long-term team.

You might also be interested in

Resources — Find videos, statistics and tools for connecting with diaspora people at SEND's new Diaspora | North America home page .

'What is Diaspora Ministry?' — Hear a discussion about what diaspora ministry entails on the Global Missions Podcast.

Seeking in Seattle — SEND worker brings the gospel message to the Japanese diaspora in the Pacific Northwest.

Inviting the nations to our tables — Game nights, endless cups of tea mean lots of opportunities to build relationships with Muslim refugees.

Who is my New Neighbor — A visual look at how communities are shifting, with ideas for getting involved.

Stoves for salvation's sake

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Stoves for salvation's sake

By Mark Canada, director of Marketplace & Development Enterprises — Don and his wife, Krystal, had been living in Albania, working for a mission agency and trying to plant a church among Roma people.

The Roma in Albania are largely squatters who usually make a living in one of two ways – by rummaging through trash to collect and recycle plastic or by sending their kids out to beg.

In either scenario, the family brings in $3-$5 a day, on a good day.

Don saw that the Roma lacked hope because they were undereducated, couldn’t find jobs and faced distain from the surrounding community. He realized the men he was seeking to reach had little time or desire to talk about God when finding money to buy food and to survive that day consumed them.

Don set out to change that.

***

It took a while, but Don eventually created a wood-burning stove that he could teach the Roma men to build. The quality matched that of imported stoves, but these could be sold at a price that lower- and middle-class families could afford.

He had a product , but he didn’t yet have a business . Don needed help.

So Don turned to Marketplace & Development Enterprises .

***

MDE — an offshoot of SEND International, formed to make disciples through tentmaking, community development and business as mission — was just getting off the ground when Don contacted us two years ago. MDE helps believers launch businesses in unreached communities so that people may be transformed by and through the power of Jesus Christ.

We flew to Albania to meet Don and Krystal and to find and work with a lawyer and an accountant to set up an LLC to legally house the business, named Inovat.

MDE connected Don with an entrepreneur in the United States, Jim Schlott, who volunteers as one of our advisors. Jim began walking Don through our 10-step process for creating and launching a business.

Don needed $40,000 of start-up capital. We found investors for him.

Don needed a bookkeeping system; we found a volunteer to help him create and use that system.

“When we were introduced to MDE, we were very impressed and saw it as a perfect fit for our ministry that God had called us to,” Don says. “MDE provides Inovat with an umbrella of protection that has allowed us to carry out our ministry efforts with professionalism and a confidence that we are operating legally in a foreign country.”

***

Inovat’s stove-making business creates better-paying jobs and deepens relationships.

Through trial and error, Don learned how to make four or five stoves a week — but that wasn’t enough to make Inovat truly profitable. So MDE found another volunteer, Jim Logan, who has more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing.

Jim and other MDE volunteers flew to Albania where Jim developed a list of suggested process improvements for Don. Don has implemented about half of them so far. He has quadrupled his production and dramatically reduced production errors.

Don employs five Roma workers on a part-time basis. They make about $20 a day – five or six times what they were making before they started working for Inovat. Each man is now entered into the country’s health and pension system; each is gaining job skills that are transferable to other jobs.

“I continue to feel like I am more a part of the Roma community, and I also strongly feel that God is allowing us to be a part of the solution in helping them in legitimate ways — empowering them and giving them dignity in meeting their own financial responsibilities,” Don says.

Last year was the warmest winter in 75 years in Albania, and Don lost some money — something that is not uncommon when starting a new business.

Now, with colder weather and a more efficient production system, Inovat is on target to end the year in the black.

***

Because of Inovat, each Roma worker looks Don in the eye over a cup of coffee during break times and hears how the love of God compels Don to do what he is doing.

“With little in common with the Roma and at my age, I relate better with these men in a work environment instead of just hanging out with them and drinking coffees with them. I am able to do both,” Don says. “I’ve personally experienced my relationships move deeper and beyond the superficial.”

Don is still a missionary. He disciples youth who come to his wife’s Kidz Club, which MDE also helped establish.

But because he is also a businessman, he can tell the story of God’s love to his business suppliers, to the shop owners who sell his stoves, to fellow small-business owners who understand what he is doing and can relate to how hard it is.

And, when he goes to the Roma community, people point to him and say, “Hey, that’s Don. He’s an American, but he’s helping our people by giving us real jobs. You need to listen to him.”

More about MDE

Marketplace & Development Enterprises' vision is to see thousands of mature Christ-followers taking the presence and the message of Christ to the millions who have little to no hope of experiencing God’s love or hearing truth in their communities.

The organization believes this is often best done through relationships built in the natural setting of the marketplace. Here, relationships are developed by working alongside people — either as a fellow employee or as the owner of a business.

MDE's goal is to help connect Christ-followers with opportunities and with resources that encourage and enable them to use their vocational skills and passions in unreached communities for the purpose of teaming with others in planting healthy, reproducing churches through the natural relationships that flow from working and living in authentic ways.

5 more missionary myths

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

5 more missionary myths

By Josie Oldenburg, SEND Communications — One of our most popular articles, “5 myths of the missionary call,” tackles one of the most misunderstood terms surrounding the Great Commission. But even when misconceptions surrounding calling are cleared up, other myths can keep people from taking the (admittedly big) step of becoming missionaries themselves. For example:

I’m bad at learning languages

Barely passed high school French? Forgotten how to count to 10 in Spanish? Don’t label yourself a linguistic failure based on these experiences! Many people who struggle to learn a language in an academic setting find success when they are immersed in a foreign culture. Never underestimate the power of needing to buy vegetables, visit the doctor and make friends to fuel language learning.

SEND highly values connecting with people in their heart language and in a culturally appropriate way. Missionaries who arrive to the field without knowing the local language generally are given up to two years to study the language and culture. Of course, language study is an ongoing process. You don’t learn vocabulary for how to fix a car or birth a baby until you have a car that needs fixing or a baby who needs birthing. But our missionaries leave their initial language study with a strong linguistic foundation upon which to build.

I can't take my kids overseas

Carting children across the globe seems complicated. Just the idea of flying internationally with munchkins strikes fear in the hearts of many people. (Insider secret: Over-ocean flights on huge planes are pretty easy if you’re willing to throw screen-time rules out the window, walk endless laps around the plane, and ply your littles with a steady supply of airline-supplied juice and snacks. Domestic flights, on the other hand, are the worst.)

But either way, the travel is over in a day (or two or three). The true challenges arise with educational decisions and transition issues. SEND gets it. We care for the whole family, offering child-focused pre-field training, programs at conferences and debriefing.

A SEND missionary kid keeps up with his national school lessons via Skype.

Thanks to the internet, educational options for cross-cultural families have blossomed. Our trained educational consultants help parents make the best decisions for each of their individual children. Many SEND families combine various approaches — some online school, some home school, some national school, some international school — in order to give their children extremely well-rounded, globally focused educations. SEND also offers families time to attend education seminars specific to third-culture kids and to keep up with their children’s academic testing.

I’m not healthy enough

Cross-cultural service does not require perfect health. Such issues may limit where you can serve, but God can use these perceived limitations to direct your path. For instance, one of our missionaries developed a life-threatening allergy to a ubiquitous local ingredient, which helped her family decide to minister in the capital city where she could buy imported foods and quickly get to a hospital.

If you feel like God might be calling you to become a missionary, talk with your doctor about any health concerns you might have. Our missionaries have found that many doctors are very understanding, willing to work with the missionary to manage health concerns, and even able to keep in contact via email or Skype.

I can't preach or translate the Bible

Though preaching and translating the Bible are amazing gifts that effect powerful change in people’s lives, they aren’t the only options! SEND offers more than 200 opportunities to reach the unreached. Though love for and a growing understanding of the Word are crucial to each role, only a handful of SEND’s current opportunities are directly dependent on being ordained or having a degree in theological education.

I see needs in my own neighborhood

You likely do have neighbors who haven't yet accepted Jesus as their Savior. But if you live in a majority-Christian nation, chances are good that your neighbor will have opportunities to hear the Good News from someone other than you. Your neighbors may be unsaved, but nearly 3 billion people in the world remain unreached . These billons have no local church capable of spreading the gospel and lack access to the Word . So, by all means, reach out to your current neighbor. But also consider whether God might be calling you to become a neighbor to the unreached in another land.

More on becoming a missionary

Considering missions — Questions to ask as your discern God's leading.

Why go with SEND — Some of the benefits your family will receive if you become missionaries with us.

5 myths of the missionary call — Rethinking when and how God draws people into cross-cultural service.

Plane Faith

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Plane Faith

You all know by now that aircraft are a big deal in the #6070window. That is what drew Jimmy Tidmore to connect with our Area Director, Jim Stamberg, on Twitter. That lead to a few emails about ministry and then a phone interview which became the second episode of The Plane Faith Podcast .

If you are interested in aviation, you will love this podcast. If you want to get better acquainted with our Area Director, you will enjoy this particular episode. If you are considering aviation ministry, you must listen to this podcast! Honestly, there is so much useful information shared in this episode that we could write multiple articles about it. However, we will settle for highlighting a couple of things about our use of aviation and allow you to enjoy the full podcast at your leisure.

1) We are distinct from aviation ministries. There are great organizations which exclusively use aviation as a tool to support ministry (New Tribes, JAARS, MARC, etc.). Our use of aircraft is much more organic and practical. Our pilots are doing various kinds of discipleship ministry and have the airplane as a support. It is like they do ministry and drive a supercharged church van. After all, the Cessna 206 is called the “Alaskan Pickup Truck.” We are looking for pilots that prioritize discipleship and use aircraft as a tool for ministry.

2) Supporting summer camps with aviation is an important aspect of our work. Ten percent of our Church Ministries budget goes to camp flying. Jim Stamberg commented that it was his most meaningful use of the aircraft when he lived in the bush. Again, this is not only because we help get kids to a life changing experience, but that our pilots also can connect with the kids year after year as well as throughout the year as they go to various communities.

That is enough to wet your appetite. Please be sure to check out this hour-long episode of The Plane Faith Podcast.

Also, please check out our featured project this summer and help us cover the costs of getting kids to summer camp this year!

As always, remember to follow us on Social Media:
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Instantly download the free report, God's Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the 60/70 Window .

The Effort

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Effort

When you were growing up, how many ways did people pour into your life? Think about how huge that was for you! Most of us received unconditional love from numerous sources. However, feeling loved is a big challenge for kids in our remote communities. They need to feel that they matter; to see that people are willing to sacrifice for them. We are not saying that the villages don’t have good role models because they do. However, these kids need all the love they can get. This is one of the main reasons we are so passionate about Summer Bible Camps and other regional events.

Make no mistake about it, these summer camps and events take a surprising amount of effort from a few paid staff and many amazing volunteers. I want to give you a glimpse at what is required to pull off these events. It can be summed up nicely by the words of one person, “Holy Cow, the effort!”

First and foremost you must realize that in camp every single thing you could need must be flown in and out every single week (for every camper and volunteer.) Let’s take Tanalian Bible Camp for example. Every new week of camp, 30 staff rotate in and out on Saturday. On Monday, campers arrive and leave on the same day (you need to fill the planes coming and going to be efficient). That means about 150 itineraries are arranged for people, not including the supply runs, using bush planes that seat 5 or 6 people. 90 percent of the planes are VFR, which means completely weather dependent. If you can't see you can't fly. Every Monday is a 12-hour ordeal IF the weather looks good. The logistical craziness is the lynchpin in the whole thing, and that is just the day of travel.

Remember, flights can’t be scheduled until kids get registered. You have to plan for what kind of airplanes you have at your disposal and how many trips is it going to take. While you have some kids apply ahead of time, there are still many last minute changes. Often when the pilot arrives, they find out a kid can’t come because their dad said no. Or when they show up there may be three more kids at the airport wanting to go, but they didn’t register. This is to be expected.

There is no doubt that the pilots are indispensable in making all of this happen. They sacrifice and volunteer their time. They are flexible and will do whatever needs to be done so anyone can come. Most of these volunteer pilots will see these same kids throughout the year at other events, so they love the opportunity to build relationships with them.

Even with all the volunteer help, the cost is still a significant factor. SEND North gives ten percent of its Church Ministries Budget to help with camp flying. Please click over to our camp sponsorship project and prayerfully consider joining us in providing this vital service.

The work is worth it! Next week we are going to talk about how camp and many other events work together to profoundly impact people’s lives.

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No Lone Rangers

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

No Lone Rangers

If you hang around long enough, you will hear us talk about an unforgiving environment, rugged individuals, and isolation. Life is not easy in the Far North. Even though it takes a robust inner constitution to make it up here, one can NOT make a go of it alone! The same is true for ministry. SEND North is not the only group of believers working hard to bring God’s love to the #6070window. We are blessed to have many ministry acquaintances, friends, and partners. There are no Lone Rangers in God’s Kingdom!

So, let us highlight a few of our friends with links to their online profiles so you can get to know them better.

What would we do without other aviation & support ministries like Kingdom Air Corps, Mission Aviation Repair Center, Arctic Barnabas Ministries, Great Commission Alaska, and Alaska InReach? They are valuable aids to our work! Even with our aircraft, there are many occasions when they fill in the gap so the ministry can get done!

http://www.kingdomaircorps.org/

https://www.akmission.org/

http://www.alaskainreach.org/

https://www.marcalaska.org/

Northern outreach is strengthened by these three Bible schools: Alaska Bible College, Alaska Christian College, and Alaska Bible Institute. It is vital to have solid Bible training so close for those who live in the Far North.

https://www.akbible.edu/

https://alaskacc.edu/

http://www.alaskabible.org/

There are so many churches with whom we partner, collaborate, and labor. Here are just a few:

http://www.galenabiblechurch.org/

http://www.acfak.org/

https://changepointalaska.com/

https://www.alaskacovenant.org/

https://www.baxterroad.org/

Our Eastward Expansion would not happen without key associations in Canada. So far that list includes the Northern Evangelical Federation of Canada, Interact Canada, and Northern Canadian Evangelical Mission.

We are also blessed to be backed by SEND International’s sending-field office in Canada. https://www.send.org/canada

Last but not least, we are connected to some of the best youth camps in the Far North. We can’t overstate the importance of bringing kids together who otherwise would be so isolated. Most of the camps we work with do not have a web presence, but here are those that can be found online

http://www.tanalianbiblecamp.org/

http://www.kokrinehills.org/

http://www.kingdomaircorps.org/brooks-range-bible-camp.html

We thank God for our valuable relationships! I wonder, who can you connect with to bring the Good News to your area more effectively? Reach out and have a conversation. You never know what God will do!

Stuck at Home in Spain

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Stuck at Home in Spain

The Hit

Spain was one of the hardest hit locations of the global pandemic. With little to no warning, life in this country shut down for what has become a very long time. SEND missionary Kaitlyn Reimer e xplains that people are not allowed to spend time outside . T hey may only go to the nearest grocery store on the block and can only walk pets twice a day. Fines have been implemented and they are very high: €1,000 for driving a car without a permit , and €600 for walking more than 600 meters from one’s living space. Kaitlyn and the rest of Spain were going nowhere. 

Although people are “stuck” at home, the Spirit is on the move. Kaitlyn has noticed that people’s hearts have opened to prayer and having spiritual conversations. Kaitlyn’s non-believing friends have opened up to her about where their faith is at - without being prompted. People are beginning to seek something that can offer them hope and security in a world where there is none. 

Still, s ome ministry connections have stopped because of the crisis. Kaitlyn is often unable to contact many of the women she has been working with, which has been a challenge and a grief. 

Personal Growth

While this time has not been easy for Kaitlyn, she also sees it as a blessing. She has been developing personally through daily habits and goals. She has been training in being a Life Coach. This training has taught her how to better listen and ask questions to others as they take steps forward in life. She hopes to use it to serve the women at Casa Refugio , and the other ministries she is a part of. This break has allowed for her to take care of herself and dig deep into spiritual, physical, and emotional disciplines to replenish where she was stretched thin.

Like Kaitlyn, many missionaries are home alone and far from their families, and need prayer and encouragement. Pray that they would be refreshed and renewed in these days. Pray for an end to the crisis and that missionaries would have opportunities to share the hope of Jesus with their community.

Written by Amy Magwood.

Read about Kaitlyn's Ministry at Casa Refugio

View the Spain Ministry Guide

Grief And Traditions

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Grief And Traditions

HOW IS DEATH HANDLED IN ATHABASCAN CULTURE?

The following is a teammate's description of their community's traditions around grief. (We are not sharing photos out of respect.) When someone dies in the Athabascan villages, everyone stops what they are doing to be there for the family. Typically, many will go to the family’s house to comfort the family as well as bring food to be shared. The body will be washed, cleaned and redressed with their traditional attire. Shortly after that, the body is moved to the church until the casket is built.

Immediately the men begin digging the grave for the deceased. This is done by shovel and pickax. Depending on the family and what resources they have, a jackhammer might also be used. If it is a winter burial, it will take days for the men to get the grave ready due to the hard-frozen ground they are breaking through.

The women begin gathering at the family’s home to sew for the deceased (hat, gloves, etc.). During this whole process the deceased belongings are divided between what is kept for their memorial potlatch (which occurs usually within a year or two after their death), and what will be burned. The men who don’t help dig gather at the community hall to build the casket from the material flown in from town. After the casket is built, the women gather in the hall to line the casket.

Each evening until the funeral the village gathers in the community hall to sing Gospel songs. This usually can last for two hours…some sing the Gospel songs while others sit around talking, listening, or playing games.

The body is moved to the community hall and placed in the newly made casket.

While the body is in the community hall, there is usually someone around keeping fire. The morning of the funeral, the hall is cleaned thoroughly. The family sits around the body while the community sits on the outside seats of the hall. After the funeral, the men related or close to the deceased will each take a screw and participate in screwing down the casket lid while Amazing Grace is sung by those in attendance.

The cross and casket are taken outside and put on a sled attached to a snow machine. This snow machine leads the way for everyone to follow through the village toward the cemetery.

During the burial, the women sing Gospel songs while the men cover the casket. Dried meat and dried fish are passed out to everyone during this process and in the winter a big fire is burning.

After the burial, people return home to prepare for the potlatch meal that evening where speeches are made about the deceased. The amount of food brought to the hall is important to the family in communicating how important the deceased was.

Many of the activities have underlying beliefs attached. The activities are carried out in such a way to help the deceased person move on peacefully to the afterlife, as well as protect those still living from bad luck and having problems with the departed spirit.

Also, each village is a culture in and among themselves, so some of these funeral preparations and superstitions aren’t in every village. A funeral is also different each time depending on the family’s beliefs and traditions.

Great Joy - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Great Joy - Ukraine Crisis Story

Your gifts continue SENDing Help and Hope through local churches in Ukraine!

From a church partner in Ukraine:

"During the past two weeks four youngsters and three adults made the decision and reconciled with Jesus. Almost all of them agreed to come onto the stage today so that the church could greet them and pray for them.

We are happy that God is reaching for people through us. We are glad that he has saved them from bombs and missiles, but most importantly - from eternal death. We realize that he is rejoicing about them even more than we are! The Heavenly Father has found them in this world! Christ's sacrifice wasn't in vain!

A lot of Christians don't see the fruits of their evangelism. But God is showing us his mercy and he has let us see these fruits. One day in heaven people will come to you and thank you that you did all you could so that they would be saved from the lake of fire."

Thank you for giving, and praying for Ukraine. God is using his people and his church to do incredible things in the midst of the crisis in Ukraine.

Give now to help relief efforts

Enough for Two Weeks - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Enough for Two Weeks - Ukraine Crisis Story

Igor* is a deacon at his church. He lost his job as a result of the war. But he has a small truck and drives in humanitarian aid. He mostly drives from Hungary to Ukraine. He has made the trip many times. He brings some of the humanitarian aid to his area, but most often goes to other areas. The church has rented three apartments to help refugees.

Today, with your help, displaced people received:

2 electric kettles
2 frying pans
4 pots
100 kg of potatoes
10 kg of carrots
Pasta
Onions
Cooking oil

Enough to sustain them for two weeks. Most of them are from Kharkov.

“Thank you so much. I can’t feel the earth under my feet! Praise God for you. You [sent help] just in time. Please keep me, who is unworthy, in your hand and don’t let me be anxious in the world.”

Give now to help relief efforts

Boundaries

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Boundaries

Ministry in the 60/70 Window is not easy. People are hurting, and the remedy requires someone to get close enough to love them deeply with God’s unconditional love. A powerful tool to make this happen is family. Having a happy, healthy, imperfect family living in these communities is stronger than you can imagine. However, the harsh reality is that hurting people hurt people. So how does one bring the Good News while keeping the family safe? Boundaries!

I’ll always remember the first time I saw this reality. I was on a short term team teaching VBS in one of our communities. I was shocked when the pastor told us about this harsh reality. He said that their kids were only allowed to play with friends outside or in their home. These safety precautions are not unique to those in ministry. A woman who just finished a short term assignment with us shared this story. “A woman in my community recently told me that a “good” mother is one that strongly discourages her children [specifically daughters] from ever entering into another friends’ or persons’ house even to use the bathroom, stating that, “You just never know who or who’s friends, are in there.””

Please pray for our teams, especially those with children. Pray for safety, wisdom, and that God’s love will transform our communities!

Daryl Carlson
SEND North Communication Specialist

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God Provides a Building

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

God Provides a Building

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2020 Annual Report.

-----

In an open hall where children used to develop their muscles through running, jumping, and climbing, Macedonian believers now are developing spiritual strength as they meet in their own church building.

Word of Hope Church started in 1997 as a Bible study in a fast-growing suburb of Skopje. A decade ago, the church had grown to the point where it needed a building - and so it started a persistent effort to raise funds.

God provided for this church building through everything from matching grants to a sponsored 30-mile run, to a Macedonian-focused campaign called, “Give Me One More Brick.”

God Provides a New Building

As funds from hundreds of generous donors rolled in over the years, church members kept their eyes open for the perfect building. Last year, they found it! Bambini, an indoor playground near the church’s cramped rental, had put its building up for sale after COVID made it impossible for children to play together indoors.

Believers Persist in New Opportunities

Weekly worship services started in last December. The new space gives the church room for outreaches, including language classes, orphan ministry, and fitness groups.

Josie, from Ontario, served in the church as a short-term worker until March 2020. Josie commented, “I remember the complexities of having two separate rental spaces for the church’s ministry. While the believers made it work, having one larger building will be considerably more convenient and aid the ministry.”

Through God’s provision and the believer’s persistence, the building will allow the congregation to easily triple in size —important, as the surrounding neighborhood is now three times as big as it was when that Bible study started in 1997!

Fruitful Practices- #1 Prayer

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fruitful Practices- #1 Prayer

Common Threads

More than any other time in history, we are seeing God move in various regions all across the Muslim world. Research has shown that common threads can be traced through various stories of successful church plants in Muslim fields. As we want to see more churches successfully planted, we want to learn from these consistent threads or “fruitful practices.” In the quarterly SEND Hope and Light E-newsletter, we will be introducing eight fruitful practice themes.

Prayer

John 15:5~ "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing." (NIV)

The first issue's fruitful practice theme is Prayer . There is a tremendous need for confident and expectant prayer; for Christian workers and by Christian workers. There is need for us, as workers, to solicit committed prayer supporters and supply them with regular requests and updates. There is also need for us to find opportunities to pray with the people we are trying to reach- for everyday situations concerning finances, health, relationships, etc.- allowing them to see the power of answered prayer.

To Be Seen by Men

We do not pray to be seen by others; we pray to be seen by others. These two sentences seem to be directly opposed to each other, but they are not. They illustrate the tension we sometimes feel, living and ministering among Muslims. We do not pray to boast about our personal relationship with God, as if we are better people than others who do not pray. Jesus himself asks us not to do this. However, we do take opportunities to pray in front of others , so that they can witness God answering our heartfelt prayers and identify us as spiritual people. This creates openness, so when our friends have spiritual needs and questions, they know that they can approach us.

The Straight Path

Many Muslims come to faith in Jesus Christ when they see the power of prayer in Jesus’ name. Though they have ritually prayed a lifetime of memorized prayers in Arabic, these prayers have never touched their heart, soul and life! One of the ritual prayers, recited by our Muslim friends, asks God to reveal to them “the straight path” to God. Pray that while Muslim hearts genuinely seek the “straight path to God,” they will discover Jesus to be the one Way.

30 Days of Prayer

Would you pray for Muslims and for workers in the Muslim world? Every year, we have a great opportunity to join with Christians around the world in praying for the Muslim world during the Islamic Month of Ramadan. Please check out the 30 Days of Prayer web site or prayer guidebook to see how you can be part of reaching the Muslim world for Christ through prayer.

Disaster Area

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Disaster Area

This is Part 2 of our current battle with two major floods in the Far North.
___
Galena, Alaska, May 26 - 30, 2013

The Setting: A mixed community of 500 Koyukon Athabaskans and non-natives, located on the Yukon River in the Alaskan Interior, accessible only by air or via the river.

The Incident: Similar to the situation above but on a much, much larger scale; the ice jammed and the vast Yukon River was impounded into a temporary lake 40 miles long. Over the course of several days the town was progressively inundated, first the “old town,” then parts of the new town site until everything located outside of the protective dike surrounding the old military base was flooded. Electricity, phone and water service were cut and roads became impassable as water surged into previously unaffected areas; in some locations rising 5-6 feet in less than an hour. Hundreds of residents were stranded before evacuation to other communities. Some homes were pushed off foundations by the current and others simply floated away. Vehicles were submerged and boats became the method of travel over what an hour before had been gravel roads. The only remaining dry land in Galena was inside the dike, creating an “island” actually below the water level. The flood threatened to breach the dike as it crested a mere 6 inches below the top. On the evening of the 28th a military C-130 departed with the last of the evacuees and sled dogs, leaving behind dozens of hardy residents living in boats. Every building outside the dike was impacted by water. Late in the afternoon of May 29th the ice jam began to weaken and lose its grip. By 9pm the jam released and moved downstream, allowing the extensive flood waters to drain back into the river system. At 10am Thursday, May 30th, the National Weather Service lifted the flood warning for Galena.

The Aftermath: Galena is now a disaster area. Roads were washed out or left impassable due to ice, debris, or even buildings dropped behind by the retreating water. Phone, fuel, water and sewer services are not operational. Electrical service has now been restored. Drinking water is scarce, as is food and gasoline. The community is crippled and faces a long, expensive task to rebuild and recover. Most supplies of firewood are lost, as are the freezers needed to store seasonal foods such as summer fish and fall moose meat.

How this affects the ministry of SEND North: Two of our three missionary families serving in Galena are now without housing; the third cannot bring his family home for a month or more. The Galena Bible Church is damaged and in need of major repair, as is the home of the local pastor. Hundreds of Galena evacuees will not be able to return until their homes can be repaired/rebuilt, presenting a multi-dimensional challenge; not only are funds needed (the total damages must be in the tens of millions of dollars) but the short season and remote location make building and obtaining supplies very difficult. Schools may not be open in the fall.

How you can learn more: Google “Galena, Alaska flood” or something similar, check out the facebook page, “Yukon River Rescue,” access the SEND North website (https://www.send.org/north/) and you can follow the staff links to the Fox’s, Kaufield’s or Hornfischer’s pages.

SEND opens library with eternal focus

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

SEND opens library with eternal focus

By Dave B. in Siberia

“Hey, Dave, do you have any books about moral purity? Do you have any Christian videos I could show to the guys at the rehab center? Does the resource center have anything that could help with our preacher training program? Do you have any books that could help me and my marriage?” These are just a few of the many inquiries we have received since opening the Christian Resource Center in Ulan-Ude, and they are evidence of the hunger people here in distant Siberia have for good Christian books and resources.

The vision for the Christian Resource Center project was born back when my family was studying Russian in Ukraine, but it took nearly four years to come to fruition.

For years (literally), I waited to see all these resources — many of which were still packed away in boxes I shipped from Ukraine — sitting on bookshelves and available to people for use. Praise God that the center is now open.

Besides a library of more than 1,200 books, the center also offers music, videos, pamphlets and tracts. We also have computers and a printer/copier available, so that people can work at the center.

I presented this resource to the pastors from our region, explaining to them how the center would work, the kinds of books available, and my desire to serve them in their various ministry roles. Praise God that we have already been able to hand out eight pastor book sets — an excellent collection of 35 books — to area pastors and churches. The resource center significantly adds to the materials they can use to study the Word, and now each of these pastors has his own borrower card.

Our vision is that the center will: cultivate a love for reading; provide access to excellent Christian books and other resources; equip believers through various training opportunities; support other local ministries; assist the development of churches and pastors throughout Buryatia; become a facilitator and promoter of theological education throughout Buryatia; and encourage as many people as possible in their own spiritual growth.

It seems our youth already are being equipped through the resource center. A few weeks ago, Marina borrowed a commentary on Galatians from the center. I thought it a bit strange that a teenage girl would want such a book, but I gladly lent it out.

A few weeks later, we found out that our youth group used the commentary to prepare for Bible Ring, a trivia competition. Our group has never done very well in the competition. Often they’ll return and say, “We got fourth place!” And we’ll say, “Great! How many teams were there?” The reply: “Four.”

This time, Bible Ring was focused on Galatians. Our youth placed first, and they were so excited! And I was excited too, because they had borrowed a book that helped them not just to win, but to gain a greater prize — knowledge of God’s Word.

Will you commit to pray for this strategic ministry center? Will you pray that these resources will be widely used and will have significant impact on individuals and on churches throughout this region?

Christ in community

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Christ in community

By Jon and Elaine Winter in Japan

It was good that we had brought the Kleenex box into the room because it turned out that God was about to show up. At our house church, we've been going over the “Sunday School” stories that tell us the basics of our God.

This particular Saturday it was the story of Isaac and Abraham, headed off to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah. There was a lot of discussion about why God would ever ask Abraham for something so uncharacteristically brutal. As we discussed the story, I heard the kids getting restless in the other room, so I tried to wrap up quickly.

“Let’s answer the last question together,” I said.“Sometimes God asks us to do something that seems like the outcome will be very painful or difficult. Describe a time like that in your life. What happened in the end?”

There was silence for a long time. Finally my friend John talked about a situation he and his family were in the middle of, still waiting to see the outcome. Relieved that someone had shared, I began to close the discussion.

Before I could end it, one of the women in the group spoke up. She had signed divorce papers given to her by her husband just a few weeks before. We had prayed together about that. While her husband was on the way to the city office to make it official, he suddenly turned around and went back home. After years of refusal, he started to attend marriage counseling with her. Tears began to flow.

Then another young woman baptized a couple of weeks ago shared about the incredible grief of losing her first husband to an accident. Through tears she told us that it had seemed too much to bear, but that God had brought her another husband, and she had been able to finally have a child too!

Our heart cry from the beginning has been that people would discover Christ in community. We are watching people change because of just that. People discovering God through the support and teaching of the body of Jesus Christ, his Church.

The joys of country living

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The joys of country living

Unlike us Americans who LIKE to get tan, the Taiwanese take measures to protect themselves from the sun. For instance, they do not think it strange to go for a walk on a sunny day with an umbrella over their heads. There are even umbrellas made to block the sun’s rays!

Recently Ruth became the grateful recipient of gifts from two neighbors — both intended to deliver her from being over-exposed to the sun as she traveled delivering the Grace meals to needy neighbors. One gift: homemade sleeves meant to be worn just when one is out and about and working in the sun. The other gift? A beautiful red bonnet! So now, Ruth is all set to GO! Ruth wears her gifts with heartfelt joy and gratitude.

It’s a beautiful feeling. When one enters into a community and learns to humbly receive and use the help that is offered, solid friendships result. Could this be why Jesus told his disciples to go out without purse or extra shoes and clothing? We are discovering that the people of Dalin love to return our kindness with acts and gifts of kindness, so we are learning to gracefully receive. Sometimes it is HARD, but we are learning to trust God to bless them abundantly and care for their need.

Life in the countryside appeals to us. The people are friendly and accessible. It's great to just sit and talk, getting to know our neighbors. After a little while, they open up and we can talk about their needs and the Lord's provision. What a privilege we have to be able to talk with the Taiwanese about real heart issues. This is the joy we have as church-planting missionaries serving with SEND International in Taiwan, pursuing the fulfillment of Vision 119.

Holy cow!

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Holy cow!

How two cows are helping to send a missionary

By Amanda Benson , SEND missionary in the Philippines

When the hand of God is at work for the glory of his name, watch out! There’s no telling what he will do!

I thought this during my devotions on one of the first staff days of the school year, back when I still lived in the States. Imagine my surprise when I walked into staff breakfast and talked to a co-worker who told me that she and her husband wanted to give me a cow toward my ministry teaching missionary kids in the Philippines! They had the cow picked out already, and they plan to raise it and sell its calves every year and give the money toward my mission.

I was shocked! Growing up in East River, S.D., and knowing very few ranchers, the idea that God would use cattle to support me never even crossed my mind.

A couple weeks later, after a speaking engagement, I met another man and his wife who also wanted to give me a cow toward my mission. Their young heifer will calve for the first time this spring. He said she is a unique color, and every time he goes out to feed her, he prays for me! Wow! What an incredible blessing.

As I shared this with my parents, my dad said, “The Bible says that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and he has given you two of them.” I’ve referred to this verse, Psalm 50:10, many times when raising support in the past, realizing that if God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, he can surely provide what I need. All we have is his, anyway, and we get the privilege of giving back to him. God is our supplier and provider!

Image credit: By Pos2013 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

I Am a Russian Orphan - Russia Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I Am a Russian Orphan - Russia Series

Russian orphans face many challenges—some expected, some not. But there is also a chance for hope. Part of the "Reaching Russia Together" series. Find links to the other videos in this series below.

Related Series

Why Church Planting?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Why Church Planting?

International Director Warren Janzen talks about the importance of starting local churches, revealing the heart of SEND International: "We want to transform lives and transform whole communities and transform whole societies, but that can't happen just with individual teams working on individual projects. We need to ... start local churches, and then the local church can continue that ministry into their communities."

Medical Ministry

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Medical Ministry

Having served in Alaska for nearly 80 years, we’ve been privileged to see God do some amazing things! One such story is Cross Road Medical Center in Glennallen, Alaska. They will be celebrating 60 years of Health and Hope this June. I want to share their story with you. It is a story of how God took the prayers and faithful service of one man and built a thriving ministry.

Cross Road Medical Center began as Faith Hospital in 1956, a medical ministry of Central Alaskan Mission (CAM), now known as SEND North. CAM's first missionaries, Rev. Vincent Joy and his wife Becky, arrived in the Copper River Basin in 1937 to begin the mission's church planting work.

In the early years of his work in the Copper River Basin, Rev. Joy was regularly called upon to give medical care to those in the Copper River Basin, since the nearest doctor was 120 miles away over a rugged mountain trail. Lacking equipment and training, Rev. Joy urged his supporting friends and churches to join him in prayer for a doctor to assist in this ministry. In 1950, these prayers were answered as the first doctor, Dr. Chet Schneider, arrived. Dr. Schneider started his practice working out of Becky Joy’s kitchen. In 1951, Dr. Schneider used a trailer for his office and in 1952, he moved his practice into a small framed shack. A small cabin was finally used as the last office space before the hospital was completed. A second doctor, Dr. Jim Pinneo, joined the medical team in 1954 and Faith Hospital in Glennallen was dedicated in 1956, a modest but adequate hospital building.

The doctors often made home visits, sometimes traveling over rough roads in frigid temperatures to help patients. Nurses also helped with patients. Nurses Lillian Scott (who came with the Joys and moved away before Faith Hospital opened), Mary Schultz, Ruth Ott, Beverly Grubb, and Mary Coryell were the earliest nurses.

In the 1980's Faith Hospital was voluntarily deregulated as a hospital due to the pressure of increasingly costly regulatory requirements. On July 1, 1988 the organization was incorporated as a not-for-profit Christian corporation governed under the direction of its own Board of Directors , apart from SEND, and renamed Cross Road Medical Center.

Cross Road Medical Center opened North Country Clinic in 2002 on the shores of Grizzly Lake to serve the needs of patients living on the Tok Cut-off. On March 1, 2014 The Interior Alaska Medical Clinic was officially opened. They provide services to the City of Delta Junction , approximately 150 miles north of Glennallen. CRMC hopes to add desired pharmacy services there in the future as funds become available.

Faith Hospital/Cross Road Medical Center has seen many changes over the years. It has expanded from a prayer to a viable organization of health services covering a service area about the size of the state of Illinois. Rural Alaska is still quite remote compared to most parts of the country, and has roughly 10,000 residents. Rural medicine continues to pose extra challenges for those trying to meet needs. Yet, in spite of sometimes seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and still coveting the prayers of many, Cross Road has been blessed to be able to continue to impact lives in the South Central Interior of Alaska, bringing health and hope.

To learn more about CRMC go to their website; www.crossroadmc.org

Love Europe - Europe Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Love Europe - Europe Series

This video wrestles with the challenges of reaching Europe and declares a determination to love Europe. Part of "UnFinished: Reaching Europe." Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

Renewed excitement for giving

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Renewed excitement for giving

After receiving the Stories of Change bite-sized projects brochure, a donor sent us this letter. She gave us permission to share it here:

Dear SEND,

How exciting to have the chance to help support this work! My husband and I heard the Lisu’s story years ago, but never dreamed we would hear about a present-day work among (and by) them, let alone have a chance to support it.

We have our own (tiny) testimony to share. I have been over budget on groceries numerous times recently, and we had decided to work on using what we had in the freezer in order to be more faithful with what God has given us. I had sent off all the bills and all our pledges, and there was just the grocery money and a few dollars extra. Your “Stories of Change” came in the mail. We talked it over and decided we would see how the shopping went this week. After we prayed, I did the shopping.

I usually spend at least $15-20 during the week after buying “the week’s” groceries. This week, we are finishing the week with a full gas tank, 5 meals left of what I had planned (I don’t know how), and $35 left from last week’s shopping money. We also were invited out twice in the past week. None of the designated funds had to be spent for so much as a jug of milk.

To top it off (or more importantly), I feel an excitement about giving that I haven’t felt in a long time. I hope this small gift will help fill a need, but more importantly, that God will fill all the need, according to His riches in glory.

May God bless you all richly, as He says—he who gives one of these little ones a cup of cold water in My name shall not lose his reward.

Explore our bite-sized projects

6 Phases of Church Planting (SlideShare)

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

6 Phases of Church Planting (SlideShare)

SEND International's mission is to mobilize God’s people and engage the unreached in order to establish reproducing churches. This presentation explains how we go about starting new churches.

View on SlideShare

Forward From Disaster - Japan Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Forward From Disaster - Japan Series

The Great East Japan Earthquake left over 20,000 people either dead or missing. See the progress that has been made to rebuild and reclaim hope. Part of the series "Japan: Unshakable Hope." Find links to other videos in the series below.

Related Series

Finding Hope - Japan Series

Spiritual - Japan Series

Willing to Change?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Willing to Change?

From a long-term mission worker in Russia.

An Unexpected Loss

From the moment I arrived in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, I delved into language study and got involved working with orphans. I was enjoying this rewarding work when I learned that, for various reasons, SEND was concluding ministry in Krasnoyarsk. What?! This was hard to understand because it was so unexpected.

To be honest, I grieved the loss of this ministry but soon began to pray and seek wisdom from others regarding my next ministry location. I believed that God had something else for me!

In time it became clear that God was leading me to Ulan Ude, Siberia. Though the change was daunting and I did not know exactly what to expect, I took the next step of faith and made the move! But I discovered that when God calls you to a new place, He also enables you to adjust to the new location and the new team, plus He gives you a love for new people and a new ministry.

A Perfect Fit

A Blessing in Disguise

As I look back at that unexpected transition from Krasnoyarsk to Ulan Ude, I learned that I do not need to be afraid of change. It can actually be a blessing in disguise. Plus, the change forced me to totally lean on God for enabling and for fruitfulness, rather than relying on my own abilities and experience.

It was amazing to experience God’s grace as I embraced the plans that He designed even though they were unexpected!

Discover Missions Opportunities.

Discipleship Opportunities for Young People

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Discipleship Opportunities for Young People

SEND’s two discipleship-focused internship programs, Engage and D House , give young adults a uniquely beneficial internship experience:

“I deeply appreciated learning from the missionaries. By spending time with them I got an understanding of what ministry is like and observed how they daily display the heart of Christ to the Japanese. – Braeden, D House Intern (Japan) from Alberta

“The D-house for me has been a totally transformative experience! I have learned so many ways to connect with God that have impacted my relationship with Him.” – Olivia, D House Intern (Spain) from Saskatchewan

View the SEND Canada Annual Report

Missions —A Pastor's Perspective

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Missions —A Pastor's Perspective

On the Global Missions Podcast, Pastor Terry Young takes us back to the basics of why we do missions — "We should be involved in missions because mission is at the very heart of the character of God." He explains where we see God's heart for the nations throughout the Bible and he shares with us some of his insights in promoting missions in the church from the perspective of a pastor. Listen to episode 38 of the Global Missions Podcast here: http://globalmissionspodcast.com/038/

A role for everyone

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A role for everyone

SEND's workers around the world see our new vision statement — a global movement of Jesus followers making disciples among the unreached — taking root in each place they serve. Today we focus on “ Jesus followers. ” The Great Commission offers a church-building, disciple-making role to all who believe — the missionaries who go, but also those who stay and support by praying and giving. Today we share the encouraging ripple effect of one financial gift — an educational scholarship for a teen-age girl in Thailand.

• • •

By a SEND worker in Thailand — Ning lives in a poor village on the northern border of Thailand. Her family largely survives by selling coconut ice cream in the market.

Several years ago, SEND workers befriended Ning's family. The Filipino couple with SEND would offer medicine and wellness education to improve the health of the Shan villagers. Ning began visiting the SEND-run community center where she studied English and learned to play the drums. She was fascinated by stories from the Bible. Before long, Ning chose to make Jesus her Lord.

Ning's parents seemed supportive enough at the start. But before long, the pressures of the village community, locked in folk Buddhism for centuries, came crashing down. Ning was forbidden to have any more contact with the SEND workers.

At first, Ning rebelled. On Sundays she would make some excuse to run an errand, but then race off to the center to play drums in the Shan worship service. Once the SEND workers realized what was happening, they encouraged Ning to obey and respect her parents, and wait to see what God might do.

All the other Shan believers prayed like crazy for Ning. She was dearly missed. Before long, Ning noticed a softening in her parents’ hearts. Little by little, she was allowed to have contact with the SEND workers and the small community of faith. Soon she was playing the drums again with all her might to the glory of God.

But Ning faced another threat. Shan girls of her age usually are sent off to earn money for their families, often by working at massage parlors and urban brothels.

To help Ning and 14 other girls avoid this fate, SEND offered educational scholarships. Not only did Ning’s parents allow her to study, they let her live at our center, where she can be tutored by a Shan dorm-mom who is discipling these precious girls.

Just a few weeks ago, we hosted a blessing for the dorm. We prayed many of the girls’ parents would come. Guess who provided the coconut ice cream? Ning's mom!

We pray for a great movement of God to transform the lives of the people in this village. The transformation has already begun in Ning and her family.

• • •

Which role will you play in the global movement of Jesus followers making disciples among the unreached ? Explore opportunities to pray , give or go .

• • •

Your Journey

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Your Journey

SEND International Director Warren Janzen explains his journey into missions and explains how an organization like SEND can help come alongside you as you seek to follow Jesus.

I Will Not Bow Down

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I Will Not Bow Down

After a young girl in Northern Thailand trusts Jesus, she is told at school to bow down to the Buddha statue. She looks to a Bible to help her make her choice.

Why Missions?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Why Missions?

"Behind me are 90,000 people who don't know Christ." A missionary in Ukraine shares his passion and urgency to reach his neighbors.

Kahdil's Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Kahdil's Story

Kahdil (*name has been changed) and all his siblings live together with their old grandmother in a small, square hut with only a bed. Kahdil’s grandmother moves slowly, with a hunched back, around their compound each day- gathering coconut leaves to make in to broomsticks to sell. This miniscule income is all the family has to live on. Kahdil’s father is a tricycle* driver, who left the family to move to a nearby city with his second wife, where he thought he would make more money. Unfortunately, because of new traffic regulations, Kahdil’s father was prohibited from driving his tricycle on the city highway, severely limiting the trips he could make.

Daily Challenges

With no extra support from his father and his grandmother's tiny income, Kahdil and his siblings do not have enough money for their daily needs or school allowance. They often walk long distances to school on empty stomachs. However, Kahdil has never allowed these conditions to quench his ambition. He is currently enrolled in his second year as a Mathematics Major at the local university. He gets good grades, receives Team Hope’s monthly scholarship allowance to help cover tuition and fees, and is determined to graduate.

A Relationship Restored

In a recent meeting we asked, “What are you rejoicing in this week?” Kahdil broke into tears and shared that he is now on speaking terms with his father. When he had finally been honest with his father about his feelings, they cried together and Kahdil was able to extend forgiveness. Kahdil’s father is now doing his very best to support his son's education.

A New Hope

*a common local form of public transportation; a motorcycle with a small passenger car attached

Pray for the SEND Hope & Light Campaign to mobilize more Christian workers into the Muslim World.

Give toward the expansion of Team Hope's Work in Southeast Asia.

Explore opportunities to go and partner with SEND Muslim ministry teams.

Baptism at 20 Below

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Baptism at 20 Below

What? Are you kidding me? Requesting to be baptized in the middle of winter?

Joe (not his real name) had been attending our little chapel since August, having come to our town as part of his urban planning internship. His quiet strength and solid convictions were a welcome addition to our fellowship. Being the Ontario kid that he was, he thoroughly enjoyed learning of the uniqueness of the Far North, including a desire to experience -40 (he got close when it hit -34C). As his internship was coming to an end in early December, he asked for a favor: "Can you baptize me? I was baptized as a small kid, but it would be very special for me if it can be done with this church and these people."

My first impulsive thought was, 'you've been here since August, and now you ask this?' I very much wanted to accommodate his request, but the actual mechanics of doing this would be a stretch, to say the least.

I conferred with my colleague as to what we can do. After several outside-the-box suggestions (bury him in snow :-) , chop a hole in the lake, put him in the shower or bathtub), we agreed to pour water over him as he kneeled in a toboggan sled to catch the water. I firmly believed that God would understand this method (even forgive us? :-) ) even though we were staunch 'immersion-ists.' After all, it's what's in the heart we believed. And so we did; hearing of his confession of faith and desire to publicly make a stand to follow Jesus we poured water over him from a vase that looked like it came from the 3rd century B.C.

After we sang "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" I asked in a matter-of-fact tone "Would anyone else wish to be baptized?" To our surprise and delight a woman observing all this interjected: "Yes, I would." The spontaneity of the moment was as thrilling and moving as was the initial baptism. We repeated the steps once again and rejoiced in seeing these two followers of Jesus seal their commitment.

Pastor T
Yukon, Canada

Teacher Interview

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Teacher Interview

Why did you become a teacher?

It was love of adventure and travel and God’s divine intervention that led me to teaching. I said, “Here am I. Send me.” And God sent me to the Philippines to teach in an ex-pat Christian school. It was then that I discovered my gift was teaching as I fell in love with every aspect of the teaching process.

How did God lead you to your current position?

Once again, my sense of adventure led me to come to Alaska to learn to fly in the summer of 2004. At the time I was teaching in North Carolina and was invited to join a building crew to build a church in Kazakhstan for one month and then come to Alaska after that to learn to fly. How could I refuse? My instructor was a veteran Bush pilot and missionary with SEND as well as the former area director for Eurasia. Upon finishing my private pilot’s license the following summer, Dwayne King asked if I’d consider coming to Alaska as a Bush teacher/missionary/ pilot. My first response was, “I’ll think about it.” However, one month after returning to North Carolina, I felt God’s calling on my life to serve in Alaska. At the time I was single and had always envisioned going on the mission field with a family, but resolved: if this is God’s calling then what am I waiting for? I was convinced that this decision meant I was surrendering the desires of my heart to be single for the rest of my life and I was willing to make that sacrifice to serve God. Little did I know He had an amazing godly husband waiting for me in a remote village in Alaska.

Upon making my decision to move to Alaska, I contacted SEND International and was set up for an interview in February the following year so that I could begin my support raising. I purposely chose to move to Alaska and just do substitute teaching in a village so that I could experience a winter in Alaska without feeling like I was trapped. I ended up doing two years of long-term subbing before God opened the door to our present location where I’ve been under contract for nine years.

What is the process for becoming a teacher in a village?

Since I already had a teaching license in another state the process for obtaining an Alaska state license was somewhat easier. The licensing process requires a lot of paperwork and even some additional testing that wasn’t required for my previous license. The state of Alaska also requires 3 credits of an Alaska history course as well as 3 credits of cross-cultural studies. Most school districts are eager to fill openings so they will hire a teacher as long as they can show proof they’re working on the Alaska state licensure process. Other than the State licensing process, find a job is fairly easy these days and the options are quite abundant so doing your research on the various districts and locations is highly recommended. Many districts just want a warm body but offer little support, and some villages have a high turnover rate and are likely the roughest villages because of lack of consistency. Even though God may be calling you to Alaska and He will never leave or forsake you, you still need to choose a location that offers spiritual support because the village can be a very dark and oppressive place, both in a literal and spiritual sense. The goal of SEND is not to see how many missionaries we can get in and out of a place, but for their missionaries to have the opportunity to be in a place long enough to make disciples. In the village it takes about 4-8 years before there is the opportunity to speak truth into people’s lives and even glimpse this kind of life change. Therefore, choosing a village to teach in takes much prayer and consideration when your intent is to be there for the long haul.

How is teaching in Alaska different from teaching in the Lower 48?

My first year I would describe teaching in Alaska to be like herding cats. There are a lot of independent, free-spirited kids that lack structure and you’re trying to gently enforce order to accomplish some semblance of formalized learning. I would describe my classroom as “managed chaos,” with six grade levels in one classroom. This is somewhat easier with the younger kids who just love having attention and desire some sense of consistency. However, when it comes to teaching middle school and above the common themes of apathy, lack of motivation and little drive lead to youth falling into addictions. Finding ways to inspire and motivate these students is the challenge. Unfortunately, living off the land and supporting yourself with hard work, is often not enough to keep generations from giving into drug and alcohol addictions which in turn lead to abuse, neglect, and suicide. The hope we have in Christ is the light that shines in the darkness and is what we bring into the cultures we live and teach within.

Most villages are so small that it is impossible not to know what is or has been happening in the lives of my students, and this, too, is a difference in teaching in Alaska. Teaching is not an isolated event in your day, or a job to go to and then leave at the end of the work day. It is all consuming because your job is in the middle of your life and everything else around you is consumed by it. Ministry as a teacher is non-stop, life on life, discipleship because you are witnessing to the children from the moment they walk into the building (often way too early), to the end of the day when you’re pushing them out the door to gain a little sanity, which then carries over into your evenings when they knock at your door to come visit. Finding boundaries is the biggest challenge with teaching in Alaska.

What are the advantages to being both a teacher and a member of SEND North in a village?

Having support is the biggest advantage to being a part of SEND North in the village. I know that at any given time I can call on my SEND family to encourage me with a phone call, a visit, or even helping me get away from the village for awhile. If ever I am feeling lonely, depressed, or isolated, I know that all I need to do is send an email or make a call and SEND will be there to encourage me and offer the support needed. If I am struggling with how to handle a situation or not sure how to navigate the culture, SEND can lead me to resources or training that will better prepare me. Just knowing that I have other family and co-laborers in Christ who are going through the same struggles and knowing I’m not alone in the trenches helps bring me the support and encouragement I need.

What specific challenges have you had in your current position and in your village?

Addictions are the biggest challenge to my current position. The addictions that paralyze the people in my community trickle down to affect all aspects of life in a small community. In addition to that, I do not have administration that resides in my community, which adds additional duties to my already busy teaching load. Discipline issues, staffing problems, maintenance trouble, paperwork, and lesson planning for multiple grade levels in all subjects, pull me away from the classroom. If I have special needs students, I don’t have an on-site trained professional to refer them to. I have to address those needs as well. Not all schools are the same and some villages are set up differently where these resources are available, but most don’t. These challenges often lead teachers to decline membership an organization like SEND North, because they believe it will only add to their paperwork and accountability; rather membership should be viewed as a place to receive support and help.

What advice would you offer a teacher who is praying about teaching in a village/joining SEND North?

Prayerfully consider where God is leading you, know your limitations and weaknesses, and ask God to lead you to a location where you can come alongside others who will compliment your weaknesses. Begin thinking through how you will recognize and establish healthy boundaries for your Spiritual well-being; think through how you will continue to feed yourself when you don’t have a healthy body of believers surrounding you. Allow the administration within SEND North to guide you and let the Holy Spirit work through this organization to lead you to a location where you can use your gifts and talents for His Kingdom’s sake.

Northern Ministry Training

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Northern Ministry Training

Those ministering in the Far North work hard!

They face a host of heartbreaking statistics played out in the lives of those they have come to love. Violence, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, sexual abuse, incarceration, and broken families are just some of the realities of working in bush ministry. Servants working in the North must face these challenges while working amid an ancient culture experiencing a modern revival. They must navigate sharing the Gospel in a community that has synergistic roots and where history places them as an unwelcome outsider. These hurdles take place, mainly in isolation, in a harsh climate and an expensive, remote setting.

Does that sound exhausting to you? Well, it is, and it is more than worth it. That is why SEND North works to make sure people are not lost to ministry burn out. Even though our teammates come with solid Bible College and general cross-cultural training, we have found that something more is needed. This is why we members of our team took the leap many years ago and began Northern Ministry Training. While our people birthed it, NMT is an independent ministry serving anyone ministering in Alaska. God is using this annual event to make a measurable difference in the Far North.

At this time, no other training like this exists in Alaska to teach and train servants for the particular issues of Northern Ministry. Northern Ministry Training is essential to the long-term health of Alaskan ministry and those who serve in the North. The next round of classes begins May 26, 2018

Please pray for God’s hand of guidance and protection during this vital training event. Please share this link with anyone you know who is doing ministry in Alaska: www.send.org/north/training

No Electricity

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

No Electricity

From one of our church partners:

"We continue our activities, as always, despite the increased aggression from the enemy. Many power plants are affected, and this affects life in the city. Thank God that He continues His mercy over us. But in order to save electricity in the city, electricity is turned off in different areas of the city every day..."And that's why we can be without light for a long time, and for those people whose electricity is connected to water supply, then people are also without water. Thank you for your understanding, we pray that the situation will improve. Thank you for your prayers! Because it is a miracle, but there is always light in the church!"

Give now to help relief efforts

Lessons Learned from an Internship in Macedonia

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Lessons Learned from an Internship in Macedonia

Kasey, from northern British Columbia, had her heart set on doing an internship in Ukraine. However, when the crisis in Ukraine began in February 2022, going to Ukraine became impossible.

Despite Kasey’s disappointment, she trusted God to provide a new location. He opened the door for her to serve in North Macedonia beginning in May 2022.

Some of Kasey’s ministries included helping teach English to Afghan refugee children and adults, and conducting outreach to the community. Kasey also ministered at various camps where she used her creativity to teach crafts.

Through her internship, God confirmed His calling on Kasey to be involved in long-term cross cultural ministry. Kasey’s internship provided her with experiences that will assist her in fulfilling God’s call.

First, Kasey excelled at learning Macedonian and Albanian, and was not afraid to use those languages with people she met. Kasey learned that speaking the heart language is essential to connecting with people and communicating the Gospel!

Second, Kasey realized she could live in a foreign country. Kasey learned to do things herself, like order data for her phone, buy groceries, and travel around the city. Those experiences gave Kasey the confidence that she can adjust to living cross-culturally!

Third, Kasey saw that worship in the Albanian church in Macedonia is different from what she is familiar with in Canada. The congregation is small, and the only accompaniment is a tambourine. Kasey observed that a missionary must be creative when leading worship. And she plans to learn an instrument, so she can contribute to worship in the church where she will serve!

Kasey set aside her disappointment about not going to Ukraine and was committed to serving God in North Macedonia. As a result, Kasey developed relationships by showing compassion and a willingness to serve people. Plus, she better understands what it will take to be a fruitful long term missionary!

Pray for SEND Missionaries

Should I Go?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Should I Go?

Just got back from an overseas mission trip? It's the perfect opportunity to let all that you learned inform your next steps.

Thanks for Helping Ukraine

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Thanks for Helping Ukraine

Give now to help relief efforts

Missions teams in SEND

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Missions teams in SEND

SEND believes strongly that teams are a highly effective way to engage unreached people, but just as in sports, not all mission teams are alike.

Here are three kinds of mission teams you may find in SEND ministries:

The Basketball Team — BT
In basketball, five players work very closely together. They have to keep close tabs on each other, hand off the ball, watch each other’s backs, and get that ball down the court to the basket.

Members of a “BT” SEND team work closely together and interact constantly with each other about the goal. They probably live near each other and target the same people or the same neighborhood.

The Track Team — TT
A track team has a common goal, but each individual runs alone. Teammates may do relays where they hand off the baton from one to another, or they may run side by side, jumping hurdles. Their goal is to take the prize, and everyone wins together.

A “TT” SEND team works side by side and each individual is somewhat independent. The team has a common goal: evangelism and discipleship of least-reached people in their area. Teammates gather for team meetings, but may minister more as individuals. In some cases, they work as a tag team, with one team member engaging the unreached, another doing evangelism, another discipling new believers, and others establishing a reproducing church. Each is important to the team and everyone wins together.

Expedition Teams — X-TEAMS
X-Teams have at least two members, a guide and an explorer. Together they learn how to penetrate new areas or find creative ways to uncover new possibilities in places already explored. An X-team is small and nimble, takes calculated risks, and connects deeply with the local culture.

An “X-Team” in SEND is a SEND missionary and an international leader working closely together in ministry. Depending on the situation, the SEND missionary may be the guide or the explorer, but the bottom line is, it doesn’t matter who leads. X-team members understand that comfort and home are secondary in this intense partnership for God’s glory. They know their goal — engaging the least-reached and establishing reproducing churches. Because they come from different backgrounds, it can be risky, but it’s exciting and everyone wins together.

Shepherding people

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Shepherding people

By a SEND Albanian Ministries worker

Besim* was just 14 years old when I first met him. He was raised in a remote mountain village in Southeast Europe where he spent his days herding sheep and goats. His Albanian elders taught him the intricacies of their cultural rules that still govern life even in the “modern” cities.

I met Besim when he came to the city for high school. I was a fresh-on-the-field missionary, 20 years his senior. And when I told him the gospel, he believed with childlike faith. When he returned home on holiday, he shared the gospel with his friends and family and started a domino effect of belief.

Besim and his friends were a vital help to the missionary community in understanding and communicating to his culture. These boys and girls became the catalysts of a church movement that has reached literally thousands in cities and villages around the world.

I have had the privilege of serving alongside Besim for 19 years now. He is the pastor of a local church and many of his friends are in key leadership roles in other churches. They were the ones who opened their homes and shared what little they had with war refugees in the 1990s. They have endured threats on their lives and beatings. They have been disavowed by family and friends. They gave up opportunities for prosperous lives in major cities to return to the remote areas to plant churches. They serve with dedication in full-time leadership roles in churches while supporting themselves through full-time work. They are consistent and faithful partners in establishing the church among Albanians and give up vacation time to serve in any way needed with the camp ministry. And they send key leaders to other countries on vision trips with a desire to spread the gospel.

When I asked Besim what he would do to start a church plant in another city among his people, here’s what he said:

And Jesus will raise up his church.”

Over the past two decades of serving with Besim, I have often wondered, who is teaching whom?

*Not his real name

Out of the Snowbank

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Out of the Snowbank

As winter lands on many of us here in Canada (especially Calgary this week - wow!), driving conditions become a significant challenge. Can you relate to having your vehicle caught in the snow? Perhaps you remember that sinking feeling as you realize that your tires… are… just… not going to grab. Instead, they begin to spin, and you are stuck. Sigh...

Getting Moving Again

Whether you’re the driver or a passenger, you’re in a fix. After walking around the vehicle to confirm the problem, you try to make sure the wells are clear, and maybe put some traction under the wheels. Then you get back in, straighten the wheel, and begin to rock the car back and forth, and back and forth. Things are much better if you have some helping hands. It’s a collective cultural event in Canada to help push each other out of snowbanks! People shove with all their might, trying to stay clear of flying snow and ice…

Just About There

Then, slowly… gradually, you feel the tires begin to find some traction, and the car moves just a bit. The “pushers” from behind feel it also, and yell their encouragement! “Go! Go! GO!!” they yell as they redouble their efforts. Then car slowly inches forward! You’re almost there… That’s the point – that moment of “just about there…” that I feel like SEND Canada is at.

Gaining Traction

In some ways we’ve been a bit stuck. Thankfully, we have a team that’s continuing to learn and we’re making adjustments. We’re working to “clear the wheel wells”, and we’re pushing! Many of you reading this are pushing with your prayers and financial support as well – thank you!! We’ve got increased traction on college campuses. We’ve got improved traction with foundations in Canada. And we’ve got a big push in 2014 with our new Church Partnership Initiative – ways a mission agency can serve the church, and not the other way around! Stay tuned for more on this!

Hope and Optimism

I hope this little story brings a picture of hope and optimism about SEND. Thanks to those of you who are helping to “push” with your prayers and finances! Pray a quick prayer for us, would you? We’re asking God to help us get out on the open road in 2014!

Discover Ministry Opportunities.

The power of camps

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The power of camps

By Stacey Lovett, ministering to university students in Tokyo, Japan

Ministry during summer breaks almost entirely consists of preparing for and attending camps. Some summers, I attend at least seven camps.

To be honest, there’s always a part of me that finds camps a burden. At camps I often have to sleep in less than comfortable circumstances. I spend long days listening and speaking in Japanese. The limitless energy of the students leaves me exhausted for days afterward.

Yet, at the end of every camp, I’m stunned by the change that occurred in my life and in the students’ lives. Take a summer outreach camp, where the the theme was “God Is Love” from I John 4.

Twenty of the 90 campers were non-Christians. The messages provided a clear presentation of the Gospel. Each student was also in a small group of eight where they discussed the messages and shared their thoughts and feelings during camp. We also enjoyed lots of great activities and games.

One of the most inspiring parts of the camp was a night hike we took to a hill just above the camp. The camp is located far from the city, so the clear weather that night revealed thousands of stars. There were at least 10 shooting stars while we were out there! All 90 students and staff sat in complete silence and darkness. Nobody wanted the experience to end.

There are few greater apologetics for the God of the Bible than an experience like that. What seemed like just a fun activity turned into one of the most powerful statements of the gospel we had all week.

On the final night of camp we had a bonfire outside. Each small group of eight students nominated one of their members to give a testimony at the bonfire. I expected that most of the testimonies would be from the Christian students explaining why they became a Christian. I was completely amazed when at least half of the testimonies were by non-Christian students who expressed a desire to become a Christian. Of the 20 non-Christians who attended, around half decided that they wanted to become Christians! We are praising God for such incredible fruit!

'This is war'

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

'This is war'

By SEND workers in Ukraine

For many believers in war-torn eastern Ukraine, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” is no longer just a Christian cliché. James’ advice has become a harsh reality.

Yelisey, a pastor from the Lugansk region, described the situation in a Ukrainian Baptist magazine:

“Try to imagine your city and your life when there is no water for a month. Imagine how you might do dishes. You cannot flush the toilet, wash your face, do the laundry. There is nothing to drink.

A church member holds a white flag as he delivers drinking water in the conflict zone.

“There is no electricity in the city. You can’t use any of your favorite appliances. During a sleepless night you flip a switch, but you can’t disperse the darkness in your room or in your soul.

“No gas. If you want to cook a meal, you have to leave your apartment building and look for wood to make a fire.

“Worst of all, you have no means of communication. Crouching behind walls shaking from explosions, you cannot call loved ones to say goodbye, and they cannot call you to find out if you are still alive. Basements, cold, dark and damp, are overfilled with scared people. Children are crying and women are hysterical.

“Leaving the basement is dangerous. The brave ones can expect a thousand pieces of shrapnel from exploding mines. Dead bodies are lying in the street. Elderly who are having a difficult time breathing can’t expect an ambulance to come. There is no medicine or food in the stores because they’ve been looted.

“This is horrible. This is war.”

Yelisey’s church was burned beyond use.

“It’s easy to love others when everybody is smiling,” he said. “But how do you love those who hate you?”

Yelisey's church was destroyed in a fire.

One day a group of armed men gathered outside his window, and Yelisey’s heart was gripped with fear and hatred.

“I understand that it’s wrong to hate, and I was praying that God would free me from those feelings and would teach me to love,” he said. “I came to understand that I have to look at all people, without exception, through God’s eyes. And in God’s eyes, all people are lost, dying sinners who need salvation.

“I remembered Philippians 2:5 — ‘Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’ When this word was dissolved in my heart, I opened the door of my apartment.

“It was a warm evening and the sun was setting. I approached the armed men, those who rightfully deserve the judgment and wrath of God. After greeting them and introducing myself, I said, ‘Guys, you need to repent! You need to ask God for forgiveness of your sins.’ After these words, the hatred was gone and my heart was warm with feelings of compassion and pity for dying souls."

Free guide: 'Concert of Prayer'

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Free guide: 'Concert of Prayer'

A description of a concert of prayer, plus 17 specific prayer requests and a sample schedule. Click here to find out how to bring this valuable ministry to your church.

The Traveling Team

International church in Kyiv celebrates its first baptisms

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

International church in Kyiv celebrates its first baptisms

By G.K. in Kyiv, Ukraine

First times are always special – your first kiss, a child’s first steps, the first time you ride a bike. In the past year, Lighthouse International, a multinational church plant in Kyiv, has celebrated many firsts in growth and development. It’s been an incredible journey!

We now rent a space to meet in, rather than cramming into our apartment. We’ve grown large enough that we need to use microphones and audio equipment, and we have started celebrating the Lord’s Supper together.

We've also celebrated a very special first — our church’s first baptisms. Our 14-year-old son took this step along with a graduate student who grew up in a Muslim family, but who has been attending Lighthouse International and related ministries for the past few years. Both were eager to express their commitment to Christ in front of friends, family and others.

SEND’s Ken Guenther joined in the celebration. “It was the first time I had ever witnessed the baptism of someone from a Muslim background,” he said. “The clarity of the young woman’s testimony, her confidence and joy in taking this step of faith, and much evidence of many close relationships within the family of God really spoke of the reality of this decision for her.”

It was a mixed audience of about 60 students and families – many of whom don’t know Christ personally.

“I was particularly impressed that a number of the young woman’s fellow students, not yet believers themselves, decided to come and witness this event,” Ken said. They witnessed something very special that day – two young people expressing their faith and commitment to Christ in a new church plant focused on reaching the nations.

“I was impressed with the commitment of the young man who was baptized – he gave his whole testimony in Russian, even though most of the audience could have understood English – and with his evident desire to be a part of this church plant,” Ken said. “During the worship time, he and his dad played the trumpet together. Even though he hadn’t played the instrument for 25 years, his dad stepped in after his son’s trumpet teacher backed out at the last minute. Together they gave a powerful testimony of their commitment to serve God together as father and son.”

A living testimony

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A living testimony

How much theological training does one need to bring someone to Christ? There is no requirement; your life speaks louder than your words. Wai Jing is preaching the gospel with her life.

Gary and Mabel Meade’s journey with Wai Jing began in April 2008. They met her at Dongshi Baptist Church in Taiwan when she was still dependent on illegal drugs and heavy prescription medications.

Wai Jing’s visits to the church were on and off until 2012. But after Mabel started a regular Bible study with her, Wai Jing surrendered her life to Jesus. The Meades asked supporters to pray for real change in Wai Jing’s life, knowing that it would be a long journey. But by the grace of God, she has changed to a totally “new” person.

Her testimony has impacted her family and her co-workers. In June of 2014, Wai Jing made a public profession of faith in front of the people at church and her whole family. Before she was baptized, she read her testimony of faith and a special thanks to her family for their care and support over the years.

The grace and power of God have changed this woman who was once drug dependent to someone who is completely free from illegal drugs and takes almost no medication. She once hated her family, especially her stepmother, but now she expresses love to her family and cares for her stepmother to the point she will even babysit her stepmom’s children. God is real to her!

God continues to use her life to be a blessing to her family. In September 2014, her aunt who lives two doors down from Dongshi Baptist Church attended an area combined worship service. She made her decision to follow Christ on that day! She is so amazed at the changes she has witnessed in Wai Jing’s life; she wanted to experience this God herself.

In the meantime, Wai Jing’s brother has been attending a weekly Bible study with Wai Jing and a couple other people from church. In January 2015, he prayed to invite Christ to be his personal Savior!

God’s amazing grace does not stop there. Wai Jing’s stepmother attended the 2014 Christmas celebration at church and on that evening, she accepted Christ! They were once enemies; they are now friends. More importantly, they belong to the same family of God.

Wai Jing’s father came to church also; we still pray for God’s saving grace upon him.

Pray for Your Missionary

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Pray for Your Missionary

Spiritual life Sunday

Ministry Monday

Family Tuesday

Relationships with co-workers Wednesday

Place of service Thursday

Ability to communicate Friday

Physical needs Saturday

Pray for Missionary Children

Spiritual life Sunday

Materialism Monday

Transitions Tuesday

Witness Wednesday

Thirst Thursday

Family Friday

Safety Saturday

Community Thankfulness

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Community Thankfulness

Our friend, Pastor Chris Kopp, shared this on Facebook at 11:11 pm on Wednesday November 25th: “This is the OPPOSITE of Black Friday. Its nemesis, Community Thankfulness Wednesday. It is comprised of people, not related to each other, who are so grateful for things that they help STOCK THE SHELVES before buying their goods. I love my village and wish your community the same kind of Thanksgiving!” This comment was connected to the shared picture and post:

This incident brings to mind something a teammate once told me, “We teach the people, but at the same time they teach us!”

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Download the free report, God’s Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the 60/70 Window .

Like a Light - Missionary Highlights Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Like a Light - Missionary Highlights Series

A missionary couple from the North talk about how people appreciate the Light of Christ that we carry.

The Turn - Europe Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Turn - Europe Series

This video provides an encouraging glimpse of how God is changing lives across Europe. It's part of "UnFinished: Reaching Europe" — a five-video series by SEND International that explores European culture and the need to bring the gospel message to European countries. Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

Through Bars of Iron

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Through Bars of Iron

Psalm 107:14,16~ “He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains; for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.”

Closed to the Gospel

Team Hope has had a presence among the SE Asian Miga* people group for almost 20 years. Reaching this group of 1.5 million Muslims with the Light of Jesus often feels like trying to break through solid gates of bronze and iron. Through centuries of distrust and conflict, the Miga have been extremely closed to the Gospel of Jesus.

In the last two decades, Team Hope has actively worked to build relationships of trust. For years, the team members have watched and sown in faith, and have begun to witness God chipping away at the cracks of the defensive walls surrounding Miga hearts.

Medical Clinics

An Integrated Approach

Follow-up Classes

Team Hope now offers follow-up health classes, focusing on relevant community needs such as Infectious Conditions, Diabetes & High Blood Pressure, and Pregnancy & Infant Care and Nutrition. From February to April, Team Hope completed seven health certificate programs in the communities and one on the local university campus.

A Woman's Life Spared

Pointing to Jesus

The goal and purpose of holistic ministry, of course, is not just to treat symptoms and prevent health problems. The desire is to address the root of all mankind’s problems: the need for Jesus. The purpose behind medical clinics and all of Team Hope’s work is twofold: to be the presence of Jesus and to bring the message of Jesus to the Miga people of Southeast Asia. Team Hope's prayer is that through meeting felt needs, the Miga will sense the immense love of Jesus for them, and that the team might have opportunity to point Muslim friends to the person of “Isa al Masih” (Jesus the Messiah) through Discovery Bible Studies. God has been using these studies and these medical outreaches to break through walls of bronze and cut through bars of iron to bring the Miga people out of darkness and into His glorious light!

*The name of the people group has been changed for the protection of the team and the people it serves.

Learn more about opportunities to serve with Team Hope.

Explore opportunities in more of SEND's Muslim ministry fields.

God brought the money

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

God brought the money

Anthony Book really disliked raising support. When he and his wife, Heather, first started partner development in 2004 for their ministry in the Philippines, support raising was just something they had to do.

It took them two years to pull together enough funds. Then, after eight years serving in the Philippines, the Books sensed God calling them to change fields and join the developing Thailand team. While they were excited for this new vision, they dreaded having to raise the additional $4,000 in monthly support. They had already exhausted their list of contacts. Where would the new money come from?

But the Books trusted that the God who called them to this ministry would provide the funds needed to do it. So they got to work. Anthony took additional training which honed his presentation skills and emphasized the importance of relationships. Then he gathered all the zip codes in his region of Pennsylvania and started calling churches looking for support. In the process, he discovered that he loved talking to people about God’s call for his family. Anthony was excited to share his story and invite people to participate.

Anthony added nine new churches to his support team from those calls, including one church that had never before been involved in international missions. The church is now excited for this opportunity to reach far beyond their own community through the Books.

The Books were able to raise their needed support in just one year.

God took Anthony from disliking partner development to loving it. Anthony even asked his missions coach if he could help coach others who are raising support — he wants to pass along what he has learned. Already he’s been helping fellow missionaries.

To any outsider looking in, what the Books accomplished might seem impossible. Anthony and Heather agree. “God brought the money in,” they say. And God changed their hearts in the process.

Thank you to the many faithful partners who support the Books and other missionaries like them!

Impacting People Through English

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Impacting People Through English

When Greg and Patti Wilton arrived in Ukraine in 2000, Patti never imagined that teaching English would be her main ministry. However, combining a love for languages with a love for unbelieving Ukrainians, Patti felt led by God to use English as a means of outreach.

In 2013 the churches in Kremenchuk, where Patti and Greg lived, held a city-wide English evangelistic outreach. A young man named Vitalii attended the worship finale. After the service, he told Patti he felt the presence of God for the first time in his life! Not long after, Vitalii began studying English with Patti.

Hungry for God

In addition to English Lessons with Patti, Vitalii joined an English Inductive Bible study led by Greg. Vitalii soaked up what he was learning from the book of Romans. Greg recalls that he could “see the lamps firing in Vitalii’s head”.

When Greg and Patti moved to work in another city, they remained in contact with Vitalii. The following summer, Vitalii met up with the Wiltons at an English Family Camp, where they again had the opportunity to study the Bible. This time his wife, Vika, joined them.

Over time it became evident to the Wiltons that Vitalii had committed his life to Christ and in time, Vika became a follower as well. They were baptised in 2016!

Obeying the call of God, Vitalii enrolled in the Kremenchuk Bible College. Greg taught one final class there in 2019 before retiring, and was thrilled to have Vitalii in that class.

After the semester was over, Vitalii expressed his gratitude for the spiritual impact Greg had on his life. Vitalii added, with tears in his eyes, that he considered Greg and Patti to be his spiritual parents! Greg was so encouraged by what he heard, he thought: “That’s enough; I could go to be with the Lord now!”

The Impact Continues

God used Patti’s English outreach and Greg’s Bible teaching to spiritually impact Vitalii and Vika. These days, Vitalii continues to study at the Bible College and serves both as a Deacon and worship leader with his wife! The impact continues on: Vitalii and Vika are sharing their faith and having a spiritual impact on other Ukrainians!

View the SEND Canada Annual Report

A Brief Update from SEND Canada

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Brief Update from SEND Canada

Canadian Director Rob "Mags" Magwood highlights 3 important things happening at SEND Canada.

Read Article "75 Years of Engaging the Unreached"

Give from Canada

In A Boat

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In A Boat

Another important tool to survival and ministry in the Far North is a boat. Many villages are located on vast river networks that provide food, travel, and ministry opportunities. One teammate saw God provide in great ways to expand his boat and related ministries.

"In recent years they came to realize there is never enough room in their 18ft boat for all the people and needed gear for subsistence activities. With just 10 people (including kids) and that boat is filled to capacity. Last summer God provided both the funds for a bigger boat and the needed sale of the old boat in a relatively short period of time. As a result, a new boat was purchased in late August. The plan to bring it down the Yukon last fall was put on hold since the builder was not able to get it done before the freeze up. (boat in construction pictured above)

Now there is a ministry “boat trip” being planned to go along with delivering the new boat to our teammate's home. They will be heading down the Yukon River in the summer of 2021! The boat is almost complete and the needed crew is ready to sail. As it is planned, they will travel about 200 miles per day for 5 days. That will equate to about $500/day in fuel costs (village fuel prices can be higher than $7/ gal) and a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong. So please pray for wisdom in planning, safety on the trip, for all the guys to grow closer to God during the experience, and all the needed finances to come together."

Overcoming Obstacles

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Overcoming Obstacles

From a woman in Ukraine

"Thank you again for everything that you are doing for us! My name is Ruslana*. I am from a wonderful village near Kharkiv region. That morning, February 24, I will remember for the rest of my life, since I saw with my own eyes through my window how Russian rockets were striking the military base, that was on the outskirts of our village. The next three weeks my grandparents and I spent in the basement without light and mobile connection, hiding from continuous bombing, because our village happened to be close to the frontline right next to a village occupied by the Russian soldiers.

"Later my mother and brother joined us, because their house was only 100 meters from a place where Ukrainian tanks were restraining the offensive of the Russian invaders. There are no words to describe the horror that they had been through, when they were walking down the streets of their own village, destroyed by the enemy's projectiles.

"We understood that there was a long way into the unknown ahead of us, but thank God, we have come across a lot of amazing people who have helped us to overcome the obstacles on our way. One example of those people is the people from the church in east-central Ukraine. These wonderful people supported us in the most difficult period of our lives. They provided us with a shelter, clothes, medicines, food - with everything that is needed to feel that your life is back to normal which is so valuable right now. They also supported us with the Word of God, that helps us find joy and comfort while going through the horror of the war. We are eternally grateful to them. May God bless them!"

*Name changed for privacy and security

Give now to help relief efforts

Macedonia Infographic

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Macedonia Infographic

This graphic shows the current state of Macedonia and the great need that is there for discipleship and new churches. Also presents SEND's "Macedonia 20/20 Vision" plan.

Growing in a new land

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Growing in a new land

SEND's workers around the world see our new vision statement — a global movement of Jesus followers making disciples among the unreached — taking root in each place they serve. Today we focus on “ among. ” SEND workers practice incarnational ministry, living purposefully among the people we hope to reach. Today we share the story of two men — one older, one younger — who have spent countless hours building their discipling relationship, strengthening the younger so that he can reach out as the sole Christian student on his college campus.

• • •

By a worker in T’vo — Bekim*, a young man from Albania, came to T’vo* to get a job. Though he had met the Lord back home, he was a new believer and not growing much when he arrived.

A pastor had told him about our group working in T’vo, a primarily Muslim city in Europe, and Bekim contacted us. He started coming to meetings, and John* began discipling him and studying the Bible with him. Bekim started to grow; he would often call John asking if they could meet and study the Word together.

Eventually Bekim decided that he wanted to get baptized — by both his Albanian pastor and John. We traveled with him to Albania, and it was such a blessing to witness his baptism and to meet his family and share with them. (Bekim comes from a family that is not very religious but has a Muslim background.)

T’vo hosts two major universities where Albanian students come to study in their language. John challenged Bekim to begin attending one of these universities, where another student also was ministering. Though Bekim is a smart young man, he had never thought that university could be a possibility for him — but he was accepted.

Bekim trusted that God would provide, and now God has provided someone to financially support his studies. Bekim has had the opportunity to receive training for leadership, and God continues to open doors for him.

Pray for Bekim’s spiritual growth, and ask God to encourage him as he is the only Christian among 10,000 students. It is especially difficult as he is Albanian and expected to be Muslim; his Christianity makes him the black sheep in the group.

Corruption and religious issues sometimes lead teachers at Bekim’s university to block students from passing. This has happened to Bekim, either because the instructors wanted money or because they had something against him as a believer, and this is difficult for him. Pray that God will fight for him and that he will respond well and continue to behave in a way that honors God.

Praise God that Bekim has a good reputation; others see him as a good person and think that more people need to be upstanding like him. Pray that his good witness will continue, so that he can continue to be part of the global movement of Jesus-followers making disciples among the unreached .

*Names have been changed for security purposes.

Awaken

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Awaken

How important is it for teens to attend a Christian Camp? What about attending Church? What if no one shared the Gospel with them? Let’s bring this closer to home. What if your child, who loved the Lord, had no access to other Christian kids to build friendships? This is not merely a set of hypothetical questions. This is the reality which drives Awaken.

Awaken is a key piece of SEND North’s ministry strategy in Alaska. It is an annual fall youth retreat for 7th-12th graders in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska that was started in 2009. Each year over 60 kids gather in Naknek, Alaska for food, games, paintball, worship, and evangelistic Bible teaching. Many of these teens attend Bible camp but never have fellowship with other Christian kids throughout the year. Many others have never attended camp or church and have little exposure to the Gospel. This powerful outreach has always been a joint partnership between several area churches, SEND North, and Tanalian Bible Camp.

Approximately half of the teens are flown in from 5-8 regional villages each year. This often involves 10-20 flights in 4-6 aircraft. This spiritual investment takes time to mature, but it is paying off. Take the example of one young teen who did not know Jesus when we picked her up and brought her to the Awaken retreat. It was there she met Christians who loved her and softened her heart enough to agree to go to Bible camp. After two years, hours of interaction with Christian teachers, two Bible camp experiences and another Awaken event, this young woman surrendered her life to Jesus Christ.

We don’t want to see this cycle of seed sowing and harvest reaping interrupted. The local churches and many individuals help with some of the expenses but are not able to cover all of it. We need partners who will join all of us in reaching out in this region of Alaska. Will you make a contribution to continue the impact of this retreat?

Giving can be done online through this link. http://ow.ly/DpgMY Be sure to enter the word “Awaken” in the text box which reads, “Enter a description below of how you would like your donation to be used.”

You can contact us with any of your questions.

Thank you for your consideration.

The SEND North Team

Couched in love

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Couched in love

SEND's workers around the world see our new vision statement — a global movement of Jesus followers making disciples among the unreached — taking root in each place they serve. Today we focus on “ making disciples ” — a crucial aspect of starting new churches, because o bedient disciples will form churches that impact their communities and beyond. In Central Asia, our small team magnifies its influence by intentionally training national believers to reach out within their own communities.

• • •

By MK — Our vision in Central Asia is to see a movement of disciples making disciples. However, many of the people in this part of the world are very closed to the idea of becoming a follower of Jesus. In order to address this problem, our team trains the local church about how to effectively engage communities with the gospel.

One man, Friday, is doing this in his small village. Friday has been a believer for some time now, but his wife and children are not. Friday attended a training that was conducted in a nearby town. He left that time encouraged and with a plan to reach his family, neighbors, and co-workers. The first step of his plan was to pray each morning for open doors to share a spiritual truth or to serve someone in need.

One of Friday’s neighbors has had a drinking problem for many years. This, of course, caused many troubles in this neighbor’s home. Friday and his wife could hear the dishes and furniture crash to the ground one night as this neighbor fought with his wife. The next day, they learned that the previous night’s conflict had been the last straw and that this man was now living on the street. After a few nights, he found a cramped apartment in the center of town. Since he had no furniture, he simply slept on the floor.

Not long after, as Friday was driving home from work, he noticed a man throwing out a couch on the curb. He asked, “Excuse me, what are you doing with that couch?” The man replied, “I bought a new one and don’t need this old one anymore.” “Do you mind if I take it?” Friday quickly asked. The man agreed and Friday hoisted the couch onto the roof of his car and sped away.

Friday drove to his estranged neighbor’s apartment and hauled the couch up the stairs. After much effort, he knocked on the door and was met by a gruff face.

“What do you want?”

“I brought you a couch for your apartment.”

“Why would you give me a couch?”

Friday thought for a moment, then replied: “Jesus wants you to have this couch.”

Friday saw the man’s countenance change as they, together, moved the couch into the unfurnished apartment.

This man had heard about the Bible and Jesus before, but had always had a very negative reaction. This time, after they got everything settled and sat down to rest, the man looked over at Friday and said, “Tell me more about this Jesus.”

Friday was ready with his Bible. He opened up to the book of Genesis and began telling story after story of how God created everything, called Abraham, and promised to send the suffering servant who would take the world’s sins upon himself. With each story, this man became more and more aware of his need for forgiveness. At the end Friday asked him, “Will you follow Jesus?” The man answered with his eyes tearing up, “Yes!”

Friday has since been meeting regularly with this new disciple, not only teaching him, but showing him what it means to be a follower of Jesus in this part of the world where believers are few and far between.

• • •

As Central Asian people are exposed to the word of God and are sacrificially served, hearts are being softened; deep and meaningful relationships are being built. Our Central Asia team need more workers to come and be salt and light to the people of Central Asia. Could God be calling you to join the global movement of Jesus followers making disciples among the unreached ? Explore opportunities to serve in Central Asia.

• • •

Alpha

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Alpha

Any reasonable man would be afraid of him. His presence is aggressive; he gets what he wants. Years of gang life show on his hardened face and tattoos. What he has seen and what he has done may define him forever. This is the way of those in jail.

But not Eric*. Here, in Alpha 2, he is not seen by his exterior condition, nor the gangster he once was, but as the man, he is now. Eric is a new believer housed in the Anchorage Jail, living in the new Faith Mod called Alpha 2. A Faith Mod is a designated living area for inmates who are serious about Christianity and seek a better life after their time served.

In Alpha 2, SEND North team members, who serve in the Diaspora Ministries**, lead Bible studies and facilitate a mentoring program for the inmates. Along with our primary member working within the jail, three mentor inmates also live in Alpha 2. These stronger Christians help the newer believers to keep them focused on the lord as well as answer their questions.

This mentorship program and Alpha 2 reflects two core objectives for SEND North. Foremost, it represents our vision statement to make northern disciple-makers. Our presence can strengthen those who are seeking with Truth and then share it with other inmates.

Second, we know that making disciples comes from integration and understanding of the people we seek to love. Our member serving in the Anchorage Jail has spent years building this trust. Further, the mentors within Alpha 2 come from the same background as the other inmates, and they know what battles the young believers may be facing.

As for Eric, he is passionately digging into the Word for more and more understanding. He admits he is ready, ready for the dying of the old self so he can don the new self-created by Christ. Eric is not the only who has received healing and new life through Alpha 2. Join me in praying for the growth of Alpha 2, currently housing 26 inmates, and for Eric, that he continues to pursue the Lord.

*Not his real name

**Next week’s article answers the questions, “What is Diaspora and why is it a Ministry?”

Classroom by Day, Shelter by Night - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Classroom by Day, Shelter by Night - Ukraine Crisis Story

Kremenchuk Evangelical Seminary (KES) is one of the oldest and largest seminaries in Ukraine. SEND has partnered with KES by sending funds and teachers to the school. Now, in this crisis, your gifts are literally keeping the lights on and the utilities going.

KES is doing a great job of transporting, feeding, housing, and comforting refugees in the name of Christ. Since the start of the war, their doors have been constantly open to refugees, and they have become a humanitarian aid center. The cost of utilities is much more than usual. Even though the government will probably provide financial help to individuals, universities and schools who house refugees, it doesn’t look like that help will extend to religious organizations.

In the words of the seminary president: "Because you helped us, I am able to sleep much better."

Give now to help relief efforts

Worship in the Dark - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Worship in the Dark - Ukraine Crisis Story

"The darker the night, the brighter the stars. The deeper the suffering, the closer God."

From one of our church partners in Ukraine:
Those who have gone through or are going through the hell of war feel this in their personal experience. It is very painful for us, but in this very time you feel God closer and see Him more clearly!

At our Sunday service our building was almost full. Half the people were refugees. We together with them get to know God through our sufferings and His word becomes more valuable with every passing day.

Thanks to each of you that you are with us!

Give now to help relief efforts

Providing a Way to Freedom

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Providing a Way to Freedom

Imagine a small classroom. In walks a shy young girl. School and friends are a happy distraction from the frightening reality ahead. Her government-funded education will soon end as she grows older. Either she must pay high costs to continue school or work to provide for her family. Prompted by responsibility, but paralyzed by fear, each young girl must face the harsh and difficult choice ahead. With few options, often they end up in the sex industry.

Canadian global workers Doug and Lynn are part of a SEND team that confronted this tragedy in a small village in Southeast Asia. Something had to be done.

Confronting the Tragedy

After months of observation and prayer, the SEND team started a life skills class that allowed them to build relationships and teach valuable lessons. Many of the girls in the village attended in the life class. Always hearing about Jesus in class, several girls gave their hearts to Him.

These girls still face immense challenges. Rather than despairing, Doug and Lynn started a sponsorship program to provide funds to help further the girls’ education and provide escape from the sex trade. The team also established a small dormitory for the sponsored girls. Housing provides stability and discipleship, with a live-in Christian “house mom”. Six young women recently graduated from high school through the program.

Doug and Lynn are quick to recognize that God is not using their team of global workers alone. Each prayer partner and financial supporter plays a significant role in the spiritual impact on this village. God has linked us together to see the Gospel make a difference in this community and on the destiny of young women.

Watch a Video: "Reaching At-Risk Girls"

Watch a Video: "Reaching the Shan"

Read About A Millennial Couple Preparing to be Global Workers in Thailand

God's Provision for Starving Families

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

God's Provision for Starving Families

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2020 Annual Report.

-----

“What will we do with all this food?” our team leader in Southeast Asia wondered, looking around a warehouse stacked with nutrition packs. “Will the rats get to it? Will this blessing become a burden?”

Abundance of Supply

The so-called Manna Packs, which contain nutrient- and protein-enriched rice, were donated before our team’s medical clinics held in February 2020. Megan, a nurse from Ontario, participated in the medical outreach alongside other volunteer doctors. During the clinics, Megan conducted check-ups on patients and worked closely with the doctors. Patients who came for medical attention were taught nutrition and food safety, and each one took a Manna Pack home with them.

Around 1000 Manna Packs were given to the patients. Still, about 30,000 Manna Packs remained! One worker asked God, “Is there a famine in the land?” Then COVID-19 hit.

A Barrier and an Answer to Prayer

The people in the region were not allowed to go outside their houses. Many people started to panic, especially those who earn just enough each day to purchase what they need for the day. And while our team did have food, they did not have permission to travel within their own cities, much less to rural regions.

Our team quickly pulled together a Manna Pack Task Force, which started persistently contacting government officials, offering to deliver the nourishing food.

Eventually, officials allowed the team to cross the city to meet a government vehicle that would then carry the Packs to rural communities. Because God provided and our workers persisted, starving families could eat. Praise be to God for how He works!

Pray for Missionary Children

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Pray for Missionary Children Pray for Missionary Children (Page two in the downloadable PDF) Spiritual life Sunday Personal relationship with Christ independent of their parents Commitment to serve Christ daily An integrated biblical worldview Materialism Monday Healthy, scriptural view of wealth and poverty Contentment and gratefulness for God’s provision Eternal rather than temporal thinking Daily trust in the Lord’s ability to provide all they need Transitions Tuesday Fun and lasting friendships despite changes Trust in and reliance on God during transition Flexibility and social skills Adequate and appropriate educational opportunities Ability to adjust to home culture after high school Witness Wednesday Grace to handle being observed Protection from enticement of host culture Discernment and strength when facing temptation Love for the people in host and home culture Upright behavior Thirst Thursday Recognition of their own need for spiritual growth Thirst for a deeper relationship with Christ Hunger for His truth found in Scripture Pursuit of excellence and holiness Family Friday Honest and joyful relationships with parents Balance between ministry and family Appreciation for their parents’ ministry Other adults to encourage and guide them Connection with extended family despite distance Safety Saturday Emotional dependence on God’s protection Rest in God’s sovereignty Protection, health and safety Absence of fear Awareness of potential dangers

Exploring the faith she mocked

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Exploring the faith she mocked

Alim, a former child soldier, now follows Jesus.

Anissa stems from generations of fierce rebel fighters, the eldest daughter of a rebel commander.

And this unlikely pair are married.

Their marriage was arranged before they graduated college, and its early years were plagued with constant disagreements. Anissa mocked her husband’s faith in Jesus, but she loved him and did not want him to be martyred.

Alim and Anissa live in Ummi, a town where Team Hope has been building bridges of trust through education, economic empowerment and community health for about 20 years. The residents of Ummi belong to an unreached people group of 1.4 million people, 99.9 percent of them Muslim.

Throughout our years of friendship, Anissa has consistently resisted the Word of God. She enjoys teaching, and has even taken pride in reading a Bible story at a community event, but genuine heart changes have never been visible — until now.

A big step forward

The SEND team initially connected with women in Ummi, but the outreach has expanded over the years.

Our team held a free medical clinic in Anissa’s hometown, and the tangible care and love of Jesus impacted her deeply. After the clinic, we asked Anissa’s family if we could begin a Bible study together. She finally agreed.

Anissa has started sharing with her family members the stories of God from the Bible passages we study. She and her husband have entered into deeper conversations and planning for their family, based on what they have learned about God through the stories of Jacob and Joseph. She’s started to acknowledge her own sin and to recognize the consequences.

She’s even thinking beyond her own family — mentioning that a mutual friend of ours does not know about Jesus and should hear about him. We were surprised that she would make that connection, even though her own heart has not yet yielded to Jesus.

Bridges of trust

Anissa’s story demonstrates the significance of building bridges of trust into communities — even when those bridges are slow to erect. For years, Team Hope workers have engaged Ummi women, teaching them to craft and sell purses, scarves and other accessories to support their families. They have empowered these women, who have been denied access to education, by teaching them to read and write. They’ve traveled by foot from home to home, meeting felt needs and sharing Bible stories.

After two decades of this house-to-house approach, God has provided a plot of land in a central location of Ummi where we plan to build a community center, giving us a continual presence in the neighborhood.

The community center will include outdoor gathering spaces and safe rooms where women and children can gather for literacy and livelihood classes, public health education, parenting classes, values meetings, and other programs.

Most importantly, the Ummi Community Center will be a welcoming refuge for neighbors and friends like Anissa to come and have real, spiritual conversations and to discover Jesus through the stories in his Word.

As we wait for the completion of the community center, bridge-building efforts continue. We’ve recently held classes with the religious leaders and spouses of the women we work with, teaching organic farming and goat-raising principles and including Bible stories in the lessons. This is the biggest gathering of men we’ve ever seen in Ummi.

Please pray for Ummi — that men, women and entire families would come to know Jesus as Savior and share his Word with their extended families until the whole community of Ummi has heard!

To contribute financially to the Ummi Community Center project, please click here .

Learn more about the unreached

A Beauty Unparalleled

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Beauty Unparalleled

It was the last day of Bible camp, and one camper remained unheard.

I recently served with a mission team from my school a Bible camp in Alaska. As a camp counselor, I helped facilitate activities, chapel, and cabin-mate relationships. As we studied in Ruth that week, a message on shame and the love of God left one of my campers, Jade*, burdened and quiet.

Spending all week building a fragile trust, I did not want to push too hard, so I let her come to me. On the very last night I shared with my campers, Jade approached me at the bonfire. She immediately poured out her heart about her parent's divorce. This wound opened the door for her to be deeply hurt by someone she knew and trusted. Left with no closure and a burning guilt, Jade never spoke to the person again and was left scarred because she could never undo what happened to her.

She continues to face the challenge of shame in her village from her parents’ divorce and absence. She had no one to turn to. However, she shared that camp this week changed her heart.

The message of Ruth is one of redeeming love. At camp, one of the counselors shared her story that was similar to Jade’s. She shared how she once felt God was distant to her because of what happened, but now, she sees Him right beside her, leading and healing her.

That night, Jade and I sat in tears on the beach, torn between the reality of shame and the presence of the King. Nonetheless, God showed us His reassurance and sovereignty through glory and beauty unparalleled with sun-struck clouds, royal blue mountains, and a vast, abundant ocean.

Even in her heartache, the Lord sees greater beauty in Jade than He put on display with our view that night. He hurts as Jade and other girls like her hurt with the pain of sin and victimage . Still, He sees her only as His Daughter: chosen, clean, and priceless. Join us in praying for these victims, that they hide in God’s unchanging love and comfort in the midst of their darkness.

*not her real name.

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Difficult but Blessed - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Difficult but Blessed - Ukraine Crisis Story

From a church partner in Ukraine:

Our ministry is expanding. Another vehicle of humanitarian aid arrived. Today was a hard day. Just today I travelled around 200 kilometers, giving out the frozen chickens in different places. Today, we partly purchased and partly we were given grains. And we packed 60 grocery packets for refugees. The city administration gave us a list of 147 people that are registered here as refugees. These products were packed specifically for them. I also hauled flour, sugar and macaroni to the kitchen. Today was difficult, but a blessed day, in that we could serve those around us in these difficult circumstances. Blessings to you!

Give now to help relief efforts

Delivering Living Hope - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Delivering Living Hope - Ukraine Crisis Story

In the midst of this crisis, we are so grateful that Ukrainians are open to hearing about the living hope of God. Here is a short update from a church partner in Ukraine:

The Church is the only institution on Earth which helps people build a living relationship with God! And our first and highest task is to reveal God through the Gospel, to show His heart through our caring for those in need!

We are thankful to government workers who have granted us full rights to give out packs of groceries and tell about the News of Hope. We distributed to 100 refugees these packs and told each one the Gospel, dividing them into groups of 10.

We invited them to a meeting this Sunday and the opportunity to receive further aid from the church.

Give now to help relief efforts

Off the Grid

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Off the Grid

A member of our Canadian Team recently addressed a recurring question in their update. Have you ever wondered…

“… why do folks choose to live in such a remote, small community? Much of it has to do with lifestyle – no crowds, no lines, sense of family, and numerous outdoor activities. One reason we’ve run into is to be left alone. ‘Alone-ness’ can be accomplished in a huge city as well, but here they can do so without the chaos and pace of city life. For whatever reason they (almost always men) do not wish to be social, rarely (never) attend a community event, and venture across town a day or so per week only to get their mail. Inclusion is offered but hardly ever accepted.

This trait was common when we lived in Alaska, with individuals, even families, desiring to live ‘off the grid’ – way off. Encountering a similar mindset here has us once again asking, “How do we break into these lives?” While respecting that lifestyle, we also wish to touch base with them at some level. Several of them will be receiving a Christmas hamper compiled by town-wide contributions. Obviously, we desire a spiritual connection of any sort, and needing to sort through past baggage is not uncommon. Believing God can reach and change anyone, we pray that He will penetrate these lives and that we’d be ready and willing to intercede with these hard-to-reach quiet types.

But not everyone is built this way. One of the reasons we enjoy living here is the opportunity to use our gifts and talents in any number of ways. The number of volunteer opportunities in a small town knows no bounds. Sure, there are days when I dream of getting away from it all, sitting in a warm and sunny environment, removed from all the stresses and responsibilities. But knowing me, that escape will last about a month, and then I’d be looking to engage somewhere again.

We hope that these winter days aren’t so cold that we need to cancel activities or that it threatens a trip to the big city for shopping or an airport pickup {another challenge of living in the 60/70 window }. The wood stove is working hard, the hot chocolate is steaming, and we pause to say once again ‘thank you’ for being such a rich part of our lives.”

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Instantly download the free report, God's Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the 60/70 Window .

How Can We Pray for Missions?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

How Can We Pray for Missions?

Karen Bird, a theological student at Tyndale Seminary, shares on The Global Missions Podcast why prayer is a discipline all Christ-followers need to pursue. She shares with us how we can be praying for missions as well as giving listeners practical tips and resources for practicing the discipline of prayer in our lives, so that God's restoration will come to His creation. Click here to listen to the discussion on episode 10 of the Global Missions Podcast: http://globalmissionspodcast.com/010/

Developing a Missions Strategy that Fits Your Church

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Developing a Missions Strategy that Fits Your Church

The Guide for Developing a Missions Strategy by David Mays, former d irector of Learning Initiatives for The Mission Exchange, presents a comprehensive overview for churches, from searching Scripture for God's teaching on missions, to budgeting, to defining purpose, vision and values.

Free book: 'Don’t Waste Your Life'

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Free book: 'Don’t Waste Your Life'

Most people slip by in life without a passion for God, spending their lives on trivial diversions, living for comfort and pleasure, and perhaps trying to avoid sin. Pastor John Piper's book will warn you not to get caught up in a life that counts for nothing. It will challenge you to live and die boasting in the cross of Christ and making the glory of God your singular passion. Here is a link to a free copy of "Don't Waste Your Life." Click here.

Explore Missions

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Explore Missions

If you feel God is leading you into missions, talk with your pastor, mission professor, and missionaries you know.

SEND International may or may not be your first choice but we would be happy to talk with you . We are open to all your questions and we’ll do our best to give you helpful answers.

We hope these three sections below may help you as you explore your journey and place in missions.

Recognizing God's call

Do you struggle to know God’s will for your life? Do you want confirmation that you are doing what He wants? There is no magic formula for knowing God’s will for you, but these questions may help you on the journey.

The Bible is full of verses about God’s will for every Christian. God’s will is our salvation in John 6:40 and 2 Peter 3:9. God’s will is our sanctification and thankfulness in I Thess. 4:3; 5:18.

The Bible teaches that every believer’s life-purpose is to obey and glorify God. Cross-cultural ministry is closely tied to this purpose. “Missions exists because worship doesn’t,” says John Piper in "Let the Nations Be Glad," (Baker Book House 1993.)

The Great Commission starts in Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” Although it doesn’t say, “This is God’s will for YOU,” it is a general command to all believers to have some involvement in reaching the world through prayer, giving, or going.

Which part should you play? Knowing if God is calling you cross-culturally is both objective and subjective.

Objective questions to ask yourself:

• Are you aware of world needs?

• Have you identified your spiritual gifts and abilities?

• How consistent is your walk with God?

• What is your track record and experience in ministry?

• Do you have the necessary interpersonal skills for cross-cultural ministry?

• Do you have adequate training, especially in Bible?

• How is your physical health and energy level?

Subjective questions to ask yourself:

• Do you sense God is leading you into cross-cultural missions?

• How do you support this biblically?

• Have you prayed consistently about this?

• Has God given you circumstantial evidence?

• Do you have peace of mind about this?

• Do others confirm your interests when you share your burden for the lost?

• Does your church affirm your call?

God speaks in a many ways. Instead of waiting for a dramatic call, commit yourself to seek God’s leading and guidance and trust Him to lead! God doesn’t give maps, but He does give you a compass. You may feel stepping out in faith is too risky, so ask mature believers and spiritual mentors for their guidance. God’s Word and the church will help you make decisions.

Choosing a mission

How do you choose one mission to join when there are many great agencies? Start by figuring out who you are. What are you passionate about — a particular kind of ministry, a country, a people group? Think about your gifting and what interests you. Your unique experiences may also affect your decision. Now that you have narrowed down the options, recognize that mission agencies also have distinct personalities. Here are some questions to ask:

To learn more about our mission click here .

Staying financially fit

Sizable debt may hinder your journey into missions. Careful planning could reduce your time to deployment by years!

Start by creating a modest budget:

Is the expense column too long? Then cut out the fat!

If your income is still short of expenses, plan your loans carefully. Remember, loans are easy to get and hard to pay off. You are responsible to pay back everything you owe, even if the loan is in your parent’s name.

If you want to explore going into missions with SEND further, a good place to start is our Get Started form.

From a simple drink, friendship and healing flow

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

From a simple drink, friendship and healing flow

By Jami G. in Ulan-Ude, Siberia

As a family, we prayed: “Lord, bring someone into our lives who is open to You.” The days turned warm and the kvass stands appeared. Our kids love kvass, a fermented bread water that Russians drink in the summer, so almost every day we stopped by a stand run by a woman named Ayuna.

The “kvass lady” quickly became our friend. She started calling often and invited us to her home in the village. She came to our church and home group a few times. I knew in my heart that God had given Ayuna to us as a gift — an answer to that prayer!

One of Jami's girls enjoys a cup of kvass and a hug from Ayuna.

One day this summer, Ayuna contacted me, frantic. Her 6-year-old daughter, Alina, had a terrible headache and fever and was taking an ambulance from their village a few hours away to the city. We soon learned that she had tick-borne encephalitis and that her prognosis was grim. Ayuna asked me to pray.

We made this need known to friends all over the world, and the response was incredible! The Lord placed this little girl on the hearts of many.

One night when Alina was in critical condition, I couldn’t sleep and felt strongly that this struggle was not just physical, but also a spiritual battle. I cried out to the Lord for Alina’s life and for the salvation of this dear family, and I took comfort in knowing that many others were praying, too. We watched in amazement as Jesus took little Alina out of her comatose state, returned movement to her limbs and nursed her back to health in a way that amazed even the doctors.

Ayuna wrote me this text message: “I don't know what to say! God is helping us! And all who are praying for us! I am so thankful for all of these people. These prayers are saving us.”

There is no denying the miracle that God has done, and we praise Him for it! Please continue to pray that Ayuna and her family would completely put their trust in Jesus.

SEND North Acts 1 8 Campaign

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

SEND North Acts 1:8 Campaign

My Home - Alaska Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

My Home - Alaska Series

Even though Alaska is part of the USA, the culture out in the bush is unique. In this video, a teen offers a glimpse into his life in a Yup'ik Eskimo village in western Alaska. Part of the video series "Alaska: Life in Your Face." Find links to the other videos in this series below.

Fun with Food - Alaska Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fun with Food - Alaska Series

Even though Alaska is part of the USA, the culture out in the bush is unique. This video offers a fun look at some of the foods enjoyed by folks in a Yup'ik Eskimo village in western Alaska. Part of the video series "Alaska: Life in Your Face." Find links to the other videos in this series below.

Survival - Alaska Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Survival - Alaska Series

This video offers a season-by-season glimpse of how people in a remote village in Alaska work together to survive. It's part of "Alaska: Life in Your Face," a five-video series that tells stories from the Yup'ik Eskimo village. Find links to the other videos in this series below.

Passing the Baton

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Passing the Baton

We at SEND North have been blessed to see God’s hand providing and guiding since 1936. Throughout the years, God has moved us through many phases of growth using the leadership of several gifted men as our Area Directors. We covet your prayers as we enter another season of change.

Our current Area Director, Dr. Barry Rempel, has accepted God’s call to be Director of Program Development for Radius International’s missionary training program in Tijuana, Mexico. The following is how Barry describes his heart:

While we are sad to see Barry and Ruth leave SEND North, we are confident in the Lord’s leading. Barry and Ruth have faithfully served SEND North since August 2001, first as Church Ministries Director, and then as Area Director. The Council and all of SEND North express deep appreciation for their 14 years of leadership. Radius International is a training program we will be using for new missionaries, so our partnership with Barry and Ruth will continue.

We have begun the process of selecting a new Area Director. Barry will continue in this role through February 29, 2016. Jim Stamberg, the Assistant Area Director will take over the duties of the Area Director on March 1, 2016 until a new Area Director is appointed.

Please join with us in prayer that God will endow our selection committee with sensitive hearts and clear minds. Pray for the wisdom and discernment of our entire mission body as we corporately vote fro

The Night Market - Taiwan Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Night Market - Taiwan Series

A first-hand look at two important aspects of life in Taiwan — scooters and the night market. Part of the series "Taiwan: Vision 119." Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

Mentoring Matters: David's Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Mentoring Matters: David's Story

I became Christian as a teenager. I was raised Muslim in a Muslim community and did not have any exposure to Christianity. So everything was new to me. Several people impacted my life a lot. One of them was Phil*. He would come and visit me on different occasions and take me with him to conferences, meetings and gatherings where Christians would meet, worship and hear from God's word. I was very encouraged to fellowship with them and develop many lasting relationship from these meetings. I learned how Christians interacted with each other and how they treated each other with dignity and grace.

Another family who impacted my life was the Wardens*. They invited me to come and live with them for a year. In that year, I was able to observe Christian family life. They were raising their two adopted daughters and I learned a lot on parenting, discipline and love and care for a family. These experiences have marked my life for good.

Discover Ministry Opportunities

*Names have been changed for security purposes.

VFR

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

VFR

Our chief pilot recently shared this picture with the caption, “It’s a beautiful VFR day”. This aviation term is familiar to those of us who do ministry in Alaska and Northern Canada. It stands for Visual Flight Rules. It means what it sounds like, the rules for flying when you can clearly see everything around you.

We all want VFR days. We like to see where we are going, don’t we? Clear vision is necessary, especially if you are a pilot! However, we want all of life to be this way, and it often is not. We certainly desire ministry to be like this, but it rarely happens. Now, there is nothing wrong with wanting a certain level of predictability in life. In fact, our brains are wired for it right along with the need to grow. This growth we need means embracing change and change is uncertain. While we want VFR every day in our ministries, the reality is that we mostly experience IFR days. Instrument Flight Rules are for conditions when one can’t see and must fly by the plane’s instruments alone. So much of our ministry is by faith and not by sight. We have to fly by our instruments (Bible, prayer, Godly counsel) when we encounter situations that take us beyond our abilities.

Dr. Rempel, in his final State of the Mission Address , reminded us that God opens more doors as we step out by Faith into the unknown. There are opportunities out there which we will never encounter if we play it safe. (For an excellent example of this, check out our last article covering SEND North’s new urban ministry initiative .) Many times, not playing it safe means embracing unexpected interruptions as opportunities. One of our teammates summed this up well:

"I don't have time for THIS today, but THIS is happening anyway." How many times has "THIS" showed up at the door, called on the phone, popped up in a text, completely directed by God? Just a constant reminder that God is not bound by our time and plans, and for that we are thankful.

We are so thankful that we serve a God that is hard at work building His Kingdom when we can’t see what is next. We appreciate the VFR days in ministry, but we know that IFR is a way of life!

It is like Oswald Chamber said, “Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical connections. The only way a worker can keep true to God is by being ready for the Lord’s surprise visits.”

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Instantly download the free report, God's Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the 60/70 Window .

More Than A Financial Hub

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

More Than A Financial Hub

What is the purpose?

If you were asked to describe the purpose of a mission organization’s Home Office, what would you say?

For Louise, the Home Office was a place where applications were processed, as well as ensuring a clear accounting for the money coming in and going out for its missionary work. However, after volunteering in the SEND Canada Office for 14 months, Louise came to realize that it was not just an application-processing place and a financial hub. She observed that the Home Office is an essential part of the overall mission work. It has a variety of functions that fill an important role in the life of their missionaries, which then contributes to their fruitfulness.

Volunteering

In 2014, Louise retired and was looking for something to help her through this transition period, until she and her husband discerned where God was leading them next. She was hoping for something that was not a huge time commitment, yet a place where she could use her skills and gifts. About this time, Louise heard of a volunteer position in the SEND Canada Office.

The Mundane and Menial Glorifies God

It was not a high profile role, but an important one to ensure the efficient running of the Finance department. Initially, Louise opened and sorted mail, and handled cheques. This morphed into filing documents which led to sorting through the files and removing inactive and dormant ones. Though these projects might be deemed mundane and menial by some, Louise saw how it helped the people in the department feel that they were on top of their paper work, and more importantly, that through this type of behind the scenes mission work, God can be glorified !

In addition to this, Louise saw the depth of care the Home Office provides for those missionaries God brings into the organization. Member care was always being provided, whether it was through the processing of applications, dealing with the finances or while the missionary/family was on Home Service. Louise made the observation that a vibrant, efficient Home Office is key , and if the Home Office is struggling in any area, the field missionaries will be impacted as well.

Also, Louise saw how the staff worked together to resolve issues which had arisen. Though these times were stressful and tense, and could damage relationships, Louse observed a determined willingness to come together in a Spirit of Unity for the purpose of resolving the problem.

A Change of Heart

Louise and her husband, Rod, have supported different organizations and missionaries over the years; and Louise was of the opinion that the administration fee missions have was too high!! However, after having spent time in the office, and seeing firsthand the support and care it provides for its missionaries, she realized that not only were these fees vital, but that they were not nearly enough to wholly pay for the wide range of important services provided by the Home Office. Louise now wishes that more could be done financially for the Home Office!

Providing quality Member Care services can put a Home Office into financial challenges. Please join Louise, and others in prayer, for people willing to participate in the work of Kingdom-building through financial giving to the Home Office.

Also, pray that God would continue to use the Home Office staff to provide encouraging and compassionate member care for its missionaries.

Watch a Video about the "Backstage!" Matching Grant for the SEND Canada Home Office

Discover More About SEND And Its Mission

Formula for Babies - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Formula for Babies - Ukraine Crisis Story

Please pray for the mothers of infants and children in Ukraine. Here is an update from a seminary partner:

Please accept our most sincere gratitude for your generous help and constant prayers for peace in Ukraine. Each day of life is a gift from the Lord, so we thank Him that we are living, moving and breathing!! Our evangelistic ministry continues. Though our care and love for refugees, we are thrilled to see how God is working in their hearts. I am happy that in a conflict zone, right now, there are people ministering in Christ’s name. God led me to these people. During the week we took them humanitarian aid and they passed it out to help people.

In the last few days, we have taking 200 people from a conflict zone. Praise God! Yesterday I received a call from a volunteer. He works in a maternity hospital. He told me that there is a great need for formula for babies. This is especially important for babies 0 to 12 months. He told me that many mothers in the conflict zone, who have recently had babies are not producing milk. It is connected to the nervous system. So, there is a great need for baby food and formula. We purchased as much as we could find. It was not easy. There is not much available in the stores. The factory that makes this food has closed so there is not much formula. So we called around to the nearby cities to see who could buy some and get it to us. Today, I purchased an entire car of supplies and tomorrow we will again deliver it to the conflict zone. Pray for us as we drive and for our ministry!

Give now to help relief efforts

Soaring on God's provision

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Soaring on God's provision

It’s really best when Mark Faires’ job is boring.

Faires, a missionary pilot in Alaska, plays a key support role in SEND’s efforts to reach the unreached villages of the Far North. Hundreds of these small communities are off the road system, so anything that would travel by car in the Lower 48 has to go by plane.

“Maybe it seems exciting, and I do enjoy it, but the flying isn’t what it’s about. I look at what I do as enabling others to do the exciting work of sharing the gospel,” Faires says. “My goal is to make my flights not exciting. My goal is to make it boring for the passengers.”

Faires first started flying a four-seater plane for SEND, but he quickly realized that it was a bit small, especially for picking up missionary families in remote villages and for carrying heavy supplies. So, he started praying.

God answered his prayer when another organization offered to loan SEND a six-seater Cessna 206 that can carry twice the cargo load of his former plane.

“We quickly put it to use. It was much more helpful,” Faires said. “For one summer camp, I was able to fly in 900 pounds of groceries and a passenger, and I landed on a gravel bar on the river because there was no runway. This plane can both haul a lot and can go into more difficult places.”

That borrowed plane was already an answer to prayer — and then the owner offered to sell it to SEND. For half price.

Now that’s exciting!

But SEND still needed $60,000 — a big chunk of change.

“It gave me a lot of peace to remember that God had provided the plane in the first place,” Faires said. “As long as I was faithful in following him, he was going to work it out. So, I just started praying. Eventually, God put on my heart people to talk to about this opportunity.”

The money for this plane practically flew in. A matching grant for $20,000. Another $10,000 donation. Lots of smaller — yet still so significant — gifts. Three weeks after SEND made the need widely known, the project was fully funded, and SEND is now the proud owner of the Cessna 206.

“When people are obedient and attentive to what God calls them to do — willing to give generously as God calls — that’s an act of obedience and a blessing to everyone,” Faires said. “I’m thankful that people were willing to be obedient in order to be a blessing.”

You might also be interested in

Fly-by Pastor: Airplanes are crucial to supporting believers and reaching the unreached in tiny communities in the Far North.

Video: It takes a team of people to reach out in the Far North. This short video shows how we use aviation to make a difference in people's lives and how you can be involved.

Give: Help keep SEND North's airplanes fueled and functional.

Animism Course

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Animism Course

One of the challenges of ministry in Alaska and Northern Canada is engaging people who follow their indigenous religion. The challenging question we’ve wrestled with for 80 years is “what acceptable in cultural and what is opposed to God?” We are not alone in this quest, so we want to share with you this wonderful educational opportunity

Whether you are ministering among Folk Religionist with animistic backgrounds or you are simply Interested in this topic, you will benefit from this opportunity.

The one week, online course will run from October 2-9, 2016 at a cost of $15. It will be facilitated by SEND Missiologist, Dr. Gary Ridley.

Here is the breakdown:

COURSE TITLE: Animism and Folk Religion

My Learners: People who are ministering among Folk Religionist with animistic backgrounds.

Themes:

1. The concept of “Folk Religion.”

2. Animism as a common element in “Folk Religion.”

3. Syncretism

Outcomes:

The participant will:

1. Compare and contrast “Folk” and “Formal” religion.

2. Analyze animistic elements in the Folk Religion of their people group.

3. Develop a preliminary strategy for addressing folk religion concerns from a biblical perspective that will minimize syncretism.

The course is hosted on https://grow2serve.net/ They will soon have a second website for registration but for now you can go to the address above and click on “contact” to let them know you are interested.

Fruitful Practices #4- Social Networking

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fruitful Practices #4- Social Networking

The “Fruitful Practices” series of articles highlights eight effective characteristics common among effective Kingdom-work and movements among Muslims. This issue continues the series with the 4 ^th fruitful practice- recognizing the importance of social networks.

The Gospel Goes

While everyone is different, people generally gravitate toward others who are like them or who like doing similar things. For me, it works like this: I like football, so I can relate to others who like football. This principle applies also to Kingdom-building and to work among the unreached. If the unreached see themselves as different from those who attend church, the likelihood is high that they will never venture into church of their own accord. Some territories may not even have a church available yet for seekers to attend.

Historically, church planting meant literally setting up a church building or renovating one to be a church, and then inviting people to come. This might work in some places, but it is not effective in other places. Often the people do not come. It is not enough to just wait for people to come to church to hear the gospel; we must find ways to bring the gospel to them. We need to look for places that the unreached feel comfortable, pay attention to their social networks, and meet them there.

Immigrants and Refugees

Social networking naturally occurs when immigrants or migrants come to a new country. Immigrants often seek other people from their country, religion, or experience and congregate around them. This is seen in big cities, where neighborhoods of people can be found from predominantly one country such as Ireland, Italy, Germany, Poland, Mexico, Somali, Iraq, India, Pakistan, etc.

In the same way immigrants tend to congregate according to their home countries, society tends to congregate- on a smaller scale- according to occupations, hobbies, and/or other interests. Taxi drivers hang out with other taxi drivers; doctors hang out with other doctors; tech people hang out with other tech people; horse-lovers hang out with other horse-lovers; people who like to fish hang out with other people who like to fish, etc. These groups all form social networks. Some social networks develop around workplace and interests; others develop around our children’s activities. The neat thing is that these groups are not all mutually exclusive. You might find a taxi driver and a doctor who both love to fish. They have no other overlapping interests, but fishing brings them together.

Seize the Opportunity

As Kingdom workers, we need to pay attention to the social networks around us and discover genuine ways to enter and share the gospel in these contexts. This might lead us out beyond the boundaries of our comfort zones as we take on a new hobby or learn a new skill or sport. Let us not be afraid to ask insiders from these social contexts to teach us their common skills, interests, or cultures. This is a good way to build friendships and to get to know those who have never heard the gospel. Because social networks are never mutually exclusive, and since we all belong to multiple networks- the gospel lived out in community has the potential, if presented well, to spread through entire social networks and even into other related circles of influence.

Look for Social Networks

Look around you: What are the social networks that exist in your neighborhood, town, or city? Some will be obvious; others may take some exploring to discover. Pray and ask God for wisdom to know which social networks to pursue and how you should enter them. Most people do not actively seek out new social networks, but most are willing to let others, who demonstrate genuine interest, enter their existing groups.

A wise Christian worker noted, in regards to church-planting efforts, that if Kingdom workers are not careful- they might unwittingly introduce the church as a new social network, which could be misconstrued as a threat to existing networks or cultures. Our goal as Kingdom builders is not to set up a competing social network. Rather, our goal is to introduce others to the Lord and Giver of Life and allow Him to transform all existing cultures, including our own!

Social networks in Muslim Fellowships

In a recent study, more than 100 successful church planters across multiple agencies were asked whether their fellowships of Muslim background-believers had prior relationships or were part of the same social networks. Those who started fellowships in which people already had established relationship were, on average, more than twice as fruitful as those who gathered new believers with no prior relationship!

God placed such high importance on social networks that he sent Jesus from heaven to earth- to live among us and to be one of us. Let us follow his example and be willing to take the light of Jesus to those who have never heard!

Read "Fruitful Practice #3- Varied Use of Scripture."

Diaspora ministry in Clarkston, GA

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Diaspora ministry in Clarkston, GA

Clarkston, a small community on the outskirts of Atlanta, is one of the biggest resettlement towns in the US. Every year, about 1,600 refugees settle in this town and begin their new lives in America. They come from around the world, wherever conflict or natural disasters have upended life.

There's a wide open door here to work among people from some of the hardest-to-reach countries in the world. Refugees are excited to make new friends, have many questions about life here in America, and are re-thinking their lives. It is a perfect time to welcome them with the love of Christ.

Our Clarkston team primarily reaches out to people from Central Asia. Team members use their different giftings to meet the felt needs of the new families and to develop friendships. They help fill out paperwork, teach people to drive, offer English lessons and tutoring programs, give doula support during pregnancies and births, and put on Kids Camps for refugee children.

The goal is to develop real friendships, have meaningful conversations, and introduce these refugees to the God who loves them enough to make a way to himself. Most refugees are easy to get to know and very easy to have conversations about God with. Hospitality is a way of life for this people group, and they love to welcome team members to their homes and cook for them. Come join our team!

The path to missions can feel overwhelming! Our experienced mission coaches will walk alongside you every step of the way.

Mentoring Future Leaders

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Mentoring Future Leaders

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2021 Annual Report.

-----

My wife and I have served with SEND for over 35 years, first in the Philippines, then in Russia, and now since 2009, in Ukraine. I currently serve as the head of SEND U, the training department for our missionaries. I turned 60 this past year and am now the oldest member of our International Leadership Team (ILT). But over half of the ILT are also baby boomers, born before 1965. In the next few years, we will need to pass the baton of leadership to the next generation.

As we considered this reality, we realized that those of us in senior leadership need to give extra attention to mentoring potential future leaders. We want to support and encourage them individually in their growth in character and in their development of leadership skills. So, in 2021, SEND U launched a leadership mentoring program that began with inviting senior SEND leaders to be trained in mentoring. Fifteen senior leaders completed the training led by me and Marvin Brubacher of MentorLink Canada.

At the same time, we identified many younger SEND members who we thought might be interested in being mentored in such a program. Some of them are already in a leadership role and others not yet. We were encouraged by the enthusiastic response of those invited to participate in the mentorship program. Some even submitted their application within just a few hours of receiving the email!

Just before Christmas 2021, I started the prayerful process of matching our mentees with our newly trained mentors. I am thankful to report that fourteen younger leaders have now been partnered with one of our senior leaders. We pray that this mentorship program and the relationships formed will strengthen the faith, character, and wisdom of mentees. Further, we hope that these younger members will be more prepared and willing to accept major leadership roles at SEND in the next five years. The plan is that these mentoring relationships will continue for a 2-year period, meeting monthly and working toward mutually agreed upon growth goals. In 2022, we plan to expand the mentoring training to others in SEND.

Pray for SEND Missionaries

A Rescue Hub

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Rescue Hub

From one of our church partners in Ukraine:

"Due to its location, our city has become a rescue hub for thousands of refugees. By May 7, according to official information, more than 250,000 passed through the city and 117,627 were registered in the city. 32,296 of them are children. People are coming from Mariupol, Berdyansk, Melitopol, Energodar, Vasilievka, Pology and other towns and villages occupied by Russian Federation on East and South of Ukraine. It took more than 30 days for one family to get from Mariupol to our city...

"Many of them are our brothers and sisters in the Lord. To both Christians and unbelievers, our church and other churches provide shelter, food, clothes; help with getting new documents, etc. For those who need to continue their way to other cities or countries our brothers provide a ride using personal vans or those belong to church. Those refugees who stay receive packages of humanitarian help...

"Since the beginning of this ministry the church provided shelter for 125 people (53 of them are children). Our drivers meet newcomers at the registration center located near the border of the city. Right after refugees are brought to the church they get meal, shower, use a washing machine and take time to rest.

Thank you for your prayers and support!"

Give now to help relief efforts

Fuel - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fuel - Ukraine Crisis Story

Fuel.

It's something we probably take for granted. The prices lately have been a cause for complaining. But would you join us in praying for fuel for Ukraine?

A church partner in Ukraine explains how this is a major necessity in sending help and hope:

Everything here is very intense; there is little time to write. Today I bought 100 liters of gas and 400 liters of diesel fuel. I also ordered some "pipe-stoves" for people to cook their food. In the city there is no electricity, no gas, no water. These "pipe-stoves" are a convenient yet economical way to prepare food. This is our situation:

Therefore, our goal is not really fuel, our goal is evacuation, food and medicine for refugees. Without fuel it is hard to do.

A big thanks to you and to the mission for what you have already done for Ukraine and Ukrainians.

Give now to help relief efforts

Open doors in public spaces

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Open doors in public spaces

In Opole, Poland, the Holy Spirit won’t keep quiet, not even in the library.

Every Wednesday, a growing group gathers there to discuss spiritual matters.

“We watch a video about a difficult issue, and then we ask, ‘What does the Bible say about this,’” explains SEND missionary Mitch Misak. “We have 40 minutes to talk, but we could use another hour.”

Some of the attendees are hearing the Word for the first time.

“It’s really interesting to sit back and see how the discussion goes,” Mitch said. “One retired lady tells me that now she’s reading her Bible more.”

Through a library contact, God led Mitch to another open door — leading to a school gymnasium. Mitch now coaches basketball at two public schools.

“We start with a Bible lesson on a virtue — patience, forgiveness, perseverance,” Mitch says. “I use basketball to illustrate the virtues. So, if you pass the ball to someone and they miss, you forgive them and give them another chance.

“I hold on to Isaiah 55:11— God’s word does not return void — and pray that God’s truth will shape these young boys into young men who will hold true to the Bible.”

As people from these outreaches become ready to attend church, Mitch can invite them to a vibrant, evangelism-focused congregation.

The church plant in Opole recently baptized five new believers and is outgrowing its space. The worship leader led a friend to Christ. The friend led her co-worker to Christ, and then her boyfriend.

“They had been living together for eight years. They decided, without any of us saying anything, that they should stop living together and get married,” Mitch said. “They felt convicted by the Holy Spirit. This spoke volumes to their family, their coworkers, their friends.”

Mitch recently introduced a university student to the husband.

“We were talking about the way being narrow when this new husband just shared the gospel with him,” Mitch said. “It was amazing to see.”

Thank you, Lord, for Polish people hearing the gospel for the first time. May your word accomplish its work in their lives.

Reprinted from SEND International's 2016 Annual Report .

Winter 2017 Newsletter

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Winter 2017 Newsletter

View the first reinstallment of SEND North's quarterly newsletter.

Summer Camp is Calling

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Summer Camp is Calling

Summer camp has a way of bringing people together. In Alaska, many short-term teams come from the Lower 48, as we call it, to be camp counselors. Is God calling you to impact a life this way? Do you feel overwhelmed or unqualified to be a camp counselor? Before you decide, listen to one young woman’s story. She spent a week volunteering at a bible camp in a remote village and was amazed to see God work to open up her cabin and unite them over a not-so-common experience.

“I think my favorite thing from camp was when we did the sauna. It was the changing point for my cabin at camp. We all went in slightly uncomfortable, but we ended up leaving as sisters. Up until this point, all the girls were mostly quiet during cabin devotions and cabin time, and I thought that no one was ever going to open up no matter how hard my co-counselor or I tried. I wasn't sure how much I should push because I wasn't sure how much would be acceptable.

At the sauna, the girls finally opened up, and it was all because my co-counselor decided to splash some water on the girls when they least expected it. From then on it was like a whole new group of girls. We were laughing and playing and throwing pitchers of water all over one another while both in the sauna and in the slew. Just like teenage girls back here in the lower forty-eight, we bonded over a game and by just having fun.

I think this experience, along with many other things at camp taught me that although we come from very different worlds, we are still the same and God's gospel can reach us anywhere we are because we are all still his children no matter where we come from.”

As Christian workers, we can quickly wish that the people we are witnessing to will bond over an open Bible or a shared message from the pastor. Or we think that we have to have some fantastic skill to impress them. However, especially in a culture built on actions, barriers must be broken with love and vulnerability. With the sauna experience, the girls were able to laugh and see the joy in one another in a silly way, which led to more openness in the more serious times of camp later on.

Join us in praying for God to bring us the needed counselors this summer. Maybe you will be one of them? Learn more by exploring our opportunities.

The Church Came to Help - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Church Came to Help - Ukraine Crisis Story

From one of our church partners in Ukraine:

"The beginning of our family story is sad. On the day, when the war broke out, we endured a night with horrible bombing. Our apartment got damaged: the windows got broken, the door was knocked out with the blast wave. It was a cold winter and we had no electricity, water, heating or gas. For 10 days we endured it, we were lying between the rooms face-to-floor, shaking because of the sound of the planes that flew above us. Then the situation got worse. During one bombing we ran to the garage, hoping to be evacuated to a safe place. In the car there were 2 adults, 2 kids, my old mother, 2 cats and a dog. We could take only one bag each with documents into the car. We got to my mother’s city. After arriving we found out that my mum's house burnt down because a shell had flown into it. Now she has no place to live. Everything was burnt to ashes. We are currently living in the dormitory because we lost our jobs since the factory where we worked was bombed and destroyed.

In the most difficult moment of our lives, the church came to help us. It literally saved and supported us. The church helps us with food, medicines for our old mother, and with pet food. We even got dishes, towels, personal hygiene items because we had absolutely nothing. We ran out of our house wearing one set of underwear and winter clothes. It's summer now and the church helped us with clothes and shoes for the spring and we also have what to wear in the summer. The church has become a real salvation for our family and our support in this hard time. We are grateful to these kind and heartfelt people. They have big hearts."

Give now to help relief efforts

Big 'K' Thinking

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Big 'K' Thinking

Sometimes competition is a very good thing.

The World Series, the Olympics, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are great examples of fierce competition. In the business world, Apple and Android wrestle to capture and maintain market share in cell phones and tablets. Honda vs. Hyundai vs. Ford. Nike, Reebok, Adidas...You get the picture.

A worthy opponent can bring out the best or worst in an athlete or team when the heat is on and someone really wants to win. But competition does not always lead to good things. Not when we're thinking about global missions.

little “k” thinking

Canada is a first world nation that has shifting, often shrinking capacity for global missions. If we’re not careful, this can lead to a "little kingdom mentality" (note the lower case 'k'). We hunker down to gather resources and defenses so our organization can survive, at the expense of “the other guys”. As much as we might try to deny it, we're just preserving "little kingdoms".

And it's not pretty. Missions agencies vie for the best connections, the best social media, the best booth space at the next conference – before someone beats us to it!

This is what I call "little 'k' thinking": when the unspoken, default priority for our church or mission unwittingly becomes self-preservation, instead of effective advance of the Good News. This frame of mind resists the truth that our Enemy wants us to forget: we're on the same team . The Kingdom of God transcends and trumps our "little kingdoms".

Big "K" Thinking

Here's my challenge, first for me and then others:

Let's re-capitalize. Let's do "Big 'K' Thinking".

Let's pause to lift our eyes from our limited perspective, and re-ask some important questions:

"Big 'K' Thinking" isn't easy, but it is important. Let's do a better job of getting the Good News to those who need it!

Watch video “Collaboration” .

Read the article "A New Partnership".

Watch video "Ukraine: Dangerous Circumstances".

Knock. God Can Redeem the Time!

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Knock. God Can Redeem the Time!

By Susan , a mission worker in Russia.

My goal in my teaching career was to work and save enough money t o t ravel around the world. What I did not know, though, was that God was also working in me and growing my heart for cross-cultural ministry.

Over several years I attended numerous mission con ferences to learn from missionaries and to hear about their experiences. The se missionaries affirmed that there was a place for me in mission work and encouraged me to not let self-imposed barriers , such a s being single , be a hindrance to getting involved.

The Missions Director at my church heard about SEND and was pleased to learn that the organization is Christ - and prayer - centered, is all about the kingdom of God, and is team - ba sed . He felt confident recommending SEND as an organization I could work well with.

Did I Miss My Chance?

Soon after, a SEND mission coach reached out to me . I admit I was afraid to respond to the e - mail; I had not yet sorted out what I wanted to do in missions and so put off my reply. That didn’t stop God though. He continued to remind me about SEND.

By the time I was ready to talk to the coach, I figured it was too late to go overseas that year and that I had missed my chance. However, a godly friend encouraged me to just “knock”. “God can redeem the time, even though you think it is too late.”

When I finally reached out to John, the mission coach, I realized I was communicating with someone who loved God. And, even though I did not know exactly what I wanted to do in missions, I felt safe talking with him. I could see that John cared about me and what God wanted for me, so I could trust him to guide me well.

Since I am a teacher, John directed my attention to a teaching opportunity in Russia. As I prayed about that ministry, I became convinced I should take the next step.

God Throws Open the Doors

So, o n May 11 of that year I ap plied to SEND and on May 31 , I resigned from my teaching position! Even though I thought it was too late to do anything that year, God flung open the doors and by September I was in Russia!

I am so thankful that my friend urged me to “knock” and watch for what God would do. If you’re serious about serving God, even though you may f eel f earful, take th e first step ! You c a n tr ust God for what comes next !

Explore Internship Opportunities.

What Camp Taught Me

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What Camp Taught Me

"There is no glory in early mornings, unanswerable questions, and unruly kids fresh out of school. Still, camp counselors fulfill a sacrificial position in Bible summer camp hoping for just that. In Alaska alone, there are over ten summer Bible camps with these eager servants looking to connect with the village populations.

During my week of service as a counselor at Tanalian Bible Camp in Port Alsworth, Alaska, I led a cabin full of girls from the surrounding villages. I had been a camper before, but I was nervous about my new leadership opportunity with these girls. Then God used one of my campers, Cindy*, to teach me my biggest lesson of the week.

Cindy enjoyed having fun and showed more interest in getting to know people than following the schedule at camp. While the camp is flexible about this, I am a rule-follower type of person. I enjoy structure and that naturally transitioned into my leadership style. As I learned more about the struggles that Cindy faced from her childhood, it made me understand why her personality developed as it did. I was pushed out of my comfort zone to see that it is less about the structure and expectations we should fulfill, and more about building relationships.

As I learned more about Cindy’s story, I realized how she is not the only child in the villages who struggles. Even though I had seen some of the obstacles they face firsthand, it was still difficult for me to come into camp and see how common these barriers can be. It can be hard for these kids to see God through their struggles, which is why camp is so vital.

Campers, at TBC and camps all around the state, can arrive confused by the mixed messages about God from their village. In my cabin, this confusion was overcome by the other campers showing each other patience and grace while they shared with one another who God was to them. As a counselor, I was humbled by the honesty, transparency, and kindness shown by my campers. I had spent my entire week focused on trying to keep my girls within rules I projected on them so they would not reflect negatively on my ability to lead. My young campers showed me how to submit to God’s plans instead of my own.

Countless stories remain untold of the grace and safety provided to young village children through Bible camps like Tanalian. If you are interested in volunteering next summer at one of these camps, click here . If you do, God is sure to teach you some amazing lessons.

If you see the impact these camps provide, please consider donating for camp scholarships so children like Cindy can attend. Help us give the hope of the Gospel to the children of these remote communities who so desperately seek to be known." Kelly Quist, May 31, 2017

*Not her real name

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Unfinished Business

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Unfinished Business

Like most great moments in history, Team Unity’s story began with more questions than answers: How do we effectively spread the Gospel among the unreached Muslim peoples of the Ural Mountain Regions of Russia? How can we, as a team, become more aware of what God is doing in the hearts of our Muslim neighbors?

Birth of Team Unity

The vision behind Team Unity was formed twenty years ago, when a young Ukrainian couple felt God’s call to work in Russia. *Slavic and *Katya moved to one of the big cities to work with youth. Through their ministry, two young men became brothers in Christ from Muslim backgrounds. Eighteen months ago, Slavic returned to this initial area of ministry and found both of his young brothers in key leadership roles in the national church. The men were overjoyed to see Slavic! After a sweet time of fellowship and reunion, the men became serious and expressed to Slavic their main concern: “You left some unfinished business here.” The men went on to explain that Slavic and Katya had left before teaching them how to reach their own Muslim families and peoples with the Gospel. This is where the vision for Team Unity was born. Late summer 2016, Slavic and Katya’s dream to return with a team of long-term workers became a reality.

Team Unity is now working with national believers to establish indigenous churches among the more overlooked unreached people groups in the area. Our desire is to mobilize these national believers in developing their own system and plan for engaging groups like the *Pantu and *Wakso Muslim peoples, and other unreached peoples around the world.

*Names of SEND workers and people groups have been changed for security reasons.

Living at the Crossroads

For many in our region, our city functions as a crossroads- a major geographical and cultural hub of commerce, trade, and cultural blending for over 100 ethnic groups from different backgrounds, histories, and religions. We believe now is the time that the Father wants to write another page in his story for our region of the world. He wants our city and region to be the spiritual hub that influences all nations and ethnicities around her.

Join us in Prayer

Our team is new; thus, our staff is working to master multiple languages present in our region, building relationships, and spending weekly time praying about God’s plans for this place. We are seeking 1000 brothers and sisters who will commit to join us in prayer for this new ministry.

We are so privileged to be a part of the great story God is writing her in the Ural Mountain Regions of Russia. We know the best is yet to come!

Discover more Muslim Ministry opportunities

Not believers yet, but interested

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Not believers yet, but interested

“We’ve had 50 years of communism so we need to hear about God now.” For six years, administrators of a public high school on the outskirts of Moscow have welcomed SEND global worker Brenda B. to teach English every other week. They know she’s religious and give her the freedom to speak on anything she wants.

One Easter during class, Brenda wrote on the board, “Bad things happen to good people. It only happened once.” She then asked the students to discuss. They asked her how she defines good and bad and she turned the question back to them. Finally, one girl connected it to Jesus and the cross. He was the only truly good person and didn’t deserve to die.

One student in the class told his parents about the lesson and they wanted to meet Brenda and her husband, Phil. They are a very intelligent family with almost everyone working in healthcare as doctors and surgeons.

Over the years, Phil and Brenda have developed a strong friendship with the whole family. The family has come to Alaska to visit them three times. Their son went to a Christian camp there and they even asked Phil and Brenda to do a Bible study while they visited.

A few months after the family's last visit to Alaska, the grandfather had a stroke. They asked Phil and Brenda to come to the hospital to pray for him. Afterward everyone returned to the family’s home where there was a huge meal set out. While they ate, one family member asked Brenda, “Why do we even live?”

Brenda told her, “We live to glorify God.” The woman wanted to hear more, so Phil started to share the gospel. Other family members and friends arrived and asked Phil to start over again so they could hear the whole thing. For six hours, Phil talked about salvation in Jesus.

So far, no one in the family has responded to the gospel. Please pray for them. They are not believers yet but are interested.

Search opportunities to help reach families just like this one with the gospel.

The Light Beckons

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Light Beckons

A Story from Team Hope

“I am Norhamsa. I am of those created by Isa al Masih (Jesus the Messiah), and I am one of His believers now. I witnessed and experienced that paradise is true.”

These words are straight from the heart of a Muslim man, from the Miga people group, who recently surrendered his life to Jesus .

(Norhamsa's name and people group have been changed for security reasons.)

A Light in the Hospital

As a teenager, Norhamsa was caught up in many vices. Following the lure and empty promises of the world, he became a slave to drugs, alcohol, and sexual lust. When Norhamsa recently met a Team Hope worker, he told the story of how he had once become so desperately sick, he was hospitalized and stood face-to-face with death. In his unconscious state, Norhamsa had heard the voices of children playing and speaking in many languages. He told of a brilliant light he had seen, and a figure reaching out his hand, as if inviting him to come . Doctors were amazed, when after several hours with no signs of life; Norhamsa revived and awoke to the sound of his brother’s voice.

The Light of the World

When Norhamsa shared his story, the worker shared the gospel with him, and they began studying the Scriptures together. After about two weeks, they reached the passage where Jesus calls himself the “Light of the World.” Norhamsa immediately recognized Jesus as the brilliantly lit figure who appeared to him in the hospital , inviting him into eternal life in heaven. Upon this realization, Norhamsa made a decision to receive the invitation of Jesus and become his follower.

Norhamsa was immediately filled with an insatiable hunger to know more of God’s Word. Since his decision, Norhamsa has been showing up nearly every day at the home of the man who first shared the gospel with him to study more about the person of Jesus.

The Light is Spreading

Since Norhamsa has discovered Jesus, his wife and one cousin have also followed him in that decision . They are now meeting weekly to study God’s Word and fellowship together. Pray for families like Norhamsa’s to be the catalyst of bigger movements of Muslim families and people groups to Jesus in this Southeast region of Asia.

Explore Muslim Ministry opportunities with SEND International.

Celebrating Years of Faithful Service

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Celebrating Years of Faithful Service

On June 23, 2016, SEND celebrated the retirement of five individuals who have faithfully served both overseas and in the home office of SEND Canada. We are so thankful for the commitment of Jim and Ruth Andrews, Laverne Fehr and Jake and Lillian Leyenaar in taking the Good News to the nations, and for the fruit of their ministries.

Stuart Lightbody, Director of Operations, welcomes the guests of honour, their families and churches and SEND staff to the retirement festivities.

Ed Vencio, Director of Mobilization, reads words of greetings and thanks from the SEND International Director, Warren Janzen. Fun fact: Ed and his wife, Marlu, were mentored as a young couple in the Philippines by Jake and Lillian, some of the evening’s honoured guests!

Canadian Director, Rob “Mags” Magwood, shares a reflection from Scripture:

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain."

1 Corinthians 15:58

Flowers and plaques were presented to the guests of honour, acknowledging their service both overseas and in the home office.

Laverne Fehr served in the Philippines from 1977 to 2001, first studying the language and then being involved in church planting. She also served in the SEND field office and as a registrar at Faith Academy, an international school.

When Laverne returned to Canada in 2001, she joined the Personnel department in the SEND Canada office. In 2013, Laverne transitioned to a new role as Project Assistant to the Director of Operations. Laverne retired on January 31, 2016 and SEND is incredibly thankful for the impact she has had on the organization and her teammates, at home and abroad!

Jim and Ruth Andrews have faithfully served together in Alaska since 1978. Jim was involved in a radio ministry and Ruth served as a nurse. They served together in Alaska, in many different capacities, until 1988, when they joined the home office team in Toronto, Ontario.

They have faithfully served in the SEND office, moving with it to London, Ontario. Ruth retired last year, and Jim's official retirement date was January 31, 2016, although he continues to work part-time, helping the office transition. Thank you Jim and Ruth for your many years of dedication!

Lillian moved to the Philippines in 1966 and two and a half years later, Jake arrived for a short-term position with SEND. Jake and Lillian were married in 1972 and returned to the Philippines together where Jake served as the Business Manager for the field office.

Jake and Lillian have also served in the SEND Canada home office. In 2007 they had the opportunity to return to the Philippines to launch a new program and now this program is booming in classrooms all around the Philippines.

In 2011, Jake and Lillian returned to Canada. Despite being ‘retired’ they continue to volunteer their time working with immigrant students. Thank you Jake and Lillian for the incredible example you’ve been!

A prayer of blessing by Pastor Phil Butler, from Westview Baptist Church for Laverne, Jim, Ruth, Jake and Lillian.

Thank you Andrews, Leyenaars and Laverne! Your many years of dedicated service are appreciated more than words can express!

Learn About Jake And Lillian's Lessons From The Field

Read Jake Leyenaar's Story

Read Lillian Leyenaar's Story

Discover Ministry Opportunities

Brothel or school

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Brothel or school

Imagine living in a land where 600,000 girls work as prostitutes. That’s one for every 100 people. And this is only the beginning. This is a land where a middle schooler will sell her body for a new pair of designer jeans, where a housewife will “work the streets” to provide extra income for her family.

The crisis is overwhelming. And though we may not be able to rescue thousands, we can start with one. So let me tell you about 12-year-old Hua.

Hua grew up in a poor Shan home in Northern Thailand. When she heard the stories of the Bible from SEND workers, she chose to follow Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She loves to sing and worship Jesus with her friends. This past year she finished elementary school and is excited to attend high school. But since her mother cannot afford the tuition, she has threatened to send her to Bangkok to work in a brothel.

When our team was faced with this dilemma, we came up with the idea of finding sponsors for Hua and a dozen other girls who faced the same crisis. Hua now has a sponsor who will pay for her high school tuition, uniform and school books to give her a hope and a future. The new school year begins the first of May. The decision now rests in the hands of her mother who is coming to Northern Thailand in April and will make the decision then. Will she accept the sponsorship? Or will she send Hua away? Would you pray for Hua, our young sister in Christ?

Update

Click here to find out what happened to Hua and the other Shan girls seeking educational scholarships.

Backstage Pass! Part 2

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Backstage Pass! Part 2 In Part 2 of our Backstage Pass! you'll meet Patrick and Marianne, two members of our Personnel Team here at SEND Canada. The personnel team walks alongside SEND workers, beginning with applicants to SEND, helping them through the process, providing member care throughout their time overseas and helping them transition through retirement at the end of their careers. To learn more about what happens backstage, watch the next Backstage Pass! video.

How to create a home overseas

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

How to create a home overseas

By Christine Rollings in the Philippines A week after we landed in Manila, we moved into our condo. Our first morning in our new home, I sat on the floor amidst the half-unpacked suitcases and boxes and cried. We had a table. We had no chairs. We slept on an air mattress we bought the night before. The task before us of settling in, of turning this into a space of our own, felt daunting and distant. But trying to create a home overseas is more than the actual furniture.

What I have written here is 80 percent personal narrative and 20 percent how-to. I can’t write a comprehensive list of “how to create a home overseas” because it looks different for each of us. Some people can’t get familiar ingredients to make favorite dishes, let alone furnish their homes as they would in their country of origin. For us, being in a metro area, we have more than I imagined available.

As you read, think about what it looks like for you and your family to create your own space physically, emotionally and spiritually, to ensure your health in these areas. Ask God how he wants you to steward what he’s given you and how he can even use the home you create to glorify himself.

Creating Your Physical Space Abroad

After spending the first seven months of our marriage living on the road and out of suitcases, we were eager to create a home together. We’d spent that time dreaming together of what our space could look like: We walked around the home section in Target when we just went to pick up toiletries, we took dates to Ikea and wandered through the furniture after eating our Swedish meatballs, and we spent an evening or two (or more) together looking at Pinterest.

When we moved to Manila, we were eager to get started and create our space. But in a city without Target or Ikea, we had to do a bit of searching before we could fill our condo with pieces to make it a home. Here are three things I learned during this process:

1. Don’t make impulse buys

We were so eager to make our place functional that we bought a stove and refrigerator too small for the spaces allotted for them in our unit. We had walked into the appliance store thinking of the small space rather than thinking ahead and taking measurements.

Moving forward, we didn’t go anywhere without our measuring tape and were careful to ask a lot of questions — which saved us from buying an Asian queen-size bed and a European queen-size mattress (the difference is four inches).

2. Decide together

This wise advice from my in-laws created as much conflict as it did beauty. New in our marriage, this became a crucible for learning how to talk and listen to each other, while also ensuring that our space was something that made both of us feel at home.

One of our latest purchases was a painting for our wall. We’d gone to the market and found the stalls with the style we agreed on. When it came time to decide on the specific piece, we narrowed it down to two, and by comparing them, I could tell they were each distinctly our own styles. Right there at the market stall, we debated and discussed what we each liked about our chosen painting, what drew us to it and what colors from our place it brought together. After a while, we came to an agreement and got to walk away with a piece we were both excited about.

3. Settle in

As much as I longed for a space to call home here in Manila, making purchases to create it was a clear reminder that my new home is far from what and whom I’ve known.

When we finally decided on a bed frame (after sleeping on just the mattress for a couple of months because we hadn’t found one we agreed on), my emotions went from relief to excitement to fear. It felt like a scary thing to buy such a piece of furniture. My parents had their bed frame for over 20 years! “Will we be here for 20 years?” I wondered while we were still in the store. Maybe we would. Or maybe we would sell it or be able to ship our mattress to our next home, wherever that may be.

The truth is, we needed to purchase things that make our space feel like a home and not just temporary living quarters.

Making Your House a Home

Like my reaction to purchasing our mattress, the process of creating our home brought up a lot of emotion for me. There was fear in settling in and sorrow over not being able to call my carpenter-brother to come over and help. It brought up my inability to communicate as well as my lack of knowledge as to how to even clean properly in this new climate. Moving to a new place far from familiarity requires an extra amount of emotional care, creating space for us to rest.

1. Bring things from your home country

Since our home was transient in the year before we arrived in Manila, I had picked a few items that could easily fit in a suitcase and bring a level of stability to each place we lived. One of these items was a small drawing my friend made just before we got married — I place it where I make my morning coffee. The small pen-and-ink drawing found itself on six different countertops before coming to where it now stands on our coffee bar in the kitchen.

We were able to ship a couple of boxes from Canada of items we’d collected along the way: a comforter we bought for our temporary house in Calgary, extra toiletries we stocked up on at Target’s closing sale in Vancouver, coffee equipment we invested in while visiting Seattle. When our boxes came months after our arrival, even our pug was excited. He’d made the various journeys with us and when he smelled the pillow that once sat on our couch in Canada, he couldn’t help but nuzzle up into it.

2. “This feels like America,” and that’s okay

I cringed the first couple of times friends came into our home and declared, “This feels like America!” They referred to our decorations, our layout, our air conditioner, my cooking. At first, I felt guilty. After all, we’d come all the way to the Philippines; shouldn’t we fully live in the Philippines?

But what I realized through time and the gentle prodding of my husband is that we create this space in our home so that we can live fully in the Philippines. It’s a retreat for us as we spend our days in an environment that takes more energy to get around, process and communicate.

It’s also a space we love to invite people into. Friends get to know us through how we’ve filled our space, and we love traveling the world by the food we put on our table.

3. Buy things that delight your soul

For me, it’s fresh flowers and scented candles. They’re two things that don’t last forever and fill me with life and delight for the time I have with them.

For the first few months we were here, I would simply stop to smell the flowers at the grocery store, feeling it would be too frivolous to spend the money to bring them home with me. “But we’re on support! And people are hungry!” I thought.

These reasons are what Judas used when Mary washed Jesus’ feet with perfume: “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?” I’m not alone in my concern. But Jesus delights in Mary’s act. When I use a few dollars to adorn my table with life, when I burn the candle and fill my home with fragrance, I am reminded that as this delights my soul, this delights the Lord as well.

4. Spend time in your space

While the temptation for me is to spend too much time at home, it’s important still to make time to spend there. Early on in ministry, a mentor advised me to break my day up into thirds — morning, afternoon and evening — and be sure to only work two of those thirds.

This is how I think about spending time in my space. Getting one-third of that time — whether it be in the morning before language school or in the evening after a full day’s work at the coffee shop — to spend writing, reading, cleaning or even working on finances fills my tank a little for the rest of the day.

Why Building Your Home Matters

Creating space goes against so many of the lies I tell myself. My inner overachiever/type-A/perfectionist self says, “There’s so much to accomplish, so many people in need around me, so much else I could spend money on and do. It’s a waste to buy flowers, burn the candle, decorate the room.”

This is exactly why I need to do it. I need to boldly declare to myself and the world that God is enough and loves me for who I am, and that person is worth taking care of. That he is enough to spill out the perfume in worship. That there is more he can do through me when I am rested, whole and well.

Reposted with permission from team.org. Read the original story here .

Museums - Europe Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Museums - Europe Series

Many of Europe's stunning churches have become museums. But with God's help, they can again be filled with worshipers. Part of "UnFinished: Reaching Europe." Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

The Hakka - Taiwan Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Hakka - Taiwan Series

Through hard work and resilience, a family is working to reach the Hakka of Taiwan with the gospel. Part of the series "Taiwan: Vision 119." Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

God's Call to Missions - Jack and Ella's Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

God's Call to Missions - Jack and Ella's Story

Called to a New Career

The Sailors were enjoying their jobs in Regina, Saskatchewan . Jack was working as a police detective and Ella as a legal assistant. Then things began to change.

During the summer of 1971, the Sailors enjoyed ministry for a month in Alaska. It was during this time Ella became convinced that God was calling them into full-time ministry. Jack, however was not of the same mind. They returned to their work in Regina, but God’s calling was not lost on Ella. She tried to talk to her husband about serving God full-time but Jack was not open to even discussing it. Realizing that it was all in God’s hands, Ella left it with the Lord.

In the fall of 1971, the Sailors attended revival meetings. It was during one of these meetings that Jack yielded to God and what He was calling him to.

Jack had just committed himself to full-time ministry, when the Chief of Police offered him the position of Detective Sergeant. When Jack informed the Chief that he would not accept the position, rather he was going to resign to enter the ministry, the Chief was stunned; he could not believe what he was hearing. Ella’s employer likewise expressed utter disbelief. However, by this time, the Sailors were sure of their calling and would not be deterred.

Embarking on Studies

They sold their home, and in the fall of 1973 the Sailors enrolled at Briercrest Bible Institute. What encouraged Jack and Ella was that their children did not oppose the move; they could see what God was doing in their parents' lives. God had prepared their hearts as well! With the proceeds from the sale of their house and individuals generously sending money to the Sailors (not knowing their need) Jack and Ella had just enough to see them through to graduation.

During the summers between school years, the Sailors were involved in camp ministry in the Yukon. The believers in Dawson City heard of them and invited Jack and Ella to do church work upon graduation. The Sailors joined SEND International, and in the Christmas of 1976 made the move up north.

A New Life Begins

Jack (right) visiting with goldminers.

There were ministry adjustments during their initial months in Dawson City. However, one of the biggest challenges for Ella was seeing their children gradually leave home to begin their life as young adults. This was a “heartbreak” she had to work through.

Bible studies were held in various homes; what a great joy to see people yield their lives to Jesus. During the Sailors' 11 years in Dawson City, over 80 people came to know Christ as their Saviour.

One of these people was Randy* whose wife, Lorraine, was already a believer. Randy, an RCMP officer, met the Sailors when they were involved in an accident. The following month Randy and Lorraine were invited to attend a New Year’s celebration. Randy thoroughly enjoyed the event and was touched by the love of the people. He began to attend a Bible study and came to know Christ as his Saviour. They are still enjoying their walk with God.

God does not call all of His followers to leave their jobs and enter full-time ministry; however the Sailors knew that this was His will for their lives.

Jack went to be with the Lord in 2014. He is with the One he loved so much and was so faithful to. Ella is back in Regina and enjoying her family as they come to visit. She continues to be in contact with her former employer, who, at the time, thought it totally ridiculous for the Sailors to enter the ministry. Yet, only God knows the total impact they have had on people’s lives for eternity.

*This is a true story, but some names have been changed for security purposes

Watch Videos About Life and Ministry in the North

Learn about Summer Camp Ministry Opportunities in the North.

Listen to Podcast Episode "How Can I Know God's Will for Me?"

Merla Gogel serves as a mobilizer for SEND Canada. She served in Japan for 12.5 years as a church planter and now serves in the Canadian office

Mentoring Matters: Laverne's Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Mentoring Matters: Laverne's Story

Espie was new in the faith when we met. She and I met weekly for discipleship, spending time in the Word, prayer, and sharing what was happening in her life. As she grew in her faith, she began to disciple other young ladies. She also accompanied me as we visited in homes and to Bible Studies. She taught me much about the culture and she learned ministry as she went with me. Eventually she joined the church team and has continued in ministry overseas.

Discover Ministry Opportunities

After exhaustion, elation

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Get to Know Our Goers Part 2: Caleb And Raquel

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Get to Know Our Goers Part 2: Caleb And Raquel

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2021 Annual Report.

-----

Meet Caleb & Raquel, two of SEND Canada's new workers! The individuals you will meet over the next few weeks ( read part 1 ) are preparing to go to the field or have recently been sent. They are an answer to prayers of many faithful believers that more workers be sent into the harvest field! Today, we hope you will enjoy getting to know Caleb & Raquel as you read their answers to the following questions.

How did you first feel called into missions work?

How far along are you in your support raising journey?

Where will you serve? And is there a particular people group you will be working with?

What is a fun fact about you?

What is one Bible verse that has inspired your involvement in missions?

What is the name of your Sending Church?

Favourite hot drink?

Current favourite worship song?

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

- Matthew 9:37-38

Learn More about Ministry in Thailand

Engaging the Unreached

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Engaging the Unreached

At the very heart of SEND International is the proclamation of the Gospel. A key component of our mission statement is "Engage the Unreached."

Who are the unreached?

Watch the following video to learn more about Unreached People Groups (UPGs) around the world!

Learn How You Can Pray For The Unreached

Discover Opportunities To Serve Among The Unreached

Alaska Christian Ministries

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Alaska Christian Ministries

It is not the person, but the purpose that lasts. Our team member, Eileen Starr, is working to create such a legacy that supports the purposes of God’s Kingdom in the bigger cities in the Far North. Working through SEND North with Alaska Christian Ministries (ACM), Eileen has served in Alaska for over 40 years with the central goal of connecting churches with communities.

She coordinates with churches and schools to host parenting classes that combine a family meal and children’s program, as well as the parental portion, all in a once-a-week, 2-hour session that lasts for ten weeks. Working fervently to provide the classes at as low of a cost as possible, our team member seeks volunteers from churches to provide the meals and staff for teaching and childcare. The program is built to attract all people, so the first several sessions are spiritually neutral. These first sessions provide excellent opportunities to build relationships with the families, and at the end, they offer an additional three sessions that have a spiritual focus. Over 85% of their attendants chose to return for the final three meetings.

Eileen has not stopped there. She works in prisons in the area to lead parenting courses for inmates. Approximately 30 inmates attend each course, and most of them show significant growth. Some even reach out when they are released because of the care they received from ACM. “They know who we are and why we do it,” says Eileen.

In addition to the parenting classes, Eileen Starr coordinates the Thanksgiving Blessing program in Anchorage, where families can come to locations within their zip code and receive a full Thanksgiving day meal for their family. She oversees the largest zone, which feeds about 2,500 families every year. They partner with the Food Bank for food donation pickups and deliveries, as well as storage for the donated food leading up to the event.

All this work from just one of our members is in response to the dire need of connection between church and community. The purpose is to “love by providing.” Eileen Starr facilitates the serving of about 225 families through the parenting courses every year. She also mentors inmates who are seeking God, builds relationships with released inmates, and serves God wherever she goes. Most importantly, Eileen is looking for the next leader to come along and continue the legacy she is developing with Alaska Christian Ministries.

Between Two Worlds

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Between Two Worlds

In a world of upgrades, by-mail meals, and instant answers, the modern culture around us seems to be fueled by innovation and individuality. This progress connects almost every part of our world but increases the challenge to build deep personal relationships. While most people are eager to embrace all that is cutting edge, the children of Alaskan villages are caught between this ever-growing world and the unchanging nature of their villages and ancestral culture. Being caught in the middle of two cultures is stressful and creates a struggle to find validation and acceptance.

Living in bush Alaska, I saw this on a daily basis, and SEND North’s team sees it too. The native culture many village children come from is deeply rooted in humility, submission to nature, and community. They are tied to their ancestors through dances, foods, trades, and storytelling. As each generation passes, many of these culturally rich traditions are falling by the wayside, being replaced by many elements of the modern world.

However, what remains in these communities is the respect the children have for past generations. Inherently, they try to honor their traditions and way of life by participating in hunting rituals, community potlucks, dances, and engaging with their elders. Many now leave the villages to get an education, in hopes of supporting their villages and families. These children who understand and respect the slow-paced, honor-based culture are in a valuable position to promote community and hard work in today’s modern world and the coming generations. Their work ethic and reliance on the resources God provides is a precious lesson for those of us who rely on modern invention and efficiency.

Nonetheless, many native children are joining the modern world and struggle to straddle their way of life with the pace of the current culture. This imposed tension often can result in adverse consequences. Even more so then kids and teens in suburban settings, the expectations to grow up fast and represent your family well are heightened by the environment of the village. In my village, as with many others, this would manifest in dangerous ways with substance abuse, forced relationships, and greed for popular brands and products. The results, though, would never satisfy and my peers would often continue to seek new avenues for validation in both worlds.

At SEND North, our team strives to promote the good in the village kids and teens, learning their way of life to build trust and understanding. We know that embracing God’s love and walking in the way of Jesus satisfies and validates as nothing else can. We long to bring everyone closer to Jesus one step at a time. This is key in making northern disciple-makers.

Pray that people’s eyes will be open to God’s loving embrace. Pray that we will accurately display God to everyone. Please also look here to find ways that you can Be A Part of God’s work in the Far North. - Kelly Quist

A Teacher's Influence

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Teacher's Influence

Did you have a teacher that made a big difference in your life? Then you know the power of a non-parental authority figure giving encouragement and value to a young life. “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Henry Brooks Adams, a lifelong pursuer of education, may not have known how true his own words were, especially in the 60/70 Window. Teachers have a remarkable position in the lives of children and families that, if used for God’s purposes, can reap eternal rewards.

Many schools in the Far North are small and close-knit. Far North educators have the opportunity to be a major influence on students in the villages. Not only do they provide another role model for the community kids, but they also have many opportunities outside of the classroom to pour into their student’s lives.

One of our team members has lived this directly. Serving as a teacher in two different villages, he taught in the classroom during the day and then coached a sport after the regular work day, as well as leading the local youth program with his wife. He is fulfilling a community need, but he is also taking advantage of the opportunity to bond with students and their families outside of the school environment.

This team member recognizes the need to have a safe person and a safe environment for all students. Students must feel welcomed and appreciated in the schools, and they must know that the teachers are there for them not just for the job. “They can tell right away if you care and want to be there,” he says. By investing and engaging, teachers have the chance to show students their worth and ability to pursue whatever they desire in the future.

Our team member also emphasized that he use his work to be an example to his students. He knows that teachers are held in high esteem in a village, so he strives to live uprightly. Returning graded work on time, and following through with students is a way of showing them how to live with accountability. Most importantly to our team member is to be the one that stays for these students, and is one that believes in them. Students can be quick to lose trust in teachers if they are leaving the community or disinterested in the students’ potential.

SEND North values the teachers that are on our team. We support them in challenging environments first and foremost so they can be the best teachers possible and pour into their community. We look to partner with people who have vibrant and genuine relationships with Jesus who can share their faith in caring ways. Supporting Christians who work in remote communities is an important way we fulfill our mission to make northern disciple-makers.

Teachers often do not know the extent of their influence, who is looking up to them and who is watching, in and outside of school. There is a significant need for teachers in the villages who will care deeply for the students by providing a high-caliber education, investing in their lives as a whole, and living out a genuine faith in Jesus Christ.

Feeling interested in cultivating these bright young minds? Click here for more information on teaching in the villages and how you can be a part.

Diaspora in the North

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Diaspora in the North

According to the United Nations, over 50% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and it is proliferating, especially in developing countries. Thousands are leaving their homes, flocking to urban areas for jobs and opportunities to provide better lives for their families. The growth is added to by ongoing refugee placements.

So what does this mean for the ministry field? SEND International has recently begun a new division called Diaspora ministries, focusing on the urban areas of development. By reaching people in a concentrated area, team members have a better chance of influence and have the potential to create disciples that are connected to their home villages and countries. We are building Diaspora teams in Alaska and Northern Canada. In even one city, we can reach a variety of people in a cross-cultural setting, even though it may seem non-traditional for us because it is an urban environment instead of a rural one.

Right now, SEND North’s Diaspora program is focused primarily on reaching the small pockets of people in our urban areas for the sake of sharing the Good News to people close to us. Diaspora comes from an Old Testament word describing the dispersion of the Jews in early history. It is used again by Peter in 1 Peter to address the early church Christians who fled from Jerusalem. At SEND North, we are interested in those that are dispersed from their homes and have congregated in the Far North. Our focus on these urban gathering places includes Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kodiak, Whitehorse, and Yellowknife. Our opportunities are only growing. In Anchorage alone, 100-200 refugees were coming in annually until recently. Anchorage is one of the most diverse cities in the United States.

Our Diaspora program is currently concentrated in Anchorage, led by a team member in the area, and operates in a 3-prong fashion. The first prong focuses on assessment. We strive to gather accurate information about the different sections of Anchorage so we can better serve the demographics and sections within the city. Our research has confirmed that our primary urban area is growing in diversity rapidly. Secondly, we collaborate with pre-established churches and organizations to facilitate and support work already happening. In as many ways as possible, we want to “focus on the bigger picture of the Lord’s work” as we assist other groups, our team leader emphasized. Finally, we want to utilize giftings and interests of our members to fill the needs as we see them. For instance, our team member that leads the program participates in a growing jail ministry in town. He cares for and shows compassion for those “in chains” (Hebrews 13:3). The diversity in the jails is equal to that outside, and people are hungry for the Gospel. To read more about the jail ministries, read last week’s article .

The need is great, and the workers are few. As we continue to focus on the second and third steps to the program, we need more members willing to jump in headfirst to our urban areas and engage with the need of such a diverse collection of people. Do you enjoy living in a suburban setting and want to add influence to your location? Consider the Diaspora program and visit our Opportunities Page .

Mentoring Aigerim

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Mentoring Aigerim

SEND's workers around the world see our new vision statement — a global movement of Jesus followers making disciples among the unreached — taking root in each place they serve. SEND workers practice incarnational ministry, living purposefully among the people we hope to reach. In this case, "among" means literally sharing a kitchen. Today we read about how a beautiful discipleship relationship naturally developed when a missionary family offered their spare room to a seminary student.

• • •

By Kellie Benge in Ukraine — We had just dropped our youngest child off at college and were on a plane flying to Ukraine. As a mother, I was fighting that feeling that I had abandoned our three children, two in college, the oldest married with one child. They were all very supportive of our calling to serve in Ukraine training pastors since my husband, Jerry, had been a pastor for the previous 27 years. My prayer was that God would use this time in all of our lives to strengthen us and help us better live out the gospel that all of us believed.

Little did I know what God had in store for me when one Sunday, about six months after we arrived in Kyiv, a colleague announced that he knew of a student from Kazakhstan who needed a place to live for a short time while she looked for more permanent housing. Jerry and I went home and talked about it and decided that since we had an extra bedroom, we should share it with this student. That began a relationship that I, to this day, regard as one of the greatest gifts that God has given me. I think it has been a big blessing to Aigerim as well.

When the day came for me to meet this student, as I sat waiting in the lobby of the seminary, I began to have doubts about what we had offered to do: What about differences in culture? What if we didn’t get along? What if she didn’t want to keep her room clean or if she didn’t care about taking care of our things? Would we be able to communicate? I had been in language school only six months — I hardly knew anything, and I was petrified to speak in Russian.

Someone brought Aigerim to me, we got into a taxi and we rode silently the 10 minutes it took to get to our apartment. I stumbled through showing her her room and helping her get settled. She was very quiet and stayed in her room for the first couple of days.

I asked her if she wanted to eat and at every meal she said no. She could speak some English, so I finally asked why she wasn’t eating. She shyly told me that in her culture it was not polite to accept an offer the first time it was given. She was teaching me that the straightforwardness of Americans is not the way it is in other parts of the world. I needed to be more sensitive. That was the first of many lessons that I would learn from my Kazakh daughter.

'We just did life together'

Aigerim Khozhamoturova lived with us for three years! Our relationship grew naturally as we ate together, cleaned the house together, helped each other in our studies (she was my Russian language helper) and just spent time together. We shared the stories of our spiritual journeys and got to know each other’s families on Skype. When our daughter came to visit, they shared a room and grew a “sisterly” relationship. That was in 2011, and they still communicate with each other from time to time.

I did not do anything special with Aigerim — we just did life together. I taught her how to make an American apple pie, meatloaf and other recipes that have become favorites with her, and she taught me how to make plov and soup that is better than any I’ve had in the States!

As we lived life together, we naturally talked about issues of dating, modesty, beauty, how God had gifted her for future service — just like I’d talked with my own daughter. Together we ministered to ladies’ groups as I spoke and she translated. We shared special holidays together, especially Christmas. It has become a tradition for us to get together on Christmas Eve, have a nice dinner and give each other small gifts. We have truly become family to each other because none of us have family living close by with whom we can share special times.

A new family forms

Eventually, Aigerim met a young man. As she worked through whether to get married, we had many conversations about what she should be looking for in a husband and what she needed to be learning to become a good wife. During that time we did a Bible study on contentment, prayed together and always based our conversations on what God’s Word had to say about a subject. As Oleg and Aigerim committed to get married, they asked us to help them better understand marriage and get ready for it. We had some good conversations that helped them look into the future and analyze their readiness for both of their hearts to become one.

After their honeymoon, Oleg and Aigerim moved about an hour away. We tried to get together at least twice a month, and our relationship grew to one of friends encouraging each other as we shared what we were learning and how God was working in our lives.

And then, two years ago, a happy, beautiful little boy, Mark, was born to Oleg and Aigerim. This has added another dimension to our lives together. As Aigerim and Oleg have observed their own culture, they have discovered that Biblical child-training is not a priority. So as we have studied some passages in the Bible and asked questions about what kind of child they want Mark to be in the future, we have together come up with ideas for helping them to bring him up in the training and discipline of the Lord.

The discipleship that has grown from this relationship has not been formal a majority of the time. I have just enjoyed Aigerim and thanked God often for the wonderful gift He gave me as I left behind my own children. For Aigerim, also, with her parents so far away, it has been a blessing to have someone older for her to talk to and get advice from.

Aigerim is a faithful young woman whom the Lord has given great influence with other women. She has led her women’s ministry in her church talking about many of the topics that we discussed during our years living together. She loves God’s Word and is hungry to grow and become more like Christ. I’m thankful for the influence of her learner’s heart in my own life. I look forward to many more years of growing together.

• • •

7 ways to develop bridge-building love

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

7 ways to develop bridge-building love

By J.C. with SEND International — As leaders, politicians, and media debate how to respond to the increasing number of Muslims living in Western countries, followers of Jesus are asking the same question. How should we, as the body of Christ, respond to growing Muslim populations? Many Jesus followers today feel hesitant to interact with their Muslim neighbors because of an innate fear or feeling that they do not know enough about Islamic religion or culture to effectively share the hope and light of Christ. According to the Word of God, the antidote to all fear is genuine love; 1 John 4:18 states that “perfect love expels all fear.” How can you, as a member of the body of Christ, cultivate the kind of divine love that crosses over walls of fear and misunderstanding to build bridges of trust?

1. Ask God to give you a Muslim friend

It may sound simple, but the obvious first step toward cultivating Jesus’ love for Muslims is to know a Muslim. When I first moved to Kansas, I had no idea if there were Muslim people in Kansas, or any people for that matter. I inaccurately imagined our new home would be mostly farmland, cows, and tornadoes. Because we have felt God calling us to Muslim ministry overseas, my husband and I started asking him to give us just one international Muslim friend in our new city. If you have been wondering how to engage with your Muslim neighbors, pray first. Ask your Father for a Muslim friend. “For everyone who asks, receives; he who seeks, finds; to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:8)

2. Actively seek a friend out

When we pray, we act in cooperation with the Spirit. As we pray, we move. After six months in our new neighborhood, my husband and I discovered a ministry that would match us with an international student to welcome into our lives. We requested a match with a Muslim couple or brother/sister, and were certain this was how God would answer our prayers. When, on match-up day, we were paired with a Hindu student from India, we wondered what God was doing. At church the next morning, three rows in front of us, was a young woman with a head covering seated next to a young man. After the service, we hurried over to introduce ourselves. They were brother and sister, from Saudi Arabia, and were brand new to Kansas. They had attended church that Sunday for a one-time cultural experience.

Our answer had not come as we had imagined it would, but it had come in the way God intended. Do your part to look for a Muslim friend, but do not surprised if God answers your prayer in ways you do not expect. “ And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”- John 10:16 (ESV)

3. Invite them into your life

Deep friendships do not happen overnight. Trust is sewn together over time, through shared experiences. My husband and I first showed Athilah* and her brother Mubashir* around the city. Then we had them over for dinner. As time passed, I began inviting Athilah to join in my mundane, day-to-day life — afternoon errands or Target runs. When my husband was working an overnight shift at the hospital, she often kept me company. Some of our best conversations have happened over ice cream or walks through the park.

God is an expert at sowing his seeds of truth through countless situations and conversations that occur in the context of “ordinary life.” Develop a mindset of invitation. Allow your friends to enter in to your life, and not just when your house is clean. Let them see how you succeed and how you fail. Include them in your family’s sorrows and in your joys. Give them opportunities to observe how your faith interacts with your daily life. It takes practice to develop a mindset of invitation, but in time, you will reap benefits. “ Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”-Romans 15:7 (ESV)

4. Pray with your friend in Jesus’ name

Pray often with your Muslim friend in the name of Jesus. The first time I prayed with Athilah was the first time I visited her apartment. We were drinking tea and talking about the conflicts in Syria and other countries. Both of us desired peace and an end to the suffering, so I suggested we pray in the name of Jesus. Right then and there, I began asking for God’s peace and blessing in the Middle East. When I finished praying, Athilah had tears in her eyes and was visibly moved by the presence of Jesus.

Praying is important because it sets you apart in your friend’s mind as a person of conviction and high moral standards. It earns respect and transforms inaccurate views your friend may have of Christians. Praying with your Muslim friends in Jesus’ name is crucial because it demonstrates the power of Jesus as they witness him working in response to your prayers. This magnifies and sets apart the name of Jesus in their minds and hearts. “ Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”-Colossians 4:2 (ESV)

5. Meet practical needs

When Athilah and her brother were still new to the country, they had no car and they did not know where to buy certain things. This created an easy way for my husband and I to come alongside them. We helped them learn what medications they needed when they got sick. We drove them to the bank, showed them how to get library cards, and lent them boxes when they moved. When there was a misunderstanding between Athilah’s scholarship program and the local university about her enrollment, we contacted the international student representative. I told Athilah that we were asking Jesus to make a way for her to stay at this college, and when he did, she noticed.

Meeting practical needs shows your friends that their friendship with you is not a means to an end. The goal is not simply to “win them over to Christ.” Meeting practical, tangible needs shows our Muslim friends that we love and care about them the way Jesus does — unconditionally. “ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”- Proverbs 3:27 (ESV)

6. Learn from them

True friendships are never one-sided. There is a subtle notion that can creep into believers’ minds — that our role is to be teacher, provider, and mentor to those who do not yet know Jesus. While this belief may start from good intentions, it is destructive to friendships. Do not only give time, money, advice, encouragement — be willing to receive the same from your Muslim friends in humility. This will broaden your view and communicate to your friends that you desire and value their friendship and input. We have Ultimate Truth to offer our friends. However, our Muslim neighbors also have precious life truths and perspectives to share. Ask your friends about their families, their homes, their culture, and their beliefs. Dare to enter their world, and be willing to listen, receive, and learn from them. “ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”-Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)

7. Introduce them to Jesus

As your friendships go deeper, prayerfully look for ways to turn conversations toward Jesus. Just this week, Athilah and I were contrasting the way marriages come together in our cultures. She asked me if I thought it was possible to find love as it is portrayed in movies. That question gave me freedom to share about a love much deeper than any romantic movie could ever portray.

Most international Muslims come from oral cultures where stories are used to communicate truth. Therefore, tell your friend applicable stories from God’s Word. Discuss them together, and allow God’s Word to speak for itself. Talk about how you can apply the stories to your lives, and encourage your friends to share the stories with another friend. When a friend responds positively, invite him or her to study who Jesus is in the Bible with you and two or three of their friends. You could start with the creation account and work your way through the Old Testament prophets, or you could do a series of stories on the ultimate power of Jesus over nature, spirits, sickness, death, and sin. These are only suggestions; pray about what stories God would have you study with your own group! “ Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”-Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV)

One of the Arabic prayers recited by Muslims all over the world asks God to guide them to “the straight path” (The Quran, 1:6) According to John 14, Jesus is that Straight Way. Without him, we are all lost — no matter what religion we claim or what country we live in. Do not waste time and energy arguing with your Muslim friends about every differing doctrine and belief. Instead, invite them on a journey to discover the Straight Path in Jesus through God’s Word and through the evidence of him working in your life. Then trust the Holy Spirit to do his work of speaking through his Word as it falls on the soil of your friends’ hearts.

More on connecting with internationals

Diaspora — North America: SEND International's outreach to the "scattered peoples" who have arrived in North America, often from countries where Western missionaries are not welcome. This page includes informational resources, statistics, opportunities to get involved and pathways to prayer.

SEND Hope & Light: SEND offers a rich collection of books, seminars and internships to equip Jesus followers to reach out to Muslim friends.

Reaching international students: Nine compelling reasons local churches should reach out to the international students in their communities — plus four practical ways to start building bridges without leaving home.

Diaspora & Mid-Term Missions: If on one end of the spectrum offering ESL and citizenship classes is too limited, but engaging in contextualized diaspora missions is beyond the capacity of most typical North American churches, what options are left?

* Not their real names.

Responding to a Refugee Crisis

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Responding to a Refugee Crisis

The Word of Hope Church in Macedonia has come face to face with the refugee crisis as refugees are traveling through Macedonia. Sherri, a SEND worker, describes for us how the church is ministering to these refugees.

Learn More About SEND's Ministry in Macedonia

Discover Ministry Opportunities in Macedonia

Not Forgotten

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Not Forgotten

Do you look forward to Thanksgiving and family gatherings? Maybe you experience the holidays with a heavy heart and a broken spirit which feels more like harsh slavery. We get it! Life is hard. Even ministry in the beauty of Alaska / Northern Canada can bring an emotional struggle. That is why I want to share with you some encouragement that our Area Director, Jim Stamberg, shared with us this week. As you read on, may God confirm in your spirit that you are not alone and He has not forgotten you!

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“Today my reading took me to Exodus 6:1-13 . In this passage, God tells Moses that He hears the groaning of His people and has not forgotten His covenant with them. However, when Moses begins to tell the people of Israel God's plan, they did not listen "because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery."

This struck me. How often do we give up hope and simply ignore the promises and movements of God because our spirits are crushed by years of disappointment? I would encourage you to examine your heart. We all live and minister in one of the harshest physical and spiritual environments in the world. So often our spirits are broken not only because of the lack of spiritual fruit around us but because we are depressed or struggling emotionally. Yet God is working in our midst. He has not forgotten us or His promises to us. This year we have seen people come to Christ, believers baptized, and mountains moved (aka overwhelming airplane hangar projects completed). These are only a few of the things that we can see. What about all the ways God is moving that we may have missed?

At Director’s Council this past week, I was impressed with the fact that SEND North is NOT as unique of a field within SEND International as we often want to think. The truth is that all of the "low-hanging fruit" of missions has been picked. The harvest remains white, but the harvest fields that are left in the world are very difficult places to minister. They are places where it takes a long time to build trust, where we are hesitant to label ourselves as "missionaries," and where there are very serious and overt spiritual battles that are taking place around us.

I find this reality comforting. As I looked around the table at Area Directors from East Asia, Spain, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, etc., I was encouraged by the global movement and spiritual family that we are a part of. We are not alone, and there are believers all over the world who are wrestling with the same joys and struggles of ministry that we face.

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

Day 90 - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Day 90 - Ukraine Crisis Story

Day #90

Everything that Ukrainians have been through, especially those, who survived bombing, shelling, were or still are in captivity, have lost their family members or are defending us on the frontlines... all of that makes it more than a lot. For some people it seems like eternity. It depends on what one has gone through during these 90 days.

We have seen that God is Kind and Caring! He is doing miraculous things in Ukraine. He gives strength and resources. He has given us support of many countries. He has given churches opportunities to take care of refugees and encourage them spiritually. He gives us strength and resources to serve people today. He has given us a huge number of friends that have joined us in helping those, affected by the war, with finances or food.

We glorify Jesus for all of these blessings! Without Him we would be already destroyed, but Ukraine is still standing firm, and we believe that He will lead us to the victory over the invaders and offenders from Russia.

90 days is a very long time for us. We praise Jesus for each of those days!

We thank each of you who is taking care of these people together with us during these 90 days!

Give now to help relief efforts

Planes, Trains, and

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Planes, Trains, and

Most everyone knows that iconic movie with John Candy and Steve Martin. If it were filmed in the Far North, it would be more like planes, boats, and snow machines! Up here transportation is more of a struggle than anything Neil Page had to contend with. With 663,300 square miles of land, there is under 5,000 miles of paved road throughout Alaska. Most of the villages SEND North serves are off the road system entirely. However, roads are not the only way to get around this beautiful state. Our team members and rural community members commonly travel by way of plane, snow machine, boat, four-wheeler, or dog sled team.

Planes are a multipurpose tool used to bring people and groceries alike to villages. Many use personal planes for hunting and gathering, visiting family in another village, or flying into town for doctor’s appointments and the like. At SEND North, we use our planes to transport team members in, out, and around the field. We also use our planes to transport materials for projects or relief efforts.

Many villages are located by a river for the sake of subsistence hunting and gathering. This opens up the availability to use nature’s road systems, the rivers, to travel between villages. Boats are a valuable asset for individual travel, but rivers open shipping lanes for valuable cargo. Barges can go up the river or come in by way of a bay or inlet, to bring everything from fuel, furniture, groceries, and automobiles. The barges are only able to visit the villages they service one to three times a year in the summer because the rivers and bays will freeze.

When the rivers freeze in the winter, they turn into a winter roadway. Many folks follow this same routes but this time using snow machine or dog sled team. Snow machining and sledding are common ways to get around the state in the winter (and spring), but can often be dangerous with seasonal storms and no set trails. This is why most travelers will follow the river if one is in the area.

Life in the Far North does not mean having everything within a 20-minute drive radius. However, other modes of transportation offer a chance to experience the greatness of the terrain that humbles even the most experienced pilot or driver. It takes dogged determination and creativity at times to get where one needs to go. However, the payoff is more than worth it, because we want to see everyone make it home to their Father!

Please Join us in praying for safe travels for our SEND pilots and our members as they visit surrounding villages to share the Gospel.

Christmas Greetings from SEND Canada

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Christmas Greetings from SEND Canada

Rob "Mags" Magwood shares a Christmas greeting and some ministry highlights from SEND Canada!

Read a Story About Kaitlyn's Ministry in Spain

Read a Salvation Story from Macedonia

Discover Ministry Opportunities

Singing the gospel

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Singing the gospel

Oh happy day! Oh happy day! When Jesus washed my sins away!”

Our 24-member Gospel Choir sings these words with much enthusiasm, bright smiles and animated rhythm, but sadly more than half of the singers have never experienced this kind of happy day. They really have no clue what it means to have their sins washed away by Jesus.

Black Gospel music has become quite popular among many Japanese people. Most of the songs are sung in English, of which the participants usually have only a limited understanding. Many lyrics have a strong biblical message, but even if the words are understood, the spiritual meaning often is not grasped. What an amazing opportunity for the family of God to embrace this phenomenon and use it as a means to share Jesus with the Japanese!

And so we go to Gospel Choir practices at the church twice a month. We work on pronunciation and memorize the lyrics during English class at our home. And we go on to talk about what those lyrics mean, sometimes using a Bible story to illustrate the message.

When we start learning a new song, our pastor explains the scriptural basis of the lyrics to the whole choir. Gospel Choir has become a unique and unexpected way to teach God’s Word to people who would never listen otherwise.

And we are singing God’s praises after one Gospel Choir member, Mr. Nagi, confessed faith in Christ through baptism this spring – the first fruit of the Gospel Choir ministry!

Be Disciples. Make Disciples.

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Be Disciples. Make Disciples.

Canadian Director Rob "Mags" Magwood talks about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Disciple-making in the Rough

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Disciple-making in the Rough

What is the best way to follow Jesus’ command to “make disciples” in the context that we live in? That is a really honest thing to ask.

I have been thinking about this lately, but the answer came to me when I visited one of the men I was discipling while he was carving a giant, 100,000-pound boulder. He was showing me his granite sculpture and was describing how he planned to use some of the basic shapes that already existed in the rock. He then showed me how the boulder also contained cracks or fractures that happened to be in ideal places so he could remove unwanted material and reveal his masterpiece. DJ marveled at the fact that God put those fractures there long before the artist chose that rock to carve; maybe even at the creation of the earth.

When we endeavor to disciple or mentor a person into becoming more Christ-like, we have to take into consideration their pre-existing “shape” or “cracks.” It is not our job to change them or require them to be something that God never intended them to be. Our job is to come alongside, work with them, and allow the Holy Spirit to remove the “unwanted material” that is in their lives. This will reveal the masterpiece that God has created them to be. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

-SEND North Team Member

Be a part of Transformation

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Be a part of Transformation

By Rick K. in Russia — Drug addicts looking for freedom, teens looking for meaning and believers looking for training find what they seek at Transformation Christian Center.

TCC is one of a kind — the only Christian center in Russia’s Central Black Soil Region. This area remains one of Russia’s least-evangelized regions; only 0.2 percent of its 8 million residents are evangelical Christians.

TCC occupies a three-story building on 3.5 acres of forested land. The structure stood dormant for a decade and was badly vandalized before the Russian mission Tree of Eternal Life Association bought it in 2000.

Because the building has been only partially renovated, TCC’s ministries operate in limited space. Still, it manages to host a drug-rehabilitation center, a biblical training center, camps and conferences. But, with further renovations, so much more could be done.

With more space, TCC would be able to expand its camping program, train additional students for ministry, help more drug addicts and alcoholics, facilitate retreats for adults and youth, and host conferences and seminars focused on pastoral ministry, marriage enrichment, church development and leadership training.

SEND International considers TCC a high-priority project because, once the construction is complete, the center will give Russian Christians a greater resource for evangelizing the lost, making disciples and training leaders.

Backstage Pass! Part 3

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Backstage Pass! Part 3 In this episode of the Backstage Pass! we meet Ed and Merla who are part of the Moblization team at SEND Canada. You'll learn more about how their interactions and mentoring at Bible Colleges and churches across Canada contribute to the overall work of SEND. To learn more about what goes on backstage, watch the rest of our Backstage Pass! videos.

God Opens a Door

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What do I mean by the word "church"?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What do I mean by the word "church"?

Reflecting on 2013 in Pictures

One of my regular annual practices is to sit with a cup of coffee and slowly page through “ The Year in Pictures ” on the New York Times website. I am grateful for talented photographers who capture our world’s stories and then present them powerfully for our remembrance and reflection. As I click through the photos for 2013, some key words stand out to me:

Anger. Violence. Storms. Poverty. Education. Hope.

It’s not pleasant to be reminded of humanity’s brokenness, and that my comfortable life here in Canada is not “normal” for this world. It’s also important to be reminded that I share responsibility for what the world has become (both good and bad), and that I have a part to play in the path forward.

A Definition of "Church"

As a follower of Christ, all this leads me to consider the potential of the church. By “church” I do not mean buildings with pointed roofs with stained glass and steeples.

By “church” I mean local assemblies of real people who love God, and are rooted in biblical truth while caring generously for those in need.

When this is our working definition, I agree with Bill Hybels: “The potential of the local church is almost more than I can grasp. No other organization on Earth is like the church. Nothing even comes close.” I’ve committed this season of my life to a church planting organization. At our core, SEND is committed to see the incredible potential of local churches expand into cities and towns and neighbourhoods and individual lives. To see this vision advanced is why SEND Canada exists. (Quote from Bill Hybels, Courageous Leadership , 2002, p. 23)

Discover Ministry Opportunities

Be A Learner

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Be A Learner

We minister within our own respective countries but in different cultures. We can speak our own language, pay with our own currency, and have familiar foods but we can't assume that we know how to reach our host culture. Culture is like the water a fish swims in, nearly imperceptible to the fish. Stories abound of missionaries who went ill-prepared into a village assuming they knew how to 'do ministry' and none of those stories ended well! So, we strive to keep an attitude of a learner which is easier for some of our teammates.

We are blessed to have team mates from four different countries. They are in a new culture. While it gives them a larger learning curve, it allows them to see issues which we might otherwise miss. Needless to say, that makes them a valuable part of our team.

One of my favorite quotes is from our German teammate. “We like to teach the people, but at the same time, they teach us all the time.” Can you hear the spirit of humility and openness? How much easier is it to build relationships when people can feel that you see them as an equal? A practical example is the actions of another teammate. This single guy has built strong relationships with local elders by asking them to teach him about northern survival.

How about you? What can you learn from your unsaved neighbors? How can you build a bridge? The key is to truly, deeply care and not see them as a project. I think we all can benefit from being a learner.

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Broad view illuminates great need

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Broad view illuminates great need

Mountains have stories. They overlook cities and towns; they see war, destruction and reconstruction. Some testify to huge cataclysmic events — a volcanic eruption or a flood halted by the mountain’s base. Mountains create natural borders for nations and peoples; they disrupt travel, expansion and exploration. For centuries, mountains have seen it all. They have stories to tell.

We were near the top of one such mountain in Europe, overlooking a city of 80,000 people. The sky was gray, the clouds quite low, the red clay roofs standing out in stark contrast. Heaviness set in as we started to count. One, two, three, four … all the way until we couldn’t see past the clouds, 27 Islamic minarets jutting into the sky. Not one Bible-believing church. The weight of that reality hit us hard.

Four of us stood on the mountainside and prayed for the city. We prayed for more workers to join the harvest labor, we prayed for open hearts and people of peace. We prayed against the enemy and the foothold he has in this city, and we prayed for the light of Christ to be made known among Albanian Muslims. We knew that God was calling us to action and that we couldn’t do it alone. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit could there be heart change.

H and P have ministered among Albanian Muslims for many years. God gave them a vision to have 20 workers and 20 disciples by the year 2020. They use a community-center model to build bridges into the city, offering English, Spanish and guitar lessons, and also holding conferences, parenting classes and trainings for local students and leaders, all with the goal of personal and professional development. The city’s three universities — European, national and medical — all have very little ministry taking place on their campuses. To say the opportunities are endless is an understatement.

H and P are trying to tell a new story; they are trying to write God’s story in the hearts and lives of people that Jesus loves. The cross has been misrepresented for such a long time that true Christ-followers have to help alter that perception. Workers have already begun to see the effects the gospel can have on a community because people can see the difference, people can see the hope that believers have in their hearts, and they want it, too.

This mountain has a story, but we can change that story. We can change it to one of hope, love and freedom that only Christ can bring. We can share the greatest story ever told, the one with the power to change hearts and eternal destinations. SEND is sharing the hope and light of the gospel with Muslims in eight areas, with two new locations soon to launch. We are looking for people to join us.

How is God calling you to share his Hope and Light? On our Hope and Light page, you can find resources to help you pray for and learn about the Muslim world, ways to give to SEND’s outreaches, and a list of opportunities for hands-on ministry to Muslim peoples. Click here to start exploring.

Supplies Going In, People Coming Out - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Supplies Going In, People Coming Out - Ukraine Crisis Story

Supplies going in and people coming out of Eastern Ukraine is the "new normal" for our ministry partners in Ukraine. Here is an update from two church partners working together in Ukraine:

We accept migrants from the east of Ukraine who go to the west of Ukraine. This is approximately 150-200 people per day. Every day, 3-4 cars full of help go to Kyiv, from there they return back with people who were evacuated.

In the last few days, more and more fighter planes are flying over us. Ukrainian military equipment is moving more and more near the highway. But despite this, we continue to serve and help people. These two days were hard work. We received a whole car of help and packed it into 150 packages. We also bought grain, oil, groceries and packed 16 bags for families with children with disabilities, large families, and pregnant mothers. Also, today we handed over to our local military battalion food packages for their families. According to them, this is a great support for their families and children who do not see their fathers. That is, we distributed these packages to families whose husbands serve in the army.

In the new church, we are having difficulty paying the rent for the church premises. We were very grateful for the help in our ministry and help in paying for the rent of the premises! Bless you!

Give now to help with relief efforts

Crossing Cultures to Reach Muslim Refugees

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Crossing Cultures to Reach Muslim Refugees

The Lord is Never Surprised

Fifteen years ago, I moved to a Middle Eastern country with a vision to work among a specific unreached Muslim people group. Twelve years later, I found myself ministering among- not one, but four- different Muslim groups, as endangered people from war-torn and unstable neighboring countries poured over the borders of my new home. I could never have anticipated the giant influx of refugees this country would receive, but the Lord was not surprised by it. Looking back, I realize that God began preparing me, along with other national believers, years ago- to serve among the very refugee populations living around us now.

Meet Karin

When I first arrived in this country fifteen years ago, I desperately needed a language tutor, and the Lord gave me Karin. Karin is a national believer who grew up speaking two languages. At home, Karin spoke the prominent language of two neighboring countries; at school, she spoke the national language. Once I could speak the national language, I started attending Karin’s church. Over the years, our friendship deepened, and we began serving the Lord together in children's and women's ministries.

Meet Regina

Regina became a friend of mine when I began helping her children with their English homework. She is the wife of Karin’s cousin, and originally from another neighboring country. Regina is a follower of Jesus, but was never taught to share her faith with others in the church she attended.

The Beginning of a New Work

When numerous Muslims from four different countries were driven from their homes and began seeking refuge in our country, the Spirit began opening our eyes to the opportunities surrounding us. God cultivated a common burden in Karin, Regina, and me for these broken people- which drew us together to begin working among refugee women and children. We began with those from Regina's home country, who were living in a neighborhood near us.

Karin, Regina, and I began working at a refugee center- teaching languages and the arts. The women we have worked with over the years have faced daily challenges, and they still frequently share with us deep burdens of concern for the future of their children. Unable to return to their home country, and unlikely to settle as citizens in their new country, they live in limbo.

Until this year, the refuge children have not been able to attend any kind of national school. However, our work at the refugee center has provided some opportunity over the years to teach basic language skills and to build relationships. God has given us opportunities to hold special programs at the center for Christmas and Easter, where we have shared the Gospel message.

The children we work with today, ranging from age four to fourteen, require so much love to counteract the negative effects that war and prejudice have had on their young hearts and minds. They need constant encouragement and affirmation as they struggle to endure a difficult life as refugees in a foreign country. We delight in sharing God's abundant love with them from week to week.

An Unlikely Team

I have been blessed to work with Karin and Regina as we build relationships among Muslim refugee populations. As women from different countries and cultural backgrounds, we each contribute our own strengths to the work. Regina, because she is originally from the same country as these women, understands their language and culture and can relate to them on a level that Karin and I cannot. She is daily growing bolder in sharing her faith as she works together with us. Karin also has the ability to share the Gospel with the women in their native language. I have the ability to share the Gospel through translation and to contribute financial resources that God has provided through my supporters in America. This unlikely team the Lord has brought together from three different cultures and countries is truly an example of his universal church in action- meeting the needs of the lost, broken, and unseen.

Pray for Growth

Please pray for us as we daily carry heavy burdens that these Muslim women share with us. What do you say to the woman who tells you that fifteen of her relatives were killed two days ago? How do you encourage the mother who shares that her son needs eye surgery for an injury he received during the war, which may cause him to be permanently blind in that eye? How do you comfort the woman who gets a phone call informing her that her brother was detained at the border and thrown into the army to be shipped off to war? Only the Lord has answers for the problems these women face, and it is our prayer and our goal to daily point them to Him.

Arctic Barnabas Ministries

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Arctic Barnabas Ministries

While SEND North members and other Christian missionaries serve diligently around the Far North, they intentionally live selflessly. Nonetheless, it is essential they are supported and cared for as well. As Romans 1:11-12 states, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Based in Kenai, Alaska, there is an organization dedicated to just this.

The goal of Arctic Barnabas Ministries (ABM) is to serve the serving. The ministry of 17 years focuses on fulfilling the spiritual and practical needs of missionaries throughout Alaska and Canada by supporting them in various capacities. Arctic Barnabas is divided into three departments: Funding and Resources, Operations, and Ministry. Mark Mowery, Ministry Coordinator for ABM, oversees all the direct ministry to the in-field workers.

Within the Ministry department, Mark works with his team to coordinate retreats including a retreat center, guest hosting, counseling, travel, work teams, and buying/shipping supplies unavailable in the villages to members. Another program within the Ministry division is the Minute Men-- a group available for immediate projects willing to mobilize quickly if a member is in need.

The most recent project by ABM is an orientation curriculum for new missionaries coming into the field. The idea behind this is to give team members an even clearer idea of what to expect in their particular villages culturally. ABM is excited about the prospects of this new project as they also begin developing a program that focuses on serving the support staff of organizations like SEND North.

In an interview, Mark identified the five keys to their ministry at ABM. Shepherding focuses on face to face time with in-field members. Serve includes work projects and temporarily supplying speakers for village churches. Refresh looks to rejuvenate members through retreats and the ABM retreat center. Equip provides spiritual and practical tools, as well as training. Finally, Connecting creates a network of local support churches that work with members directly.

When asked what their greatest challenge to their work was, Mark identified two: financial and staff support. ABM limits cost for in-field members as much as possible. They do this by providing transportation around town when members come in, hosting an annual retreat where members only have to pay for half the cost of the weekend, and by completing work projects in the villages at little or no cost to the members. ABM is also looking for staff who are experienced in the mission field and cross-cultural situations.

ABM is looking to the future. They are hoping to expand deeper into Canada, solidify their orientation program, and begin a branch of ministry to the organizational leadership side of other mission organizations.

SEND North deeply appreciates the care that ABM shows for our members and their investment in their lives. Our member care department fulfills a similar mission, focused on our team specifically and their well-being in the field. The ultimate goal for both ABM and SEND North’s member care team is to encourage, enliven, and enrich those in the field so they can continue to pour into the people of their communities, whom they love and work daily to grow disciples of Jesus Christ.

Written by Kelly Quist

Nunavut

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Nunavut

Is it possible that there is still a place untouched by the technology and pace of the modern world? Does the idea of living and ministering in such a place fill your heart with faith-filled excitement? In Nunavut, Canada, such a place exists. Nunavut is the northernmost part of Canada which is divided into three regions: Qikiqtaaluk, Kivalliq, and Kitikmeot. Though fairly uninhabited, the population is approximately 36,000, and the land spans a little over 805,000 square miles.

The First Nations population in Nunavut are known as the Inuit people. They have a rich history of foreign visitors, including Norse Vikings, European explorers, and Americans, though the majority of the population is First Nationers. Originally, Nunavut was a part of the Northwest Territories, but it became its territory for the Inuit people officially in 1999. Though the Inuit are the primary people group in the area, they have four distinct languages spoken in the region.

Similar to Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Alaskan villages, Nunavut culture is centralized on respect: respect for elders, culture, and the land. Even with the recent tourism development in the area, most of Nunavut remains true to its history, living almost entirely subsistence-reliant lifestyles with minimal modern technology. They maintain a hunting and gathering food supply and work hard to preserve their heritage for future generations.

Because of the location of Nunavut, they experience the most significant variance in their seasonal exposure to the sun. Grise Fiord, on Ellesmere Island, has 24 hours of sun from mid-April to late August! However, in the winter, Grise Fiord does not see the sun from the start of November to mid-February. This is just one example of how extreme the climate can be in this rural land.

Often, the ground is too frozen for too much of the year that their community piping must operate above ground in the most rural locations. In fact, the community above, Grise Fiord, is nicknamed “the land that never thaws.” Further, there are no highways in Nunavut, and rarely any roads that connect one community to another. Within many of the communities, the English alphabet we are familiar with is used, but so is a syllabic system brought to the native people from Christian missionaries.

Nunavut is a cultural haven for history and heritage. At SEND North, we are seeking to spread the Gospel to this area. We have team members in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon, but none in Nunavut at this time. We hope that we will not only find the right opportunities to enter the region, but also the right people to work through us in the area. If life in one of the world’s most beautiful, untouched, and extreme places interests you, click here for ways you can be involved!

Visit http://nunavuttourism.com for more information on Nunavut. (Source)

Global Workers Initiative (GWI)

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Global Workers Initiative (GWI)

God is building his church and in some areas of the world, the growth is explosive!

These countries are no longer a mission field, but a missions force. As local believers have grown up and served in these church plants, they have gained invaluable experience and caught the vision for taking the gospel to all nations. This has produced a wealth of qualified, passionate workers who are ready to go. SEND needs them on our mission teams.

However, many of these believers come from low-income countries where the average salary is far below the cost of living in the country they are called to serve.

SEND bridges this gap with the Global Worker Initiative.

The GWI assists cross-cultural missionaries from low-income countries by covering some of their mission-specific expenses.

You can help send and support these missionaries by giving to the GWI.

Give to the Global Workers Initiative

Discover Opportunities with SEND

'Vital instruments' in new faith

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

'Vital instruments' in new faith

By Eric Obado, SEND missionary from the Philippines to Thailand — Praise God for our short-termers from Mexico and Colombia! They have been vital instruments in the new faith of two Cambodian young ladies.

David, Pablo, Alex, and Fabian are remarkable in their passion to share the gospel. These guys intentionally and enthusiastically share the Word with everyone they meet. Every day, we play basketball, soccer, badminton and board games in order to get to know people, and then we share God's love by our life testimonies and the Creation to Christ Bible story.

We have been meeting so many Cambodian students who are studying Thai at the university, and it's just amazing how positive their response is to the Gospel message. Many are coming to worship with us, but Neth and Lheap were particularly open to the gospel message. Every time David, Pablo, Alex and Fabian saw them, they would talk about how God created us and loves us so much.

Neth and Lheap soon decided to follow Jesus and be baptized. Now we can disciple them to reach out and disciple their own people and Thai students.

As David, Pablo, Alex, and Fabian head back to Rio Grande Bible Institute, thank the Lord for the way he used them in Thailand this summer, and pray for his discernment as they seek out their role in the Great Commission.

More about multicultural teams

Even in Darkness

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Even in Darkness

In The Far North, abundant with culture and beauty, there is darkness. As with any place, the Far North is plagued by obstacles that keep us from Christ’s redeeming love. The hardships of life are evident daily.

The physical darkness of the Far North manifests in the hearts of the people who live here through depression, often enhanced by alcohol and boredom. Almost everyone in the villages here has known a family member or friend lost to the perils of depression, which feeds the feelings of hopelessness and confusion, manifesting in abuse of all kinds. Growing up in village life myself, I have seen the effects of this depression and darkness, and noticed the repercussions of alcohol and torn relationships as they poison the beauty of the land and people.

Whether growing up in the environment of this or coming in later, as many of our team members have, the cry for grace, clarity, and hope has never been stronger. In this darkness of abuse, loss, and isolation, there is still light .

Much like spring, the heart is thawed and beauty exposed in the presence of the sun. Though remnants of the dark may linger, it is impossible to ignore the majesty of such a place as the Far North, including the diversity and strength of the people. Even in strife, we seek relationships, provide for our families, and honor our heritage. People in the village do not shy away from long days of hard work, nor from admitting their respect for the extreme environment in which they live.

Still, the light of Christ is the only way to permanently abate such darkness. God treasures the richness of such a people, and He seeks their hearts. The warmth of the sun in the spring and summer reflects the inward relief prayer, mercy, and the Gospel brings.

“For even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Psalm 139:12

Join us as we pray for our team members in the midst of this environment, as well as for softened hearts, that God would continue to shine His Light into the Far North.

- Kelly Quist

Not My Ability, But My Availability!

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Not My Ability, But My Availability!

By Dave Barkman, a mission worker in Japan.

Are you interested in cross-cultural work but feel inadequate? Do you sense God might be calling you to a ministry, but you are concerned that you do not yet have all the necessary skills? I can relate!

During Bible College, I began to think God was leading me into cross-cultural church ministry. However, I felt my area of strength was in working with my hands and not in evangelism or discipleship. I was not much of a people-person, so I asked myself, “How can I teach the Bible or disciple believers”?

I spent a lot of time in prayer, wrestling with God and what He wanted me to do. I came to realize that, more than my skills and experience, God wanted me to be available for whatever work He had for me.

I studied hard during college to prepare for cross-cultural ministry. Yet, when I came to Japan to serve, I still felt inadequate. In fact, I discovered that I was not adequately prepared for the work God had for me. I still had much to learn!

Who am I?

My initial years in ministry were challenging. I was focused on my performance, believing that if I did the right things the right way, I would see results. When I did not see fruit from my efforts, I often asked myself, “Who am I? What am I doing here?” But I believe God was trying to show me, “It is not about who you are, it’s about who I am.” I needed to get my eyes off myself and onto Jesus and learn to serve His way.

For instance, originally I thought I could bypass being relational with people and just talk about Jesus. However, God impressed on my heart that I must first build relationships with people and love them well and deeply. As I learned to develop loving, caring friendships, I began to see Japanese people opening their hearts to God!

Experiencing Transformation

I came to Japan to share Christ with the Japanese people and see them transformed through a personal relationship with Jesus. However, God transformed me, and really, He still is! And much to my joy, He has enabled me to teach the Bible and disciple believers with passion, satisfaction and fruitfulness!

If you are feeling inadequate or anxious about the ministry God may be leading you to, that is normal! However, if you submit to God’s perfect will for you, I believe He will prepare and enable you for the work He has wisely planned for you!

Discover Missions Opportunities.

View the Japan Ministry Guide.

Providing Care During the Pandemic

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Providing Care During the Pandemic

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2020 Annual Report. To read more, click here !

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What’s an international organization like SEND to do when a pandemic sweeps the globe? Praise the Lord that He put an epidemiologist on staff, for such a time as this.

The COVID Response Team

That epidemiologist, along with specialists in corporate security, public health, member care, mental health, and children’s issues, came together to form SEND Internationals’ COVID-19 Response Team (CRT). The CRT has persistently provided expert, compassionate care to missionaries in this challenging season.

The SEND Canada Home Office worked in tandem with the CRT to support Canadian missionaries. For Patrick, SEND Canada’s Director of Personnel, 2020 required an increased level of care for missionaries who were responding to changing realities in their lives and ministries.

Challenges through the Pandemic

Canadian workers experienced a number of new challenges such as curtailed ministry opportunities, emotional strain, grief in losses, and significant uncertainty. Some missionaries struggled with having limited ways to communicate with colleagues, family, friends, and those they were trying to reach with the gospel. Others found themselves remaining longer than expected in Canada due to travel restrictions, and facing the challenge of “being on the opposite side of the world from the people we love and serve.” Loneliness was a continual struggle for many missionaries.

God at Work During the Pandemic

Throughout these challenges, we have also seen God at work in many ways. Patrick describes one tangible example: “Some of our missionaries have seen this as an opportunity to be still and work on their relationship with the Lord.” God has led them to “lie down in green pastures,” where their soul is restored.

God has also demonstrated His grace by leading unbelievers to himself over technological platforms. Joseph, serving in Diaspora ministries, explained, “On Christmas day, we led a young person to receive Christ via WeChat.” And he is not the only one to have witnessed miraculous heart transformation during the pandemic!

Lessons Learned Through the Pandemic

In a time when self-pity and frustration might be expected, Patrick noticed a general attitude of anticipation as our Canadian missionaries wondered, “What is God going to do through this?” While we can’t fully know the answer to that question, we are certain that God is using COVID-19 to teach some valuable lessons. Here are some lessons our Canadian missionaries are learning, in their own words:

Simple Acts of Kindness - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Simple Acts of Kindness - Ukraine Crisis Story

A simple act of kindness goes a long way in the middle of a crisis. It may not seem like much but what a big impact it had on one of our church partners in Ukraine:

Yesterday at our church service we invited men and young men from among the refugees [who are staying here] to help us unload a large vehicle, reload another vehicle and prepare the rest to be sent to a region where there is a humanitarian crisis. What was unusual was that more than 20 people showed up. They did the job very well and really helped us. We are glad because we have helped them for quite a while and they very sincerely helped us.

The Scriptures say: Galatians 6:7 "Don't be deceived; God cannot be mocked. For what a person sows, that is what he reaps!" And we clearly see this principle of God.

Give now to help relief efforts

Get to Know Our Goers Part 4: Tyler And Camille

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Get to Know Our Goers Part 4: Tyler And Camille

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2021 Annual Report.

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Meet Tyler & Camille, two of SEND Canada's recent appointees! The individuals you will meet in this series of posts ( read part 1 , read part 2 , read part 3 ) are preparing to go to the field or have recently been sent. They are an answer to prayers of many faithful believers that more workers be sent into the harvest field! Today, we hope you will enjoy getting to know Tyler & Camille as you read their answers to the following questions.

How did you first feel called into missions work?

How far along are you in your support raising journey?

Where will you serve? And is there a particular people group you will be working with?

What is a fun fact about you?

What is one Bible verse that has inspired your involvement in missions?

"May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—
so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.

May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.
May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.

The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us.
May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him."

What is the name of your Sending Church?

Favourite hot drink?

Current favourite worship song?

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

- Matthew 9:37-38

Pray for SEND Missionaries

Women's Conference - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Women's Conference - Ukraine Crisis Story

From our SEND Ukraine-Krakow Team:

"In April, a church based in Seattle, WA in partnership with a church in Odessa, Ukraine conducted a women's conference in Krakow, Poland for women refugees from Ukraine. The theme of the conference was 'Покой во время бури', or 'Peace in time of storm'.

Our SEND Ukraine-Krakow Team took part by providing 300 gift bags and supportive conversations for attendees throughout the conference. The conference was well attended with over 200 visitors. Many women, both believers and unbelievers were challenged by the messages and impacted by the clear presentation of the Gospel. The remaining gift bags were distributed to women at four other shelters for refugees, one shelter was a special Catholic shelter housing handicapped children and their mothers."

Give now to help relief efforts

Changed by the Gospel

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Changed by the Gospel

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2022 Annual Report.

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In Taiwan, many people adhere to Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Folk religion
and ancestral worship ensnare many in superstition and spiritual darkness. Due to these realities, missionaries devote themselves to evangelism, discipleship, and biblical instruction.

Carol Vuong, a missionary from Toronto, passionately shares Christ with nonbelievers in Taiwan. She also disciples new believers. Here are a few examples of how God has used Carol to impact lives for eternity!

Cong is a self-employed young man who runs a breakfast shop. After five years of spiritual conversations with Carol, Cong decided to join an Alpha course. The questions he had were numerous! However, the Holy Spirit revealed biblical truth, and his spiritual eyes were opened. Cong professed his faith in Jesus. He continues in devotion to his Saviour.

Yu and Hui, sisters, attended breakfast meetings at a local church and even joined Praise and Worship, but then suddenly left! One day Carol invited them to a Bible study on the Gospel of Mark. They learned that Jesus Christ is all-powerful, and while on earth, He cast out demons, healed the sick, and calmed the storm. Yu and Hui trusted Christ as their Saviour! They are attending worship services again. Carol continues to encourage them on their spiritual journey.

In 2020, Carol taught a baptism course. Cong, Yu, and Hui were all baptized.

Yu recently applied what she learned during her Bible study with Carol. Yu met some friends for dinner, and before eating, she prayed. Immediately, one lady shared about seeing a demon during the prayer. Yu remembered that demons were cast out by Jesus. So, in His name she prayed for her friend’s deliverance from the evil spirit.

God is using Carol’s continued faithful ministry to impact these believers. They are growing in their faith and are witnessing to others who do not know Christ!

Pray for SEND Missionaries

The Sending Collective: Courageous and Generous Collaboration

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Sending Collective: Courageous and Generous Collaboration

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2022 Annual Report.

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Have you ever felt that you just. cannot. get. it. all. done…?

It is no fun to feel overwhelmed. Not being able to ‘get it all done’ - or even all the ‘essentials’ – can drain away joy in a hurry.

Interestingly, this sensation of overwhelm can be just as real (and discouraging) for organizations as it is for people. At times we feel this at SEND Canada, and we know other mission agencies have felt it as well.

In addition to the many things already accomplished day by day, our faithful SEND Canada team also has new ideas! Improvements to existing systems. Suggestions for innovation. Many additions would advance the vision God has given us, but we have more good ideas than we have capacity to execute!

“Organizational overwhelm” is just one of the good reasons several mission agencies have chosen to participate in the emerging Sending Collective.

The Sending Collective is an initiative of deep collaboration between the Canadian Home Offices of five like-minded mission agencies: Christar Canada, Greater Europe Mission of Canada, SEND Canada, South America Mission (Canada), and TEAM of Canada. We are exploring courageous and generous sharing of our capacity and resources. Our goal is to serve our Lord and His church in Canada more effectively.

While coordination is not necessarily easy at the outset, Sending Collective initiatives are now beginning to bear fruit: joint mobilization, shared operations, and coordination of staff talent are gaining traction.

Our Home Offices are now appreciating the possibility of reducing overwhelm while increasing the opportunity to focus on our strengths. We believe we will do our ministry better together!

SEND Canada is continuing to help catalyze the Sending Collective, and trusting God to lead and provide. We are boldly sharing our best ideas and resources with other faithful servants, and enjoying the sensation not of overwhelm, but joyful anticipation.

Let Down Your Nets

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Let Down Your Nets

"I will let down the net..."

After 25 years of strenuous labor and little fruit, Dr. Zwemer, the first missionary of his time to work among the Islamic peoples of Arabia, was invited to speak at an evangelistic conference in England. He began with this story:

“Master we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word, I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net broke. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink (Luke 5:5-7, KJV).”

Dr. Zwemer explained that he had labored “all night” in the Muslim world, and could count, on his fingers, the number of Muslims that had put their faith in Jesus. He went on to say that he was confident, with faithful obedience to Christ’s command, that there would be a time when so many Muslims would come to Christ, that there would not be enough room in churches to hold them. When the people listening asked Dr. Zwemer what they could do, he answered, “Pray!”

The Importance of Prayer

Today, we are living on the brink of the “Age of Broken Nets.” Movements of Muslim people groups to Jesus are happening all around the world. According to leading researcher and Muslim Ministry expert David Garrison , more Muslims have turned to follow Jesus in the last 50 years than in the previous 1300 years*.

SEND Hope and Light

*Encountering the World of Islam, p.439

Discovery Muslim ministry opportunities.

One thing leads to another

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

One thing leads to another By Dave & Martina B. in Ulan-Ude, Siberia Summer is the season for camps. This year, our church in Ulan-Ude put on a day camp. It drew about 100 kids who sang, made crafts and played wild games. They heard the gospel through powerful skits and daily Bible teaching. Five of these lucky children also won a grand prize: A camping trip. There was one little catch: They would be camping with our entire church. For some, this may not seem like a highly sought-after prize, but for many locals, the chance to go to Lake Baikal for a free weekend is a pretty welcome opportunity. This is evidenced by the fact that all five families showed up. At the lake, about 75 of us lived in 20 tents and ate under a covered dining area. We spent time fellowshipping, learning and playing together. Early Sunday morning, we all gathered at the edge of the lake to watch four young people publicly confess their faith and be baptized. The five visiting families heard the gospel, witnessed the baptism and enjoyed

75 Years of Engaging the Unreached

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

75 Years of Engaging the Unreached

SEND International was started as Far Eastern Gospel Crusade (FEGC) shortly after World War II by a group of young men and women. Many were soldiers who, burdened for the spiritual needs of Filipinos and Japanese, returned to Asia after the war as missionaries. The vision was to reach the lost in the Pacific Rim which was recently war-torn and broken.

FEGC focused on evangelism and discipleship, with an emphasis on leadership development so that one day the indigenous church could lead the local work.

New Opportunities and New Churches

The early years of FEGC were marked by church-planting growth and expansion, as well as helping to establish new schools for Missionary Kids in Asia. In the 1970’s, God introduced new opportunities to work collaboratively with others of like mind. FEGC joined with Central Alaskan Mission, expanding the work to include Alaska and Northern Canada.

In 1981, the organization took on its new name, SEND International, based on John 20:21 – “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." The scope of ministry continued to grow over the next two decades as SEND expanded ministry into other Asian countries. This continued in Spain and Eastern Europe when countries behind the Iron Curtain began to open up to mission work. The gospel was proclaimed, and new churches were started!

A Beautiful Mosaic

As newly-planted churches matured, the believers’ desire to send out their own missionaries grew. What a joy to work with believers sent out from churches planted by SEND missionaries! Today our multi-national teams are rich in culture, gifts, and experience, reflecting the global Body of Christ. This beautiful mosaic continues to grow and includes workers from Europe and Latin America. All of this has led to the opening of new ministries and redeployment of missionaries and resources to continue engaging unreached people groups.

Today God continues to faithfully lead SEND into new opportunities. Recent examples include Business as Mission (BAM), and outreach to Diaspora and refugee communities in North America and abroad. Wherever SEND missionaries are serving, our goal is the same: to be the presence of Jesus and bring the message of Jesus. The gospel is being proclaimed, churches are being planted, and local leaders are being trained and equipped.

Pressing Forward

What’s ahead for SEND? Our International Director, Warren Janzen, is optimistic about God’s plan to advance His work through SEND! With faith in God’s direction and provision, Warren is leading the vision of deeper collaboration with other agencies, increased mobilization of non-North American workers, and courageous innovation in these changing times. 

As we look back and reflect, we thank God for all He has done through SEND over 75 years. He has been faithful! Now, in our generation, we press forward with eager expectation as He continues His work to reach the nations! 

View the SEND Canada Annual Report

Miracle on the court

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Miracle on the court

By Rick K. in Russia

It happened on the final day of Lighthouse of Hope camp around 6 p.m. The camp theme was Noah: What Hollywood Didn’t Show You, and each day creatively featured one element of Noah’s experience surrounding the flood.

The last day’s focus was Day of the Rainbow; the next morning, the campers would be going home. Brightly colored decorations and miniature rainbows were scattered about the camp as reminders of the sign that God showed Noah.

No rain was forecast during camp; in fact, the entire month had been hot and dry. This made the water games, lake activities and drinking fountain particularly refreshing.

On this final day, a former camper pulled up on his motorbike as a few raindrops fell. He commented that he didn’t feel any rain in the nearby village or anywhere else on his way to camp.

I looked up, squinting at a tiny dark cloud that blocked the sun with nothing but a clear blue sky surrounding it. Rain started to fall, gently and steadily, for about a half hour. Campers found it refreshing to walk around outside with outstretched arms and faces looking up. Staff children playfully stomped in small puddles, and their parents didn’t seem to mind. That night’s bonfire, cancelled due to the dry weather, was back on.

Suddenly, an announcement spread for people to hurry to the basketball court to see what God had done. There floated a rainbow — not in the sky above the trees, but right over the basketball court, in a perfect arch with both ends touching the ground. On this Day of the Rainbow, God gave us the real deal!

People later confirmed there was no rain anywhere else in the area. The campers and the staff saw the rainbow as a sign from God that He was with us. In the evening service, 28 of the 75 campers went forward to indicate they had put their faith in Christ during camp! As I looked upon those teens, I understood that God was not only with us, but that He had done a marvelous work.

Individual growth plan

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Individual growth plan

By Ken Guenther, SEND U Director

Everyone should be a lifelong learner, and this learning should be intentional and planned.

One way SEND missionaries plan for personal growth is by preparing an Individual Growth Plan (IGP) . Some SEND areas expect all their members to develop an IGP each year.

The SEND U Individual Growth Plan guide explains the rationale and walks you through the process, and we encourage you to use it. We want you to be growing in both your personal life and in your ministry competency. So you can set IGP goals about learning more about prayer and fasting, improving your parenting skills, or understanding disciple-making movements.

For an extensive list of different areas in which we could be growing and learning, look at the Missionary Growth Areas on the SEND U wiki. You can do a quick self-assessment of where you most need to grow by going to this wiki page. To grow in those areas, you will need to identify learning activities.

Again, you can find ideas and resources on the SEND U wiki by clicking on the major headings on the Missionary Growth Areas page , and each link will take you to a catalog of resources for each of the 32 growth areas. Pick a couple of these resources to read or do from your chosen category — or choose your own learning activity. Find someone you respect in this area and interview them. Do an inductive Bible study on the subject. Sign up for a webinar. You get to choose what you want to do to grow. The important thing is that you have a plan for your own growth.

What are the basic characteristics of a good IGP?

We hope this proves to be a valuable resource for you as you pursue God’s direction in your life. Go to the Individual Growth Plan Guide.

Equipping for Ministry - English

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Equipping for Ministry - English

The Center’s mission is to train evangelical English-speaking believers in a high-quality TESOL certificate program and to equip them for valued ministry throughout Asia, using English language teaching as a platform. Asia remains the home of the most unreached people groups (UPGs) in the world. Often these UPGs are in countries that are hostile to the gospel and to foreigners.

Many Asian Christians are responding the Great Commission and need a valued skill to enter creative-access areas. SEND strongly supports the mandate of “every nation to every nation.” We not only seek to engage UPGs, but we also equip believers of many nations to engage the unreached. This is the vision and mission of The Center. Recently, the director of The Center related how the training is being used to reach into unreached people groups in Asia.

“Yesterday I had the chance to meet up with two graduates from The Center: one graduated in 1999 and the other in 2009.

“Both are full-time workers reaching out to a minority Muslim people group. After decades of labor by Christian workers among this difficult UPG, there are still few believers. However, in talking with my two former students, it is evident that over the past four years, there has been a noticeable movement of God.

“Their target group has been children, youth, and their mothers. They started using English primarily as a hook at their community center, but English teaching has now multiplied into micro-finance, livelihood projects, and computer classes. There is an active youth group of 30 or more and 10 have made confessions of faith, understanding that Jesus is God.

“Many of them are seekers of the Truth. This decision is not one they make lightly for they know that it will change their lives. Some ask, ‘What will happen to me if I make a decision for Jesus? Will my family disown me? What will happen if my family forces me to marry a Muslim in a different part of the country?’ The most serious question of all comes later, ‘What if my family tries to kill me because of my decision to follow Jesus?’

“These are difficult questions to answer and only the power of God’s Word and the truth of the gospel can give these precious people the faith and courage to believe. It was so rewarding, though, to see that those who took the TESOL course are reaping a harvest.”

This is just a small glimpse of the effect The Center is having on missions in Asia and beyond. To date, more than 300 people have received TESOL certificates through The Center with more than half of them specifically using their TESOL skills in the Lord’s service. We've trained people from more than 20 countries, sending them to serve in more than 30 countries! Whether it is a young Chinese woman who needs a TESOL certificate to serve in Tibet or a Filipino who has a heart for Muslims, the tool of teaching English unlocks the door into communities and advances our reach into targeted unreached people groups.

Follow up with prayer

Pray for the center and its director. The center needs additional teachers and administrators. Pray for the provision of an administrator the director and his staff manage five-week training courses from the Philippines to Thailand to other East Asian countries year-round. Pray for wisdom as they plan their schedules and consider which opportunities they can agree to do.

Pray for the center's graduates who live and serve around the world. Pray specifically for those who have taken their training in English and are using it in missional outreach. Pray especially for those who are laboring among unreached people groups that are hostile to the gospel and who live in difficult to reach places.

Slow steps forward for church plant

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Counting the cost

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A New Generation

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Surprised by God - Missionary Highlights Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Surprised by God - Missionary Highlights Series

A missionary to Spain is surprised by the opportunity to share the gospel with a Chinese friend who had heard of Jesus but never had a chance to learn about him. “It is the best news that we have to share.”

Transformation Christian Center

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Transformation Christian Center

Lives are changing at Transformation Christian Center, and you can help it reach even more people. Part of the "Reaching Russia Together" series. Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

Where the Needy Get Help - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Where the Needy Get Help - Ukraine Crisis Story

A story of one Ukrainian family:

"Since March 11 my hometown has been occupied. It is almost destroyed. There are no hospitals, no drug stores, no supermarkets anymore. The school, where I have worked for 20 years, was bombed and destroyed. The ceiling from the second floor fell straight onto my working table. When I saw my classroom photo after the bombing, I cried for a long time.

However, life goes on. My family and I left my hometown. The Lord led us to safer location. Some kind people told us that there is a church in the city and the needy can get help there. We turned for help and we were accepted to a warm-hearted family. They have been helping us with everything: clothes, food, medicines, personal hygiene items. But most importantly, they have always listened to us and have given a good piece of advice. Our family is very thankful to the church. May God give you health, joy and happiness!"

Give now to help relief efforts

Does God Have a Plan for Me?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Does God Have a Plan for Me?

From Josie who is on a one-year mission in Macedonia.

Have you ever wondered if God has a specific plan for your life? I’m excited to be able to share my story with you.

In grade 12, I had an opportunity to go on a short-term missions trip to Peru. While there I believed God was calling me into cross-cultural work. When I returned to Canada that calling was confirmed, not so much through feelings, but through the Word. I was reading 1 Peter where Paul encourages us to consider our calling. I earnestly wanted to do what God was calling me to. As I talked with my parents, they helped me to see that my calling is to serve people.

Finding the Right Opportunity

Soon after this, God clearly led me to talk with a missionary who attends my church. As I shared with him what God is doing in my life, he encouraged me to consider a longer cross-cultural experience to get a good understanding of overseas ministry. I prayed and considered different options. When I heard about a 1-year ministry opportunity in Macedonia I knew that this is where I should be going. I believed that the opportunity was a good fit for my skills and passion!

Experiencing Struggles

However, despite wanting to follow God’s leading I have faced some struggles: combating loneliness, fighting Satan’s doubting whispers, “Did God really call you to this?” “Do you really believe that you can do this?” Spending time in prayer, God showed me that I need to lean on Him and not rely on myself. Plus, God revealed to me that my worth is in belonging to Him and not in those around me. He also used a timely conversation with a godly friend to speak truth to me. I believe that God is using these experiences to prepare me for what might be ahead!

I want to use this year, of serving alongside a missionary team, to discern if God is calling me to missions long-term. I want to learn how to contextualize the Gospel and understand how to effectively share my faith and serve people in a cross-cultural setting.

Following God's Plan

This time last year, my goal was to go to culinary school, but God grew a new desire in me and redirected me to serving Him cross-culturally. I laid my plan down to follow His, and I’m looking forward to seeing what it holds!

He has a plan for you too! Are you open to following Him wherever He leads?

Explore Internship Opportunities.

Don't Discount Your Creativity

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Don't Discount Your Creativity

‘I’m too old for this!’ he thought as he hung upside down 10 feet of the ground, with only some thin fabric keeping him falling the rest of the way. Being 60 years old doesn’t stop Mark* from putting himself out there on a rope … literally! God has used Mark’s willingness to reach thousands all over the world.

The Training Begins

In 2002, overweight and un-athletic, Mark began training to be an aerialist (acrobat in the air). As he considered the obvious risks and challenges associated with acrobatics, Mark recalled the many stories of "a God of the impossible" asking people to do life differently, to maybe look odd and stick out for Him.

Mark felt this was a call to obedience he couldn’t refuse. However, the thought that “you’ll look funny, especially at your age” also kept going through his mind. Then, after his first Christian performance, when 40 people came forward to put their trust in Jesus, Mark’s own trust in God’s plan became unstoppable.

Changing Hearts

Mark’s work as an aerialist reveals the wide variety of ways God can reveal Himself through our gifts. The physical expressions of art in its many forms communicate to hearts in a deep meaningful way. Mark and six other artists from seven different countries recently travelled to Africa using illusion, painting, dancing, acrobatics and music, to communicate the Gospel. One performance in a prison resulted in 39 people coming to faith in Jesus. The ministry team's gifts became powerful tools when given to God.

After seven trips across Europe and the Middle East, Mark has trained three people and desires to equip the next generation to share the gospel through their unique talents. As Mark continues to share the gospel through acrobatics, he reminds us that, "God is not looking for perfection but is looking for those who are willing.”

*Name changed for security reasons.

View the SEND Canada Annual Report

Coffee and Questions

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Coffee and Questions

Written by Amy Schuett.

An Evening Conversation

It was getting late. The two friends had just spent the last few hours talking. Jan* was enjoying getting to know Ana and had been sharing the gospel with her over the past 6 months. As of yet, Ana had not seemed particularly receptive. Suddenly, Ana’s face lit up.

“Oh! I want to tell you about the people who have moved in upstairs!” Ana said, as she jumped off the couch. Dragging Jan upstairs, Ana rushed to find the new family in the apartment complex.

“They have been asking questions about God and I told them I had a friend...” Ana continued, as she knocked on the door. The new renters were a husband and a wife with two children. The door opened and the family welcomed the two women into their cramped quarters. Moving unpacked boxes aside, Jan and Ana found a spot on the couch as the wife began making coffee.

Asking Questions

Soon the husband and wife began asking questions about Jesus , what the mission workers believe, the Trinity, and questions about the Bible . Jan sensed that the man was eagerly seeking God, and they kept talking. The kids, sitting around the couch, began to doze as the time crept closer to midnight.

The conversation wrapped up but the Lord continued to work in the heart of this family. The wife began to come to Bible studies with the church. Soon after, the whole family started to attend. They gave their lives to Jesus Christ and the husband is now an elder for a church in North Macedonia.

This all began from a willing mission worker following the direction of the Spirit and taking advantage of opportunities to share Christ.

God at Work in Macedonia

This is not the only growth in North Macedonia. SEND’s work continues to advance. There are now four church fellowships in and around the capital, each at a different stage in growth. The SEND team’s goal is to lean on the Lord and to grow and disciple believers. The hope is that these new leaders will become disciple-making disciples themselves.

The SEND team is helping each place to grow into a healthy, flourishing church. “We regularly evaluate the church plants and ask God to show us the next stage for each one. We want to see disciples multiplied, society transformed, and Macedonia reached with the gospel ,” Jan says.

Opportunities to Participate

It is exciting to see what God is doing in Macedonia. Many people are interested in learning how they can participate! There are a few different ways to get involved in the work that’s happening in Macedonia.

For instance, the ENGAGE Macedonia internship program brings young people from all over to work alongside mission workers for a number of months. Recent interns have come from Canada, the US, Germany and Hong Kong. We are also eager for more long-term mission workers to come join the team and work together to reach the new generation.

Making an Eternal Impact

Being a missionary requires patience, perseverance, and reliance on the Holy Spirit, but small moments can have an eternal impact. Total strangers meeting at midnight to discuss the Bible turned into an entire household being adopted into the family of God. Now this family is leading in a local church. The Spirit is at work! Macedonia is a land open and welcome to strangers, and ready for the harvest!

*Names have been changes for security reasons.

Learn More About SEND's work in Macedonia

Read Another Story from Macedonia: "The Culture of Coffee"

Discover Ministry Opportunities

Missions - Different Than I Expected

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Missions - Different Than I Expected

From Caleb, a medium-term mission worker.

A Balanced Perspective

Have you ever wondered what the life of a mission worker is really like? I was able to get a taste of it through a cross-cultural internship and it really helped build a balanced perspective.

When I arrived on the field, key parts of my internship included teaching English to locals and spending a considerable amount of time building relationships. I played table games, ping pong, drank coffee, and even learned Thai Kick Boxing! I began to see that missions life is not some glorified life; it is living out life in Christ while doing regular things, but in a different culture and language and with a people who view the world differently than I do. In some ways it was not as difficult as I expected.

More Difficult Than I Thought

One the other hand, I learned that missions life can be more difficult than anticipated. It was difficult to be away from home, especially during Christmas or when I had to miss my friend’s wedding. It was difficult when I got sick (for a month!) without familiar supports, and frustrating when I could not clearly express myself due to the language barrier. However, I learned that despite the difficulties I cannot give up, and just because there were hardships, it did not mean that God had not led me there! I learned not to let these challenges slow me down but to continue doing what I was doing and enjoy the adventure as I was doing it!

In addition to these lessons, I discovered that as a mission worker, you never get to the place where you have learned everything there is to know , particularly when it comes to ministry. Learning is ongoing and includes continuing to discover new methods of sharing the Gospel, new ways of reaching out to people, and learning things you should and should not say.

Looking to the Future

I was recently married and my wife, Raquel, and I are preparing to go overseas once again. We are excited about what God has in store for us!

Choosing an internship or missions opportunity can be overwhelming! We'd love to help you find an opportunity that matches your gifts and passion. Our experienced mission coaches are ready to connect with you!

Explore Internship Opportunities.

The Detour was Better

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Detour was Better

Ana Aquino began her missionary journey with SEND International and has spent the last few years in Japan. Coming from a Filipino-Canadian background, she had to start from scratch when learning Japanese language and culture. Learning a new language is a laborious task, and the Japanese language is one of the most difficult languages for a foreigner to learn. It can take many years to become fluent. Ana has often felt like giving up; yet God has called her to his mission, and she presses on!

Challenging Communication

Ana is passionate about evangelism. However, without knowing the language and culture well, it can be challenging to communicate the message clearly and persuasively.

To grow her understanding, Ana has been spending much of her time around Japanese friends who are bilingual. She can interact and learn about their culture while growing her Japanese skills. Sadly, many of these women are not interested in the Gospel Ana has shared.

Ana has been discouraged by not seeing fruit in her ministry to Japanese people. However, Japan is a place where spiritual fruit is not seen immediately. Effective gospel work requires patience and long-term relationship. Ana continues to learn how to present the message in a way that Japanese people understand and embrace.

An Unexpected Mission Field

Happily, God’s plans are far greater than a language barrier! Ana discovered another group of people in Japan who need the gospel: Filipino women. Many Filipino women marry Japanese men and live in Japan. They have been in the country for years and can speak both Filipino and Japanese! God has led Ana to reach out to these women, and already two have given their lives to Christ! And now, they desire to pass the gospel message on.

“God has encouraged me that my role is to evangelize, disciple, and train them, and then they can share it with their Japanese family and friends in Japanese ,” Ana says.

Ana has grabbed hold of this new mission and continues to meet and train the women. At the beginning of the COVID lockdown, she was meeting with two women over Zoom for Bible study. That group has already grown to 6! Despite a lack of Japanese language ability, Ana sees God’s gift in this fresh and creative way to reach those around her with the gospel. It may not have been the most direct path to reach the Japanese around her but, in this case, the detour was better!

Pray for Perseverance

Even now, language continues to be a challenge - and Ana is not alone. Learning a new language is a mountain that often seems impossible to climb for anyone, and many missionaries find themselves discouraged in the process. We must lift them up in prayer!

May God encourage their hearts as they seek to minister! “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9).

Written by Amy Magwood.

COVID Grocery Run

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

COVID Grocery Run

When things are dark, be on the lookout for what God will do! God took plans ruined by the COVID-19 outbreak and brought together a massive project to bless several villages across Alaska.

Like so many ministries across the country, SEND North’s Member Care Team had no choice but to cancel three needed trips to visit and encourage our teams in Alaskan villages. At the same time, Arctic Barnabas (a sister organization focused on care and encouragement of missionary families in the far North) had to refocus key ministries as their retreat home was closed as ‘not an essential service.’ Their ministry funds for groceries and utilities needed a new home as we were considering ways to encourage our teams instead of an in-person visit. So God called an audible and connected the dots with logistics so that the funds went to bless SEND North Families and other Christian workers. Free groceries, supplies, and notes of encouragement were sent with free shipping to bless individual families who then turned around to be a blessing to their neighbors! An excellent idea that was not easy to pull off.

The logistics involved were complicated, to put it mildly. Each family had their shopping list, which meant having teams of shoppers, packers, and accountants working on getting all the requested items together amid social distancing rules. It was not uncommon to have people spend hours per store to wait in line and try to find the right items. One volunteer practically lived at Costco for a couple of days. The pilots had to navigate each village’s social distancing rules and restrictions, but thankfully many allowed the essential work of grocery delivery. Most stops were just a quick landing, unloading, and a time of prayer with one person at the airport. Nate Sobie, SEND North Chief Pilot, was able to get to 5 villages in a one-day round trip flight out of Anchorage. Mark Farris covered the northern villages out of Fairbanks. For those villages that would not allow us to land, we shipped those gifts via third party air carriers. The faces of joy in the pictures we received tell us all the effort was well worth it.

Joe Greeson remarked that this might have been our Member Care Team’s ‘finest hour’ with so many people working together across multiple organizations. A hearty thanks to all of those who worked, gave, and prayed to pull this off. All the glory must go to God for providing for and encouraging His servants in this way.

Not Abandoned

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Not Abandoned

A letter of gratefulness from one of our church partners:

"From the start of the war our city was surrounded on 3 sides by the Russian army. Many times it was shelled. Many buildings were ruined, and many people died including women and children. We had about 150 rockets that landed. In the time of more active fighting people didn’t have electricity, water, heat, gas, food, medicine, or hygiene items. Thanks to your help, we were able, not just to give people food, medicine and hygiene items, but also hope that God did not abandon them...

"He cares for them through brothers and sisters in Christ who, although they are removed by distance, they have open hearts and are not indifferent to our grief. Thanks to your help, especially in the first days of war when there was nothing left in the stores and it was even impossible to buy diapers for babies, by God’s mercy we were able to obtain what was necessary and many people came to the church for help. This was a priceless help! People will never forget it. We will never forget the look in peoples’ eyes who, thanks to your help, were literally kissing bread and with tears in their eyes were thankful that the Lord, through you, was taking care of them.

"Once again, from the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank you, dear brothers and sisters. We are praying that the Lord would never forget your deeds of mercy.

"With respect, love, and thankfulness, and hope for further partnership,
Pastor MS"

Give now to help relief efforts

Adjusting to New Realities

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Adjusting to New Realities

During the last 29 years, Ukrainian professors and SEND missionaries have taught and trained the next generation of pastors and ministry leaders at Kyiv Theological Seminary (KTS). The need to equip believers has not changed in the last two years; in fact, the need has become more critical.

When the war started on February 24, 2022, KTS had already cancelled all courses, and most faculty had evacuated the city. The KTS leadership prayerfully evaluated the regional landscape: hundreds of evangelical pastors had left the country. Many churches lost 50-75% of their members! Many young people remained, while much of the elder leadership left. What could KTS do? Throwing in the towel was not an option.

The need for pastoral leadership training was acute. However, the standard four-year bachelor programs would take too long. A two-year, seminar-based pastoral program was adopted. The program is called “Linteum” - Latin for “towel”, like that used by Jesus to wash His disciples’ feet. The model was quickly adapted to a one-year, seminar-based training for Sunday School teachers and youth pastors. Praise the Lord! The program filled a gap in discipleship ministries, and over 160 people participated!

After the first year, many leaders asked KTS to start these programs at their seminaries, Bible Institutes, and regional Bible colleges. Additionally, KTS added four new Certificate programs in Evangelism & Discipleship, Biblical Counseling, Women’s Ministries, and Chaplaincy. In the fall of 2023, over 300 students studied in the Certificate programs! Already some of those graduates have enrolled in KTS’s Bachelor programs. These developments will not make up for the loss of mature elders, but are a step in the right direction.

Christ Is Better: Sacrifices Worth Making for the Gospel in Alaska

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Christ Is Better: Sacrifices Worth Making for the Gospel in Alaska

By a missionary with SEND North

It was toward the beginning of our support-raising season. We spent weeks traveling to different churches asking for support to move to bush Alaska as missionaries. My husband and I stood at the front of the church, presenting our desire to move to a remote village that did not have a gospel witness or church presence. It was then that an elderly lady raised her hand to ask a pointed question, “Will you have running water in the village?” I vividly remember looking at my husband with a snarky smile and saying, “We better!” The congregation chuckled, and I joined in.

Of course, we will have running water , I thought, or I’m not too sure this long-term plan will work out for me.

Little did I know the Lord had other plans.

A couple of years later, we chartered a flight to a small, remote village above the Arctic Circle. In the charter, our family of four sat among totes of luggage, household furnishings, and a four-wheeler, all crammed into the nine-seater plane.

And we planned on calling this village home?

Well, it did not have running water.

Gone was the luxury of taking long, hot showers. Gone was the ease of turning a faucet on to wash dishes. Gone were the nightly baths I gave my toddlers. And gone were the days of doing laundry in my own home.

But we learned the system in the village and adjusted.

We drove the four-wheeler or snow machine two miles to the local washeteria every other day, depending on the season. Planning was essential, especially in the winter when temperatures can drop to sixty below zero. We loaded up our five-gallon buckets with water for our daily needs, then drove the water to our home, where we carefully and conservatively used it.

I always prided myself on having clean children, a clean home, and a clean body. Yet my expectations of cleanliness began dropping a few notches. I accepted this, and once I started changing my mindset to contentment, it made for lower expectations, which thus resulted in a better attitude altogether.

Why would my expectations have changed over the years?

One reason is that our village of 150 has three washers, one dryer, and three showers for the entire population. We take turns cleaning, and access to running water is first come, first served.

Not only have I learned to be content without running water, but my flesh has been sacrificed again and again as I practice the discipline of sharing and putting others first, especially when the family in line before me at the washers is doing five loads for her family of six.

So, we’ve got the washeteria for water, but many wonder what constitutes a bathroom.

I’m glad you asked…well, maybe I’m not happy you asked, but it’s a question that’s bound to be asked, and while many want to ask yet can’t seem to get the words out, I’m glad to broach the subject.

In our village, every home has an outhouse. Without further details, using an outhouse in sixty below just doesn’t incite much bliss. That’s enough detail on that one!

Yet, one more comment.

Many women dream of their husbands building them a massive home with a wrap-around deck, a large kitchen, and a room for each child; I dream of an outhouse. An outhouse that I don’t have to share and is all mine. You see, when we have sleepovers with kids or Bible programs or church on Sundays, the outhouse is the main stop for many of our visitors. And it’s just plain disheartening to clean an outhouse in forty below with so much traffic.

And yet it provides me another opportunity to “strike a blow to my body and make it my slave,” as my husband and I preach the gospel to those here in the North (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Is it hard at times? Yes. Do I fail? Time and time again. But I’m growing with a slow and steady contentment and joy each day.

While the lack of running water in the village is mainly seen as a hindrance to the gospel, our family has noticed the blessing it is. It provides a means by which we can serve others. Many don’t have a four-wheeler or snow machine, so when they call us to haul water for them, we can serve them as we serve Christ.

We do so with the hope that relationships are made, friendships are formed, and the gospel might go forth.

I look back years ago to the declaration I made, “We better!” And I realize the better is Christ Himself. Proclaiming his name in the North, whether with running water or without, is worth every small and insignificant sacrifice—not because the circumstances are better, but because he’s worthy.

Christ is better.

This missionary’s experience is an incredible story of God’s grace in growing his people where he has led them. It is true that not all northern villages have indoor plumbing. Still, most do, and many of our missionaries are not called to face these particular challenges.

Project Caribou is an initiative by SEND North to support missionaries starting their ministry in Alaska and northern Canada. The project involves setting up key hub villages that serve as central points where teams of missionaries can minister together in that community and the surrounding villages. This team-based approach is designed to smooth the transition into ministry and provide a support network for addressing the distinct challenges associated with ministering in northern areas. It’s about creating a collaborative environment that helps missionaries adapt and thrive in their new roles.

Learn more about Project Caribou

Take 5 To Give 10

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Take 5 To Give 10

It is the little things that make all the difference. They are essential to ministry in Alaska and Northern Canada; a smile, a listening ear, hunting with your neighbor, or chopping wood for a friend. It is so easy for our attention to be drawn to the big ministry events, but they only happen because of the little things. The same goes for the little ways that people contribute to the ministry of SEND North. We need big acts of contribution as well as small gifts.

So, this #GivingTuesday we are launching a week long initiative to ask people to take five minutes of their time to give ten dollars to one of the little things that makes all the difference to our ministry, aviation fuel!

English helps build eternal bridges

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

English helps build eternal bridges

By a worker in Central Asia

“Are you teaching English classes in my city?” “Can you fit my niece into your teaching schedule?” “Can you come to our town and help our church start an English club as an outreach?”

I hear questions such as these on a regular basis. People’s longing to learn English reveals their desire to live better and to get ahead in the world. It is such a passionately felt need here in Central Asia that my heart breaks every time I have to tell someone that my schedule won’t allow me to add any more private students or that I only have time to teach in one city.

Teaching English opened the doors for me to come here, but what’s keeping me here is realizing that teaching is an excellent way to build bridges to Christ by first building relationships with my students. These relationships give me the privilege of being let into my students’ lives in a non-threatening way, which leads them to want to know me personally.

Then, when they feel more comfortable, they ask me about my faith. Recently I had the privilege of sharing the hope of Christ with two of my students.

That’s what this is all about.

Since the government here actually encourages its people to learn English, the invitation has gone out for more English language teachers. For us, it’s an open opportunity to build bridges that will last for eternity.

If only more English language teachers would come! At present, I am the only person on our small team with the time and training to teach English as a second language. If you are interested in seeing God at work in this part of the world and have some experience in teaching the English language, then come help build bridges to Christ through ESL!

If you’d like more information, connect with a missions coach by filling out the Get Started form.

Louis' story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Louis' story

“I thank the Lord Jesus that He changed my life and made me a Christian. I hope that I will be worthy of that name.” – Louis at his baptism

Three years ago when Irene showed up at English class in Chang Hua City, no one would have guessed that her boyfriend, Louis, would be the first to trust Christ and be baptized.

It always seemed that Irene was the one interested in spiritual things and Louis just tagged along to class and Bible study and church to be with her. As the oldest son, Louis has the responsibility in his family to carry on the ancestor worship. Many men in this situation turn away from the gospel because it would jeopardize their relationship with their family.

But Louis was persistent. He came with questions. He came to listen. He would often stop by our house to chat with us. He wanted to know how he could follow Christ. He wanted us to pray for him. What a wonderful day it was when Louis told us that he had decided to give his life to Christ!

I remember the day that he told me he had gathered his family members, including his dad, brother and grandfather, to tell them that he was a follower of Jesus and wanted to be baptized soon. His family is very democratic in decision making, but had many objections. Three months later, Louis carried through with this decision and followed the Lord in baptism! It has been exciting to be part of Louis’ journey.

Irene was at the baptism to celebrate with Louis, but she has yet to put her faith in the Lord. It is our earnest prayer that she will soon join Louis in professing her faith in Christ. We so desire to see young couples loving and serving the Lord together.

Chang Hua City is one of the 60 cities and villages that SEND International of Taiwan has identified as the least-reached areas as part of our Vision 119 outreach strategy. Would you pray with us for Irene to come to faith in Christ and for this couple to have an impact among their friends and family for the gospel?

We are trusting the Lord to raise up another 114 new workers to join us in the coming 20 years to help carry out this Vision 119 of going into these 60 areas and planting churches among the least reached. Would you pray with us about your part in this movement of the Lord? Explore opportunities to serve in Taiwan.

— Will & Suzy Brown

Getting back on track

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Getting back on track

By Tim Hartman, Northwest Mobilizer for SEND International

It doesn’t take much to end up on the wrong path, heading in the wrong direction. What makes it even more frustrating is when you can see the right path, but you don’t know how to get back to it.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, my wife and I have taken up hiking. On one such occasion, we had mapped out our hike and knew where we wanted to go. As we ventured into the forest, we started talking and laughing and ended up not paying attention to the trail markings.

Time passed and we kept walking until we realized our mistake—we were on a different trail headed in the wrong direction. The path we wanted was on the other side of a ravine, going the other way, and we couldn’t reach it. We would either have to backtrack and lose time or continue on the current path and hope it soon crossed with the right path.

We decided to keep walking but got frustrated when we didn’t encounter any crossings.

We knew where we wanted to go. We had a plan to get there. But somewhere along the way, we got sidetracked and ended up heading the wrong direction.

Isn’t that true in so many areas of life? At certain points in time, we feel God leading us to a particular place and opportunity. But life happens, we get lost in the busyness, and we end up on a path leading in another direction. Then, that moment comes when we realize our mistake. How do we get back to the original path?

Many of us who feel called to serve the Lord in missions have been there. There was that moment when you felt God calling you to serve him overseas. Then life happens, time passes, and you realize that you are on the wrong trail. How do you get back? Is there a way to get back? Hopelessness may set in as you realize you may have wandered too far for too long.

Do not despair! Though the Enemy wants to use this against you, God’s call has not changed! He still wants to use you to reach the lost for him!

Proverbs 3:6 states, “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” God is always ready to get you back on his path, once we let go, refocus, and let him take control. Though he is powerful enough to make a bridge for us, it may not be immediate. He may choose to lead us on the more difficult way back in order for reconciliation and healing to take place. In either circumstance, we know God is faithful, and he will use the circumstances in our lives to teach us and equip us for future service.

What are the issues that are keeping you from getting back on the path that leads to serving him in missions? What are your frustrations? What are your fears? It’s never too late! Pray for God to take control. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you. Share with your pastor, a spiritual mentor, or a missions mobilizer , and heed their Godly wisdom. God will use them as they come alongside to speak truth into your life. Remember, “All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies” (Ps. 25:10).

Mobilizing Ukrainian Missionaries

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Mobilizing Ukrainian Missionaries

Over the years, many missionaries have gone to Ukraine to share the gospel and start churches. Now, as those churches are growing, many are beginning to look for opportunities to send their own people out as missionaries. SEND’s 3M ministry is helping to make it possible.

Learn More about 3M Ministry.

A powerful prayer

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A powerful prayer

By A in Southeast Asia

As we settled in at the town gymnasium to celebrate sixth-grade graduation, one graduate, in particular, caught our attention. About seven years ago, this little boy fell off a domesticated water buffalo and was seriously injured.

When I visited him soon after the accident, he was stretched out on a mat on a relative’s living room floor, in too much pain to move or speak. The family had taken him to a local faith healer, but he still was not well enough to walk or go to school.

I do not remember the details of his injuries, but I do remember praying over the child in the name of Isa (Jesus).

The boy’s family remembers this prayer, too. As we went door-to-door in his community recently, gathering students for our summer values class, we encountered several mothers gathered in a hut, busy preparing food for the graduation celebration.

The relatives of this boy invited us to come back for a joint party for him and his cousin. The family told me: This is the boy that you prayed for those many years ago, and he got better after you prayed.

I am in amazement and awe and praise to God that even many years later, this family remembers that it was the prayer to our almighty and powerful God that brought healing to this boy!

This little boy was one of about 35 familiar faces we saw at the graduation.

We know these students because they frequent our center to hang out, come to English, computer or values classes during the school year, or have attended our summer values classes, which are similar to VBS.

Some of the students we recognized from our children’s tutorial classes, a preschool/kindergarten-style program we held back in 2008-2010.

In our summer values classes this year, we will continue sharing stories of Jesus. These children have grown up hearing that Jesus is a good teacher, but that’s often the extent of their knowledge.

Our lessons will include, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness — the Samaritan woman at the well,” “Blessed are the pure in heart — Zacchaeus,” and “Blessed are the poor in spirit — the rich young ruler.”

So many children will hear these stories for the very first time. Pray that these lessons would continue to penetrate the hearts of the students and that they would even have dreams and visions of Jesus. May they come to know him as the powerful healer of their hearts.

Hope and Light

You can help Team Hope reach more students with the life-changing message of Jesus' love. Click here to find out more.

Photo by Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Macedonia's 2020 Vision

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Macedonia's 2020 Vision Disciples multiplied. Society transformed. Macedonia reached. Watch this video to learn about SEND Macedonia's "2020 Vision" and how you can be involved. By the year 2020, SEND Macedonia hopes to: Mobilize 1,000 prayer partners for our Muslim ministry Be joined by 20 new SEND missionaries Establish 5 new kingdom businesses Begin 4 new church plants Build 1 new church building Learn More About SEND's Ministry in Macedonia Discover Ministry Opportunities in Macedonia Read "Taking the Next Step" - a Story from Macedonia

A prisoner reconciled

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A prisoner reconciled

Lois* is in prison.

Her relationship with her children was broken.

Two years ago, Lois attended the Practical Positive Parenting workshops funded by SEND donors and taught by SEND's Eileen Starr. Eileen has been visiting with Lois since the workshop, trying to encourage her growth as a parent and as a woman of God. This is her testimony.

The ministry of Practical Positive Parenting has touched my life in a way that I’ll never forget. Even though I went to this faith-based program, my heart was hard. I didn’t really know Jesus and was haunted by the guilt and shame of broken relationships with my children. I was closed off and stuck in the false belief that, “I would never see my kids again.”

The message Eileen brought was seasoned with so much love, grace and hope. I felt drawn to her. She continued to minister to me even after the workshop finished. She brought me encouragement and expressed faith in me while exhorting me back into motherhood. Her mentorship of me had me believing in Christ’s love and His promises.

Within a year God’s promises started to bloom in my life and I had restoration with my oldest son. If the Lord hadn’t used Eileen to help give me the tools to know how to handle that time, I don’t know how I would have faced it.

I have come to understand that I need to share what God has done in my life with others. Eileen used me in parenting workshops a few months ago so that I could share this message of hope with other women here in prison. I am grateful to be a part of God’s purpose in reaching out to others.

I want to thank Eileen and the other volunteers who come regularly to the prison to teach us about parenting and how to be a woman of God. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus and for believing in me and changing my life (Isaiah 61:1-3).

*Not her real name

Nina's Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Nina's Story

By Doug Harder, SEND Canada worker

UPDATE: November 12, 2015:

Recently we shared the story of Nina, a teenage Shan girl from Thailand who trusted Jesus as her Savior. We just heard from our Thailand missionaries that in late October, during a Bible study, both of her parents trusted Jesus, too! PRAISE GOD for the work He is doing in this family and the whole village. We also announced the Shan Student Dorm project to provide a home for 5 of the most vulnerable of these girls, who have no place to call home. We have now received funds to fully provide for the student dorm! THANK-YOU so much for your prayers and support. Sincerely, Doug Harder

Original Article from September 21, 2015:

A Long Journey

This is the story of a 13-year old girl named Nina*. Several years ago, Nina and her family made the long trip through the mountains to northern Thailand, looking for a way out of their poverty. Nina’s family settled into a community where our SEND workers live and love the Shan people. Nina’s older step-brother found some work in construction at a community center built to serve the Shan people. Curious, Nina began to join other teens, making crafts at the center that they could sell in the market. Before long, Nina also began to hear stories of the Creator God of the Bible. Nina could only speak Shan, but moving to Thailand gave her the opportunity to attend a local Thai elementary school where she began to learn to read, write and speak Thai. This opened many new doors of opportunity for Nina.

A New World Opens

Some of the other Shan teens were attending a Bible study together. She joined this study and a whole new world opened for her as she began to read the Thai Scriptures herself for the very first time. As shy as she was, Nina felt loved and welcomed by the SEND workers and often visited them in their home. Despite the Buddhist worldview that Nina had known all her life, Nina trusted in the Jesus of the Bible as her Lord and Savior last year. She soon became the proud owner of her own Thai Bible, which she brought each week to her small group discipleship.

A village in Northern Thailand.

Sharing With Her Family

Every week in this small group, the teens were given an opportunity to share how they are giving witness to Christ in their school and homes. Nina expressed a desire to share her love for Jesus with her own family , and invited the SEND workers to visit her home. SEND workers began regular visits to this Shan home, and before long had an open invitation to begin Bible story-telling every Friday night. Story-telling with picture books is essential, since most Shan adults in the village cannot read or write. But on that first meeting in her home, Nina shared her new-found faith in Christ with her parents and siblings. Since then, each Friday, Nina reads the chronological story first from her Thai Bible, before it is shared conversationally again by SEND workers with picture illustrations.

Considering Jesus

I had the great privilege of joining our SEND workers in Nina’s home this past summer. Not only were Nina’s family present, but two other school girls joined us that Nina had invited. Right behind our circle on the floor, stood the household altar, with images of Lord Buddha and a variety of spirit gods to protect and bless the home. Nina’s step-dad told me that though they are committed Buddhists, they are considering the Jesus that their daughter has come to love. Nina is one of 15 Shan teens that has decided to follow Christ over the last couple years. Shan families cannot afford to send their teens to high school, so SEND has established a new sponsorship program to send these girls to school. Nina will be one of the girls we hope to sponsor.

Discover Ministry Opportunities.

Learn About SEND's Ministry in Thailand.

Choosing a mission

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Choosing a mission How do you choose one mission to join when there are many great agencies? Do you even need a mission agency? Start by figuring out who you are. What are you passionate about—a particular kind of ministry, a country, a people group? Think about your gifting and what interests you. Your unique experience may also affect your decision. Now that you have narrowed down the options, recognize that mission agencies also have distinct personalities. Here are some questions to ask: What is the leadership and organizational structure? What is the mission’s stated purpose? Is it accomplishing that? How? Do these goals excite you? Is the mission growing? How does the mission relate to the churches at home? Does it serve and support the local church? How does the mission relate to the churches overseas? How do the missionaries relate to the local believers and leaders? Are they servants or rulers? How are finances and support handled? How are support requirements determined? Will they train you to raise support? Is the mission a good steward of funds? Does the mission publish annual audits? For married couples, are both spouses accepted? How does the mission handle families? What roles are open for women, married or single? How does the mission care for its missionaries? What initial and continuing training is offered? Does the mission have a good reputation? If you feel God is leading you into missions, talk with your pastor, mission professor, and missionaries you know. SEND International may or may not be your first choice but we would be happy to talk with you. We are open to all your questions and we’ll do our best to give you helpful answers. You can read more about how SEND cares for its workers here, or click here to get in contact with a mobilizer in your area.

I found him as love

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I found him as love

I’m Vanessa and I’m from Prague, Czech Republic. My life before Jesus was a mess. I was just going from boyfriend to boyfriend, from country to country and having relationships everywhere. But I always felt alone — I was always looking for family, looking for love.

I started modeling to make some money. My hope was to get a great job for good money and possibly become famous.

I was raised in the traditional church and that’s where I first heard the gospel. But it wasn’t alive, it wasn’t real. It was just people sitting and listening to dead stuff. It had nothing to do with me. I hoped it would possibly save me. But to me, Jesus was just a statue. I didn’t have relationship with him. I wasn’t offered a relationship.

After my parents divorced, I didn’t have to go to church anymore and I was so happy. I hated everything about it. I just hoped I would never have to go back there. But I started to realize, after many parties, after many nights spent in somebody’s bed, that I needed something more than this.

One day in Vienna, I went back to the model’s apartment after I was in bed with someone. As I was taking a shower, I thought, “Wow, I wash myself outside but I can never wash myself inside.”

Later on, one of my boyfriends cheated on me. I cried bitterly and realized that no, men are not going to give me the love that I need. I can’t find it there. I was just so desperate for it though, without realizing it. I thought I didn't need anybody. But I was searching for God.

I was going to evangelical churches, I was listening to preachers, and I was studying theology at Charles University, one of the most famous schools in all of Europe. I was looking for love but when somebody came with love, I wasn’t able to receive it because I didn’t believe they loved me. So I didn’t believe Jesus’ promises — even though I thought I did.

I was fasting, I was praying, I was saying, “God I want you!” But it was in my strength. I had to do everything for myself. I was a successful model. I made a lot of money. I was successful in my pride. I was successful in my stubbornness. And so He had to humble me very much, almost to the point where I didn’t make any money for two years. But then I found him as my personal Savior. I found him as a deliverer. I found him as a friend and I have found him as love. The Scripture says, “Your goodness will lead me to repentance.” That became so true to me.

There is a root of unbelief in the Czech Republic. People don’t have a personal relationship with Christ because they don’t seek him for it. They don’t expect anything. Most of them hope that they will be saved by going to church every Sunday. So my prayers are that God would shine his light and call his people and give them a love for one another that others may see it and come to him. Because it starts with us, it starts with the church. If love is there, they will see it. Christ said they will see that you are my disciples if you love each other.

For so long, I’ve cried out to God, “Please send somebody! If that’s your will, send Christians here. Let them show us how to please you, how to be in your presence, how to serve you, how to know you, how to seek you.”

We are in desperate need of a Savior. There are so many people dying here without knowing who he is. We are all one family in Christ and we need you. We need brothers and sisters. We need those who are stronger in faith. We need preachers anointed by God who would come with his presence and help us, like little brothers and sisters. We need you.

Explore opportunities to serve in Czech Republic .

More Than One Way

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

More Than One Way What is ministry? How do you do it? There seems to be a ton of resources out there to answer that question. It is a little overwhelming at times. Our German intern, Danilo John, had one simple thought on that subject which I felt was worth sharing. Dan experienced that there is more than one way to do ministry. The following is his short list of various ways he was able to ‘do ministry’: Helping with kids club Leading a young life group Jr High Sunday School Working on building projects Taking someone out for ice cream Just help with whatever is needed without complaining Visiting a neighbor Yes, anything can be used to ‘do ministry’. This is a simple idea which can’t encompass all that makes up ministry. However, this simple idea is essential because we can also overcomplicate ministry. It is so easy to think ‘ministry’ is for the professionals. In reality, God can use any activity to minister to people and expand His Kingdom. The motivation to share the love of Christ can turn any event into ministry. Follow SEND North on social media: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Instagram Instantly download the free report, God's Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the 60/70 Window. So, I wonder, what simple thing can God use to do ministry through you?

Beliefs - Europe Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Beliefs - Europe Series

Several Europeans talk about what they believe about God and Jesus. Part of the video series "UnFinished: Reaching Europe." Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

The One True God - Taiwan Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The One True God - Taiwan Series

The story of two sisters and their journey from worshiping many gods to worshiping the one true God. Part of the series "Taiwan: Vision 119." Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

The Beautiful Island - Taiwan Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Beautiful Island - Taiwan Series

A breathtaking tour of Taiwan, also known as Formosa, or "The Beautiful Island." Part of the series "Taiwan: Vision 119." Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

From hats to friends

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

From hats to friends

By Jami G. in Ulan-Ude, Siberia

When you live in Siberia with three kids, you spend a lot of time thinking about hats. Are our hats warm enough? Are they too warm? Are the kids’ ears fully covered? Do the hats slip down over their eyes? And the time-honored: “It’s time to go. Where are your hats?”

We have a different hat for every season. Now that we’re officially in Siberian spring (which still often involves snow but doesn’t usually stay below freezing for long), I’ve had my eyes peeled for spring hats. I noticed that one of our neighbors always has really cute hats.

I’d already been praying for this neighbor, so I saw this as an opening: I got into a conversation with her one day, and found out that she makes her hats herself. What perfect timing! She came over and let my kids help design their own hats.

So, we now enjoy made-to-fit hats that cover the kids’ ears perfectly and never slip down over their eyes. But more importantly, this neighbor is becoming our friend. She’s joined us at our daughter’s holiday performance, snuggles up with our pet rat and gifts us plants.

She’s been over to our apartment several times, and we’ve had some good coversations about prayer, and the similarities and differences between the Orthodox Church, Russian Old Believers and our little Baptist church.

For years, our family has asked the Lord to guide people into our path. Of all the people in our apartment building, the two I’ve felt most drawn to are this hat-making neighbor and a teen-age young lady. Over the winter, I helped the teen learn an English song for her college class. As it turns out, they are mother and daughter. Our neighbor might create hats, but God Himself knits together our lives and relationships!

Persevering through persecution

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Persevering through persecution

By M.K. in Central Asia

Our national partners are dear brethren. The main brother we work with has seen his share of ups and downs in ministry. The church that he currently serves in has not always been a positive testimony in the community. Instead, in the past, there was infighting, hidden immorality, betrayal and slander, resulting in deep hurts.

After all the fallout, our brother was asked to help restore fellowship and bring healing for those who were left. However, much pain and distrust remains. Sheep scattered. The flock dwindled. The shepherd was discouraged.

Added to this were challenges at home. His sixth child, a son, was born with cerebral palsy. Treatment, therapy and support groups are scarce in this developing country. His wife, previously a joyous wife and leader among the women, spiraled into depression. To this day, she has periods of wavering trust in God’s goodness. Many of their family members believe that this “sick child” is a punishment from God for leaving Islam.

Nonetheless, this brother has been faithful even in the midst of persecution, laboring after sleepless nights of caring for his son, pressing on in the face of discouragement from his wife to give up the ministry, and seeing little fruit in the church.

What compels him to persevere? He longs to see his people come to know the power and transformation of the Good News. He has been instrumental in taking disciple-making principles and training to other believers in outlying villages, challenging them to go out into the unbelieving world with the news of hope.

He is teaching the members of his congregation how to live in community by practicing the “one another” passages. He is an encouragement to those who are struggling with difficult circumstances, testifying to God’s all-sufficient grace, and we are constantly being taught by his godly example. Please join us in lifting our brother up in prayer to our faithful and sustaining God.

Mentoring Matters: Dave's Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Mentoring Matters: Dave's Story

“I can think of several people who have had a significant impact on my life. In several cases, these people were youth leaders. In other cases, they were pastors overseeing internships in which I was involved. With each of them, they stressed the importance of my personal relationship with God. They strongly encouraged me in my ministry pursuits. They gave me opportunities to grow and learn. They encouraged me when I tried new things and gave honest feedback. And they spent lots of time with me, hanging out, talking about things that were important to me, asking me thought-provoking questions. All of these things discipled me in my relationship with Christ."

Learn About SEND's Ministry in Russia

Discover Ministry Opportunities

Following His Leading

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Following His Leading

We've been on mission trips before, so when our missionary friends invited us to visit again, we thought we had a pretty good idea of what to expect. As a bridge to reach students, they had been offering free English classes to a nearby school, and had arranged for us to tutor and to share the gospel. We were also planning to participate in workshops and in worship services at our host’s church. We had some fairly solid evangelistic and disciples-training opportunities lined up. Or so we thought!

Plans Fell Through…

Upon our arrival, our friend told us that the principal of the school changed his mind and cancelled our tutoring appointments. In addition, our host church suffered a flood two months prior to our trip - renovations to the ceiling and floor were barely completed by the time we arrived. None of the audio-visual equipment had been reconnected! In this situation, what would you do?

Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths .

When God allowed the roadblocks, He was redirecting our paths to accomplish something more important at that time.

A Setback is a Setup for a Comeback

One sister we visited has a husband who is a pathological gambler who had lost hundreds of thousands of dollars at the casino. He tried to pressure his wife to sell their business – he wanted to take the money and run off with his mistress. We tried to persuade him not to wreck the family, but he refused to listen and ran away. All we could do is to pray with the sister to strengthen her faith to persevere for the sake of her children.

She did find strength in the Lord! And after this she asked us to go and pray for an unbelieving friend whose husband had been kidnapped. When God led the way, we dropped our plans and followed . It turned out that the friend's husband had been abducted two months ago, possibly by loan sharks. She began inquiring mediums in the hope of securing his release, but to no avail. She was left with their small children running their store by herself and worrying for her husband's life. We felt the best we could do for her was to lead her to Christ so that she could lean on Jesus. We thank God she received the Lord, and her friend is now following up with her.

The same first sister also led us to another friend of hers, who was abused by her non-Christian husband. He mistreated her both physically and mentally. She did not want to inform the police, but instead contemplated suicide to end the pain and humiliation. We decided to get to the root of the problem by witnessing to her husband. He understood the gospel, but was not yet ready to repent and confess Jesus as Lord. We learned from subsequent communication that her situation improved somewhat, and will continue to pray to uphold these sisters.

What happened to all the office and AV equipment that our missionary friend couldn't connect by himself at the beginning of our trip? It "happened" that two of our team members were AV specialists. God knew the needs of the church, and assembled the team with the right mix of skills to get the job done.

The Conclusion

When you step out of your comfort zone on a short-term mission, you will often experience God's leading in a way you would not had you stayed behind your wall of defense. Remember, turtles advance only by sticking their necks out . Follow His lead. You'll be glad you did.

*This is a true story but the writer's name has been changed for security reasons. Troy is not his real name.

Learn More About SEND's Diaspora Ministries

Discover Diaspora Ministry Opportunities

From obstacles to blessings

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

From obstacles to blessings

By Gary and Mabel Meade in Taiwan

Obstacle number 1

A few months before the summer camp in Gongguan, Taiwan, we knew we would have a team of three people from the States coming to help. With our local coworkers, we had about seven staff total. But we knew this would not be enough manpower to serve an energetic group of elementary students.

Blessing number 1

God knew our weaknesses. He amazingly provided us with eight additional young adults, from Taipei, Taichung, and Miaoli, to help with this camp. They brought excitement and good classroom management. Their youth and energy was a real encouragement to our small band of faithful co-workers.

Obstacle number 2

The U.S. team members came from a megachurch and were used to running amazing vacation Bible school programs. How could we carry out a similar program? We live in a small, rural community without all the resources of a large church. Plus, three weeks before the camp, we still didn’t know what we would be doing. What would our daily camp schedule look like? What crafts would we be doing? What role was each person going to play? It seemed that there were more questions than answers.

Blessing number 2

A week before the camp we got a good picture of what was planned. The U.S. team was bringing all of the crafts and decorations needed for the camp! We only needed to purchase a few items and be responsible for a small portion of the teaching.

Obstacle number 3

The day before camp started, both the local team and the U.S. team met for the first time. About an hour into our orientation, someone from the U.S. team suddenly realized an important piece of luggage was missing – all of the materials for the crafts! The big box was still at the Taipei airport!

Blessing number 3

God answered immediately as the box was recovered and picked up from the airport that very afternoon. Blessings continued throughout the week!

Blessing of one changed life changing another

One of the short-term members, Esther*, came out of a life of wild living and drug abuse. Her life was a real mess until she met Jesus. During her time in Taiwan, Esther was invited to visit a drug user, Bella, whose recent injuries from a car accident have left her homebound. God had really prepared this woman’s heart. After hearing Esther’s testimony, Bella accepted Jesus as her personal Savior!

Blessing through teaching English

During the camp we had opportunities to teach the kids English. We also did a “tour” of four different countries to learn some interesting facts about these places. Some kids said that they did not like to learn English before, but now they think it is not as difficult. Two students will come to our Saturday English class as a result! We are looking forward to more opportunities to share Christ with them.

Blessing of being welcomed back

One afternoon, the school director came in to take pictures and observe the class. He told our camp director that he was very impressed with how much the students had learned about the countries; they learned things that he did not know himself. We have earned our right to be back in that school to do more kingdom work!

Read more stories of how God is changing lives in Taiwan

'Tell me your secret': When the Garridos arrived from the Philippines, their landlady in Taiwan started acting strangely. Turns out, she wanted to know their source of peace and joy, and they were eager to share.

Lost for 45 years: Guanfu Church in Taiwan celebrates its first baptism.

Louis' story: No one thought Louis would be the first to trust Christ and be baptized.

*Not her real name

Seeking in Seattle

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Seeking in Seattle

The United States and Canada have welcomed more than 50 million immigrants, many of them from countries where Western missionaries cannot live. In response to this great opportunity, SEND has launched a new outreach: Diaspora | North America . In the coming months, we will introduce you to our workers in several cities, all reaching out to diaspora peoples in diverse ways that reflect the complexities of each group’s culture. Today, we interview RKN, who ministers to the Japanese diaspora in the Seattle area.

1. Can you describe how God drew you to this ministry?

I first heard of diaspora ministries from missionary friends who went to the Lausanne Conference 2010. When I moved from Japan back to the States in 2011, I considered doing a diaspora ministry in Seattle.

2. What are some of the biggest challenges that the people you serve face?

Becoming a Christian for a Japanese is a huge challenge culturally. Less than 0.5% of the population is Christian. To do something outside of the group is very difficult. It can mean being rejected by family and friends. Japan is a land of “8 million gods.” To say there is only ONE true God is hard for the Japanese to grasp. Ultimately, the spiritual dark powers are strong in Japan.

3. How do you connect with the people you are trying to reach?

Mainly through relationships. Friends will introduce them to us. Events such as conferences or camps are other avenues to meet. “Cold turkey” evangelism is difficult for the Japanese. Passing out tracts has not worked well. We build relationships mostly through hospitality, inviting them to events, going out — especially for Japanese food.

4. Can you describe a “typical” week?

I try to set up meetings with at least three individual people during the week. Then there are group meetings in between. I’ve also been getting together with the local Japanese pastors and other missionaries with similar burdens. I’m working with several churches and trying to network better in order to cooperate and share spiritual gifts and resources. In between these meetings, there are the sermons and Bible study preparations to be made.

5. What are the biggest joys you’ve seen on the field?

Seeing someone receive Christ brings no greater joy. Seeing Christians come alive in their faith also brings a lot of joy.

6. What are some of the challenges?

Our main contacts usually are here for just one to five years. Japanese often take a long time to become Christians, so if headway does happen, they often have to return back to Japan.

7. What are some effective ways to share the gospel with people in your diaspora group?

Surround the person with many Christians. Have them hear testimonies from many people, but don’t push.

8. Why do you think diaspora ministry is valuable?

Japan is a very oppressive nation spiritually. Getting the Japanese outside of that darkness is a great opportunity to bring the light in. There is less pressure overseas. It’s safer to examine other belief systems outside of Japan. Being overseas helps the Japanese see the world in a broader context.

9. What would you like readers to understand about your diaspora group?

Time is limited to bring Japanese Christians up to maturity. Before they return to Japan, our hope is (ideally), not only can they be saved, but grow in maturity to the point of studying the Bible on their own, applying it to their lives, reproducing their faith, and leading others toward salvation and maturity. If we can send them back to Japan as missionaries, that would be great. They already know the language and culture, and they already have a network of relationships, people to whom they can witness.

10. What are some practical ways that people can help you in this ministry?

Pray, pray, pray. Over 150 years of Protestant missionary work, and we are still at less than 0.5%. There is a spiritual dark reality that is still strong in Japan. People have literally been dedicated to demons, so they are working hard to blind the minds of the Japanese. Also, the Diaspora | North America ministries are just now starting as an independent field for SEND. Therefore, there is much need for finances to build a solid foundation .

You might also be interested in

Resources — Find videos, statistics and tools for connecting with diaspora people at SEND's new Diaspora | North America home page .

'What is Diaspora Ministry?' — Hear a discussion about what diaspora ministry entails on the Global Missions Podcast.

Reaching UPGs in NYC — Within this diverse city live enclaves representing more than 50 groups that have little to no access to the gospel.

Inviting the nations to our tables — Game nights, endless cups of tea mean lots of opportunities to build relationships with Muslim refugees.

Who is my New Neighbor — A visual look at how communities are shifting, with ideas for getting involved.

Church Planter or Disciple Maker

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Church Planter or Disciple Maker

Which Is It?

Many of us involved in church planting are asking ourselves this question. For years, the push and emphasis of many Christian evangelical organizations in the bush has been focused on church planting. These organizations look for church planters—people burdened to pioneer new areas by evangelizing the lost, building buildings and starting groups of people who then meet regularly for fellowship, worship, and the preaching of God’s Word. This emphasis sounds and feels right, and even is supported by the Bible—yet something is lost when it comes to how we define success in our ministries.

Discovering what is lost overlaps with this question: Which is easier: church planting or making disciple-makers? Many people like SEND North’s new vision statement : To see every community of the 60/70 Window filled with local disciple-makers who meet together regularly and have established regional leadership. This appears easy to measure and obtain success. I agree…to a point. While I appreciate this vision statement and believe it is helpful and practical in many ways, I would argue that this vision forces us to rise to the next level. It is, by no means, easier than the thought of church planting. On the contrary, it’s more difficult (from a human perspective).

Disciple-SHIFT by Jim Putnam , Bobby Harrington, and Robert Coleman calls us to shift our thinking. One point this book makes is that when we look at the maturity in a church we generally focus on success being ‘regulars’ getting involved by serving in the church—in a sense, when missionaries work themselves out of a job. But Disciple-SHIFT brings us to the point that if we aren’t REPRODUCING then we are not a mature follower of Jesus.

This is a kick in the gut to many of us who call ourselves mature. And I’m not referring to birthing a new church, but reproduction IN the church. When we look at discipleship versus church planting in this way, making ‘reproducers’ becomes a more difficult and time-consuming task. The new vision requires effort and sacrifice—requirements that many Christians aren’t willing to do.

A longtime missionary to Albania said from his experience, “There are nine Demas’s for every one Timothy.” Demas was the man who ripped the apostle Paul’s heart out by walking away from Jesus (2 Timothy 4:10). On the other hand, Timothy was the faithful disciple of Paul who became an integral leader of the early church.

This is where I find myself as well—having worked with many men, pouring much time, life, energy and resources into them, I often find there isn’t much to show for this sacrifice. I also have the responsibility of leading a local church in the bush, and I believe it is much easier to plant a church than to make a disciple-maker. Planting a church is NOT the end goal—churches with disciples making disciples IS, whether bush or urban.

Making disciples who make disciples will inevitably, in time, birth a mature church (group of believers). And now that SEND North has clarified its vision, making it practical and measurable, it’s also raised the bar. And this requires God’s help more than ever!

The Great Commission ends with, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” (Matthew 16:18). Making disciples-makers (reproducers) is a hard, scary, heartbreaking, time-consuming, inconvenient and impossible task—but Jesus promised to be with us until the job is done.

And who will build His church? He will!

It is my prayer to be used in accomplishing this awesome task.

-A SEND North Team Member

Follow SEND North on social media as God leads us to work out our new vision:

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Instantly download the free report, God's Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the 60/70 Window .

Diaspora ministry in Detroit

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Diaspora ministry in Detroit

Metro Detroit is a mosaic of people and cultures: South Asian Indians in Farmington, Chinese in Madison Heights, Arabs in Dearborn, Bangladeshi in Hamtramck, and Japanese in Novi. Each culture brings restaurants, grocery stores, customs and beliefs. Many of these immigrants come from areas of the world where there is little access to the gospel and belong to people groups considered by missiologists as unreached or least-reached.

SEND International is committed to reaching unreached people groups throughout North America with the gospel and seeing culturally appropriate churches develop that can minister to these communities both here and abroad.

We envision our Metro Detroit work as a collection of teams working with different unreached people groups throughout the area and coaching churches to reach the immigrants around them. Currently, we have teams working with two distinct people groups.

Central Asian Team

Central Asians are rather new to Detroit. In 2017, our team first met a Central Asian family while teaching English in an Arab-dominated community. Over time, the number of Central Asian immigrants and refugees has continued to increase to the point where the team has decided to focus on them.

Central Asians in Metro Detroit face difficulty because they are often placed in Arabic-speaking neighborhoods by resettlement agencies when they arrive, although they do not speak Arabic. One family in dismay said to us that they feel like they are living in the Middle East and not in America. This cultural difference, though often unnoticed by Americans, is very real and often leads to prejudice and racism. Focusing on this community allows our team to create value and meet unique needs for these people.

The team’s desire is to serve Central Asians in love, to help them explore who Jesus is, and to see vibrant, reproducing churches develop. The team is building relationships with this group through English programs as well as one-on-one tutoring and meeting people’s practical needs. Through these relationships and programs, students are able to improve their English, which allows them to get better jobs, deepen their connection to their local community and not feel isolated.

These programs also provide opportunities for students to build relationships with Americans who can help them with other issues they face in their American experience, as well as just be a friend. Through these relationships, our team is sharing Biblical truth and praying that God would bless them with the fullness of life that only he can offer.

South Asian Team

In many of the suburbs surrounding Detroit, God is bringing young, professional South Asian Indians to come work in the growing healthcare and information technology fields. In fact, the population of South Asian Indians in Metro Detroit quadrupled from 1990 to 2004. This has led many communities to see Indian restaurants and grocery stores emerge as well as the building of Hindu temples.

This group of Hindu and secular professionals has been on our hearts and in our prayers for some time, and we are excited that a new team is launching to love and share the gospel in this community. Currently, our team leader is getting to know the community better so that he can see their needs and how the gospel may best flow through this community. Pray that God will give us wisdom, direction, and people of peace as we join with what God is doing in this community.

The path to missions can feel overwhelming! Our experienced mission coaches will walk alongside you every step of the way.

Creative Thinking in a Changing World

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Creative Thinking in a Changing World

Adam and Angela Sapelak were missionaries for six years in Spain, where Adam participated in ministry at two local churches. The generation ahead of Adam had planted a seed in his heart to reach the nations with God's love! Adam is now transplanting that seed into the next generation through an exciting new role in the SEND Canada home office.

As Ambassador for Creative Advance, Adam is improving SEND’s readiness to celebrate, embrace and activate the potential of younger missionaries, including Millennials and Generation Z. Adam is also advancing SEND’s use of creative arts (music, art, drama) in taking the gospel message to unreached people.

Adam’s ministry in Spain taught him that true fruit multiplies when he authentically pours himself and his service into others. He is striving to do that now so that the hope of Christ may impact the nations through SEND missionaries in a powerful way!

View the SEND Canada Annual Report

Read a Story "Don't Discount Your Creativity"

Signs of Victory - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Signs of Victory - Ukraine Crisis Story

We are humbled to share this small victory from a church partner in Ukraine. Even the littlest glimmer of hope in such a dark time can make a huge impact and difference in the lives of our beautiful Ukrainian brothers and sisters.

However dark it might be, the light always overcomes. We live by hope in God and we take that hope to others! Our various directions of activity are getting deeper and becoming of a higher quality. God is expanding the borders of our ministry and the opportunity to spread the Gospel.

As far as new things go, today there was one more hospital to which we brought humanitarian aid. We started to give out packets of groceries to the members of the church, because most of the members of the church have not worked for 21 days.

Also God opened a wide door -- our church together with other churches rented and placed Christian billboards/signs in our city.

May God protect us and give us victory!
(Billboard translation: "God, our defense and strength")

Give now to help relief efforts

Preparing to Help - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Preparing to Help - Ukraine Crisis Story

March 12, 2022 From a pastor in Poland: As Ukrainians continue to flee their country into Poland, our church along with many others will be offering support to as many arrivals as possible over the coming days and weeks. We are expecting some women and children in the next few hours from our partner churches in Ukraine and we are preparing to meet the needs of as many as possible after that.The situation for the refugees is very difficult after queueing for days at the border and having to leave their husbands and fathers behind (men aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave the country). We know that there will be a real need for accommodation (including rental flats) and support with arranging transport to other parts of Europe where they may already have family or friends. Our church members are contributing financially. To meet the full scale of this need, however, we would truly appreciate the financial support from our friends across the globe.

Give now to help relief efforts

Helping the Hurting - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Helping the Hurting - Ukraine Crisis Story

March 19, 2022 God continues to answer prayers and use your gifts to send Help and Hope to Ukraine. Thank you!

From a SEND church partner:

“This morning a young family arrived from Kharkiv, a husband, wife and young son. They got out of the bus and stood in the street and they weren't able to move, they just stood there, and not for a short time. In their eyes they had tears. I tried to talk with them but they answered back with unreal effort. To watch it was very painful. Their eyes told all the horror that they had endured in Kharkiv. We found a place for them in our church. And even this evening, when I saw them again, in their eyes was the same pain. Every moment their eyes are tearing up, because their souls are crying. These are the kind of people we are serving every day, and thank you that are near, that you are with us, so we can show God's love and give them hope in God. May God protect us."

Give now to help relief efforts

Diaspora Ministries: Unexpected Opportunities

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Diaspora Ministries: Unexpected Opportunities

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2021 Annual Report.

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The word “diaspora” comes from the Greek verb “to scatter.” SEND Canada’s diaspora ministries endeavor to reach people who, for various reasons, are living outside of their birth country. In many cases, diaspora peoples come from countries with little access to the Gospel.

Typically, SEND Canada diaspora ministries have focused on sending short term teams to places where Chinese, Vietnamese, or Filipino diaspora have settled. SEND Canada’s diaspora teams have travelled to Eurasia to reach Chinese diaspora, Southeast Asia to reach Vietnamese diaspora, and Western Asia to reach Filipino diaspora. These ministry trips include opportunities such as evangelizing in the marketplace, going to restaurants owned by diaspora people to engage in gospel conversations, providing discipleship seminars, and visiting diaspora churches.

In the last two years or so, with much travel being restricted, ministry connections moved to online platforms. Bible studies, worship services, prayer meetings, mentoring, and coaching have been conducted over Zoom.

One unexpected opportunity came through a Facebook connection. It was on that social platform that a Christian organization in Asia connected with Pastor M*, SEND Canada’s Vietnamese Diaspora Coordinator. The leaders of the organization invited him to speak at several outreach events. While the attendees gathered in person, Pastor M called in through Zoom to preach to the group.

The outreach events have reached over 7,000 people with the Gospel, and many have responded with faith in Jesus as their Saviour.

We are encouraged by the ways God has worked through diaspora ministries even in unique circumstances. Connections leading to evangelism and discipleship opportunities continue to be made with Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamize diaspora. People are still coming to faith in Christ through unexpected opportunities. Diaspora believers and Christian leaders are continuing to mature in their faith.

We look forward to all that God will continue to do through SEND Canada’s diaspora ministries.

*Name not used for security reasons

Explore Diaspora Ministry Opportunities

SEND University

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

SEND University

SEND U is SEND International's training and development focus. It equips and develops SEND missionaries and leaders in order to accomplish the overall mission of SEND International, that is to mobilize God’s people and engage the unreached in order to establish reproducing churches. Our goal is to see our people thrive, to become healthy Jesus-followers who make disciples of those who are least reached.

SEND U stands for SEND University. But we are not a university with a campus, a huge library and a number of tenured professors. Our leadership staff is a virtual team, scattered throughout the world. The training we provide is largely non-formal and ongoing. Rather than focusing on preparing people for some future employment opportunities, we seek to develop our members in Christ-like character and give them the knowledge and skills that they need right now in their current context. We are all about lifelong learning, recognizing that as Christ followers living in a world that is rapidly changing, we must keep learning while we are serving.

Scriptures on Missions

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Scriptures on Missions

The idea of missions is everywhere in the Bible. Missionary opportunities pop out from both the Old and New Testament. And thoughtful believers over the centuries have examined every aspect of the Great Commission. We've compiled more than 100 verses and quotations that cover everything from missions and money to God's heart for the nations. Read them and be inspired!

Gone For Good

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Gone For Good

“I’ve lost it all,” David thought when he realized he was studying the Bible. As a Muslim, David immediately believed that he would not be granted entrance into heaven – it was gone for good!

David was a teen when, along with his family, he fled to Pakistan. Soon after arriving, his father insisted that David study English. David met an American who was willing to teach him, but his teacher never told him that their textbook was a Bible.

When David came to understand what he was studying, he felt betrayed. Furious, he set out to find his teacher’s house with the intent of hurting him because he know that he had lost any chance of entering heaven! When he finally found it, he called his teacher terrible names and stormed off.

Later, after David had time to reflect, he decided that since he had already lost so much, he might as well learn more about the Bible.

David returned to his teacher’s home and requested that they study together again. With a different perspective, David began to understand the God of the Bible’s unfailing love and the need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. However what really attracted David to Jesus was how believers loved each other and those around them. Previously, David had only seen fighting and bickering, but the love of those who followed Christ and their compassion for refugee families had a great impact.

David was baptized in 1985 along with his brother. While his mother wished that her sons had not become followers of Christ and feared that they would now go to hell, she did not oppose their decision. David did not experience any persecution from his family because his parents were very open people who even welcomed Christians into their home.

On the Move Again

In 1986, David and his family had to leave Pakistan. They moved to Germany, where his dad said that they would be honest with the government about their situation, they had lied enough. The German police hired a translator to interview the family, and it was soon discovered that this translator was a former student of David’s father. This made the immigration process easier; it was evident that God was going before David and his family.

After a couple of weeks in Germany, David worked up the courage to go to church, though he felt out of place because he didn’t have the proper clothes. Eventually he settled in a Mennonite Brethren Church. It was a quiet church, with no clapping and laughing — very different from what David was used to. However in this church he learned to pray and grew in his walk with God.

A New Job in a New Land

One day some people approached David about getting involved in Afghan ministry, though it meant yet another move, this time to Canada. David agreed and in 1992 he joined a Christian mission agency to begin recording radio broadcasts. His first broadcast was to the Republic of Seychelles ; since then David has produced thousands of programs that have been broadcast to many countries. As David’s ministry expanded, he started a magazine and had the opportunity to meet more Afghan and Persian believers.

Packing Once More

About a year ago, David and his wife, Marie, transitioned to the United States to minister to Muslim refugees.

These refugees have deep wounds and are grieving their losses. They need someone who will wipe their tears and hold their hands, so hours are spent listening to them. David and Marie genuinely care for and love their refugee friends, and treat them with dignity and sincerity. David believes that it is not their job to convert the refugees, just share the love of Jesus through their actions, allowing the Holy Spirit to do his work.

David would like to see the church in North America more involved in reaching out to Muslims and encourages believers not to focus on evangelism but on making friendships . He cautions: Don’t make people a project! Build genuine friendships so the friendships can stand under the weight of the truth of the gospel when it is shared.

While there are many joys, ministry is not without its challenges. It is difficult for the refugees to adapt to their new life in America. Also, to see people’s hearts change so that Jesus is at the center of their lives takes time. In spite of all of this, working with the refugees is the most rewarding ministry David has ever had.

Years ago when David discovered he was studying the Bible, he thought his life was over, that he had lost everything. He has since discovered, through his relationship with Jesus Christ, that he has actually gained everything! A personal relationship with the true living God, who called him to serve Muslims around the world and to be a part of impacting their lives for eternity! There is no greater joy than following and serving Jesus!

David and Marie are looking for people, young and more mature in years, to join them in their demanding ministry. Look for various opportunities to minister to refugees and serve alongside David and his wife.

Learn More About North America Disaspora Ministries

Learn More About SEND Hope and Light

Well Sent — What is the Church's Role in Sending Missionaries?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Well Sent — What is the Church's Role in Sending Missionaries?

Global Ministries Pastor Steve Beirn shares on the Global Missions Podcast how churches can actively identify and prepare potential missionaries in their congregations, gives tips on how to better support both missionaries and their work overseas, and lists resources that can help churches develop their missions focus. His challenge: "If every local church in the world modeled their missions efforts after your church’s missions efforts, would the Great Commission ever be completed?" Click here to listen to episode 40 of the Global Missions Podcast: http://globalmissionspodcast.com/040/

Celebrating God's Faithfulness

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Celebrating God's Faithfulness

A few years ago, SEND Canada set a significant goal, trusting that God that we would provide 10 new missionaries who were willing to give their lives to full-time, cross-cultural ministry. We have been working towards this goal as a team, with our deadline being the end of September 2016.

We're celebrating God's faithfulness as SEND Canada deployed new missionaries #9 and #10 in the month of September!

Discover SEND Opportunities around the world

Learn about Ways to Give to SEND's Work

A summer of one on ones

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A summer of one on ones

By Giles Davis in Spain

There were several summer camps and campaigns that we planned to participate in, but when we laid it all before the Lord, He spoke with great clarity to us that none of this was what He had for us. Instead, He called us to use our summer to get together one on one with many of the youth involved in our ministry in Spain.

What followed was the wonderful chance to finally have time to repeatedly get together with specific youth and talk with them about whatever they wanted to talk about!

During the busy ministry year, usually the only times we could get together with youth individually was when there was some sort of crisis or problem. This sad reality was driven home when I saw the looks of concern cross their faces when I suggested getting together. They seemed to think, "Did I do something wrong?" This summer was a chance to finally fix that and set it right.

This was most clearly seen in the life of Steve*, a young fellow in his early 20s whom I had been praying for a lot. I had a strong sense that God was looking to do something in his life and I urged the leader team to pray for him this summer.

Steve had attended the group for several years now, and had always made it clear that he believed in God but he wasn´t ready to offer his life fully to Him. He knew that I knew this, and I think that made him always feel guilty in my presence, even though I had never rebuked him for it. When I suggested to him that we go hang out, he gave me that look like, “Is this so you can give me a sermon about giving my life to God?” Then he asked me out loud, “What are we going to talk about?” I simply replied, “Whatever you want.”

We went out several times, including going to downtown Madrid to stand amongst thousands of screaming soccer fans. It was fantastic to be there and it was a powerful moment in my relationship with Steve. God had finally granted me the opportunity to make it clear to him that I would be his friend whether he surrendered his life to Christ or not.

We talked about some spiritual things during our times together, but mostly we talked about life and whatever else came out of his head. He never said how much it meant to him, but I know that it was very meaningful. A couple of weeks ago I made a comment and then asked a question about something he had shared with me during the summer, and he looked at me in surprise and said, “Wow, Giles! You remembered that?” followed by a huge smile as he answered my question.

This past Sunday we had our first youth group of the new school year and Steve stood up and announced to the group that God had been working in his heart greatly this past summer. He shared how a friend of his had passed away and how instead of that pushing him away from God, it had drawn him in. He had realized that this life wasn´t forever and that he had better make the most of what was given to him. He then announced that he had decided to be baptized.

Afterward, I went up to him and he said, “I´ll bet you were surprised, huh Giles?”

I told him, “No, Steve, I wasn´t in the least bit surprised. I have been praying for you all summer and was so certain that God was going to do a work in you that I even announced to the leader team that they should pray for you, too. I didn´t know for sure, of course, but this is no surprise to me.”

He looked at me with a big smile and said, “Ha, Giles. If I were a girl I´d be crying right now.” That one made me smile.

(*Not his real name.)

Nutrition in a time of drought

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Team Chiayi village outreach

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Team Chiayi village outreach

Da Xi Cu village sits within the Chiayi city limits near the western coast of central Taiwan. In this 300-year-old village, family connections are everything. They determine who can hold office in the local government and are central to the main religion (a mix of ancestor worship, Chinese folk religion, Confucianism and Taoism).

Even though the town is small, it is dotted with shrines and a large, well-maintained temple. Big events, celebrations and festivals all take place at the temple square. The village is very dark spiritually and the gospel has not been part of the village culture. Yet in this town, in this temple square, SEND Taiwan had the chance to share the love of Christ.

Because of the clannish nature of Da Xi Cu, even getting the opportunity to come into the village and share was a challenge. Over the years, a handful of people have done prayer walks through the village but no other opportunities were available. Some friends of SEND Taiwan missionaries met with the village council to suggest programs for children and the elderly, but the village already had programs for those groups. What they didn’t have, however, was something to help new immigrants adjust to Taiwanese culture. So, when Team Chiayi found out that the village residents included Vietnamese, a few Indonesians and Mainland Chinese brides, they felt that they could offer help in this area. The council agreed! SEND Taiwan had its way into the village, a vehicle to take the gospel to Da Xi Cu.

A year before, some Vietnamese Christians from America started planning a short-term mission trip to Taiwan, which would include a visit to Da Xi Cu. The village offered the official invitation and the prep work started: a prayer walk, arranging a place for the team to stay and eat, and cultural orientation.

The Vietnamese team’s trip started with a 12-course dinner at the home of the village host. After dining on specialty dishes found in Chiayi City, there were formal introductions and welcome speeches. This is a necessary formality for relationship bonding with the village people.

The next day, the team visited the village chief and took him some gifts. He was very hospitable and generous. The group prayed for him and his family.

At the Community Hall (located next to the village Temple) there was a rehearsal for the evening program. It was so exciting to be “under way,” doing the ministry, taking the light of the gospel to a dark village!

About 26 adults and 17 children came to enjoy the evening program and snacks. There were new immigrants from Vietnam, Indonesia and Mainland China. Even the village chief came to check out things and make a short welcome speech in English. Two Vietnamese sisters shared their testimonies of God’s goodness and their adjustments to new cultures, and a third short termer, Pastor Son, gave an invitation to receive blessings (receive Christ). Four Vietnamese ladies and an elderly Chinese lady came forward. Three Indonesians also gathered to pray in their group. The Gospel of Mark (in Mandarin and Vietnamese), specially published by a Taiwanese mission organization, was given to the Vietnamese families.

Praise the Lord for this initial outreach to the Da Xi Cu Village. This was the first step in taking the light of the gospel to this dark village! Many more Taiwanese villages just like Da Xi Cu have no gospel witness. Will you be a part in bringing it to them?

Will you pray?
• SEND Taiwan to establish strong relationships with the village
• Wisdom in reaching out

How you could be involved?
• Commit to pray for this village and the future work of Team Chiayi
• Come to serve in Taiwan, short or long term
• Support Vision 119 financially

— By Ron Adhikari, Team Chiayi leader

Finding Hope - Japan Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Finding Hope - Japan Series

Japan has a rich and beautiful culture that sometimes keeps people from knowing the truth. But God is at work in Japan. Part of the series "Japan: Unshakable Hope." Find links to the other videos in this series below.

Related Series

Forward From Disaster

Spiritual - Japan Series

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

Perspectives is a 15-week mission-education course designed around four vantage points or "perspectives" — Biblical, Historical, Cultural and Strategic. Each one highlights different aspects of God's global purpose. This course is highly recommended for all missionaries going with SEND International. Click here to visit the Perspectives website.

God can redeem

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

God can redeem

The conflict in Eastern Ukraine has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. Christians across the country have reached out to help them.

One refugee couple told a missionary who was serving them, “My mom was a communist, and that is the home that I grew up in. What you are doing here is amazing. We are very thankful for it. I’ve never thought about God before like this. I really need to think about this.”

Though the conflict in eastern Ukraine has brought devastation to many families, God is using His people in Ukraine and your donations to redeem this difficult situation.

Recently three Ukrainian military chaplains in fatigues visited Kiev Theological Seminary — at least one of them is a student there. They had stopped by to ask folks to pray with them and for them as they headed out to the war zone. Soldiers like them are helping to distribute Gospels and New Testaments. They say that people are earnestly taking and reading them, just like they did in the early 1990s.

Churches, Christian camps, pastors, and believers across the country have stepped up to help meet the needs of displaced people. People have been donating produce from their gardens, churches have been taking up donations to help pay the bills of hosting and caring for these displaced individuals and families.

Believers are caring for both the physical and the spiritual needs of the refugees, providing food, clothing, shelter, and medication and also leading Bible studies and praying with these hurting people.

One woman was shaken up by what she had been experiencing, but she found answers. Natasha is well-educated and successful in her career. But the circumstances she found herself in, with war in her city, she herself displaced and her future uncertain, had shaken her to her core. She began to look for answers.

Through the ministry of various individuals at Sumy Grace Camp where she was staying, different discussions, Bible studies and just attending the events that were happening, God began to change her heart.

SEND missionary Leanne Paetkau had been building a relationship with her, and one evening she had the opportunity to use God’s Word to show Natasha how to have a relationship with Christ. Natasha repented and accepted Christ that evening.

Up to that day, she had been struggling with depression and fear. The next morning, it was a different lady who came to breakfast. God had changed her heart. Her joy was evident. She said, “I’m not depressed or scared anymore. I have peace.” Praise the Lord!

When God Saw

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

When God Saw God cares for the concerns of the world by sending people to do His will. This simple yet powerful video maps this strategy through the Bible and asks, when God sees the need in the world today…who does He send? Available at WorshipHouse Media Available on the SEND Missions Video Sampler DVD

Church Planting Among the Unreached - Warren Janzen Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Church Planting Among the Unreached - Warren Janzen Series

We serve people who have little or no access to the gospel and create communities of faith where new followers of Jesus can impact their cultures. Want to change the world? Then plant churches. This video introduces SEND International and offers ways that your gifts, talents and experiences can be used by God to reach people.

Taiwan: Vision 119

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Taiwan: Vision 119

Vision 119: Calling for 119 workers to plant 60 churches along old Route 1 and 19 in Taiwan.

Taiwan has a population of 23 million. About 3.5 million live in 60 cities and towns, the least-reached with the Good News, from Taoyuan to Tainan, all along the western side of the island. Almost all these towns are connected by two ancient roads, old Route 1 and Route 19.

With the help of railroads, freeways and highways, the last 145 years of church planting have succeeded in reaching Taiwan’s 15 largest cities. However, dozens of smaller communities along these two roads remain almost completely unreached with the sweet fragrance of the gospel. Their average population is 58,000 and most of these towns have less than 1 percent evangelical Christians. These are the hardest cities and towns to reach . They comprise the majority of the working class, factory workers and farming-related industry in Taiwan.

SEND International has a vision to reach all 60 areas with the gospel by 2029. We believe that strong churches in these areas, in partnership with the larger churches and seminaries in the bigger cities, will be able to complete the evangelization of Taiwan.

1-1-9 is also the emergency number in Taiwan. Adopting this number as the new vision is a reminder of the urgency to reach the lost.

Join us in fervent prayer to the Lord of the Harvest for more laborers. We are looking for 119 new missionaries to make this vision a reality. We also need churches to adopt a needy town, cover it in prayer, and send out short-term workers and even three to five families to help plant a church. Will you pray about what you can do to help reach these areas?

Vision 119 Frequently Asked Questions

Who are you looking for to join SEND Taiwan’s Vision 119?

First, we are seeking those with a clear sense of calling from God to love and serve the people of Taiwan in order to see them come to a life-changing faith in Jesus Christ. Other important characteristics of those who will be fruitful and successful serving with SEND Taiwan in Vision 119 include:

What qualifications are needed to serve with SEND Taiwan?

Applicants are considered for service in SEND on the basis of their ministry and gifts.

Where will I be assigned if I am accepted to work with SEND in Taiwan?

Vision 119 encompasses the region of the western coastal plain of Taiwan from Taoyuan in the north to Tainan in the south, and specifically focuses on 60 cities and smaller towns where few churches exist to bring God’s love to the community.

How is the decision made where I will be assigned with SEND Taiwan?

The Area Council is responsible to assign SEND missionaries to ministry in Taiwan in order to fulfill the vision God has given to reach the least-reached communities with his Good News in Christ. Decisions are made in full consultation with you and in a spirit of prayer seeking God’s leading.

What are the educational options for our children if we serve with SEND in Taiwan?

Mission co-workers in Taiwan’s Vision 119 may choose from the following options for education of their children:

What do you mean by “like-minded” churches, groups or individuals with whom SEND partners in its Taiwan outreach?

“Like-minded” churches, groups or individuals with whom SEND Taiwan can partner demonstrate the following characteristics:

What do you mean by a “term” of service in SEND Taiwan?

A “term” of service in SEND Taiwan is the period of time for which one is assigned between arrival to Taiwan and the first “home service” in one’s sending country. Typically, this is not more than four years, and can be three years depending on the objectives of the work to which one is assigned and personal needs.

What do you mean by a “unit” when you are speaking of those serving with SEND Taiwan?

A ”unit” is a single worker, or a couple, serving under SEND in assigned ministry.

Will I need to raise financial support to serve with SEND in Taiwan?

SEND ascribes to the “faith mission” principle, in which we look to God to provide for the material needs of our work and of us as we serve him. Each SEND member is responsible to secure commitments from churches and friends to fully underwrite the needs of his or her upcoming term of service before departure to Taiwan. Mission leadership is willing to assist and to speak to church leaders on behalf of members if this is considered helpful.

Watch videos about Vision 119 and ministry in Taiwan .

Search opportunities to serve in Taiwan.

Give to Vision 119.

Maps by George McFall. Used by permission.

Stories connect with Central Asian culture

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Stories connect with Central Asian culture

By M.K. in Central Asia

Where do you get your information from? Do you read articles or listen to the news on TV? Better yet, what is your source for trusted information? Do you find a good book on the subject or would you rather ask a friend whom you know to be knowledgeable on the topic?

Some people prefer to learn and get trusted information from written, or literary, sources, but others learn from and trust spoken, or oral, sources. For the past 200 years or so, Christianity has primarily relied on literary methods for teaching and spreading the Good News.

In the United States, statistics show that 58 percent of adults never read another book after high school; 42 percent of college graduates don’t pick up and read another book after college. About half of the people you encounter on a daily basis prefer to use oral methods for learning and communicating. They will watch TV, listen to the radio, find online videos and podcasts, and talk things over with their friends and co-workers, but they probably won’t pick up and read the Bible, tract or book that you gave them. The question is not whether people are able to read, but rather, whether they do read. How does this affect the way you witness, teach and make disciples in your local church?

We’ve been asking that question in Central Asia. Here, if someone is looking for information or seeking help, they will go to a respected relative to talk. People gather in the evenings in the courtyard of their apartment building to tell one another the current news and gossip. During holidays and special events, extended families and friends gather and talk for hours, catching up, telling funny stories around the table, and giving well-wishes and blessings appropriate to the occasion.

This culture highly values spending time with one another and telling stories. Such communication is a way of preserving one's history, teaching morals, and staying connected with one's community.

So, for the vast majority of people here, information is received and passed on primarily through oral means. On the other hand, passing out literature is viewed as something that sects and false teachers do in order to steal the weak away from the dominant religion.

Given this situation, how then can we accurately and effectively communicate God's Word to Central Asian people?

The Bible is about 70 percent narrative. It is full of good stories that teach about who God is, about man's fallen nature, and about God's plan to redeem his creation. These stories teach us what God loves, what He hates, and how people ought to live. God has primarily chosen to reveal Himself to us through stories. Telling these stories is a very effective way to communicate God's truth to those who are oral learners.

More often than not, people here are eager to listen to a good story. One day, as a local believer was giving a young lady a ride, he asked her, “May I tell you a story?” She answered yes, and he began to share with her the story of Jesus healing the demoniac from Mark chapter 5. She listened intently as he told the story using as much emotion as he could to bring it to life. He even drove a little bit slower so as to have enough time to finish.

When he got to the end, he asked her, “What did you like about that story?”

“Wow,” she replied, “I never knew that Jesus was so powerful, that he could heal people like that.”

“Yes,” the local believer continued, “Jesus changed that man's life. Before he met Jesus, that man was completely separated from God and without hope. But Jesus loved him and healed him and set him free. And you know what? Jesus did the same thing for me.”

With that, he had the opportunity to go on and share his own story, about how he was without hope until he had his own encounter with Jesus that changed his life forever.

In Central Asia, it is getting more and more difficult to share one's faith. Laws are becoming more restrictive and people are generally less receptive. But the Word of God is still just as living and active. Jesus likened the Word of God to a seed. When that seed is sown and takes root in someone’s heart, it produces fruit 30, 60, or even 100 times what was sown. Our goal is to sow God's Word widely and abundantly.

Currently, one group of believers is memorizing 21 core stories that work chronologically through the Old Testament, the life of Christ and the beginning of the Church. Please pray that these believers would learn to tell the stories well and that they would have the boldness to share these stories with the lost people around them.

(Statistics from “Making Disciples of Oral Learners” p. 55; Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization and International Orality Network; 2005.)

What Does a "Win" Look Like?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What Does a "Win" Look Like?

On a trip in Manitoba last week, I enjoyed a coffee break with a businessman. As we talked about the intersection of business and mission, he posed a simple but profound question: "What does a 'win' look like for SEND?" Of course, I've often thought about our goals, and SEND is working hard to refine and enact appropriate metrics for global missions. This particular question, however, required laser-like focus on our top priorities - what do we exist to do ?

Our Purpose

Our over-arching purpose is to establish reproducing churches among the unreached people of the world. SEND personnel are trying to "work themselves out of a job" so that local believers can assume leadership of culturally appropriate, God-honouring communities. The essential common ground is God's love and biblical truth, not cultural expression. Our hope is that in time each group, using their own language, will lead their own churches, write their own books (if they are literate), compose their own worship material, and reach out effectively to their own communities (who better?) and beyond. Without question, it's a big dream "win". We think it's well worth the effort.

Learn More about SEND Canada.

Discover Ministry Opportunities.

Running, but which way?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Running, but which way?

By T.E., US Office

Why do people run from God? Better yet, why do Christians run from God? I can sort of understand why someone who doesn’t know God would run—fear of the unknown, just want to live their own lives, etc. I get that. But why someone who knows God, knows that they are loved by God, still chooses to run is the greater mystery.

Recently, I read a blog post by Shane Bennett in Mission Catalyst called The Jonah Juxtaposition . The post asks: Why does Jonah (and why do we) run from God’s purposes? For most, our immediate thoughts about Jonah are of the guy who was swallowed by a “whale.” But this story is really about how much God loves the nations and how the one guy who “followed” God professionally refused to obey him. In fact, he ran as far as he could in the opposite direction.

When I read Jonah’s story, I often think, “I would never do that.” And yet I can look back on different times in my life when I headed more the way of Jonah than the way of Jesus. Why? Why do we struggle with God and sometimes run from his purposes?

As a mobilizer, it’s my privilege to work with all sorts of people who feel God is leading them into missions. Yet, most of the people I work with don’t go. For some, it really isn’t a good fit. For others, they are running the path of Jonah. They know what God wants from them, yet they take off in the opposite direction.

Shane, in his blog, gives two lists: reasons people run away and reasons people run toward God’s purposes. Take a look:

“Reasons to Run away from God’s Global Purposes"

“Reasons to Run toward God’s Global Purposes"

Do any of these things ring true for you? When I was beginning to think about missions, learning a language and public speaking were huge obstacles for me. I told God that I would follow him but that I just couldn’t do those things. That’s just the way he made me.

Once I admitted this to God, he began to work. First, he brought me to Urbana where I was challenged to take my next step toward global missions. For me, this step was befriending an international student on my campus. I didn’t know of any international students so this was “safe.” But when I returned to campus after Christmas break, Hiro, a Japanese student, moved across the hall. A quick friendship began and before I knew it, he was teaching me Japanese. After Hiro left, Chinese students started coming into my life. They stretched me with new foods and late-night questions, and encouraged me to learn some of their language.

From these simple steps, God continued to stretch me until one day, years later, I found myself preaching in Chinese at a new church plant in Taiwan. God took me by the hand and slowly walked me through my various struggles.

If you are struggling with something and beginning to see your feet move away from God’s purposes, I want to encourage you to do a couple of things:

When you are tempted to run away from God’s purposes, I hope you’ll stop and commit to taking just one step in his direction. And who knows, years from now, you may find yourself in an incredible place where you never expected to be.

Staying financially fit

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Staying financially fit

Debt is the biggest financial hurdle you may encounter as you consider missions. But careful planning can help you avoid new debt and pay off existing debt. It begins with creating a budget.

Next, put together a debt reduction plan. At SEND, we use a worksheet to help new missionaries with this process. You can also read this personal story of how one SEND missionary paid down over $33,000 of debt in four years. If you are a college student, look for free money before getting a student loan:

If your income is still short of your expenses, here are some tips for carefully planning your loans. Remember, loans are easy to get and hard to pay off.

Remember, you are responsible to pay back everything you owe. Careful planning could save you a lot of time and money. For more help on reducing debt, check out these great resources:

Backstage Pass! Part 1

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Backstage Pass! Part 1 Mags takes us backstage on a tour of the SEND Canada home office and gives us an idea of what it looks like to be the Canadian Director of SEND International. To learn more about what happens backstage, watch the next Backstage Pass! video

Two new believers at SpeakOut camp

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Two new believers at SpeakOut camp By Brian Stout in Macedonia This was my fourth summer serving as an English tutor at the CRU SpeakOut camp in Ohrid, Macedonia. The four campers in my group and I ate ice cream, went swimming, explored and practiced speaking English. As we hung out, I had the opportunity to share my personal testimony, Four Spiritual Laws, and the Gospel Diagram of how one can be saved through Christ alone. All of my campers listened as I shared with them about spiritual things, however two of them, Filip and Jordan, were especially open to hearing the good news of Jesus. Jordan's sister, Lida, has been a believer for a couple of years and has been praying for her brother to accept Jesus. Filip has been to CRU's activities in the past, so both of these guys had heard about Christ before. On the last full day of SpeakOut camp, I met with my campers one-on-one and shared the gospel message once again. When I met with Jordan, he was so ready to repent of his sins and ask Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Savior. He has also started reading his Bible! Filip, too, on Decision Day, was ready to personally accept Jesus into his life. Now my prayer is that God would grow both Jordan and Filip to become strong disciples of Jesus Christ! "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:14-15)

English Club also teaches ABCs of life with Christ

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

English Club also teaches ABCs of life with Christ

By Jenni M. in Tambov, Russia

While traveling through town, one of our language students met up with an international student who attends our church. Their conversation in English on a crowded Russian bus didn’t go unnoticed.

Discussions in English always draw a little attention in a town like Tambov, but this time one of the observers didn’t listen and then turn away. Nikolai had spent a summer in the United States several years before, and he was very eager to increase his English skills. He could tell by our worker's accent that she was a native speaker.

For someone like Nikolai, this was a golden opportunity. Our worker was only too happy to tell him about the English Club that meets at Spring of Life Church in Tambov.

Spring of Life Church is very busy on Friday nights. As many as 20 students from all walks of life show up around 6 p.m. to work on their English skills. Sergei, an orphan, studies at a local college. Because of his background, he didn’t study any English in school, so he is starting at the beginning. Gennady, a lawyer, wants to improve his English so that he can travel outside of Russia more easily. Volodya and Larisa found out about English Club from a work friend and have been there every week since.

All of these people — professionals, students, married, single, young and old — are unbelievers. Most never even knew there was a Baptist church in Tambov, much less visited it before English Club.

Jenni M. goes over the week's lesson at Spring of Life Church's English Club.

Learning a language isn’t easy. Amidst all the grammar rules, new vocabulary and sentence structure, friendships are born. After each lesson, tea and cookies are spread out on the table and the weary students can ask questions about English — or about anything, for that matter.

Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter provide special opportunities for the three global workers who lead the club to share the truth of Jesus Christ with many who would never come to church on a Sunday morning.

At first, Nikolai was a little shy about spending time around the table with a group of strangers. Slowly he opened up and accepted an invitation to come to the Easter service this spring. As we were getting ready to leave, I asked him what he thought. He said, “It’s like a big family.”

Nikolai now comes each week to a small group that studies the book of Mark on Tuesday nights. Sergei also started coming. Two other English Club participants attend church or another small group. And another English Club has started in a nearby town.

Teaching English is an opportunity to share the Good News with a wide variety of people. It is a bridge into the lives of people who might not hear the truth any other way. Praise God for the gift of a coveted language to share. Pray that these students would have ears to hear more than just English!

THUMB prayer for the Unreached

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

THUMB prayer for the Unreached

Sharing Water - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Sharing Water - Ukraine Crisis Story

Could you imagine 50 people sharing 1 bottle of water over the course of 20 hours? This is the stark reality for people trying to escape the conflict zones.

From one of our church partners in Ukraine:
God in His mercy gives us the opportunity to serve people. When you see how your help makes people happy, what they were like before meeting with us, it inspires us to do even more good! Also when people receive hope in God and grow in trust in Him, we want to do even more to reveal Him!

Today we transferred to an oblast (region) what was necessary, a place where there are fierce battles and people don't have anything at all.

Also we sent supplies to a village just 10 kilometers from the border with Russia. People there don't have anything either, because Russian soldiers have taken everything and the stores have been destroyed.

We handed out water on evacuation trains, where it often happens that there is one bottle of water for a whole wagon, and they are traveling for more than 20 hours -- 50 people!

We were able to evangelize children and hold three groups at the church [for adults], where we talked about a living relationship with God and handed out bags of groceries to people.

We thank you that you are in fellowship with us.

Give to help relief efforts

'Dad, I think it's time'

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

'Dad, I think it's time'

Eleven-year-old Curtis carefully surveyed the shelves at The Bunker, his favorite place to shop. Eventually, he picked out two items at the Army surplus store and carried them up to the counter.

The cashier watched as Curtis carefully dug through the pockets of his camo pants to find $12 in quarters and other change. It felt like it took forever to scrounge it all together.

Eventually, he and his dad left the store, with Curtis carrying his purchases and wearing a huge smile.

We’ve all been stuck in line behind a kid who’s counting out every last penny — but Curtis needn’t have been that kid. He’d gotten $30 for his birthday just that morning, plus $12 for doing odd jobs around the house in the days before.

Before he left for The Bunker, Curtis had walked up to his dad with an even bigger smile on his face and handed him an envelope. He’d scrawled SEND missionary Alex Logan’s name on it.

“Dad, I think it’s time to send this in,” he said.

The envelope contained $200.

Alex is Curtis’ cousin, and he and his wife are raising support to serve in Japan . As soon as Alex was accepted as a SEND missionary, Curtis’ parents had started consistently praying for him and for his upcoming ministry.

Curtis was listening as his parents prayed night after night — and he decided to play an active part in God’s answer to those prayers.

This 11-year-old boy understood the need in Japan and decided to live generously in order to help people he will probably never meet. Because he got this vision, he chose not only to give, but also to live self-sacrificially with what he had.

“This is but one of many times I have been floored by the generosity of people who have caught a vision for the need in Japan,” Alex said. “We have been blessed time and time again to first-hand witness these stories. It fills us with even more anticipation for the work God will do with us. It's not because of us, but because of all of those who have chosen to join our team — including Curtis. For that, we are so thankful.”

You might be interested in

Opportunities to give — Explore SEND's priority projects and bite-sized projects .

Willing to Learn

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Willing to Learn

From a long-term mission worker in Russia.

Being a Learner

One of the best ways to step into another culture is to have the posture of a learner. A large part of that is learning the heart language of the local people. For me, this meant Russian first and now Buryat as well. Yes, it’s tough, but what took me by surprise is the joy I experience in my ongoing cultural learning … through music!

Playing a New Instrument

The first time I heard the Morin Khuur played, I was at an outdoor concert in Ulan Ude. I was fascinated by this instrument and really wanted to learn how to play it!

People started playing this instrument 2000 years ago in Mongolia. It is made up of a wooden framed sound box with 2 strings attached. If you look at the top of the long neck portion of the instrument you will see a carved horsehead.

Determination and Delight

There wasn't a lot of encouragement for me as I attempted to learn this instrument. In Russia, many people believe that if you do not learn something as a child, it is too late to start! However, rather than let the negative voices discourage me, I decided to use the skepticism as motivation.

I reasoned - how can age matter if you have desire and determination?!

In the process of learning and accompanying others, the delight I feel in sharing Buryat style music in our local church, is life giving!! Today, that team has expanded to include a choir and a couple more instruments. On top of that, people from several different churches in the area now gather together to sing and write music in the Buryat language!

The Buryat believers in the church are being impacted because they see how their unique style of music can be used to worship God! It is amazing to be a part of this!

Discover Missions Opportunities.

Reaching the Shan - Thailand Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Reaching the Shan - Thailand Series

The Shan are a people without their own land. They’re oppressed in every way. That drives a vast movement of the Shan people, looking for hope, looking for a future—but they aren’t finding it in their religious rituals. These are a people who need the freedom found only in Christ.

Other videos in this series:

Family Hymn During Air Raids - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Family Hymn During Air Raids - Ukraine Crisis Story

March 11, 2022 This is what a program director at one of our partner seminaries does with his family when they hear the air raid alert in Ukraine. A hymn of praise and hope in the Lord brings peace.

Give now to help relief efforts

Suitcase Shield - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Suitcase Shield - Ukraine Crisis Story

The LORD is my protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe. Psalm 18:2

A family originally moved to the Kyiv area from Crimea back in 2014, when it was annexed by the Russians. When the fighting started in their town and the Russian troops came a few weeks ago, they spent 13 days in a small basement. Finally, they were able to escape, and walked for many kilometers across very dangerous territory. There were many explosions all around them, and at one point they had to shield themselves with their suitcases!

That’s how this T-shirt, and all the other clothing they had in their bags, got ripped with shrapnel.When they crossed the border into Poland, a church welcomed them. They were literally still shaking when they got there. The church members organized a place to stay, meals, and medical care. The refugees had no clothes except what they wore and what was ripped by the shrapnel. The church took them to a store and bought supplies for them. They continued to minister to them by praying with and for them. After a few days the family moved further west.

Thank you for praying for Ukraine. God is doing incredible things in the midst of tragedy and suffering of the Ukrainian people.

Give now to help relief efforts

Free Missions Lectures

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Free Missions Lectures

Open.Biola.edu offers free educational content curated by Biola University in Southern California. Here are a few missions-specific links to get you started.

Close Encounters

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Close Encounters

Did you know that it can take up to forty encounters with the truth before someone will change their world view? These encounters can be a testimony, personal interactions with a loving believer, challenging facts, etc. I wonder how many times you heard about God, Jesus, and the Good News before you accepted Christ. Here again is a big challenge in ministering in remote Alaska and Northern Canada. Because of the isolation, people in these communities receive little to no exposure to the Good News. However, God is opening up creative ministry opportunities to encounter people.

Last week we mentioned one of those ways, summer camps . Kids come for one or two weeks of camp, and they experience exponential spiritual growth. When kids come to camp, they step out of their routine and enter a different culture (what is expected, valued, how do we behave). This gives them the emotional space to breathe and think about what they want out of life. Summer camp is fertile soil for ministry, but it is not the only way God is creating encounters.

Thankfully there also are some communities which have a small Gospel witness. It may be a lone believer, a team member doing ‘standard’ ministry, or maybe a school teacher who loves Jesus. As we have said elsewhere, this is a hard environment to minister within, and these folks make an impact even if the harvest is slow to ripen. People can be more closed off because there is fear of opening up with negative peer pressure. Even so, God is encountering people. He is patient.

For the communities with no Gospel witness, we use our fleet of aircraft to visit neighboring villages throughout the year. Maybe the visit is to get some spare parts, just to visit, to lead a Bible study, or to help out a friend. The Bible camp pilots also make stops in villages for various reasons which give them opportunities to follow up with kids. God is creative and even finds ways to bring crowds of people to us.

The school districts always have regional events for all 7th - 12th graders to participate in multiple events at once, like sports (volleyball, basketball, Native Olympic Games), academic meets (decathlon, science camp) and even Prom. These events require a lot of help and Christians are stepping up to chaperone. Churches or camps also can come in and host special events to give the kids something to do when they are not competing. It is a safe place free of problems, which also shows the teens that church is full of people who love them. An excellent example of this what Baxter Road Bible Church did in Anchorage. They put on a youth game night after the close of the State Native Olympics Finales. It was so well received that the Native Youth Olympic Committee wants them to do that every year. Talk about an opportunity!

God is moving and bringing people together through these and many other avenues. Join us in praying that close encounters with believers and the truth will lead people to their own, personal, close encounter with the One who longs to transform their lives. If you are interested, here are a few other ways you can help !

Follow us on social media to spot these close encounters as they happen!
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Fruitful Practices #5- Build a Good Reputation

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fruitful Practices #5- Build a Good Reputation

The practices highlighted in these articles are not a guarantee of success, but rather, a description of common characteristics and methods found among effective Muslim ministry teams.

The fifth fruitful practice in our series is to “build a good reputation.”

From the moment Kingdom workers arrive in their new community, they have already started building a reputation. “Now wait,” you might say, “My reputation only really begins forming when I start engaging my Muslim neighbors in real conversation.” Actually, your reputation is born long before you can speak the local language or relate culturally. Whether or not you realize, people are watching and observing from the moment you arrive in their community.

Kingdom workers are evaluated by the size and quantity of their suitcases when they arrive. They are evaluated by the way they discipline their children. Women, of every age, are evaluated by the clothes they wear in public. The type of vehicle they drive, the place they choose to live, the furniture they put in their houses, the amount of garbage they throw away each week – all these things influence reputations. This may seem unfair. Nonetheless, as representatives of Christ, we need to acknowledge this reality and choose carefully how we live from the very beginning.

Before We Arrive

As Kingdom workers, we want to have thought through some things about our first few months, before we even arrive in our ministry context. It is wise to assume from the very beginning that some locals will understand and speak a degree of English; thus, the things we say, wear, eat, drink, and do have far greater impact than we can imagine. I was once described by a Muslim friend to some of his other friends as “Christian, but not like the other Christians here. He does not drink or smoke or sleep with women outside of marriage!” Many Muslims hold the understanding that all Westerners are Christians, or that Christianity is synonymous with Western culture. It is important to proactively set ourselves apart from our Muslim friends’ understanding of “Western Christians” that comes from movies and television!

A Visible Faith

Kingdom workers in a Muslim context need to think about what their actions convey. If you want to be seen by your new neighbors as spiritual people, then let them see it in you from the very beginning. Do not wait until you have grasped the language or culture to speak spiritual truths into your friends’ lives. Instead, speak through your actions. Take opportunities to pray with people, let them see you reading your Bible, let them hear you singing worship songs. You are not doing these things for the praise of men, for that would be pharisaical. You are doing these things so that your neighbors know you have a living and active faith.

Your Muslim neighbors’ faith is very visible. They go to the mosque to pray with their neighbors. They break their fasts as a community. They go on pilgrimage. Let your faith also be visible. If they do not recognize you as someone who fears and respects God, why would they come to you when they have a spiritual question?

Making Mistakes

Let me clarify that we are not called by God to be driven by fear or guilt, and there is no reason to punish ourselves for making mistakes. We all make mistakes, especially as we move into new cultures with different foods, customs, and beliefs. Your new neighbors will not expect you to follow their way of life perfectly, so there is no need to expect perfection of yourself or your family. However, as much as it is possible, try to minimize the number and size of your offenses. Above all, let us be authentic, and live out our faith in Jesus from the very beginning.

Will it be You?

There is a good proverb that says, “Actions speak louder than words.” There is another proverb that we would do well to remember: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:3).”

When your neighbor’s chair breaks, he takes it to a carpenter with a good reputation. If his water pipe leaks, your neighbor calls a trusted plumber. When you neighbor has a spiritual need, they will go to a spiritual person. Will it be you?

Read Fruitful Practices Issue #4- Social Networking

Discover Muslim Ministry Opportunities throughout the States

SEND US names new CEO

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

SEND US names new CEO

SEND International’s US Council proudly announces that Michelle J. Atwell will serve as the SEND US CEO.

Michelle knows fundraising and development well. She has more than 18 years of experience working at ministries and nonprofits, most recently with the Red Cross of Michigan. She also has served on SEND’s US Council and chaired the Financial Development Committee.

“SEND US will be recognized as the agency of choice for short-term and career missionaries because we will offer the most effective, most efficient, and most impactful care and support,” Michelle said. “We will listen to our global workers’ needs, exceedingly deliver on their expectations and offer the greatest opportunities to fulfill the Great Commission.”

Three things drew Michelle to this role:

Michelle wants to see SEND US use innovation in marketing and technology, coupled with excellent relationships and partnerships with churches, donors and support networks, to recruit more missionaries, reduce the time from appointment to field placement, and offer the most competitive financial requirements.

“There's a lot here and some of it is pretty bold — which is exciting and energizing,” she said. “But I believe that this is what God wants for SEND US, and I'm ready to start working with our team to bring this vision to life.”

Atwell will be responsible for overseeing the work of the mission as it pertains to sending functions within the US: marketing, mobilization, and member care. She will lead an executive team of eight leaders over various departments, ensuring that SEND US fulfills its role in the organization’s vision of a global movement of Jesus followers making disciples among unreached people groups.

Michelle was selected after an extensive, 10-month search.

“We believe that Michelle is the person God has been preparing to lead SEND US,” said Rick Bernard, US Council chairman. “She is sharp, innovative, and not afraid to try new things. I have been impressed by her heart, her warmth, her competence, and her professionalism. We are certainly excited to see what God has in store for SEND as we move into the months and years that lie ahead.”

Michelle’s professional experience also includes Grace Centers of Hope, a local mission where she spent nearly 17 years raising funds for men, women and families who were homeless and addicted, and watching God miraculously change lives as the gospel of Jesus was proclaimed.

Michelle accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an InterVarsity camp when she was a college freshman.

“After hearing two powerful messages, I confessed my sins in my bunk bed and asked Jesus to save me. I told him that I wanted him to be Lord of my life, not me,” Michelle said. “That weekend blossomed into a whole new life for me.”

This whole new life has also included a summer sharing her faith with college students in Russia and leading several teams from her local church to Chernobyl, Ukraine, for short-term, church-planting activities in remote villages.

Michelle lives in metro Detroit, Mich., with her husband, Joe, and their two children.

Please continue to pray as Michelle transitions into her new role. We are grateful for God’s call on her and her family’s life and we look forward to working together to move the mission of SEND forward in the coming months and years.

Please celebrate with us God’s provision of Michelle Atwell, our new CEO!

The Short Term Edge

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Short Term Edge

There is a common conversation in Christian circles about whether or not short term mission teams are effective in the areas they are serving, or if they bring an inconsistent message to the people they serve and create additional work for anyone serving long term in the area. Here at SEND North, we commit to our communities long term, however, it would be impossible to have the support we need for infrastructure and encouragement without short term volunteers serving with us. Because seasons are so short in the Far North, our members have a lot of work to pack into the summer months, and “short termers” are vital to the completion of such projects.

Seasonal volunteers serve many capacities all around Alaska and Canada, including Bible camp staffers, church builders, firewood choppers, maintenance workers, direct ministry partners, Vacation Bible School leaders, and much more. We are always amazed at the willingness of individuals and groups to push their comfort zones, use their talents productively, and embrace the remoteness of the Far North. In addition to what they do , volunteers uplift our members with their excitement and wisdom that can often bring fresh interaction and perspective. It enlivens the work we do long term to see people enjoy and appreciate the people and the beauty of Alaska and Canada.

Before volunteers begin their work, we encourage team leads to provide some basic cultural training of what to expect from the culture and environment they will be working in. One individual who spent time serving Alaska native college students reflected on the subtle cultural differences he was not expecting, including different mannerisms and interests. “The students were completely comfortable with silence while being together, which I was not used to. It grew on me after time though, and I become more accustomed to sitting with them during meals and just being together. They also started to laugh at some of my jokes even though our senses of humor were different. Having some of these social compromises made it easier for us to trust each other when the bigger conversations happened.” Understanding and interacting with these differences can show our desire to know each person for who they are and lowers the barrier between the different cultures.

While volunteers do not often come up specifically for direct outreach, many still are able to interact with community members and form friendships. Thanks to the growing connection of social media, they are able to stay in communication with those that they meet during their time of service. Even after they leave, volunteers often become outlets for remote individuals to reach out to when they are struggling or want to talk to someone that is removed from the place where they live. This availability and influence is especially vital with teenagers. Though social media does not replace face-to-face interaction, it provides an ever-growing web of support for our communities that allows individuals to receive discipleship and encouragement in their faith from many different angles.

In addition to the direct ministry to our members and communities, short term volunteers become a potential bridge to individuals interested in long term service or church bodies seeking to support our work. SEND North continually seeks out those who believe in our mission of Gospel sharing and teaching local individuals to be discipleship leaders in their own families and towns. Being able to see the work we do and those we serve encourages people to seek out discipleship, cultivate it, and expand it. We continue to be blessed by those who follow God’s prompting to serve with us and offer encouragement. Thank you to our many volunteers who have made great connections possible through your service!

If you are interested in supporting our work monetarily, visit our page about financial support. If you are interested in becoming a short term volunteer or long term member, please visit our page on SEND North members. We look forward to working with you for the Kingdom!

A new woman in Christ

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A new woman in Christ

As the plane over Turkey shook violently with mechanical problems, Jen* sat paralyzed with fear. Would this be her last day on earth? What would happen to her soul?

Within hours, the plane made it safely to the ground and the passengers went on their way, but Jen left a different woman. As she returned to her family, many questions tormented her mind —especially questions about eternity and the brevity of life.

A distant relative shared with her about someone named Jesus Christ and that she could have a personal relationship with him. He could save her from her sins.

All Jen knew as a nominal Muslim woman were the traditions of the Koran, Allah, and Mohammed; and, before this plane ride, she had no imminent reason to ponder these things. She was a wealthy seller of fine perfumes and jewelry — happily married with two children. But after a near-death experience, she was ready for more. Her heart was searching for truth and significance in the world.

Jen told her husband, Oscar*, these things, and he told her he would never allow her to become a Christian. Once, she tried to give him a Bible and he ripped it to pieces and threw it away. But, Jen persisted. Three times she attempted to attend the church in her town and each time she was unable to enter. The fourth time, she found some Christian Russian women and followed them inside. There, Jen repented and became a believer.

Read about how Jen's husband, Oscar, responded to her decision.

*Not their real names

More than an internship

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

More than an internship

My name is Bianca Olcoski, originally from southern Brazil, and a senior TESOL major (teaching English to speakers of other languages) at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. As a requirement to complete my studies at Moody, I had to have a cross-cultural experience in teaching oversees. My love for the Lord, the gospel, and for lost people drew me to Skopje, Macedonia, to put into practice what I have been learning at Moody and accomplish the requirements for my internship.

TESOL as a Tool

When I got accepted to study at Moody as a TESOL major, I envisioned using English as a tool to build relationships with students. During my internship with SEND International, I was not expecting anyone to get saved because it was such a short trip. But God is at work and is using ordinary people like me to proclaim the most beautiful story ever told: that God incarnate came to die on the cross to save sinners for the ultimate glory of the Father!

My internship consisted of teaching English in camps to kids and teenagers. At night we would have adult classes at Global Connections School. We got to meet a lot of people and share the gospel as we got to know them. We were not allowed to evangelize in the classroom, but we could outside of the classroom when we would spend time with them.

Fast Friends

The first day I met 22-year-old Ellen*, our personalities clicked! She had been to Portugal a few times and loves Portuguese! We had a lot of commonalities, which led to a friendship. We laughed together, we spent time together, and we also had serious spiritual conversations.

One of my goals for this trip was to see people as people and not as projects. I wanted to be genuinely interested in the people, not just to accomplish a task, but because they are people, created by God! I specifically prayed for the Spirit to lead me to share the gospel and for the right times to share. Honestly, not every time I spent with Ellen and others I shared the gospel; sometimes we just had a good time together. On the other hand, other times we would talk about God, Jesus, and the cross for hours. Such a paradox, but I feel it was very Spirit-guided.

I shared the gospel with Ellen several times while I was there, gave her a tract in her language, and I could see she was interested and wanted to know more. On my last day in Macedonia, Ellen and I went shopping for souvenirs. We were browsing when she said, “Oh Bia, that is Mother Teresa’s house. Do you want to go see it?” I agreed. I didn’t know Mother Teresa was originally from Skopje; I thought that was cool.

Not About What She Did

As we walked in, we read the signs of rewards Mother Teresa received for her “good deeds.” Then I thought to myself: “Lord, maybe this will be the last time I will share the gospel with this girl.”

Then I said, “Ellen, Mother Teresa did a lot of good things, didn’t she?”

“Yes, Bia, look at how much she did.”

I replied, “Ellen, if Mother Teresa did not believe in Jesus as her Savior and Lord, believe He died on the cross for her because she is a sinner and repent of her sins, it does not matter of all these things she did. Because it is not about what she did, it is about what HE DID!”

I could see her thinking and thinking. We went on and talked about the gospel one more time. I could see the Spirit was working in her.

A Personal Decision

That night was Bible Study and I invited her to come, as it would be my last night. She came and SEND missionary Brian Stout shared the gospel again. He broke us up into groups and she was in my group. There I asked questions to see if she really understood the gospel and then I asked if she was ready to make a decision for Christ. She agreed.

I put my arms around her shoulders and asked her if she wanted to pray with me. I also explained that the prayer itself doesn’t save her, but it is the way we talk to God. She replied: “Yes I want to pray. But I want to pray alone and in my language, because it is a personal decision.” I was amazed at her answer.

She then started praying the prayer from the tract and she made her decision for Christ. After she prayed, I hugged her and said: “You are now my sister in Christ!” We started to cry and she said: “It seems we were friends for so much longer!”

I have been following up with her since I got back from Macedonia to see how she is doing and also her sister, who is also a new believer. For again, she is a person, not a project.

I am glad I went there and was part of the most important decision of Ellen’s life. I thank SEND International for allowing me to go with them and represent God and SEND in Macedonia and work with excellence for Him, to share what Jesus did on the cross, through the power of the Holy Spirit, for the ultimately glory of the Father. Praise Him!

There are lots of opportunities to reach people for Christ in Macedonia. Click here to explore them.

*not her real name

Not too soon

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Not too soon

Bob McKemey had spent 45 years as a missionary in Japan. In his years of ministry, he had touched hundreds of lives. But as he approached his retirement, he began to pray that God would let him see spiritual fruit.

During that year, Bob’s cousins came to Japan to visit and Bob took them deep into the mountains to visit a waterfall. On the way back, they passed a picnic and camping area along the road and stopped to take a picture.

A lady who was working there, Mrs. Shimizu, began to ask them questions about who they were and what they were doing there. When Bob said he was a missionary, the woman actually jumped into the car with them, an intense expression on her face. Twenty-five years ago, she had met Mother Teresa and said that, “Her words had been like the Bible to me. But they were not the Bible.” Since then, she had been searching but she didn’t know how to get a Bible, didn’t know any Christians, and didn’t know any churches. Now, Mrs. Shimizu wanted a real Bible.

Bob was amazed. He didn’t have a Bible to give her right then, but he did give her three books: Manga Messiah (a graphic novel style gospel story), testimonies of Japanese who became Christians, and the first chapter of The Purpose Driven Life in Japanese. He also promised he would return when he could with a Bible and they parted ways.

A couple weeks later, Bob got a Japanese Bible and took off toward the mountains. He stopped at a nearby church to ask if they had a brochure and a map to the church to give to Mrs. Shimizu. Then, together, they prayed for her.

When Bob arrived at the picnic area, Mrs. Shimizu’s face lit up! She had read all the books and had many questions for him. They talked for 1½ hours about salvation in Jesus.

While they talked, Bob was also thinking. He had been in Japan for 45 years and knew from experience that it takes Japanese people at least two years to respond to the gospel. “It’s too soon to ask her for a decision,” he thought. He had seen people try to rush things with tragic results and he didn’t want to “pluck unripe fruit.” But God was pressuring him — “Go ahead.”

So Bob hesitantly said, “I wouldn’t put any pressure on you, but if you would like to pray …”

“Yes! Yes!” Mrs. Shimizu jumped at the opportunity to trust Jesus as her Savior and they prayed together!

Later Bob told friends, “I was asking God for fruit but I never expected to be blown out of my skin with this opportunity!”

Mrs. Shimizu is now connected with the church that prayed with Bob for her. She is attending faithfully, reading her Bible, and loving it. Three days before leaving Japan, Bob met with Mrs. Shimizu. He told her, “When you prayed, I was very hesitant. If you push people too quickly, they say later, ‘I tried that and it didn’t work.’ It was just too soon.”

Mrs. Shimizu responded, “Soon? I waited 25 years!”

Free from fear

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Free from fear

Mrs. Jian has been living in FenYuan Township for about the last five years. Through past poor choices she finds herself homeless again. Even though she has two children, she does not have a relationship with them; she is without a family support system to help her. She came to our church a few months ago with a keen interest in spiritual matters. It was obvious from the beginning that God was drawing her to know more about Jesus. Less than 0.4% of the residents of Fen Yuan believe in Jesus, with probably half that number attending church each week.

Mrs. Jian grew up in ChangHua County and was only able to finish her 6th grade education before she began working. She has been an active worshipper of the spirits, and is very fearful of them. After coming to our church, she indicated a desire to know the Lord. I started meeting with her weekly to help her understand the basics of the faith and prepare her for baptism.

During our weekly Bible study I learned about some of her struggles and worldview. One day when she was on her way home, she had motorcycle trouble and told her neighbor, a folk religion medium, about it. The neighbor said that her problems were twofold. First, she was being chased by the spirits of her two aborted children. They were trying to get revenge on her so she needed to offer a sacrifice to them. Second, she had sinned against the spirits of someone who had drowned in the local river where she had urinated. The medium said she would also need to offer a sacrifice to the spirit of the drowning victim to appease him.

She was sincerely afraid of these spirits that she believed she had sinned against. I was able to lead her in prayer to ask for forgiveness and confess her sins of aborting her children. She was relieved to know there is a biblical explanation for the things that scare her.

Mrs. Jian has been enthusiastic about sharing her new faith with others. She has no other Christian friends, except the few that she meets with weekly at church. Recently we encouraged the believers at our church to get training in using Bible stories to share with non-Christian friends and family. Mrs. Jian eagerly joined our Bible story training and came this week to learn the story of creation. When she left church that Wednesday afternoon, she immediately told this story to two other non-Christians. By Sunday, she had already told eight different people and had their signatures to show who they were! She is eager to grow and wants to be a faithful messenger of God’s story.

During our weekly Bible studies it became clear that Mrs. Jian was ready to follow the Lord in baptism. Her most significant experience of the Lord, she says, is that she no longer fears the spirits who tormented her before, and now has peace.

Pray that Mrs. Jian would be a growing disciple of the Lord and fruitful in her witness to others.

Would you consider whether God is calling you to join SEND International in Taiwan to help us reach many more people like Mrs. Jian in one of the 60 communities of Vision 119 ?

A Hakka woman finds help

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Hakka woman finds help

My name is June* and I live in Taiwan. As a Hakka, I used to worship my ancestors and idols.

Ancestors are very, very important to us. To worship them, we light incense twice a day at the altar in our house. We also prepare their favorite foods to leave at the altar during important festivals and holidays. And on major holidays, the family all gets together to remember the ancestors and visit the ancestor tablet. When a relative dies, their name is engraved on the tablet so their spirit can live there.

But idols and ancestors cannot be in the same place. So to worship the idols, we go to the temple, usually on the first and fifteenth of every month. Typically, we enter, burn incense, and then state our name, where we live, and why we’re there. If we have a particular yes or no question, we can throw dice to get an answer from the gods. But if we have different kinds of questions, we draw lots, which are sticks with different messages written on them. After we draw the lot, we get the interpretation of its meaning from the temple guide.

Once when I was in a serious relationship, I went to the temple to ask whether or not I should get married. I drew the stick with the message on it and asked the temple guide what it meant. He told me that I had pulled the best possible result and that I would have a very good marriage. So I did get married. But after only seven years, my husband died from cancer. At the time, I also had a son with special needs.

So there I was, my husband had just died, and my son was really struggling in school. I needed help. I started talking to my cousin, who was a Christian. I told her about my son’s issues, that he couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t study, and I asked her, “What am I going to do?”

She told me to go to the church and find a volunteer to help him, tutor him, and read with him. So I went to a church and sought help from the pastor. At the same time, I met a missionary couple from Switzerland and got to learn more about Christianity.

One day, there was a major earthquake. I was by myself with two young children and I was terrified. I called out to every god I could think of, but nothing helped. But I also remembered Jesus and called out to him, too.

After that, I started to pray regularly. I prayed at night when I went to bed and I was afraid. I called out to Jesus to help me, to let me have peace and sleep. And I remember that I would wake up with a smile on my face because I knew that Jesus was with me and that he helped me.

People from the church started to visit me and bring me to church. Gradually, I learned more and more about Christianity and came to trust Jesus as my Savior. Six months later, I was baptized. I was so joyful and knew that Jesus loved me!

Still, the problem with my son was not resolved. He was unable to manage his emotions. From first grade to junior high was torture. Sometimes I would get so mad at him, I wanted to kill him. It even affected my job and I couldn’t get my work done. But I believed that Jesus would help my son, so I continued to pray and just hang in there.

During that time, I would sometimes bring him to church but he could not sit still. Then one day, he did sit through a service. And from then on, he was able to sit still and be quiet! Now, he has graduated high school. And he accepted Christ and was baptized! Praise the Lord!

God has blessed me in many other ways too. My father also came to know Christ and was baptized. And God gave me a job so that I can support my whole family. I am especially burdened for other Hakka. I hope that God will move them and that many will come to know him. I also hope that my family, especially my mom, will come to know Christ.

*Not her real name

Next to be sold

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Next to be sold

By Troy and Cora Roberts, SEND missionaries in Thailand

As we walked the streets of a Shan village, one of our SEND teammates hit me with this: “One of the major issues in this village is prostitution. Most of these people own their houses because they’ve sold their daughters.”

His words slowly sank into my brain, my heart, as we viewed each little home, one right next to the other. We rounded the corner and saw a woman weaving in her courtyard. Another SEND missionary spoke to her and she welcomed us to watch her work.

This woman sells scarves wholesale for six baht to a distributor in Chiang Mai, who then sells them for 35 baht each (just over one dollar). She makes 15 of these scarves a day. Her daily income is 90 baht, or just under three bucks. Three dollars a day.

And then I noticed her—a gorgeous little girl in an orange skirt. She’s just adorable — I wish I had a close-up of her curious, deep eyes. And as I stood there, I started connecting the dots, and the future of this precious child looked pretty bleak. Would she be sold in a few years?

The Shan people originate from Burma and don’t have legal citizenship in Thailand. This means they can’t get good jobs. Many are illiterate. So, their primary sources of income are opium, human trafficking, and manual labor — which clearly pays pittance compared to the first two.

Only 0.04% of Shan are known to be Christians, and it has been said that “To be Shan is to be Buddhist.” But even their religion contributes to their poverty. Just down the road from the weaver’s house was a large, two-story house with a grand view of a mountain. This is where the fortune-teller lives. The locals can earn a lot of merit by visiting him, but it’s at a steep price. The cost per visit is 2,000 baht. For the woman who makes scarves, that’s 22 days of work.

If the average American makes $137 a day, then 22 days of work to us would be $3,021. Would you pay that much to see a fortune-teller? What if you thought that was the only way to tip the scales enough in your favor so that you won’t be reincarnated as a lesser being?

But enough of numbers. Back to the girls … the real reason I’m writing this. The reason God won’t let my heart rest until I share this with you. As we left the scarf-maker’s home, a group of early adolescent girls walked by. They stopped to greet Pastor Wi Wan, who has a church plant in their community, and it was explained to us that they were new believers. They had bright, beautiful smiles and seemed shy but interested when we were introduced as teachers.

Pastor Wi Wan’s church is also a community development center where these girls are learning agricultural skills such as raising strawberries, mushrooms, and catfish. If their families see that they can work to help earn a living, maybe they won’t be sold into the sex industry. That’s the hope, at least.

Later in the evening we were back at home when I found out that the tallest of those lovely young ladies will probably be the next to “disappear.” It’s just a fact. It happens with such regularity that the next girl can be easily pinpointed. But I can’t accept it as just a fact. She’s not a statistic. She’s not just another prostitute caused by poverty. She’s a precious young lady, made in the image of God. And I came face to face with her. We greeted each other with the traditional wai . My heart rejoiced to learn she is a sister in the Lord. (Silence.)

And I will pray. I must pray. I will pray for this girl, her family, her village, the fortune-teller, and Pastor Wi Wan, and the missionaries who work with the community to reach them for Christ and teach them trade skills.

And I will pray for you. I pray that your heart will be moved to prayer, as well; that your mouth will be moved to tell others of their plight to solicit more prayer; that your hands and feet will be moved to action to fight for the cause of these oppressed children of God.

Women's ministry training

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Women's ministry training

Do you have a personal mission statement?

Have you ever stopped to wonder, “Am I doing what I was designed for?”

In October, 27 women from all over the world gathered on the SEND campus in Michigan for an intensive development week. The women chose from three training modules, one of which was “The Significant Woman.” Experienced mentors guided the participants in discovering their mission and passion and writing their own personal mission statement.

“It helps to narrow your focus,” said Sonia Ashe, a SEND woman who participated. “You learn to say ‘no’ so you can say a stronger ‘yes!’”

In fact, all of the modules offered the opportunity to be more free in Christ as the women learn more about Him and who they are in Him. The women are also taught how to share what they have learned with others.

This development week is an annual event hosted by SEND’s Women’s Ministry Team (WMT). The team is committed to the ongoing personal and professional development of all SEND women and provides accessible, relevant and transferable training options that will allow them to grow and develop in their passions and gifts.

Dorothy Janzen leads the WMT, which includes representatives from each of SEND’s fields. She says, “We seek to provide a holistic approach to care for our women. Not only offering ‘skill training’ in facilitation methods or Bible study skills, but modules focusing on personal growth and renewal opportunities as well.”

Since 2008, over 55 SEND women have taken at least one module of equipping offered in an intensive women-to-women setting, either at the Michigan campus or another location. The training is also open to women of other organizations. The October training included women from four mission agencies and five churches.

Jill Hemingway enjoyed building relationships with the other participants. “Your bonds go deep fast. It is a safe place to be real and accepted,” she said.

SEND’s WMT continues to expand its women’s training materials and options. Previously, the ministry training used curriculum developed by Entrust, a sister organization for the training and equipping of shepherd leaders. But this year, the WMT has begun including a broader range of equipping material and is working closely with Wendy Wilson, a Missio Nexus consultant for women’s development, to create that training.

Jill and Sonia were both grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow, especially in a setting that includes women from all over the world. “Being with other women, fellowshipping and singing praises together is wonderful. That is a blessing I never expected.”

Click here to find dates for upcoming training sessions and a list of available courses.

What it costs to support your missionary

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What it costs to support your missionary

Supporting the Whole Missionary

SEND aims to provide an adequate but modest income to your missionaries based on the cost of living in the country where they serve. We understand that each missionary family faces unique needs, so we offer some flexibility in our support structure, not wanting finances to keep anyone from cross-cultural ministry.

please feel free to contact us .

A SEND Missionary's Financial Needs

*Current individual need charts are available for each SEND missionary on request.

SEND's Financial Principles

Faith
The members of SEND look to the Lord to fully supply their needs. The work of SEND depends entirely on God’s gracious provision.

Local church
The local church sets apart and commissions missionaries to service. SEND respects that special relationship between the sending church and its missionaries.

Partnership
God achieves his purposes through his people. SEND is grateful for the many friends who support SEND missionaries and seeks to strengthen its partnership with them.

Support commitment
Support commitments from churches and individuals inform SEND of a donor’s intentions. These commitments are not contracts and are not legally binding. This information helps SEND determine if a missionary has enough financial backing to thrive in ministry. Support commitment cards are available on request.

Jurisdiction
The laws relating to finances established by the governments where SEND members live and work are carefully applied to both mission and personal finances.

Voluntary disclosure
Anyone who writes or calls SEND International can receive details of SEND International’s Constitution, doctrinal statement, operating policies and procedures, financial audit reports, or other information.

Mentors who equip for life

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Mentors who equip for life

By Amy Smith, participant in the Leadership Lab International program in Croatia

When I returned from my summer in Croatia, trying to process all that had happened felt like swimming through the thick honey I grew accustomed to spreading on fresh bread in the mornings.

The two months and the memories that they carried had blurred themselves together in my mind. They left me feeling disoriented and in need of some time to think, pray, and sit in silence. After processing with many patient friends and mentors, I came to the conclusion that the Leadership Lab International (LLI) program was one of the hardest yet the most rewarding things that I have ever done.

Being part of LLI in Croatia pushed me to put some immaturity to death, and realize that I still have so much left. One of the ways LLI helped me grow was through the mentoring that happened through the program. LLI revolves around equipping the next generation of leaders to be passionate about following Christ and learning to lead others in the same direction.

LLI stands out from other leadership programs in that it is not program focused, but rather leader focused. The LLI mentors don’t only want to equip participants so that they can have a successful summer camp, but they want to develop life-long leaders who can serve in any cross-cultural context.

The truths I learned in LLI would be practical in any ministry. I was not being trained for just one task that would only happen that summer. Instead I was enabled to learn about myself and my team, express what I was learning and understanding from the biblical and team-building material, and at times make mistakes while I was figuring out what I believed. This was all in order that I would take the truths to heart that we were learning in the program.

The LLI mentors created a safe yet challenging atmosphere. We were allowed to make mistakes in the learning process because of the support that was offered. The LLI mentoring was also outstanding because our leaders clearly defined themselves as such, leaders.

Often in Western culture, the church is more comfortable viewing pastors, elders, and church leaders as friends instead of people God has put in authority over them. The mentors, especially SEND missionary Steve Meeker, very much took the leadership position over the program. They were of course hospitable, kind, and humble, but they also used every conversation and situation as a time of teaching and corporate learning.

It was refreshing to not only be instructed on how to lead in a practical way, but to also have a clearly defined example before me. We watched our mentors depend fully on God for everything that they needed, while holding unashamedly to convictions and integrity pressed into their hearts by their relationship with Christ. Overall, it is the mentoring that made LLI Croatia stand out from any other leadership or ministry program I have ever been a part of.

I believe that God’s work in this ministry is just beginning, and I envy anyone who has the chance to experience this program in the future. I came home from Croatia challenged, well-equipped, more dependent on my Lord, and excited for a new chapter of life in which I am more equipped to serve Jesus. If students are intentional about going into the program with a mind and heart that is ready to learn, the outcome will be beyond beneficial not only for the summer but for life.

Learn more about Leadership Lab International at the LLI website . There you can register to participate or ask for more information .

Believers active on Kyiv's Maidan

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Believers active on Kyiv's Maidan

By Eric Oldenburg in Kyiv, Ukraine

In late February 2014, the streets of Kyiv were bloodied by conflict between government special forces and citizens protesting against, among other things, rampant corruption. Though the violence was short-lived and eventually resulted in the president leaving the country and subsequently being removed from his post, Ukraine went on to face significant political, cultural and economic tensions.

As the world watched these dramatic events unfold, it caught a glimpse of the corruption, pressure and discord with which Ukrainians have lived for a long time. The origins of the Ukrainian revolution didn’t lie in then-President Viktor Yanukovych’s refusal to sign a trade deal with the European Union or in his decision to turn to Russia for financial help. Those actions and the response of the protesters have two decades of history behind them. The world finally can see the realities that Ukraine has lived with since the Soviet Union broke apart.

The response of the evangelical church in the midst of the madness wasn’t much of a focus in the media. I want the world to know about the faithful brothers and sisters who participated in the events on Maidan, the square in the city center where the main protests began and continued for three long, cold months. These believers were exactly the salt and light that Jesus called them to be in Matthew 5:13-16.

Memorials to the "Heavenly Hundred," as the protestors who died are known, dot downtown Kyiv.

Let us recognize the Ukrainian sister who, from the very first days of Maidan, took money, food and supplies to the protest site. She didn’t just drop her bags off; she set to work, distributing hot tea to the cold and sandwiches to the hungry. She returned with stories of how she’s never before seen Ukrainians so united in her lifetime. It drove her to pray for a positive outcome to this conflict so that the country can move forward politically and economically, but with even more fervency she prayed that Ukrainians would grow in their receptivity to the gospel.

Let us recognize the Ukrainian pastor who, from the pulpit of his local church, preached on how Christians are to behave themselves in a time of conflict — through prayer, participation, good deeds, wise words and the sharing of the gospel. But this pastor not only preached a powerful sermon; he lived it out by spending significant time on Maidan doing the very things he preached.

During one overnight shift in the prayer tent, which stood in the very center of the protests, he had personal conversations and times of prayer with more than 50 people. That’s not surprising, in and of itself. What is surprising and wonderful is that at least 30 of them were unbelievers, politically passionate enough to be on Maidan, but spiritually open enough to ask an evangelical pastor for counsel and prayer.

An evangelical seminary professor has had many opportunities to preach God's Word from the main stage on Maidan, the site of Ukrainian protests.

Let us recognize the Ukrainian seminary professor who, from the stage on Maidan, had the opportunity to preach God’s Word to tens of thousands of people. After the deaths of the protestors, Orthodox and Catholic priests performed funeral rites and rituals, but the Spiritual Parliament of Maidan also asked Protestants to preach God’s truth to a hurting people.

Two days after the February 20, 2014, conflict known as Bloody Thursday, when snipers opened fire on the protestors, this brother preached from John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” He declared that the tragedy of the loss of dozens of lives will have been wasted if the result is not the removal of corruption on a nationwide scale.

The following week, he preached from Luke 6:39-49 on the nature of corruption and where it is located, in the heart of man. We must deal with our own corruption if we want to see corruption in Ukraine eradicated, he said. He closed the message by accentuating the sole sure foundation upon which Ukrainians can rebuild their country, that is, the words and work of Jesus.

Let us recognize the Ukrainian brothers and sisters who have participated in the actual defense against government special forces. One brother works in a downtown office that was turned into a place where members of the opposition could rest and take showers. This brother and his coworkers would switch off between taking shifts at the protest site and helping those who came to their office. Having finished a night shift on the street from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, he left for home to rest and be with his family. Neither he nor any of his coworkers thought the events of Thursday morning would turn as violent as they did.

Now this brother carries the guilt of not having been on Maidan as his fellow countrymen were injured and killed. He weeps tears of sorrow as he holds the hand of his friend, whose other hand has been blown off. He wonders why this happened to his friend and not to him. Yet he also weeps tears of joy as he retells the miracles that God worked in the heat of the conflict. Why was it that any time the opposition built a barricade of flaming tires, the wind always blew the smoke toward the special forces and never back on the protestors, regardless of what direction the barricades faced?

Let us recognize another Ukrainian pastor who wanted to enter Maidan to pray, but was blocked by three policemen. So he offered to pray for the policemen instead — an offer that brought one of them to tears. When he learned that injured protestors had been taken to a hospital near his home, he knew that God had brought Maidan to him. He ministered so frequently at that hospital that he became known as “the Baptist” and was allowed special visiting privileges.

No. The evangelical church was not silent during the crisis in Ukraine. Believers who love God and have been transformed by the gospel of Jesus made a Kingdom impact on Maidan in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a privilege and an honor to call these men and women brothers and sisters in Christ and to serve them as they give their all to see their country move on a path toward peace, justice and righteousness. May God grace this land with these very realities in a way that testifies to His goodness and glory.

5 myths of the missionary call

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

5 myths of the missionary call

By Tim Hartman, missions mobilizer for SEND International

That “mysterious missionary call” that J. Herbert Kane talks about has been the center of debate for generations. It is arguably the most misunderstood term when talking about the Great Commission. In my time mobilizing people into mission, I have discovered five common myths concerning the missionary call.

Myth 1: The call happens at a definitive, memorable moment in time.

Some people can name the time and place they knew God was calling them to be a missionary. For people like me, it was a variety of circumstances. It was exposure to cross-cultural ministry via short-term opportunities . It was people in my life who were passionate about God’s heart for the nations and exuded that passion. Was it a decisive moment for me? No. Was it clear to me over the course of time that God was leading me into mission? Without a doubt, yes!

Myth 2: The call is only for those who are specially gifted.

Some feel being a missionary is only for those who are super-spiritual and are endowed with something special. Anybody involved in missions will be the first to admit they feel the least capable to be bringing the light of the gospel to the ends of the earth. But, isn’t that the attitude we all should have? 2 Corinthians 4:7 reminds us, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (ESV)

Myth 3: I can only take steps into missions once I am called.

The best test of whether or not God is calling you is when you start taking those first steps . The call can sometimes be more of a series of confirmations as opposed to a specific event. Let me give an example. Blaine is a young man who has always had a heart for Japan. He didn’t know where it came from—he claims it’s always been there. Recently, he knew it was time to step out and explore what serving in Japan would look like. It was a struggle at first. Was God really calling him to this? After all, he never had a specific call. But, Blaine pushed forward in taking those initial steps. Blaine is now heading to Japan for three months and being mentored by career missionaries with an eye toward long-term service.

Myth 4: A missionary call is completely irrelevant to becoming a missionary.

Throughout Scripture, God moves people to accomplish His purposes in the world. The church only moves forward when God is working and calls people to do great things for Him. In Acts 13, the Holy Spirit specifically sets apart Saul and Barnabas “for the work to which I have called them.” Notice how God didn’t call the entire church in Antioch to go. Scripture said there were several teachers and prophets gathered at that church, but only two were specifically called to go. The church instead sent and supported the two who were called. The call of God confirms the moving of God, and if God is moving, He will be with those whom He calls, to the very end of the age.

Myth 5: The Great Commission only applies to those whom God has called.

The Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 applies to all believers. Yes, we are not all called to go, but we are all called to be involved in making disciples of all nations. Locally, that means crossing the street, crossing the office, or crossing the coffee shop to share the love of Jesus with others.

Globally, that means praying and supporting those who go. Not going does not mean not doing. God’s mission is bigger than going overseas. Each one of us has a sphere of influence that God has placed around us; in some cases, we are the only light. Each one of us has people we know who are being sent that need our prayers and finances to reach the unreached in foreign lands.

Are we being faithful to what God is asking us to do in missions? As John Piper puts it, “There are three kinds of Christians when it comes to world missions: zealous goers, zealous senders, and the disobedient.” Which one are you?

I really feel these myths and misconceptions on calling have been created by the Enemy to keep all believers from being truly mobilized into God’s mission. Imagine the work that could be done if all Christians took the mantle of Great Commission work upon themselves and not only discovered their role but zealously fulfilled it, all for the sake of God’s glory!

What keeps you back from learning your calling in missions? Pray about it. Ask God to open your eyes and heart to understanding. Read Scripture and see how many imperfect people in the Bible were called by God to do extraordinary things. Ask questions of those involved in missions. Hear about the lives of current or former missionaries. Most of them wrestled with the same questions you may have!

Our missionary calling is not something God wants to keep secret. He desires to use each of us to reach the lost with the gospel and bring the saving message of Christ to the ends of the earth.

God is calling missionaries from many nations to reach many nations.

Already feel called to missions? Check out SEND's opportunities to go.

Christ captures teen’s heart at camp

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Christ captures teen’s heart at camp

By A.S. in Tambov, Russia

When I first met Sofia*, she did not look very happy. She was sitting in the camp cafeteria, not playing or talking with too many people. I tried to strike up a conversation, but this didn’t go so well, seeing as it was only my second week in Russia and language study hadn’t even begun.

A few weeks later a woman repented, and I learned it was Sofia’s mom. The church had been praying for her for years. Now both of Sofia’s parents were believers and followers of Christ!

Sofia had been going to church with her parents since she was little, but when she graduated from Sunday school, she decided that church was not interesting. She still had to go, but she sat on the couch out in the hallway, not in the sanctuary.

Then Sofia was invited to our church’s youth camp, which she thought was pretty cool. In fact, it left such a good impression on her that the next year she decided to attend even more camps, one of them being the children’s camp in a nearby village.

At first she thought that camp was boring because the program was geared toward younger children. Because of this, most of her free time was spent alone playing on her phone. One day, while she was tapping away on the screen, she noticed that she had a Bible app. Sofia had read the Bible before but didn’t understand its significance for her life.

As Sofia was reading the Bible on her phone, her mother called and gave her the unexpected news that her grandmother had passed away. As she sat on the bench crying, Sofia realized how quickly life goes by. She didn’t know if her grandma had trusted Christ, but she knew that trusting him was very important. Sofia decided that she was going to give her life to God and trust Jesus as her savior. Later that week, when the gospel was presented and the children were invited to accept Christ, she was one of the many who chose to receive salvation.

Sofia previously had little interest in and understanding of Scripture; now she eagerly reads and studies God’s Word with greater comprehension. She used to avoid church services; now she enthusiastically invites others to church and youth group. She once had no desire to serve in church; now she attends every choir rehearsal and faithfully serves on our orphan ministry team.

Sofia attended Foundations of Faith, a class for anyone wanting to become a member of our church. She completed this course and was baptized, along with six other participants. In the days leading up to the baptism, I could see excitement and seriousness building in Sofia. I believe she felt the weight of this decision, knowing it is a great blessing and responsibility to be part of the church of Christ. Please pray for this beautiful young woman to grow in grace and the power of Jesus Christ.

*Not her real name

‘White’ gathering brings light during a dark, cold season

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

‘White’ gathering brings light during a dark, cold season

By our team in Ulan-Ude, Russia — The Buryat holiday of Sagaalgan marks the first new moon of spring. Buryats believe that it is a time of cleansing oneself from evil, impurity, bad karma and bad luck.

Although this holiday is intertwined with Buddhist and Shamanistic practices, there are actually a lot of ways it can be used to share Christ and how he makes all things new and clean.

Throughout this holiday season, also known as "White Month," Buryats say goodbye to the old year and celebrate the new by deep cleaning their homes. They eat white foods, symbolizing a fresh start. People sometimes wake up really early to trick the spirits, give offerings to idols, and rub dough over their bodies, then throw the dough into a fire to burn away the past year’s troubles.

Our team often experiences extra spritual oppression during this time, but we also aim to redeem the holiday in order to engage Buryats — only 0.5 percent of whom are Christian — with the gospel. For five years, our team has hosted White Month parties, in which we invite Buryat friends over to learn more about their traditions and to share about the One who can truly make us whiter than snow.

After five years of White Month events, white chocolate cheesecake (though not at all typically Buryat) has become part of the tradition.

Together, we prepare posie , a traditional Buryat food that’s basically a meatball wrapped in dough and steamed. Posie take a lot of time to make, but this presents a natural opportunity to share about each other’s traditions. We also eat other white foods and play creative games that revolve around the color white.

Blessings are very important in Buryat culture, so we focus on the blessings God promises in the Bible and present our friends with gifts that include a biblical blessing. We pray that God will use these verses and this time together to plant seeds in our friends’ hearts.

At one White Month party, a SEND worker printed a picture with Isaiah 1:18 —

“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool."

This verse led to a chance to share the gospel. A Christian Buryat girl shared her testimony, and then another girl opened up and asked some very good questions. A third young lady expressed a desire to read the Bible and was given one.

It's exciting to see God working — not because of our great plans or because we led a great discussion. It's all God! Please pray for God’s work to continue in the hearts of those who heard his truth. Please pray that they will know Jesus!

The best kind of breakdown

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The best kind of breakdown

By David Minchez, SEND missionary from Guatemala to Spain — I am happy to share with you the following story to praise God. There is a feast in the heavens. In January 2014, I needed to look for a mechanic to repair our car. Our Heavenly Father, in his perfect plans, allowed me to meet Alberto.

We began a relationship of friendship, and I found out that Alberto's grandmother attended the Church of Villanueva del Arzobispo when he was a child. She always gave a good testimony to her family and Alberto sometimes accompanied her to church.

This year, our car was ruined and had to spend more time at the mechanic than normal. But the Lord used our car troubles to confirm the gospel in Alberto’s life.

In Spain, we hand out a calendar each year with texts and a small daily reflection called “The Good Seed.” Alberto's grandmother read it every day. Alberto saw one of these calendars in my car, and told me with tears in his eyes that he remembered his grandmother.

I invited him to visit us at church and he agreed. On his second visit to our church, the Holy Spirit touched Alberto’s heart and he trusted in Christ as his Savior. The Lord in these years has allowed us to see the fruit of 19 lives turned over to Christ. Now with Alberto, we’ve seen 20. Glory to the Lord!

More about multicultural teams

Discipleship is for everyone

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Discipleship is for everyone

By Josh Jellel, SEND IO Asia Communications Coordinator, Taiwan — Shanna thought she understood discipleship: that it was something for only really spiritually mature people to give and receive. That meant that it wasn’t for her.

Her story has a typical beginning. She grew up in Christian community surrounded by fellow believers. Throughout her teen years she participated in a few Bible studies but never really gave much thought to what it meant to be a disciple of Christ. Moving into her college years was the catalyst she needed to reconsider her solitary spiritual journey.

“After my freshman year, I took a year off to work in my hometown and work through spiritual doubt,” Shanna says. Her Christian community began to help unravel her misconceptions about discipleship. “Thanks to some believing coworkers and a few women in my church, I felt loved and supported in the midst of my doubts. They never made me feel ashamed but always encouraged me to seek God.”

During this time, God presented his next step for this budding disciple: a life-changing trip to Asia with her church.

“I fell in love with the people and place. Also, through the love of those believers, I finally understood God’s great love for me. I wanted to come back to love on the people who had loved me so well,” Shanna says.

Through these experiences God was revealing to her that discipleship is for everyone.

“Discipleship is intentionally pouring into others to give them the tools to follow Christ closely and learn to disciple others,” she says. “That’s something for people of all spiritual walks!”

Inspired by her trip, when Shanna returned to college she sought out an opportunity to work with international students. Now, she had not only a strengthened faith, but a taste of working with people from other cultures; she could replicate in a cross-cultural context the discipling she had experienced in her Christian community.

Shanna returned to Asia this year for six months to continue her journey and help Asians who have never heard of Jesus start theirs. By becoming an intern in one of SEND International’s D Houses, she challenged herself to daily life in a foreign culture and language, while coming under the discipling mentorship of experienced missionaries in community with other interns. She chose the D House program because it would help her grow spiritually, deepen her Biblical foundation, and teach her how to contextualize the gospel in order to begin making new disciples among unreached peoples.

Through this experience, Shanna has not only developed a rich appreciation of discipleship, she is pushing well beyond the boundaries of the average Christian, and she encourages others to do the same. Don’t be afraid to initiate a discipling relationship, she says.

“It is worth the initial awkwardness of asking! God has designed us to need other people,” she says. “ You are blessed by being a disciple. You learn how to seek God and reach others more effectively. The person discipling you is also blessed as they rely on him in learning to teach you. It’s not something I want to live without anymore.”

Be disciples. Make disciples. Let's do both, together.

The Culture of Coffee

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Culture of Coffee

Written by Amy Schuett.

Friendships and Coffee

Steam rises from a mug of dark coffee in a room with dim lights and soft music. The aroma of roasting beans and caffeine fill the air, mingling with the murmur of conversation. There’s something about a cup of coffee that allows for friendship to begin and relationships to grow. The people in Northern Macedonia appreciate its charm to welcome the stranger, build relationships, and get to know their neighbors.

Macedonia is a small European country landlocked by Greece, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, and Bulgaria. Many have read of Paul’s travels through Macedonia in Acts, and herald the country as a place of the early church where mighty disciples like Paul, Silas, and Timothy brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The country has developed and evolved dramatically since Paul’s day, moving into modernity while holding on to its rich history.

A Culture of Caring

Macedonian culture is characterized by a love to take care of others and a desire to get to know them. Daily life involves meeting people at the market, whether friend or stranger, and going back home to share a meal. Imagine walking up to the wrong house and knocking on the door, only to be invited in for a cup of coffee and conversation. Macedonians often have a special sensitivity to guests and foreigners, always wanting to make them feel welcome. Whomever may stop by, a pot of coffee is always at hand to encourage openness and invite friendship.

Also present in this culture is a deep desire to serve others. If someone stops to ask for directions, many Macedonians would rather give bad information than refuse to offer assistance. Others willingly stay up with each other for late nights after a long day’s work, sharing that beautifully warm and fragrant cup of coffee, exchanging stories, laughter, and friendship.

Opportunities to Share

Within Macedonian culture, there is an understanding that friendships are forged not in words, but in time spent together. Periods of silence are often welcome. It’s not about “what’s next” or “what are we doing;” rather, it’s about being with those around them. When sitting down for an afternoon or evening cup of coffee together, it’s expected to spend a long time together - two hours would be considered short!

Woven into the fabric of Macedonia is this: a willingness to love others and welcome them into their homes, an eagerness to serve the foreigners and strangers, and an ability to warmly share life with those around them. This love and openness naturally allows for Gospel conversation. Doors are open for Christ-followers to share the good news of Jesus Christ, let’s pray Macedonian hearts will be open too.

Learn About SEND's ministry in Macedonia

Learn About the "Engage Macedonia" Internship Program

Read Another Story from Macedonia: "Following Family"

Discover Ministry Opportunities

Taking Steps Towards Thailand

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Taking Steps Towards Thailand

Caleb and Raquel Enns believe that the Gospel needs to be preached to all the nations, and that God has called and equipped them to make disciples as long-term global workers in Thailand.

When Caleb and Raquel arrive in Thailand they will begin by studying the local language, and then will join a church planting team in a Shan village. Most Shan people are very poor, and many face drug addiction and human trafficking. The spiritual and physical needs are immense! However, Caleb and Raquel are trusting in the faithfulness of God to use them to bring the Gospel to the Shan!

Watch a Video "Reaching Thailand for Christ"

View the SEND Canada Annual Report

Support Caleb and Raquel

Spiritually Impacting Students

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Spiritually Impacting Students

Laura and Ruth, SEND co-workers, returned to the Philippines in 2003 uncertain of what ministry God was leading them toward. Pastor Tony, a Filipino friend, strongly encouraged them to train believers to teach the Bible in schools. Hesitant at first, Laura and Ruth were hooked after observing Pastor Tony and his team teach lessons on prayer in a local elementary school.

Laura, Ruth, Pastor Tony and others began praying for direction on how to reach students in classrooms. As they prayed and talked with Filipino pastors, God guided Laura and Ruth to think about curriculum. Since no suitable material could be found, Ruth and Lou (a pastor’s wife) began writing modules on biblical values.

School Doors Opened

While Laura and Ruth were busy developing a program, Gloria Arroyo, the Philippines President, was observing a decline of morals in the country. To address that serious problem, Arroyo announced the following on July 12, 2004. “I would like to direct the Department of Education to allow non-government organizations of various religions to teach values formation once again in public schools…” Arroyo’s announcement confirmed to Laura and Ruth that God was indeed opening doors for biblical values to be taught in the classroom!

The following week, 46 volunteers squeezed into the SEND Office in Manila to receive training on how to teach the curriculum. On August 2, in a nearby elementary school, values lessons were taught for the first time! Laura and Ruth were overjoyed as they observed volunteers teach on truth and honesty.

In April 2005, VOICE Philippines (Values Orientation In Classroom Education) was incorporated. New modules were developed. The already-taught curriculum was revised and prepared for publication. Promotion and the training of new volunteers were ongoing. The VOICE staff grew.

Dramatic Impact

As students studied the biblical values, their hearts were changed. One student, after learning that she was created in the image of God and was precious to Him, decided not to end her life. A school principal observed a 60% decline in problems brought to the Guidance Office. Teachers and parents also noticed a difference in the children - so they too wanted to study the Bible!

Laura recently learned about Beverly*. Her interest in God was piqued through studying the values lessons. Last year, Beverly began attending a weekly study sponsored by 2 churches to learn more about the Bible. During those sessions Beverly asked thoughtful questions. It is not exactly clear when she trusted Christ, but the transformation in her life is remarkable! Today, Beverly attends a youth fellowship and small group at a local church.

VOICE is now completely staffed by Filipinos and is in all 81 provinces except two!

Praise God for how students are being spiritually impacted through the teaching of biblical values!

*Name changed for security reasons.

View the SEND Canada Annual Report

Open to the Gospel - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Open to the Gospel - Ukraine Crisis Story

In the midst of tragedy and upheaval there are many opportunities to share the gospel.

Here is one example from a local church partner in Ukraine:

Today there were by God's goodness now three groups for our daily meetings. People were very open to discussion about God. Most of them have at some time visited an Orthodox church but almost no one could give an answer to the question "Who is God, what is He like?" So we talked about this topic. After our discussion people began to realize that God is a real Person, who totally understands us and we can confidently rely on Him, that He is always near and feels all that we feel.

The number of refugees is not decreasing but rather increasing with each day. God sent us some more folding beds and so today we were able to accept more people.

Give now to help relief efforts

The Gathering

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Gathering

The “Gathering” is an annual meeting of representatives from many Christian organizations that work among First Nations people across Canada. The purpose is to provide a platform for fellowship, relationship building, cross-fertilization of ideas, and collaboration. Times of sharing encouraging stories of what God has done as well as struggles and disappointments accomplish the goal of building trust and understanding. Barriers are broken down and deep relationships are built as leaders from different organizations pray for each other.

This year the Gathering was held in May near Dryden, Ontario and I attended along with Derek and Jenny Baker who serve with SEND in Teslin, Yukon. I enjoyed the open discussions on issues we all face, hearing what has been successful and what hasn’t worked well at all. I was made aware of some resources and articles that I believe will be very helpful to us in SEND. A real highlight for us this year was the opportunity to meet with some older First Nation leaders. It was a privilege to hear them tell what God has done over the past decades. Their perspective on several current issues was enlightening.

I came away from the Gathering with a renewed sense that God is at work among First Nations people across Canada. It is his work and he is accomplishing it through many people in many organizations. What a privilege to get to know them, learn from them, pray with them, collaborate with them, and realize that we are serving one God with one purpose.

John Wicker
Regional Director - Americas
SEND International

Facing the Reality

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Facing the Reality

Facing the Reality of Misplaced HopeLet’s admit there is a fight going on that we do not know how to win with worldly wisdom. Suicide claims the lives of almost 800,000 people worldwide every year and is in the top 10 leading causes of death consistently, and yet we do not know how to face or handle it. Suicide is a challenging topic, but we can all relate to it. Everyone has a friend of a friend, a classmate, a family member, that has struggled with thoughts of suicide or acted on those thoughts. These relations give more reason and urgency to talking openly about suicide and its victims. For many of our SEND members, this conversation affects them in their daily lives as they build relationships and disciples to find and live for Christ.

Alaska is one of the top three states with the highest suicide rates per capita. According to a study done by the CDC, at least 23 Alaskans out of every 10,000 die by suicide. In the past three years, teen and adolescent suicide has increased by 18%. However, suicide does not only take the lives of adolescents; in Canada, the highest suicide rates occur in the 40-59 age range.

While there are plenty of staggering statistics, the natural question is to wonder, “why?” Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) are particular experiences identified by mental health professionals that can cause developmental challenges for children who experience them. Some examples of ACES are abuse, incarcerated family members; loss of a loved one at a young age; or alcohol or substance abuse in the home. Studies show that the more ACES a child is exposed to before the age of 18, the more likely they are to attempt suicide at least once in their lives.

These external factors, coupled with the lack of mental health resources in the rural communities, breed confusion, depression, a loss of direction, and negative self-opinion. They also enhance the lack of deep connection and feelings of not being known. Adolescents are especially searching for someone to look up to, especially when there is too much pain at home. Unfortunately for many, sometimes the only inspiration adolescents can find when they are struggling with suicidal thoughts are those that have committed suicide already, which is why many villages see a chain reaction of suicides. In many of these places, the physical conditions, as well as the generational ideology of being “strong” and tangibly competent, have led to adolescents being unable to look to the past to decide what to do with their future.

The idea of cultural loss lingers in the air of every community in the Far North. The local culture has a rich heritage of being steadfast survivors who protect and provide for one another. While there are many empowering lessons to be learned from this culture, the modern age of connectivity and technology has clashed with many of these traditions, pulling the newer generations in different directions of tradition and modernity. This divide is where dismissal and misunderstandings happen generationally, leaving many adolescents searching for answers about their identity.

Lacking identity, as well as causal factors such as ACES and depression, are not unique to the remote areas of the Far North but are experienced in concentration here. While victims of suicide are often linked by what is labeled as hopelessness, one SEND member suggested it is more a case of misplaced hope. Many individuals, age, and gender aside, place their hope in any number of worldly institutions. When the elements in their lives fail them, they do not have an active relationship with God upon which to rely.

One SEND member reflected on previous conversations with individuals struggling with thoughts of suicide or dealing with the loss of a loved one by suicide and said, “There isn’t anything I can give to someone who is struggling with suicide than Jesus.” This member shared how, amid tragedy, they remain faithful in sharing Jesus because such deep loss can open incredible doors to people willing to hear the Gospel. Even in an unexpected death, God is capable of bringing life.

Depression and suppressed emotion are not easily defined or addressed. The anchor of Christ is something tangible for those in the weighty fog of suicidal distress to hold. In the Far North, our members are bringing the truth of God the Foundation, allowing Him to work through them in communities across to 60/40 Window.

Please pray for our members and the members of these Far North communities:

Further, we encourage impacted readers to consider a life lived with people in our rural communities, to support the individuals and churches already established financially. We encourage you to look around your cities to see the needs in new ways, to feel the aching of misplaced hope, and to answer God’s beckoning to engage with His people. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 43: 5).

Serving Friends with Special Needs

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Serving Friends with Special Needs

People want to be seen, known for who they really are. It’s an innate longing inside the human heart. Jesus knew this. When He came to a village, He not only healed the sick - He saw them. He looked people in the eye and communicated their God-given dignity and value, even if society had rejected them. 

A short-term team had the opportunity to demonstrate this priority while serving at Sumy Grace Camp in eastern Ukraine.

Sumy Grace Camp holds multiple camps each summer for kids, youth, and families, and one, in particular for Ukrainians with special needs. These campers of varying ages and abilities come with their caregivers and enjoy 10 days of activities, learning, and time outdoors.

The camp’s priority for SEND’s short-term team in 2019 was to help communicate respect and anticipation to special needs campers through building and maintaining an accessible camp.

“Many places [in Ukraine] are not fit to care for those with special needs and for the disabled,” says team leader, John Paetkau. This presents an unwelcome atmosphere in public places and limits great life experiences.

Building a Solution

With a great sense of purpose, the team began the process of building ramps all around the camp, facilitating a space for campers to live and move with freedom. Audrey Lawrence, one of the short-term workers, noted the difference between the country’s general accommodations and what the camp built for them.

“The very few ramps we saw in the city, whether into restaurants or malls, had very steep slopes making it extremely difficult for anyone to wheel or push a wheelchair up them. The ramp that our team built had a very gentle slope that made it easy for people to move up. Likewise, the handrail allowed people to pull their own chairs up and provided good support for those with walking difficulty. The campers’ ability to manage more independently increased confidence and affirmed dignity."

Building Spiritual Pathways

These ramps are tangible evidence that, at Sumy Grace Camp, those with special needs are seen and valued. They are welcome and their needs are accounted for. The hope is that communicating love through this simple act of improving ramps and accessibility will soften hearts towards the gospel for both campers and caregivers. Camp Director Michael Pimonenko notes the impact that camp has on the campers:

“For those who attend, this time is a highlight of the year for them. The majority spend the year in their apartments in the city as it is very difficult to get out on the street...  To be out in nature, to rest and relax in the forest, is a huge blessing,” he says. “As a result of this ministry, and the ongoing ministries of Sumy Grace Church during the year, we have seen new people coming to church, receiving Christ, and growing in their faith.”

Everyone walks up or down ramps, but few realize the significance that improved accessibility has for those who are disabled. Just as Jesus valued and cared for those He interacted with, these ramps reveal to the special needs community that they are valuable, their needs matter, and their souls matter.

Though the short-term team went to eastern Ukraine to build ramps, they left having made an impact far greater than nailing together wood ; they left building the sense of worth for m any , showing a community that God the Father sees them too.

View the SEND Canada Annual Report

Easter Greeting from SEND Canada

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Easter Greeting from SEND Canada

Canadian Director Rob "Mags" Magwood shares a video Easter greeting and an update from SEND Canada.

Diaspora ministry in Lancaster, PA

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Diaspora ministry in Lancaster, PA

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is a city rapidly morphing into a diverse community of people from different cultures and traditions. From Cubans and other Latinos in the south of the city center, to Congolese scattered in the city limits, to South Asian Bhutanese, Nepali, and Indian residents now in many suburban communities, Lancaster receives many arriving new residents who come as refugees, asylum seekers, and other immigrants.

From its earliest days, Lancaster has been a city and region that welcomes people starting a new life, and this tradition continues today! In fact, the BBC designated Lancaster as the “refugee capital” of the US based on number of residents and the large number of refugees resettled in Lancaster in recent years—as high as 20 times the national average! In 2019, Lancaster was recognized as a “Certified Welcoming” city, the fifth US city to receive that honor from the National Welcoming America Initiative.

Each of the immigrant communities bring unique contributions to Lancaster’s streets, markets, and cityscape. From samosas and spicy potato cakes to falafel, hummus, spiced lentils, and even “Havana juice” there are plenty of culinary options. These new residents also bring unique customs and beliefs. Many of these immigrants come from areas of the world where there is little access to the gospel, and where most belong to what are considered by missiologists as unreached or least reached people groups.

The Lancaster team and network is engaging with several different unreached people groups in the region, supporting and coaching churches to reach the immigrants around them. Currently, the team is working with families from several Asian people groups, with a specific focus on Arabic-speaking peoples from Islamic backgrounds. The team is building relationships through sports programs, shared meals, one-on-one English tutoring, and meeting people’s practical needs. Through these relationships, our team is sharing biblical truth and praying that God would bless them with the fullness of life that only he can offer.

Learn more about serving with this team!

The path to missions can feel overwhelming! Our experienced mission coaches will walk alongside you every step of the way.

Reaching the Isaan - Thailand Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Reaching the Isaan - Thailand Series

Twenty-two million people live in Thailand’s Isaan region — but the majority of villages do not have even one Christian, much less a church. It’s going to take teamwork to reach this vast population. Find out how SEND is partnering with like-minded friends to reach the Isaan for Christ.

Other videos in this series:

Reaching Thailand for Christ - Thailand Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Reaching Thailand for Christ - Thailand Series

University students. Urban professionals. Desperately poor villagers. At-risk women. Drug addicts. The needs in Thailand are so vast, that ministry cannot be limited to one group. It takes creativity, passion, and vision to reach into these different spheres of Thai society with one goal: To share the life-changing message of Jesus.

Other videos in this series:

Food Prices Double - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Food Prices Double - Ukraine Crisis Story

March 14, 2022 Our Pastor sent you his thanks. You cannot imagine how people are tearfully thanking you! And they have requested to personally write to thank you. “Today being left without work in my city, I understand that any means to live can only come to us through a miracle. Through friends. Praise God, my family (my wife and three kids) are now out of Ukraine and in the care of good people. For myself, considering today’s wartime prices for groceries, a purchase meant to last two weeks is almost double. I can economize by consuming whatever food previously canned/preserved is left (for example potatoes and pickles stored in the root cellar). But even with that, the help was so relevant in other ways. In addition, I visit people- neighbors, church members. For them this time is also not so sweet. Yesterday I helped one of the brothers from our church. I passed onto him some money to fix his car. With this car, he’s been serving as a volunteer, delivering medicine, and food. A huge thank you for this help!”

Give now to help relief efforts

From four cultures, music team shares a single passion

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

From four cultures, music team shares a single passion

The music team — Anya, Daniela, Renata and Sergei — performs in a Siberian church.

By Daniela H. in Siberia

Two years ago, God put it on the hearts of four people from four different cultures to start a Buryat music group in Russia. Our group — with members from Canada, Switzerland, Moldova and Buryatia — has the vision to bring Buryat melodies into our mostly Russian churches.

Our hope is that our Buryat brothers and sisters can see the value in their own music and culture and believe that God can use this to reach out to others. It has been amazing to see people’s reactions when they hear the familiar sounds of their culture in an unexpected place!

All of us have neat stories about how God has grown us into serving Him through music. Sometimes God plants dreams into our hearts that later become true in a way we had never imagined.

Renata’s parents call her a miracle child, mostly because she was born early, at six months. Music has always been a part of her life. When she was 19, she began to play the violin. She thought about learning to play the cello next, but this never happened. Many years later, after she moved from Canada to Russia to serve with SEND, Renata heard the music of the morin khuur . She immediately fell in love with this traditional Buryat “cello.” Now she takes lessons from one of the best morin khuur players and plays the instrument at church.

Anya’s story is one of persistence. As a child in Buryatia, she was known to be totally unmusical. Still, at the age of 15, she insisted on taking guitar lessons. Her teacher thought it was hopeless, but to his amazement, she had a breakthrough in the second year and started to have a feel for music and rhythm. Anya became a believer through the worship times in church, but when she joined the choir, the ladies asked her to sing more softly, because she couldn’t get it straight. Undeterred, she never stopped dreaming and praying that one day she would be able to sing and serve God as part of the worship team. One night, the Lord answered her prayers and gave her the ability to hear and sing in tune! Now she plays the guitar and the piano for our group and sings in our church.

When Sergei from Moldova sang at church as a teen-ager, others would employ a common Russian phrase, saying: “You are absolutely unmusical. Obviously a bear has stepped on your ear.” So he started to ask God for a miracle and after a while, to everyone’s astonishment, he was able to sing along. He picked up his brother’s old guitar and taught himself to play it. He became part of the music team at his church in Moldova, where he also learned to play the bass guitar. Then he moved to Buryatia, married Anya and fell in love with Buryat music. What a perfect fit!

I am the fourth member of our Buryat band. In Switzerland, I grew up playing four different instruments, but due to a medical condition, I lost the ability to play any of them. I let go of them with great sadness, glad that I could at least still sing. But then, over the course of eight years, God gave me back all my instruments, one after the other. Now I lead the Buryat music team, and I recently started to write melodies in the Buryat style.

The four of us all enjoy our weekly practices and the opportunities we have to play in churches. We resonate with what Johann Sebastian Bach wrote beneath each of his religious compositions: Soli Deo gloria! Glory to God alone!

Navigating a Strategic Missions Course

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Navigating a Strategic Missions Course

Having trouble implementing a change in your church's missions involvement? This article suggests three "course corrections" that you might need to make, plus suggests "navigation tools" to help you clarify your strategy.

Catalyst Services, “Postings,” Feb. 2011

Great Missionary Quotes

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Great Missionary Quotes

Fifty fascinating and insightful quotations from missionaries who have ministered all over the world. This PDF is optimized for your iPad or other tablet. Click here to read more quotations and to find Scripture about missions.

Kids with Power

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Kids with Power

Ruth Hubbard, senior vice president of Wycliffe Bible Translators says, “Because God is building up the faith of children, he often answers their prayers beyond the way that we as adults see him answer.” Learn how to involve children in praying for Christian workers around the world.

Choose Life center aims to fill gap in pregnancy care

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Choose Life center aims to fill gap in pregnancy care

By Leah Schwartz in Odessa, Ukraine

In Ukraine, women who are dealing with a crisis pregnancy or who have experienced an abortion have few places to turn if they want help.

Historically, the abortion rate has been very high, and many women have had multiple abortions. During Soviet times, contraception was not available; thus abortion was, and continues to be, a common method of birth control.

Ukraine is short on social programs or organizations that help people, including women who may want to parent a child, but do not feel they are capable (financially or otherwise). So in Odessa, a team of missionaries and Ukrainians have started Choose Life.

Volunteers sort baby clothes donated to the Choose Life center.

Choose Life runs a Women’s Center that offers pregnancy tests, consultations, material help and classes. About 45 volunteers are involved in the ministry.

Private health care is quite unusual in Ukraine, where most people rely on government-run hospitals and clinics. Pray that more volunteers will finish their training and that more clients will come to the center.

Picture of a church plant

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Picture of a church plant

In Odessa, Ukraine, SEND missionaries Alfie and Julie Mosse and their Ukrainian ministry partner, Andrei, are in the middle of a church-planting effort. Andrei offers us this picture of what it looks like in their context.

In the fall of 2013, I and some of my friends started an English club in one of the biggest universities in Odessa. The English club helped us to attract some Ukrainian and foreign students. After a while we started to invite English club visitors to have dinner and conversation together on Sunday nights. This turned into our International Student Dinners.

Now we have English club every Thursday and International Student Dinner on Sundays at my apartment. Through the English club and dinners, we developed relationships and last September we started a Bible study home group.

Over the last year I have seen God leading us, bringing new people and working in students’ hearts. We hope He will continue to do His work in planting His church here in my neighborhood. With this hope in our hearts, and since we have some people regularly attending our Bible study, after the first of the year we are planning to start worship service in my apartment.

Andrei has also started a partnership with a member of the local First Baptist Church to rent a small meeting place to host English Clubs, Bible studies and other events.

Andrei says the Victory Park Church team is excitedly watching God build His kingdom there in Odessa.

The church does anticipate some financial needs. If you are interested in helping this church grow, send a donation to SEND International, with the memo “Odessa Victory Park Church Plant.”

Kairos

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Kairos

The Kairos Course is a nine-session, interactive course on world Christian mission, designed to educate, inspire, and challenge Christians to active and meaningful participation. It is ideally suited to be conducted in local churches, organizations, or with special interest groups such as Christian business people.

Slices - Warren Janzen

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Slices - Warren Janzen

"She had never heard the name of Jesus Christ, except as a curse word in a movie. She didn't know this was a real person — that there could be life and hope and a future through this person." This young woman represents a third of the world — 1.9 billion people — who are beyond the reach of a local church. International Director Warren Janzen talks about why SEND missionaries focus on reaching these unreached.

Reaching Russia Together - Russia Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Reaching Russia Together - Russia Series

Reaching such a massive country with 179 different people groups requires people from around the world working together. Part of the "Reaching Russia Together" series. Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

The Foreign Brides - Taiwan Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Foreign Brides - Taiwan Series

Taiwan's large population of foreign brides needs the hope that only the gospel can bring. Part of the series "Taiwan: Vision 119." Find links to other videos in the series below.

Related Series

Stuck in the Middle - Warren Janzen Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Stuck in the Middle - Warren Janzen Series

Want to do something great? Then don't get stuck in the middle — follow Jesus to the ends of the earth. Find out what that might look like from SEND International Director Warren Janzen.

Throat Singer - Russia Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Throat Singer - Russia Series

Throat singing, male modeling and missions. Check out the video to see what they all have in common. Part of the "Reaching Russia Together" series. Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

God is at Work - Missionary Highlights Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

God is at Work - Missionary Highlights Series

Hear the brief story of one young woman's path to Christ in Poland.

The Vision - Taiwan Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Vision - Taiwan Series

"In America you'll dial 911, but in Taiwan, if there's an emergency, you'll dial 119." Vision 119 is an emergency call for more workers to help reach the lost of Taiwan by planting 60 churches in the least-reached areas. SEND's video series, "Taiwan: Vision 119," will take you on an exciting, high-definition tour of Taiwan, the Beautiful Island. You'll meet people rescued from idol worship and watch the vision unfold as workers from around the world partner to reach the least-reached.

Related Series

Missions Videos - Sampler

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Missions Videos - Sampler God is doing amazing things around the world and the SEND 9-video sampler playlist is your front row seat to watch it unfold! The sampler highlights Alaska, East Asia, Muslim Ministries, Europe, Taiwan, Russia and Japan all in one place. This variety of videos and stories is a great taste of missions with SEND. Idols - a simple, somber video depicting people worshiping at a Buddhist temple Melody's Story - a moving testimony of a young woman who responded to the gospel and now wants to take it back to her family Life In Your Face - the challenges and joys of life in the Far North Fun with Food - a taste test of some unique, Eskimo food I Heart Muslims - a challenge to reach Muslims out of love, not fear Pillars and Bridges – Christian workers discuss obstacles and opportunities for reaching Muslims Beliefs - Europeans talk about what they believe about God and Jesus Turn – a quirky glimpse of how God is changing lives across Europe The One True God - a testimony of a Taiwanese woman who was trapped in idol worship The Mopeds & The Market - a fun tour of Taiwanese traffic and food Forward From Disaster - remembering and rebuilding from Japan's triple disaster Spiritual - Japanese spirituality and how one woman found something bigger in Christ Reaching Russia Together - Reaching such a massive country with 185 different people groups requires people from around the world Never Alone - Yulia was on the brink of suicide when a dream about Jesus and meeting with some Christians helped her realize that she is never alone When God Saw - When God sees the need in the world today...who does He send?

Church Short Term Development Models: Glenside Bible Church

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Church Short Term Development Models: Glenside Bible Church

This is an example of a short-term missionary policy from Glenside Bible Church in Pennsylvania.

Casa Refugio: A Place of Restoration and Redemption

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Casa Refugio: A Place of Restoration and Redemption

Written by Amy Magwood.

When Kaitlyn first came to Spain, SEND was not connected with Casa Refugio , a refuge home for women leaving prostituti on and the sex trade. H owever, she felt a strong call on her heart to minister to women and be a part of this ministry . So, by working with the board, Kaitlyn started to build a connection with the refuge house and begin a new b ranch of ministry in SEND’s work in Spain . 

A First Step Towards Healing

Casa Refugio , is set up in two different houses. The first house, where K aitlyn works, is where women begin the program. It is the first step towards healing and stability. 

“We help them get jobs, leave the country if necessary , learn Spanish, and I also teach a lot of life skills,” Kaitlyn says. She thoroughly enjoys teaching them Spanish—even though she is still learning the language herself! Alongside professional skills, the staff at Casa Refugio also help teach the women healthy emotional and relational dynamics. Most of this learning comes through practical situations , since the women frequently have conflicts with each other which can lead to yelling or running away.

“My job, many times , is helping them learn how to interact with each other. When they do have fights (which happens multiple times a day), I help them to think through, 'If we disagree, what is the best way to act and handle this?’” Although she is not a confrontational person herself, God is using Kaitlyn to help these women grow and mature in relating to each other. The duration of stay at the first house can take anywhere from 1-2 years. 

Another Stepping Stone

Once the women have successfully lived at the first home, they are moved to the second home. What does success mean? The women need to show that they can live peacefully, reach a relational goal, and show signs of a healthy emotional state. This second house is more independent; women here can hold jobs and build relationships with people in the community. It is a stepping-stone to living completely on their own. However, even after they graduate, they are always able to reach out for help.  

A Beautiful Diversity

One of the most beautiful aspects of this organization is its diversity. Though the houses are located in Spain, both the workers and the residents come from all over the world . In this way, Casa Refugio reflects the Kingdom vision of the nations coming together for restoration and redemption.

This kind of diversity also allows for women of all cultures to be exposed to the love of Jesus Christ. Though Kaitlyn works as a life skills coach, she still interacts with the women on a spiritual level and s hare s God’s love. Whether she is taking the women to church, listening to worship music, or praying together at mea ls, Kaitlyn has many moments throughout the day to speak into their lives and point t hem t o Jesus. Recently she was able to help translate Spanish worship songs into one woman’s native language, because this w oman w anted to be able to understand and sing the songs at church! Kaitlyn also en gages in many conversations with the women in their day-to-day activities, building trust for deeper relationships.

A Life of Love

Kaitlyn has paved a way for ministry to these women in Spain. She and her team are becoming the hands and feet of Christ, walki ng alongside and offering practical help to women who desperately need Christ’s love to live a life of abundance. This ministry brings women together and allows them to experience a life of love so different from what they have ever known before. In the words of the women at Casa Refugio ,

 “We aren’t just people who live together, we are family.”

View the Spain Ministry Guide

Subscribe to the Monthly "Explore" Newsletter for Those Who Are Considering Missions But Aren't Ready Just Yet.

Following Family

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Following Family

Written by Amy Schuett.

Becoming Children of God

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13).”

Those who come know Jesus Christ as their Saviour become children of God. Leaving the old life behind, Christians gain a new inheritance into a new family. This is the message that SEND mission workers seek to share with the people of North Macedonia by the power of the Spirit.

Listening But Not Accepting

Macedonia has two main populations of people: Macedonian Orthodox and Albanian Muslim. There are less than 1% of evangelical Christians in both groups. The culture has open doors and welcoming hearts, but many are still far from knowing Jesus as Saviour. People are willing to listen to the presentation of the gospel, but few accept it. One mission worker in Macedonia for many years has witnessed this pattern firsthand.

“Having a good conversation and having them accept [the gospel] are two different things,” she says, “It’s not a taboo subject. They don’t find it offensive - but change impacts who you are.”

The battle for soul change is over heritage. Tradition, politics, and background are all strongholds that are hard to overcome. Change is resisted.

“To be an Albanian in Macedonia is to be Muslim, and there are only a dozen or so Albanian Jesus followers in the whole country. Those who become Christ-followers are considered ' Torbish' ”.

In the same way, only 0.2% of Macedonians are evangelical Christians. Following Jesus in this society means denouncing your identity. This has many serious repercussions.

“Some have family members that have stopped speaking to them or visiting, including parents not visiting their grown children, or brothers and sisters not visiting their siblings’ families ,” she says.  

To follow Christ, a person must be willing to give up their earthly family in this country where families are a pillar of society and deeply involved in each other’s lives. Family members often try to make it difficult for new believers to attend services, Bible studies, etc. Some are threatened, kicked out, or at the very least, made to feel unwelcome.

Joining the Family of God

This however doesn’t stop Christ-followers from sharing the gospel. The people of Macedonia need Jesus. Many feel the weight of human needs: loneliness, strife, brokenness. These heart longings transcend the lines of society. Christians have been able to help identify these longings and point thirsty souls to the Living Water of Jesus Christ. Those that do accept Christ, receive a new identity, a new inheritance, and are welcomed into the family of God. When a person accepts Jesus, the church becomes their new family, and it may be all they have.  

Pray for Macedonia. Pray for the youth especially, that they will be open to change. Pray that the pull of ethnic heritage, traditions, and family, will no longer prevent people from accepting Christ. Pray that people will understand their new identity and heritage in Jesus Christ. Finally, pray for perseverance for the mission workers in Macedonia - that in spite of these strongholds, they will continue to share the good news of Jesus, and that many will join the family of God.

Learn About SEND's work in Macedonia

Learn About the "Engage Macedonia" Internship Program

Read Another Story from Macedonia: "Coffee and Questions"

Discover Ministry Opportunities

Kingdom Impact!

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Kingdom Impact!

Written by Merla Gogel, SEND Canada mobilizer.

It is not just the evangelist who is reaching those who have not heard of Jesus. God is sending all kinds of people around the world to use their various gifts, skills and expertise to have a Kingdom impact.

Lee and Karen’s Ministry

In the late 1990s, Lee and Karen* followed God’s leading to begin a new ministry. The goal was to better equip English language teachers who want to teach as a means of evangelistic outreach. The ministry has now developed into a training school, accessible to English teachers all over Asia. As the teachers implement Lee and Karen’s methods, they see their students growing in their English ability!

In addition to the teacher training, the local English teachers are also equipped with how to share their faith effectively. They have discovered that showing the love of Christ often leads to sharing the message of Christ. These language teachers are having a spiritual impact on their students which is far more important!

Lee and Karen quickly recognized that the teachers they train have deep needs of their own . Some of them have arrived at the training school nearly burn ed out. One young teacher, who was ready to quit, was rejuvenated by the care and support that Lee and Karen gave him . He returned to his ministry, not only better equipped to teach English, but refreshed and encouraged. He is motivated to help his students not only grow in their capacity to speak English but also to hear about Jesus.

International Impact

Lee and Karen’s Kingdom impact is not just limited to one country. God, in amazing ways, is opening doors to more countries in Asia to which Lee and Karen are bringing this effective training.

In one country that Lee and Karen recently visited, a Christian lady teaches English to children in poverty because the government considers it a waste to invest financial resources in such children. This lady enrolled in Lee’s training and is now implementing the new principles and methods. When others noticed how well the children were grasping the language, the number of schools under her care expanded from 4 to 19! Even better, while these children are growing in their English capacity, they are also opening their hearts to the love of Christ being shown to them.

Making a Difference

God provided a unique way for Lee and Karen to have Kingdom impact through training English teachers. Mission workers like them can GO because of the support of SENDers like you!

Thank you for supporting your mission worker to advance Kingdom impact with SEND.

*Names have been changed for security reasons.

Read Another Story from Lee and Karen

Explore TESOL Opportunities

Discover Ministry Opportunities

GoJournal: Deepening Discipleship in Short-Term Missions

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

GoJournal: Deepening Discipleship in Short-Term Missions

Short-Term Missions can be life-changing!

Short-term Missions (STM) give God’s people an opportunity to grow as they serve Him and serve others (Luke 10:27-28). The GoJournal is designed to help deepen discipleship and relationships through STM. We want to use short-term missions to cultivate long-term fruit!

The GoJournal has three key elements:

The Journey Book provides participants with daily journaling templates including reflections on God’s Word and thought-provoking questions.

The Leader Guide helps one or more Team Leaders coordinate the effective use of the Journey Books and a thorough debriefing process.

The Mentor Guide enables a caring member of the home church to be personally involved with a STM worker through hospitality and prayer.

Whether you will serve as a STM worker, a Team Leader or a Mentor, get started with GoJournal today!

Learn more at gojournal.org !

Macedonia in Crisis

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Macedonia in Crisis

What kind of impact does physical distancing have on cultures who love to be close? Many of the areas of the world hardest hit by COVID-19 are places where the culture is defined by social gatherings and friendliness. SEND missionary Sherri Ens gives a firsthand look at how this global crisis has impacted Macedonia and affected her life and ministry. 

The Initial Shock

“The first week was panic,” Sherri said. Macedonians had little to no chance to prepare for the strict lockdown that was coming. Many who live in Macedonia work in Italy most of the year. However, once Italy was hard hit and people began returning home, cases soon began popping up in Macedonia. Things began to shut down one by one. Everything was cancelled and people had to stay in their homes.  

The curfews are very intense. People can only be out until 4 pm on weekdays, and no one is allowed outside their homes on the weekends. The curfews have hit the elderly and children especially hard, with only a two-hour window to be outside on weekdays. Many are struggling because there is an extreme lack of interaction with friends and family. It is a loss for this culture, and they are grieving the changes. 

Ministry Calling

Because of all these restrictions, ministry has changed quite drastically. People are experiencing worry, stress, and fear from the uncertainty of the times. Many older people in Macedonia are not comfortable with accessing friends and family on technology. This adds a layer of difficulty for the SEND team in ministering to others like these because connections can only happen through phone calls right now. This culture is used to hours of conversation over coffee , and there is not enough time on the phone for people to open up and feel comfortable talking about faith. 

Church life has also changed, though perhaps in some ways for the better. Sherri tells that, “more are meeting for prayer and Bible studies online because people are home.” Since all church content is now online, many Macedonians can get sermons and messages from multiple churches across the country rather than just their own. This crisis has actually caused a greater growth and depth of faith in believers. 

Crisis Moments

The team in Macedonia is responding and operating the best that they can during a global crisis. From helping short-term mission worker Josie travel home to Canada in early April, to helping families who are experiencing an economic fallout, team members have a lot on their plates. 

Through all things, Sherri remains hopeful for the future. The people of Macedonia are grieving losses caused by distance and separation, and many have come to the realization that they cannot find security in this world. Sherri hopes the desire for security will turn people towards God. Let’s pray with Sherri that in the midst of this crisis Macedonians will discover the sure hope of new life in Christ.

Written by Amy Magwood.

Read about Macedonia, "The Culture of Coffee"

Search and Rescue

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Search and Rescue

When a blizzard hits in the Far North even going to the grocery store in a small village can be dangerous.

One of our teammates this winter had this experience as they aided in two search and rescues during such a storm. They wrote:“We’ve had lots of blizzards here over the last few weeks. Last week, multiple individuals got lost during a storm just traveling from the store to their houses!

Search and rescue teams were sent out multiple times looking for people. I volunteered to help with one of the searches. One guy was found just as I was getting ready to go out. He was lost for 8 hours. Thank God that he was ok and was found with his four-wheeler about a mile north of the village.

We searched for about 45 minutes for another guy. Finally, I spotted something dark in the middle of the white-out. I went over to check, and praise God, we found him. He was about a mile northwest of the village. He, too, was ok and we got him back to the police department.

People are always very thankful when others are willing to risk their safety to help look for those who are lost.

Praise God for answered prayer. I know for some of you it may be hard to imagine how you can get lost or disoriented in town, but if you take the words off this white screen, that’s pretty close to what it looks like driving around looking for people in a blizzard. We use GPS, phones, and radios to keep ourselves safe, but it can be kind of nerve-racking. thankfully there are no trees out here to run into!”

Please continue to pray for our teams who are always out on a spiritual search and rescue mission!

Discipling Believers in Ukraine

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Discipling Believers in Ukraine

After committing their lives to Christ, Greg and Patti Wilton enrolled in Bible College in Saskatchewan, believing God was calling them to missions in Africa. However, in 1998, as graduation neared, it became clear that God had closed that door.

The Wiltons returned to BC, uncertain where they would serve. After a prolonged period of waiting, Greg accepted a job in California. However, unexpectedly, on their way into the US, the Wiltons were denied entry. The crossing guard told them to return home and to use their degrees to become missionaries! Soon after that humbling experience, God led the Wiltons to Ukraine.

Through the twists and turns, God was faithful to direct the Wiltons in His time to accomplish His work! God used them to disciple believers in Ukraine like Zhenya and Sveta, who are now discipling others. After 18 faithful years of ministry with SEND Canada, Greg and Patti retired in 2019.

Read About Greg and Patti's Ministry in Ukraine

View the SEND Canada Annual Report

Fueling Hope - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fueling Hope - Ukraine Crisis Story

Your gifts to Help Ukraine are SENDing Help and Hope to local churches who are providing supplies and transportation to people who are fleeing to safety.

From one of our many church partners in Ukraine:

Our deacon and volunteers are currently taking four trips weekly, driving 3700+ miles per week, between our city in the southwest near Romania and one of the conflict zones. Believers are banding together and providing supplies (food, diapers, medicine, etc.) to fill the large van. We drive those supplies to needy people. And then fill the van with people (16 each time) and bring them west, often times caravanning together with other people/vehicles. Praise the Lord, the needed supplies are currently being provided by local believers. But the van/transportation/fuel costs are adding up significantly. Our weekly fuel costs are $950. For safety, we are regularly servicing the van (every 10,000kms).

Give now to help relief efforts

A Second Wave of Global Workers

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Second Wave of Global Workers

When Lynn and I first arrived in Thailand to lead our global workers, we were a small team. In fact we had just five adults serving in church-planting. As much as we would have loved to dive in and serve as grass-root church-planters ourselves, we knew this was not our calling. Rather, at this (later) season in our lives, we understood our role was to mentor a whole new generation of global workers for Thailand.

So we began to pray. “Lord, send us young adults who will sacrifice their lives to reach the Shan and Isaan peoples who have no access to the gospel.” We also designed a short-term experience called “Adventures Among the Shan” especially geared for young adults. The trip included riding bikes through jungles and jumping off waterfalls, but most importantly, living in Shan homes in remote mountain villages.

Fast forward five years to the present. In the past two years we have had 21 new global workers arrive in Thailand for long-term ministry with us among the unreached. We call this group our “2nd wave”, and they make up two-thirds of our entire field membership! They come from Hong Kong, Canada, USA, the Philippines, Germany, and Switzerland.

Onboarding such a diverse group of international and intergenerational workers will be no easy task! But rejoice with us, that God has sent us this “2nd wave” to open new frontiers across Thailand with the gospel!

In fact, Caleb and Raquel, one of our young couples from Canada has recently completed the Thai language requirement and has been commissioned to start a church planting team in a community in northwest Thailand to reach the Shan people living there. There is another couple working nearby who has welcomed them as ministry partners.

Caleb and Raquel are currently seeking out suitable housing and a culturally appropriate platform for ministry in that location enabling them to spread the gospel effectively. They hope to be able to move there soon!

Fruitful Practices #3-Varied Use of Scripture

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fruitful Practices #3-Varied Use of Scripture

Fruitful Practices

In previous “Fruitful Practices” articles, we have written about the importance of prayer and of learning the local language . If you missed those entries, I would encourage you to go back and check them out. The eight fruitful practices we are covering with this series of articles, are common patterns observed in places where Muslims are coming to Christ. They are not perfect formulas that produce an automatic result; rather, they are patterns that many have seen bearing fruit in difficult contexts, and we want to offer them to you as tools. In this issue we will be looking at fruitful practice #3- the varied use of Scripture.

Stocking Your Toolbox

Varied Use of Scripture

As Christian workers interacting with those who do not know Jesus, we need to learn to discern what tool to reach for in any given context or situation. Every person is different, and needs to be treated and responded to as an individual. Some individuals might need a hard copy of the Bible in their language. Others may not be ready to receive a Bible, but are open to hearing Bible stories. Others still, are moved by Bible verses or pithy proverbs. A printed Bible may not be helpful to those who are illiterate or functioning in a second or third language. Instead, these individuals need the Bible in an audio format (SD card, DVD, MP3, radio, etc), or they need to hear Scripture orally. Additionally, the Jesus film, Magdalena, and other faith-based films have been translated into hundreds of languages and used to share the Gospel in a very powerful way. Since all people are different, what resonates well with one person, might not work well with another. The better you know the various tools available to you, the more effective you will be in choosing the right one for each situation and context.

Benefits of Scripture Memorization

Hebrews 4:12~ “The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Read about Fruitful Practice #2- Language Fluency.

Sign up for the quarterly SEND Hope & Light E-newsletter to learn about our Muslim ministry teams.

Discover new opportunities to partner with SEND in Muslim Ministry.

Reaching At-Risk Girls - Thailand Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Reaching At-Risk Girls - Thailand Series

“I knew it was wrong, but I wanted my father to die.” This Shan woman’s dad beat her for attending church—but now she has an amazing testimony of forgiveness and redemption to share.

Other videos in this series:

Prayer Like Gold - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Prayer Like Gold - Ukraine Crisis Story

March 9, 2022 An update from E* in Ukraine: On the first day of the war, I despaired that no one believed us, no one would help us. But these feelings led me to a new realization - the weaker we are, the greater will be God's glory. Just as Gideon was once left with only 300 soldiers, so we felt the first days of this nightmare as if we stood armed with only our jugs. We are amazed how that same God’s hand has stirred the entire world to pray! They believed us and our cries for help ... I praise God! Each of your prayers is like a nugget of gold, like a drop of rain, like another minute of life. We greatly appreciate it! We turn to the same God who humbled Nebuchadnezzar, who struck down 185,000 troops with one Angel, and who delivered the faithful from the fiery furnace!May God bless you all! *Name has been abbreviated to protect the safety of those involved.

Give now to help relief efforts

Participation in Salvation - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Participation in Salvation - Ukraine Crisis Story

From one of our church partners in Ukraine:

It's Saturday, which means that more than 200 adults and 50 children came to our church to the two meetings. Our team runs 10 groups simultaneously, where they share the Gospel, and hand out food bags, personal hygiene items, detergents, clothes and medicines.

This is the most stressful day since the two big groups of people come, nearly 30 members of our team are involved, the total time required for this event is 5-6 hours and all of this takes place at the end of the working week.

When we see such a huge number of people in the church, where almost all of them don't go to any church on the regular basis, you realize that God gives people a chance to start building relationships with Him! We are very happy that we can serve so many refugees.

Today after this event the team of the children's ministry had an outdoor meeting with kids.

Thank you for your participation in these people's salvation! I am sure that in heaven, many of them will come to you and thank you that you did everything you could so that they could enter the Kingdom of God!

Give now to help relief efforts

Restructuring Local Church Missions

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Restructuring Local Church Missions Churches that are successfully recruiting new leaders for their missions programs are those that have been unafraid to readdress their global priorities as well as how they are structuring the use of lay leaders within their congregation. Some have retooled their global outreach around one or more strategic initiatives; others take a geographic approach. Catalyst Services, Postings, Dec. 2007

A juxtaposed show of faith

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A juxtaposed show of faith

By Desmond Law in Taiwan

On a hot and humid Saturday, watery eyes, clammy skin and beautiful smiles filled the local community center in Tianwei, Taiwan. Perhaps some of the watery eyes were the result of the touching, moving and inspirational atmosphere created by our church-planting team’s Mother’s Day outreach. But the fountain of tears that streamed down my face could only be credited to the adjacent temple and the people furiously burning ghost money to the dead.

When I say adjacent, I don’t mean down the block, or even next door. Most community centers in Taiwan are built connected to a temple and Tianwei is no exception. It was quite a juxtaposition, hearing melodious praise songs to my right and the roar of a raging fire to my left.

In the relatively unreached community of Tianwei, our Mother’s Day outreach was the first of its kind for our church-planting team. We planned live performances, some little giveaways, a group aerobics session and, most importantly, a meal.

In order to prepare enough food, we asked people to register at our ministry center. Initially excited and filled with hope, we patiently waited for names to fill the sign-up sheet.

Days went by, and Mother’s Day weekend slowly approached, the sign-up sheet looked as fresh and blank as the day we first created it. Our original emotions — excitement and anticipation — become clouded with doubt and uncertainty.

Finally, it was the Friday night before the Saturday outreach, and I was sitting in our living room preparing my camera. I had been appointed as the official photographer of the event. I asked my dad how the sign-up sheet was looking and he gave me a cheerful “zero.”

As cheerful as he could bring himself to be, I knew how discouraging it was to have worked so hard to prepare for an event that might result in nothing. I nervously asked what we were going to do if no one showed up, and he honestly didn’t have an answer for me.

SEND International is partnering with like-minded churches to establish new congregations in Taiwan. The Tianwei church-planting initiative is under the leadership of Pastor Timothy Tang of Living Water Baptist Church in Taichung city. We had anticipated that around 30 volunteers from the parent church would be attending, and we dryly joked that this outreach event would turn out to be “church members only.”

With a heavy heart I began to lose faith as I drifted off to sleep, mentally preparing myself for the worst possible outcome.

The next morning, we began our weekly commute of around 45 minutes to Tianwei. As we pulled up to the center, I saw a large banner strung proudly across two poles, inviting the local community to our humble Mother’s Day celebration. The community center was an open area with a high ceiling equipped with some small fans to help with heat management, with the temple and its burning offerings glowing just feet away.

Ladies received flowers at the event.

Local volunteers had graciously helped us wash and arrange 100 folding chairs that had been in storage for what seemed like forever, their age betrayed by the thick layer of dust we originally found on them. As the scheduled time to start the program rolled around, people started slowly trickling in. By the time the program officially started, I would dare say there were 40 people from the community represented. Even the village chief attended and graciously welcomed us to the village before he had to return to his fields to work.

The village chief, right, connects with Pastor Timothy Tang.

As the teardown phase of our outreach came to a close, I finally had time to reflect on all the amazing and not-so-amazing things that had happened that day. We had made a positive impression on the village leadership, as well as the villagers themselves. Our goal was to create new relationships and to establish a presence in the village. I can honestly say we accomplished our mission.

The day was a show of faith in God: the stage Tianwei, and our church-planting team his actors. God masterfully orchestrated his will not only through us but in us to take the first step in the long journey toward reaching his lost people in Tianwei, Taiwan.

As the team moves forward, pray for open doors and hearts in Tianwei Township, especially as summer camp will be held soon. Also pray for seminary intern Bright Liu, his wife, Joyce, and their two children, Mini and Cooper. After Bright finishes his seminary degree in June, he will move to Tianwei, giving the church-planting effort a permanent face within the community.

'Tell me your secret'

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

8 Ways to Give

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

8 Ways to Give

Sing them a Christmas carol over Skype
Have your Sunday School class sign and send a Christmas card
Send a personal gift directly to them
Celebrate second Christmas — January 7 for those in Orthodox countries
Increase their support
Email a great Christmas ebook for their kids
Give to a ministry project they are involved in
Send them a box of Christmas treats

Second Career Workers

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Second Career Workers

Missions isn't just for the young! Church leaders share how they challenge Boomers and Builders to leave their settled lifestyle for missions service — and a few dangers to avoid.

Catalyst Services, "Postings," October 2009

Never Alone - Russia Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Never Alone - Russia Series

Yulia was on the brink of suicide when a dream about Jesus and a meeting with some Christians helped her realize that she is never alone. Part of the "Reaching Russia Together" series. Find links to the other videos in the series below.

Related Series

Individual Growth Plan

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Individual Growth Plan

The Individual Growth Plan guide explains the why and how of creating goals and specific, intentional steps toward meeting those goals. It was written for SEND missionaries but anyone could benefit from using it in their own personal development. Download a form to help you develop an Individual Growth Plan above, or read SEND U Director Ken Guenther's introduction to Individual Growth Plans here .

Desperately searching

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Desperately searching

Mr. K. lost both of his parents in the terrible earthquake and tsunami disaster that struck northeast Japan in 2011. He struggled for many years with post-traumatic stress disorder until coming into contact with some Christians who loved him and served him unconditionally. Through their ministry, he put his faith in Christ and was baptized. Here is his testimony:

I grew up in the midst of traditional religious culture, regularly going to shrines, worshiping at temples, revering our ancestors season after season. I took for granted that this was the model for life.

After I grew up, I got a job and everything sailed along smoothly in my life. I was busy and occupied every day; my family was well and harmonious; life was filled with dreams and hope. Economically, I was fairly well off; I could go drinking from pub to pub in Sendai every night, travel abroad each year, buy a new car when I felt like it. Basically I could do anything I wanted, and lived a self-centered life up until the 3-11 disaster in Japan. Suddenly, my pleasant life was jolted and twisted.

I lost both of my beloved parents in the tsunami. In the first week after the earthquake, I desperately searched all the school shelters and hospitals for my parents’ names, but I found nothing. For the next 45 days, I went daily to the places where bodies were being taken, looking carefully at the faces of hundreds of bodies, filled with deep fear that I would somehow overlook one of them. Finally, I saw my mother in a crude coffin and my father’s body was placed in a plastic bag. I deeply mourned the reality of both my parents’ demise. I felt the pain of their loss so deeply that I didn’t even shed a tear.

Afterwards, I tried to get away from hopeless Japan by going abroad, thinking I could escape from all that had happened. However, I couldn’t recover from the pain in my heart. I was living like a walking corpse. In that condition, I began repairing my parents’ house that was destroyed by the tsunami.

One day, as I was working on the house, Brother Otomo Tsuneo and Brother Kuriyama came to see me and asked if I’d like to receive a free renovation project plan from Samaritan’s Purse. That was the first opportunity I had to hear about Jesus.

The two of them unconditionally accepted me, who was stuck deeply in grief, and they shared their testimonies of salvation with me. Most service volunteers will come and help once, but not return; however, these two were different. Not only did they continue to come, they brought other volunteers with them, who comforted me, encouraged me, prepared food for me, helped to clean my house, took me to the hot springs, even up till now. Being neither their relative nor their old friend, I couldn’t understand why they were so nice to me. I also saw a difference in the life of another man at the church after his baptism, which caused me to long for similar changes in myself. So, I gradually became more interested in Christianity.

This past March, SEND missionary Tina Lin spent four intense days helping me go through a course on Basic Christian Truth. Finally, I understood how self-centered I’d been, deep in sin, living a disorderly life. I confessed that I am a sinner and traded the “self” that was sitting on the throne in my heart for Jesus to sit there. I accept and believe that Jesus paid for my sins on the cross. Then the four of us – Tina, Brother Otomo Tsuneo, Brother Kuriyama and me – prayed together. From that time, I am a changed person. I was formerly filled with helplessness, having no energy to do things and continually drinking alcohol. Now that is changed and I have initiated getting involved in volunteer activity. I hope that I can help some who are even in more difficulty and suffering than I was.

Recently, people around me have often said to me: “You’re changed!” My life has changed to be filled with hope. The verse I like most is: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)

Urban vs Rural

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Urban vs Rural

It is interesting how one leap of faith opens doors one never knew was possible. Then that open door leads to another and then another. SEND North does ministry in rural Alaska and Northern Canada. Our rural focus made people wonder why we moved our headquarters to Anchorage, Alaska’s biggest city. Some people feared that being in the ‘urban sprawl’ would lessen our focus on the remote far north. We found the opposite to be true.

We made better ministry connections in this urban hub to strengthen our rural church building focus. The same holds true in Canada. The Canadian team’s ministry coach lives in the city of Whitehorse. They find this location helps them to better connect with the teams in the surrounding rural communities. You may remember when we planted our first team in the city of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. We’ve made many connections in that urban center which is opening doors of ministry in up to five remote communities in Nunavut.

We see, now more than ever, that urban centers are intertwined with rural life in the far north. It is not urban vs rural, it is urban and rural. The SEND North field of ministry stretches across the “60-70 Window” from western Alaska into the northern Canadian Territories and this includes the urban areas of Fairbanks, the “Mat-Su Valley”, Anchorage, and the Canadian cities of Whitehorse and Yellowknife. These cities will be considered in SEND North’s new endeavor entitled “Urban Ministry.” We believe there are many more ways in which God can use ministry in one area to boost ministry in the other.

Right now we are in the initial discovery phase of this new endeavor, and Greg Joyce is leading the charge.

Greg and his wife, Kim, have over 20 years of rural ministry experience in the far north, and four years ministering in Anchorage with our Logistics and Support team. They are uniquely qualified to open this new venture. Greg describes his role this way, “My goal in Urban Ministry is to determine who lives where, what ministries are present that may effectively reach them, and how we can be involved in seizing the opportunities that exist. Big goals, with eternal consequences.”

Please pray for God’s hand of guidance as we look to Him to open more ministry in all areas of the ‘60/70 Window’.

If you want another take on this expansion, check out Dr. Barry Rempel’s final ‘State of the Mission’ speech at the 2016 conference.

Mentoring Matters: Jon's Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Mentoring Matters: Jon's Story

It took me a while to purposefully seek out someone to learn from spiritually. The first guy I did this with was Bud, a co-worker and elder at our church, probably about twenty years older than I was at the time. We would walk at lunch, and during our talks Bud shared transparently from his own life, which encouraged me to do the same. I think the most significant part of this was how it took away the feeling of being unknown in the guy part of my spiritual life. Interestingly it was only about a year after starting those walks with Bud that God called us into full time ministry.

Learn More about SEND's Ministry in Japan

Discover Ministry Opportunities

A tale of two farmers

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A tale of two farmers

Dave Barkman grew up helping harvest wheat in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Mr. Suda’s fields are full of wakame , an edible seaweed grown in Japan.

It took a tsunami to bring these two farmers together.

The March 2011 natural disaster devastated 600 miles of Japanese coast, wiping away fishing villages like Mr. Suda’s on the Oshika Peninsula.

Soon after the tsunami, SEND started contributing relief supplies. Recognizing that serving the devastated communities would be a long-term project, SEND missionaries Dave and Eileen Barkman moved into the disaster-affected area. They got connected with a Japanese pastor who has poured his life into reaching the residents of the peninsula’s fishing villages, and they began leading volunteer teams to help with cleanup and rebuilding efforts.

And that’s where they met the Sudas. The Suda family is the oldest in the village; their ancestors moved there 400 years ago. Mr. Suda farms two crops — oysters and wakame. Oysters take three years to grow, but wakame can be harvested after just 10 months. With the villagers destitute after the tsunami, their homes and tools swept away by the sea, showing the love of Jesus has meant helping sow and harvest the crops.

Dave Barkman blanches wakame on the harbor. Helping with the seaweed harvest is a tangible way to serve the fishing communities on the Oshika Peninsula.

Wakame grows off of a 10-meter rope that has been strung with wakame spore. After 10 months hung in the sea, it has grown from tiny spores on snippets of string to 2- to 4-meter-long plants. The rope with the plants is pulled onto the deck of a boat. On the pier, the stem and leaves are chopped off from the root and put through a hot water bath. Then they are bagged, brined and pressed. Teams of women sort through the leaves, trimming out any bad bits. Then the leaves are boxed and sent to wholesalers who pay $250 for 15 kilograms. Japanese families eat wakame in soups and salads.

“This really is farming,” Dave said. “But compared to what I experienced in my younger days, it’s totally different.”

People who live on the remote peninsula can travel more than an hour to the nearest grocery store.

It’s also making a difference. By the time the Barkmans met her, Mrs. Suda had already made a faith decision for Jesus, but Mr. Suda was rather grouchy.

“Everyone would kind of act like they were busy when they saw him coming,” Dave said. “But he took a liking to me. I was able to sit down and talk with him. He speaks a very rough fisherman’s language. But for some reason, we could still communicate.

“The work reminded me so much of days doing farm work in Kansas. Even though the setting and crop were so totally different, I think it was on that level that I could connect with Mr. Suda. We share the same appreciation for nature and work.

“One day, I was trying to explain to a group of the locals why we’re in Japan, what a missionary does, that we share the love of Christ because of what he’s done for us, that he’s promised us true life.

“Mr. Suda suddenly interjected: ‘But what does the Bible say about marriage?’ That was a sore point, a felt need. The theological stuff didn’t connect with him. He wanted to know the practical. He wanted to know about marriage.”

Praying with the Sudas.

Now Mr. Suda, too, has begun to believe in Jesus. He and his wife are learning what it means to follow him.

Mr. Suda’s faith story is just one of many on the peninsula. Pastor Kishinami has started numerous evening Bible studies in temporary homes and work sheds. A skilled story-teller, he shares the gospel and its practical implications for the lives of the fishermen’s families. He’s seen about 90 people take faith steps toward Jesus.

SEND now has a fulltime presence on the peninsula, too. SEND missionaries Mitsuo and Akiko Fujishima, who grew up in Japan and know the local dialect, recently moved there. They spend their days visiting people in temporary housing, hosting Bible studies, doing follow-up work, and helping with oyster and wakame processing. They report that the witness of the Christians who have come to work in the villages has helped a Korean lady (married to one of the fishermen) develop into a passionate Christian who just led her elderly Japanese mother-in-law to the Lord!

“It is difficult for new believers to deal with the deeply rooted traditions of ancestor worship and other idolatrous practices,” Dave said. “However, we are starting to see the power of the gospel to change lives, marriages and community relationships. Christ is building his church in the fishing villages of Oshika Peninsula.”

Reflections on Sight

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Reflections on Sight

We are sharing the SEND North blog today with one of our Interns, Rachael Allen. She is currently serving in Northern Canada. The following is an excerpt of her reflections on the struggle facing young Christians after summer camp.

“As we came back from camp and returned to our town, I could visibly see the inner battle between darkness and light, blindness and sight in the actions of one boy who was talking in the van.

We had a ministry coffee night the same night we returned home where we all were there for him and the other youth in the town to laugh, talk and love on him. Yet so were his friends and his video games. His face lit up when he was there in the ministry centre with us, he laughed with joy while baking cookies, playing games and running and goofing around with us, but then would stop and become conflicted when his friends came in and urged him to come outside with them. He paused in playing the game with us, promised to return, and then ran outside to answer the beckoning calls of his friends. He came back inside after a few minutes and joined our laughing, crazy circle of card games, then returned outside again to the peer pressure, literally calling his name.

I could see it in his eyes, the darkness and light interlocked in a dangerous game of tug of war. My heart longs for him to thrive, grow and be mentored in his faith, to see him loving Jesus and living for him, yet the depths of his heart desire the clutches of darkness. The only thing I can say isn’t to him, but to my Heavenly Father. I can only intercede on his behalf and trust that the True Light of the world will be fighting on his battle with darkness and bring him back into the light so that he can truly see.”

You can read the full story and follow Rachael’s internship on her blog at rachaelelisaallen.wordpress.com

Moose Hunt - Alaska Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Moose Hunt - Alaska Series

Even though Alaska is part of the USA, the culture out in the bush is unique. This video about a long moose hunt offers a glimpse of life in a Yup'ik Eskimo village in western Alaska. Part of the video series "Alaska: Life in Your Face." Find links to the other videos in this series below.

What's Your Niche?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What's Your Niche?

What is your unique way of showing God’s love and displaying the truth of the Gospel? Often I think we get locked into standard ministry roles like preacher or youth worker. Those are good but limited ideas. I recently came across some notes from a brainstorming session we did in 2012 which dived into the idea of identifying various niches within our communities. Webster’s online dictionary defines niche in the following ways:

I think most of us know of this term in regards to business and marketing. I think you can see that ‘Niche’ is also a helpful way to look at ministry in Alaska and northern Canada. What positions or functions are necessary for a small community of people to thrive in harsh, extreme, northern environments? In that brainstorming session at SEND North’s Annual Conference, our teammates listed off a few of the ways people get involved in our communities.

No surprise that those standard ministry roles did make the cut. I wonder which niches surprised you? I was taken aback by the idea of a gabber (i.e. one who talks too much) as a vital part of community cohesiveness. Have you thought of coffee as a ministry tool? One of our teammates supervises students who run a youth center coffee shop for school credit. We know teachers are vital for a community but have you thought of them as key ministry partners? What about a mom who helps out in a classroom or a handyman? The reality is that each community this far north pulls together, and everyone has an important role to play. Since actions speak louder than words, living life together opens up multiple doors to minister to people. This reality is why we are interested in taking anyone with any skill to serve in the Far North. They key requirements are a clear calling and have a strong walk with Jesus because the spiritual climate is brutal up here.

So what is your niche? What are the unique ways you can connect with people to share the Love of God? If you are interested in ministry in Alaska or northern Canada, you can get more information by going to our ministry page . We would love to help you find your place in missions whether you join us or not!

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Instantly download the free report, God's Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the 60/70 Window .

An Afghan Seeks Truth

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

An Afghan Seeks Truth

Recently, a SEND missionary traveled to India to train believers in how to use English teaching as a ministry. The story of one of his students caught his attention.

One of my students in the India course was a man from Afghanistan. He grew up in a devout family who took their beliefs in the Koran seriously. As a young man, he was sent to Iran in order to escape the Taliban soldiers. There, he learned Persian so that he could read the holy script.

A few years later, he made his way across the border to Turkey, through Greece, and eventually into France. There, he and a friend were able to get on a train to England by holding themselves up on the undercarriage of the train. Hanging inches away from the tracks, he prayed as he had never prayed before.

Upon arrival in England, he was caught by police, booked, and given a new set of clothes.

Life in England included compulsory English classes. One day in class, a south Korean girl asked him if he wanted to come to her church. He accepted but was confused by what he saw there. Why were people singing and dancing? His friend told him that the people were worshiping and praying. “This is foolishness,” he thought.

But he was intrigued and wanted to know more. “After the sermon, I took the Bible home. When I read it, I found a different message. That message made me hungry for more. I concentrated on reading the Bible more carefully. After quite a long time, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I realized that the Bible is true. It is really and truly the Word of a true and living God.”

His heart began to ache for his family and village back in Afghanistan. He returned there but was met with ridicule and scorn for his faith. His family forced him from the village. He was no longer welcome in his own country so he moved to India since it was one of the few countries offering visas.

He still prays for his family daily, and tells many Afghani immigrants to search for the Truth. With his new training as an English teacher from our ministry, he believes that he will be able to reach even more Afghanis. May he do just that!

No Ordinary River

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

No Ordinary River

Have you ever stepped into a river so cold it numbed your toes? The chilly bite takes away your breath and startles you. Then, as you step back out of the river, it feels like new blood rushes into your feet, filling you with warmth once again. For many, the feeling is the same when they step into the River of Life.

On June 11, 2017, in a frigid, Alaskan river, Jackson* took one such step. Jackson is from a very remote village in Western Alaska, and I met him at Bible camp. His face seemed hardened from years of tough village life, extreme weather, and responsibility within his family. He maintained a docile, simple, and good-humored personality throughout camp, always supporting his counselors and focusing intently on the message. The other campers respected him, and he could often be found teaching them a game or goofing off with them.

One night, after the Gospel was presented, Jackson hung back while the other campers went out for the evening game. It was the next day that we found out Jackson had made the decision to be baptized.

The entire camp and many community members walked down to the river with him, the same river that many of his friends had been baptized in after deciding to follow Christ. In fact, the man baptizing him had been save about 30 years prior at the same camp and baptized in the same river. Jackson shared before the baptism that he was looking forward to having out with the old and in with the new, referring to Ephesians 4:22-24.

The river felt icy and numbed Jackson and the men that joined him in the river. When Jackson arose after his submersion, he did not react to the cold but instead beamed as he felt the new blood rush back into his cheeks and toes, a symbol reflecting the thaw of a chilled heart now pumping with new blood, the saving blood of Christ.

Pray with me for Jackson, that he will grow into a wise and sought-after leader in his community, as an example in righteousness, humility, and hard work. Pray that Jackson will only be one saved among many to come. And pray too for that river, that it may continue to run, overflowing with new lives eager to publicly display their devotion to Christ. - Kelly Quist

*not his real name

Highlights, Challenges, and a Special Request

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Highlights, Challenges, and a Special Request

Canadian Director Rob "Mags" Magwood shares ministry highlights and challenges, and makes a special request.

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Winter 2018 SEND North Newsletter

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Winter 2018 SEND North Newsletter

Please enjoy reading our latest Newsletter highlighting some of the work that God is doing in the Far North of Alaska and Canada.

Click here to link to the newsletter

Making Northern Disciple Makers

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Making Northern Disciple Makers

Parenting is hard work. My wife and I are grateful for our two boys who are 12 and 4 years old. Both of our boys bring us great joy, but we are often humbled by our inability to love them well. As any parent knows, keeping children safe is a challenge, but raising kids to be mature adults can feel impossible at times. After all, how do we define maturity? What is our goal? Are they mature just because they can pay rent, drive a car, hold a job, or cook Ramen Noodles?

For my boys, I will consider them mature when they can adequately care and provide for their own families. As a result, at times I remind them, "When you are a parent someday, you will..." or "when you are a husband, you will need to..."

The goal is not just for them to "show up" to adulthood with a job and a place to live, they need to learn that maturity means caring for the people God has entrusted to them.

It was obviously not an accident that Jesus' final words to His disciples commanded them to "make disciples" (Matthew 28:19-20). He did not want them to simply live life remembering the "good old days" of Jesus' time on earth. He left them with a job. He expected them to care for the spiritual needs of the people next door and around the world.

Jesus explained that making disciples meant to "baptize them" (i.e.,. witness to people and bring them to the point of following Jesus) and to "teach them to obey all I have commanded you." Notice he did not simply say to "teach them," but to "teach them to OBEY." Jesus did not want knowledgeable students; he wanted committed followers. Furthermore, he wanted disciples who would take ALL of his commands seriously.

This should cause us to stop and give very intentional consideration to the commands of Christ. Take a moment and write down as many as you can remember. Now take a look at your list, did you remember to include Christ's command to "go and make disciples?" If not, your list is incomplete.

If we are going to take Christ's Great Commission seriously, we have to remember that the job is not done until those people who we disciple also learn to obey Jesus' command to make disciples. Disciple-making is not only for pastors, missionaries, and other perceived "super" Christians. Jesus expects all of his followers to grow to maturity, and maturity means learning to raise up the next generation.

For the past 15 years, SEND North has passionately focused on Gospel proclamation in the villages of Alaska and northern Canada . We have seen God grow our village church planting presence from 4 families to nearly 50 people, yet we know the work is far from finished. Although many Northern people have heard the gospel, there are very few healthy churches because there are very few local people who understand their part in making disciples.

To help us focus on this reality, SEND North has recently revised our vision statement:

To see every community of the 60/70 Window filled with local disciple-makers who meet together regularly and have established regional leadership.

We want to take the same passion and enthusiasm that we have for Gospel proclamation in the villages, and see disciple makers formed for the glory of Christ. In the weeks ahead, we will add additional blog posts to further unpack our new vision statement. You can also join us on social media to follow along as God unfolds our path to fulfill His vision.

Jim Stamberg,

SEND North Area Director

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Instantly download the free report, God's Extreme Love; Life and Ministry in the 60/70 Window .

Parking Lot Bomb Shelter - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Parking Lot Bomb Shelter - Ukraine Crisis Story

March 1, 2022 We recently received this update and prayer request from one of our church partners in Ukraine. As we begin another night here in Kyiv with periodic sirens and explosions (they often come in clumps of several in a row and then it stops for a while) the Lord is answering your prayers protecting us. Praise Him. We have about 50 people from our church and approximately another 15 or so unbelievers from the neighborhood using our church building as a refuge. There are several children and a couple of babies. We have been here many nights sleeping on mats in our underground parking lot and using it as a bomb shelter. Pray for:

Thank you for your fervent prayers.

Give now to help relief efforts

Gratitude and Grief - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Gratitude and Grief - Ukraine Crisis Story

March 3, 2022 We recently received this update from one of our church partners in Ukraine. Day 8 of war, night 5 on the floor of the bomb shelter. Grateful for another day of life, for water, electricity, heat, internet that we still have! So many people in Ukraine already don't have that or even a roof over their heads, some people are being dug from under the rubble of the remains of the houses. Our hearts are breaking for the pain and suffering of our people.We went to sleep in our real beds at 11:30pm. It was comfortable, but I couldn't sleep for a while. It just didn't feel safe to sleep in a room with a large window. At 1:30 air raid sirens urged us to move to the bomb shelter. We spent the rest of the night sleeping on the floor here.I woke up feeling physically tired, my heart is aching for all the losses that this one more night of war brought to my land, but I still have a lot to be grateful for.

Psalm 18:1-2
I love you, Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Give now to help relief efforts

Faster, Farther, Safer

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Faster, Farther, Safer

Aviation is a vital part of ministry in the Far North. Airplanes, like land-based vehicles, are made for various purposes. Our Beechcraft Bonanza is a longer range work-horse. In 2020, the Bonanza flew more than in 2019, covering an estimated 30,000+ miles in support of missionaries across Alaska. This was even without any trips to Canada, and very few Bible camp flights due to COVID restrictions

As SEND North continues to grow, it has become very apparent that we will need a second Bonanza airplane stationed in the Fairbanks area to effectively assist the ministry families in the northern and interior villages of the state. Right now, the airplane that is based in Fairbanks is slow and can only fly in ideal weather conditions. Because of these and other limitations, some ministry flights are not happening or must be canceled.

A second Bonanza will allow us to fly ministry workers in a plane that can safely handle most weather (because of its anti-icing system), and is 40% faster, making it more efficient than the current plane in Fairbanks. Adding a second Bonanza to the fleet will free up the slower plane for village-to-village ministry, where it will be much more useful.

Bonanzas are not cheap airplanes, but they are quality aircraft. One additional benefit is that, once we can get a new airplane in place, it can help the teammate’s personal funds stretch much further. For example, it would cost $1250 for five members of a ministry family to travel from their specific village to Fairbanks on a commercial plane. SEND North could fly that same family on our Bonanza for our operating costs of $865, and deliver 700 lbs of groceries and freight that would normally cost them over $1 per pound to ship. Between the freight and passenger prices, just one trip could save this family over $1100!

We are in the midst of our capital campaign project to raise funds for the second aircraft. Thanks to one generous donor, every dollar donated toward the purchase of the aircraft, between April 1 and September 30, 2021, will be matched, up to $100,000. If you feel led to give to this opportunity to grow this ministry, follow this link .

Fill the Window

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fill the Window

“I long to see every community of the 60/70 window ﬁlled with local disciple-makers.

Growing up, I remember when missionaries visited our church. While these people came from many different places and ministered in vastly different communities, there were a few things they all had in common. They all were happy to be with us, yet seemed somewhat awkward and uncomfortable in our church. They all were very generous with their time and whatever they had, even if they didn’t have much. They all had stories that captivated my imagination and pointed out the sovereignty of God- from harrowing plane rides to confrontations with people that were antagonistic to the Gospel, to the unique and disgusting things they’d learned to call food in their new home. Most importantly, they all loved Jesus. They loved Jesus with a depth I hadn’t experienced and saw few examples of in the church I was a part of. Now that I’ve experienced missionary life myself for some years, it’s interesting to look back on those ﬁrst impressions I had of missionaries and their work.

When I ﬁrst felt God’s call to missions in my life, I deﬁnitely had a romanticized vision of missionary life in my mind. I envisioned “boldly going where no man had gone before,” of being out on the front lines of ministry, in a small, remote, difﬁcult to access community. Having to ﬂy in a bush plane or travel by dugout canoe was an essential element to the picture I had in mind. Then my family and I moved to one of those remote communities. It was a harsh reality. Nothing I experienced ﬁt my idealized vision. Yet God sustained us in that community for 11 years, and we came to love the people and the place deeply. God drew us closer to Himself than we ever would have been able to grow otherwise. I came to understand that the reason the missionaries I met in childhood loved Jesus so much is that they’d come to a place in their lives where He was all they had. And they found Him to be enough. We began to experience Him that way as well.

God also taught me a couple of other valuable lessons during that time that has come to shape our ministry moving forward.

First, God shattered my perception that missions was best done by independent lone rangers, those willing to go it alone, pull themselves up by their bootstraps, and “boldly go.” This was the pattern of missionary work for a generation. And it was wrong. God never intended us to go it alone. Needing one another is not a sign of lack of faith, it’s proof that God created us for a relationship, just as He has eternally existed in perfect relationship with Himself - Father, Spirit, and Son. This is why SEND is so committed to ministry teams. We ﬁnd team members in our other regional SEND missionaries. But we also seek and ﬁnd team in local Christian leaders, in disciples who are making disciples, and in the local church, if one exists. We need each other to see the church grow, expand, and be healthy. SEND gets that, and is committed to it as a core principle.

Second, God opened my eyes to the harvest ﬁeld. What I mean is this - I had requirements of a mission ﬁeld, that it be remote, isolated, small, and difﬁcult to reach. But God calls us to reach people, not geographic locations. The reality we’re experiencing in the North is that the mission ﬁeld is becoming regionalized.

People are moving out of the villages and into hub communities. As an example, in the 11 years we lived in the village, the population decreased from 250 to around 200. Meanwhile, hub communities are growing. If God is calling us to share and show His love to people (and He is), then we must have a strategic presence in the hub communities of the North. The hub communities are where the greatest concentration of people - those for whom Christ came and died - are. It’s where they conduct business. It’s where they shop. It’s where they receive medical services. And, increasingly, it’s where they live. We must be committed to being where the people are. Today, my wife and I live and serve in a regional hub community. We team together not just with other SEND missionaries, but also with the local church.

And we long for and work toward, the day when our little corner of the 60/70 window is ﬁlled with local disciple-makers.”

-A SEND North Team Member

Inspiring prayer for the unreached

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Inspiring prayer for the unreached

By Jami G. in Ulan-Ude, Siberia — We're in full-on packing mode. In two weeks, our family will move from the main city in our area of Siberia to a small village where many of the residents are Buryat . As our family embarks on this new step in our ministry to the unreached, the theme of prayer keeps pounding in our hearts and in our minds.

We've heard in so many ways and from so many places the adage that a church-planting movement’s foundation rests on prayer. We really believe it's true. And, so, as we build a new home in order to live among the unreached, we feel a fresh desperation to come to God, seek him, and ask others to engage in the spiritual battle of prayer with us.

The unreached people of the world are unreached for a reason! We live in such a spiritually dark place and know that only God can break through these bonds of oppression to change people's hearts and minds. As we bring his message of hope to the Buryat — a primarily Buddhist group where less than 1 percent of the people have been reached with the gospel — we're ever aware that if there is any fruit, it will be God who produces it.

Learn more about the Buryat from their
Joshua Project profile .

We ourselves are growing in prayer, but we also are seeking a team of at least 1,000 people who will deeply and consistently pray for the Buryat and for many new churches to be planted in the Republic of Buryatia. One of the catalysts for this call to prayer is from “Contagious Disciple Making: Leading Others on a Journey of Discovery” by David and Paul Watson, which notes that the disciple-making movements that have really taken off in the past have had not just hundreds but thousands of people praying for them.

Here are some practical steps we’re taking — and that any global worker could take — to inspire prayer for the unreached:

1. We're using our networks, both here and abroad

We have written to pastors and spiritual leaders to see if they have ideas of how to spread the excitement of coming to our God on behalf of these unreached people. At the same time, we are sharing our vision with friends in Russia and asking them to get the word out. We would love to see people around the globe praying throughout the day for the Buryat.

2. We're staying connected

We understand that many people want to pray, but they don't know what to pray for unless we who live among the unreached help direct them. We send a weekly update that keeps the Buryat on people’s radar and makes it less likely that they will forget to pray. We don’t want writing these prayer updates to fall to the bottom of our to-do list, so we schedule them into our weekly calendar.

3. We're bringing the Buryat to life

Our updates go beyond simply listing prayer needs. When the Buryats have a holiday, we explain their traditions. When there’s a reason to mourn, we share the sad story. The gospel message flows through daily life — game nights and English lessons and meals together. We want those praying to connect with the Buryat as real people, and sharing about the extraordinary way God uses ordinary situations helps build those connections.

As we embark on this pattern of concentrated prayer, there are ways we want to grow:

It truly is amazing that we can talk with the Creator of the universe! It's beyond comprehension that he wants to engage with us and work in and through us. The more we come to him in prayer, and the more others are praying alongside us, the more we will be filled with awe by his wonders.

About the photo: There are 86 unreached people groups in Russia. During a missions-education course for believers in Siberia, the names of these people groups were typed out on a scroll, and the group gathered to pray for each group.

About the author: Jami G., originally from Washington state, lives with her husband and three children in Siberia, in the Republic of Buryatia. Their desire is to see the local church reach the native Buryat people and for the Buryats to know and praise their Creator. Click here to contact them.

Learn more about the unreached

Inviting the Word into their homes

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Inviting the Word into their homes

When we offered 15 Shan girls educational scholarships, our vision went beyond rescuing them from the sex trade. Even as we watched the gospel change these teens’ lives, we persistently prayed for a breakthrough that would transform their entire village.

We prayed for years, but only one Bible storytelling group started. We saw little interest in the gospel — until now.

We coupled our persistent petitions with frequent visits to the village. When we prayed for one woman, Pa Pram*, she felt the healing power that came through the name of Jesus.

Pa Pram told us that the local fortune-teller does not welcome our visits — when we’re around, the spirits she cries out to do not show up. Pa Pram used to go to that fortune-teller, but now she believes that the Spirit of the Christians is different. She even believes in the death and resurrection of Jesus, but still worships Buddha alongside Jesus.

Pa Pram wants to understand the gospel better, so she’s invited us to share the stories from the Bible in her home.

After years of prayer, the breakthrough has begun!

And it’s not just Pa Pram. In less than two months, three other village households have invited us to start Bible storytelling groups. Instead of one home group, we suddenly have five!

In one new group, the team shared the creation story from Genesis. The villagers listened intently. When it was over, they announced, “We have never heard anything like that in our entire lives.”

Our small team is thrilled. We’re also overwhelmed. But this leads to another breakthrough: We are training the Shan teen scholars to lead these storytelling groups. The Shan dorm mom and one of the young women have already begun telling the stories, marking the beginning of a second-generation disciple- making movement.

Thank you, Lord, for new Bible-storying groups! May many more Shan trust you as Savior.

Reprinted from SEND International's 2016 Annual Report.

*Not her real name

Hot Food - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Hot Food - Ukraine Crisis Story

March 22, 2022 GOD IS USING YOUR GIFTS!

Your gifts to Help Ukraine are SENDing Help and Hope

An excerpt from a church partner in Ukraine:

“Greetings, brothers and sisters. We hear a lot of news about the destruction in Ukraine. We see terrible photographs of the consequences of the war. It's hard to believe, but it's true. Talking with the refugees, we hear how they hid in the basement for 6-9 days from bombardment and artillery shelling. So far, everything is calm in our city, but I saw two rockets that flew over the house of prayer.

We continue to serve refugees. One woman, receiving a bowl of soup in the evening, began to cry, as it turned out she had not eaten anything hot for six days, but ate exclusively in dry food.

We began to have evening fellowship around the Scriptures. One family, who have been living with us for several days, show great interest in God, began to read the New Testament.

We thank the Lord for: Brothers and sisters, churches in Ukraine and abroad, who actively joined this ministry. We thank the Lord for the team from the local church, and some brothers and sisters from the migrants themselves, who are ready to serve with us.”

Give now to help relief efforts

Still Serving - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Still Serving - Ukraine Crisis Story

A retired Pastor's home was destroyed, but he still continues to serve those who have lost everything and share the Good News.

From the camp ministry where he serves:

Andriy* (retired pastor in his 70's) is caring for refugees at a camp and delivering aid to people in the surrounding areas. His son, Yaroslav*, was the director of the camp. Currently, his son is in a territorial defense unit, a standalone branch of the country’s armed forces. Pastor Andriy’s* home, built by his dad, was destroyed.

During and after occupation by those who invaded, the camp has provided drinking water, electricity, shelter, food, Sunday services and a ministry of care for those whose houses and apartments were destroyed. Volunteers are bringing comfort and God’s news to everyone staying at the camp.

Please pray for Andriy* and the vital ministry at this camp.

Give now to help relief efforts

Trusting God through Turbulent Times

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Trusting God through Turbulent Times

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2022 Annual Report.

-----

How the Crisis in Ukraine is Affecting Our Global Workers

Many have asked us at SEND about how the crisis has impacted our global workers in Russia and Ukraine. Let me introduce you to our six Canadian workers from that region: Dave and Martina, Ken and Bertha, Renata, and Bruce.

These families and individuals have spent years building a home in either Ukraine or Russia. They made sacrifices to live in these locations, for the purpose of bringing the good news to those who have not heard. They learned language, culture, and how to minister effectively to the local people. They built close friendships with Ukrainians and Russians.

When the crisis began, they were each required to leave the people and places that had become home. In some cases, they left without saying goodbyes or packing their belongings. They each left with uncertainty about their future. They left with heavy hearts for the suffering that the people of the region were going through.

Each worker has been required to adapt, to trust God, and to seek His leading for their futures. God has sustained and provided for His servants. Almost a year later, we can see God’s hand in leading these families and individuals.

Ken and Bertha are now serving from Canada, as they continue to equip, mentor, and train missionaries. Dave and Martina have relocated to Germany with their two teenage boys where Dave continues to serve as Eurasia regional director. Recently, Renata was able to return to her long-term place of ministry to say goodbye and pack her belongings. She is now exploring other ministry options in Eurasia. Bruce, currently on home service, is preparing to return to his ministry location in God’s timing to continue his ministry there.

These individuals have relied on the Lord and are continuing in faith despite hardships. God has brought healing, restoration, and renewed passion and opportunities for ministry in their lives. We praise God that He is carrying these workers through a tumultuous season.

Pray for SEND Missionaries

Life Changing

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Life Changing

As a first-year university student, Ryanna intended to follow the traditional path of doing a summer business internship. However, God led her down an entirely different path, one that led her to Poland for two months, where she served at a church plant, worked at youth camps, and taught English.

A Servant's Heart

Ryanna arrived in Poland with a servant’s heart. She jumped into the ministry and served wherever she was needed, which was noticed by those she worked with. Her musical ability blessed the church plant and the camps where she ministered. Ryanna used her videography gifts to advertise new camps. Additionally, she was instrumental in deepening relationships with people like Wiktoria, with whom missionaries had formed a friendship. To this day, Ryanna and Wiktoria regularly speak and text each other.

Serving cross-culturally brought some unexpected challenges. Initially, Ryanna lived on her own. Her first task was to clean the vacated church apartments, often by herself. When she ventured out and crossed paths with others, no one spoke English. It didn’t take long for loneliness to set in. Then, homesickness hit Ryanna like a tidal wave. This unfamiliar feeling caught her off guard and left her confused and overwhelmed.

Ryanna, a hard worker, has always been driven to excel and accomplish tasks with excellence. She approached her ministry in Poland with the same mindset. However, when the fruit of her first week in Poland consisted of fleeting conversations with a few people and cleaning one room a day, Ryanna began to feel that she was not being a good missionary because she was not constantly sharing the gospel. 

Ryanna began to realize that church planting often takes a lot of behind the scenes work and requires long-term commitment that demands perseverance. Ryanna went to Poland hoping to impact lives spiritually, which she did! As she embraced God’s plan, the greatest transformation happened within her. It is no wonder that upon returning to Ontario, Ryanna declared that her trip was a “life-changing experience”!

English clubs talk turkey, and more

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

English clubs talk turkey, and more

By Lois Thorpe and Kellie Benge in Kiev, Ukraine — A few days before the fourth Thursday of November, students from several of SEND’s English clubs in Kiev gathered for an American Thanksgiving celebration.

Overall, 45 Ukrainians from seven English clubs attended the outreach event. Some of SEND’s clubs are connected to churches; others are not. In fact, about 15 of the attendees had never set foot inside an evangelical church.

The groups dined on traditional Thanksgiving food, including a 35-pound turkey that had to be pushed home from the market in a baby stroller.

Since Thanksgiving’s roots are connected to freedom of religion, the program focused on the origins of the holiday and the opportunity to give thanks to God for what He has given, which naturally brought in elements of the gospel message.

Speaker Jerry Benge explained that the Pilgrims faced persecution and had to sell everything they owned before they left for North America. They risked their lives, both on the trip and as they settled in their new land. They placed a high value on having a personal relationship with God instead of just following the state religion and traditions.

Jerry ended with a question: "What was so important to the Pilgrims that they would risk their lives for it, and is there anything that important in your life?"

Feedback for the event was very positive. One student responded that the closing words made him stop and evaluate the purpose of his life.

Several of the clubs will go on to host Christmas events, where the message of Christ will be clearly shared. Pray that the Lord will prepare the hearts of those who will attend.

Many leave winter retreat wanting to know more

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Many leave winter retreat wanting to know more

By G.K. in Ukraine

Before our family moved to Ukraine, we seldom thought of how resistant many Central Asian countries are to the sharing of the gospel and the acceptance of religious workers. People in such places often live their whole lives without ever encountering a Christian or hearing the Good News of Christ. And yet, thousands of Central Asians are studying and living in Ukraine!

God opened the doors for us to meet several of these international students. After a few months of having them over each week for dinner and games, we took many of them on a winter retreat.

Three American families attended the retreat, eating, playing, and talking with atheist, agnostic and Muslim students from Central Asia and Ukraine. We did the program in Russian, with translation going on in the back for guys from the Middle East who knew English well but understood almost no Russian. It thrilled us to see this diverse group reading the Scriptures and hearing the story of Christ for the first time!

We looked at Christmas according to Hollywood, and then at Christmas according to the Bible. The retreat provided a good balance of free time, games, great food, skiing, sledding and interacting with the Scriptures during our group sessions. We explored reasons for Christmas from biblical, philosophical and personal perspectives. Here are a few comments summing up the weekend:

• When one of the more closed students was asked what he thought about the kind of sacrificial love demonstrated by God and talked about in 1 John 4:10, he responded, “It gives me goose bumps up my arm. This is such a good book; I want to read this book.”

• After watching the Jesus film in two languages, a young woman from Asia said, “I never knew Jesus did so much for us. I didn’t know the gift He gave us. Now I love Him, too.” She prayed the prayer at the end of the film.

• When asked about the Jesus film, two other students responded, “It was a good story; I learned many things I never knew.”

• During our discussion, another student stood up and described the whole of the gospel in detail, though he had never heard it before camp. He has since returned to his home country where most people have never heard the story that he so remarkably retold to our group.

We’re so grateful to those who prayed for this camp! Please continue to pray for God to work in the hearts of these students and others from hard-to-reach countries. Ask Him to bring together a multi-cultural community of new believers focused on reaching outward and growing in His mercy, grace, truth and love!

Charting the Path for Future Global Workers

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Charting the Path for Future Global Workers

Churches and potential missionaries should walk the path together toward cross-cultural service. Sending workers is more likely to happen when churches take the initiative. This article presents eight steps that can help a church invite potential global workers to begin the journey.

Catalyst Services, "Postings," January 2014

Global Evangelism Maps

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Global Evangelism Maps

These nine global and regional maps detail the status of global evangelism, showing where the church is strong and where needs for evangelism are greatest. The maps also highlight where SEND workers are living among the unreached in order to make disciples. This PDF is optimized for your iPad or other tablet.

Trying to keep up

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Trying to keep up

“This has probably been the most faith-building process I’ve gone through. And I haven’t even gotten to the field yet! God has shown so clearly that when he has a plan, nothing will get in the way, even if it seems insurmountable to me.” A short-term missionary shares her amazing story of preparing for a year in Ukraine.

Around mid-November I was officially accepted to go to Ukraine and given the go-ahead to begin fundraising. I sent out my first support letters on November 16 and waited to see what would happen. I knew Thanksgiving was only a week away, so people would probably be distracted and busy. I was prepared to start more actively seeking support in a couple of weeks. I doubted whether I would even have my minimum amount of $10,000 by the time I needed to leave for my year in Ukraine, let alone the full amount of $20,000.

What happened, though, blew my mind and continues to amaze me!

Support started coming in that week and even more came once Thanksgiving had passed. About three weeks in, I had the minimum of $10,000 that I needed to leave. I was amazed and content to let the rest come in once I got to Ukraine. But the amount only continued to rise, and on December 16, exactly one month after I had handed the first letters to people, I received an email from a new monthly supporter. My mom did the math and that email put me at $20,000 – full support for the year. God’s hand in providing all that support was very clear.

The next thing I was waiting for was my Letter of Invitation (LOI) to be processed through the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture. This would allow me to apply for my visa. Just a couple days after I found out I was fully supported, I got an email saying that the SEND team in Kiev had my LOI in hand. Four days later, the letter arrived and I started working in earnest on my visa application (probably should have done more on that ahead of time!). Thankfully, after many emails back and forth with the team in Kiev, the application was done and I dropped it off at the post office on Christmas Eve, postmarked for the Ukrainian Consulate in San Francisco.

Having heard horror stories about missionaries who have to wait months for their visas, I resigned myself to hear nothing for at least a couple of weeks. But then, on December 29, I got a call from the Ukrainian embassy saying that I had paid the wrong amount for my visa. I hung up, relieved to know that they had at least received my visa and were looking at it. I went to the post office that day and sent off the new money order, which was set to arrive on the 31st. Again, I thought I would be waiting at least a couple weeks before I heard anything back from them.

Fast forward to January 6. I was at a short-term training at the SEND headquarters. It was wonderfully cold and wintery and I loved meeting all the staff! After our afternoon session, I looked at my phone and saw that I had a text from my mom. I opened it and read, “So I guess you’ll be leaving soon.” Under that was a picture of my passport with a Ukrainian visa in it. I was shocked. If that package got to my house today, then it had only taken 2-3 business days for the consulate to process my visa! Where were all the horror stories? Once again, God’s hand was so clear.

This has probably been the most faith-building process I’ve ever gone through. And I haven’t even gotten to the field yet! God has shown so clearly that when he has a plan, nothing will get in the way, even if it seems insurmountable to me. Part of me wishes that everything would just slow down a bit so I could have time to process each new thing. But it seems like things just keep speeding up. I’m glad God has it all under control because I just can’t keep up anymore!

It’s a bit scary to anticipate leaving, but also exciting as I look back at how evident it is that God’s been the one directing this whole process. I’m excited to see what else He has in store.

-Rachael

Search SEND's short-term ministry opportunities .

Cross-cultural evangelism

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Cross-cultural evangelism

“I distinctly remember a 2006 conversation with a young Central Asian man named Farhad. It completely changed how I understand and share the gospel.”

Jayson Georges served as a missionary in Central Asia for nine years. He now runs HonorShame.com , a website devoted to exploring how to contextualize the gospel for those from honor/shame cultures. This article is a summary of a three-part series he recently wrote on cross-cultural evangelism.

Ground Work

First, we must understand how someone’s cultural background impacts their understanding of sin. Christian anthropologists classify cultures into three different sin-response types:

Second, we must understand how “metaphors saturate our theology and evangelism.” They provide a framework to communicate abstract ideas with concrete images. “We use earthly language from our everyday experiences to communicate spiritual realities.”

Guilt Culture

Westerners, coming from a guilt culture, typically use legal terminology when sharing the gospel. We use words such as judge, works, punishment, and debt. These terms can certainly be found in scripture and may communicate just fine to other westerners. But to people like Farhad, those metaphors are unhelpful. He “hardly sensed personal guilt, so he did not seek forgiveness from God.”

So how do we clearly communicate the gospel to those from shame or fear cultures? Jayson says, “Contextualizing the gospel is often as easy as changing the controlling metaphor and using new vocabulary.”

Shame Culture

Shame-based cultures “rely upon community pressure (not individual conscious) to guide social behavior.” Members of these cultures preserve their honor, their reputation in the community, by adhering to the group’s expectations. They avoid the shame that could result in exclusion from the group. “Since honor and shame come from other people, they are inherently communal.” Honor and community are top values in these cultures. So relational words such as mediator, disloyalty, adoption, and approval can be used to explain the gospel. Jayson offers this example of a possible gospel presentation for someone from a shame culture:

Fear Culture

People from fear-based cultures believe that “invisible spirits inhabit the physical world,” and these spirits are responsible for most of the good or bad things that happen to them. They work hard to manipulate or appease these spirits so that they can be safe, successful, and happy. These magical practices can include burning incense, wearing an amulet, or casting a spell.

“Since life is viewed as a perpetual spiritual battle, the language and imagery of warfare may resonate better with people of fear-based cultures.” Words such as deliverance, healing, darkness, protection, and blessing can help explain “how Jesus delivers us from spiritual bondage.” Here is Jayson’s example gospel presentation for someone from a fear-based culture:

More Available This article is just a brief summary of the excellent resources available in Jayson Georges’ three-part post on this topic. You can read the full series, starting with the first on SEND’s blog. “The gospel is a multifaceted diamond—Jesus saves people from guilt, shame, and fear.”

'God never stood us up'

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

'God never stood us up'

How a small church in Ukraine spread the gospel in Central Asia

Last fall, a young Ukrainian couple was sent by their church on a short-term trip to Central Asia to share the gospel. They were part of SEND’s Missions Mobilization Ministry (3M) that helps Ukrainian churches send their own people as missionaries to unreached people groups.

The couple had a wonderful ministry in Tajikistan, and when their short-term trip was almost over, the Central Asian church asked Chad Wiebe, the SEND missionary who heads up 3M, if the couple could stay longer.

“You’ve sent them here for six months. God is really using them. Can they please stay for another three months?”

The mission leaders hadn’t planned for that financially. So Chad contacted the churches in Ukraine and began getting the word out about this need.

A few weeks later, Chad was at one of the couple’s sending churches — a small, country church of around 85 people. A deacon walked up to Chad, grinning ear to ear and holding a thick envelope.

He handed the envelope to Chad and said, “This is everything. This is everything from our church strong box. This is everything from our church budget. This is everything from our latest offering.

"A year and a half ago, we sensed as a church that God was calling us to support his work for getting the message of the gospel to the nations," he continued. "We’re not a very rich church. But ever since we’ve been giving in this way, God has never once stood us up.”

Through this gift, the couple was able to extend their stay in Central Asia. And they are planning to return for longer.

Because Ukrainian churches cannot yet afford to fully support missionaries, SEND 3M assists by providing up to 50 percent of the needed support. This couple was one of the recipients of that help.

They say, “We would like to say thank you from all our heart to the churches that contributed to the mission agency. It was so important for us to go and we want to really, really thank you for your help.”

What an incredible testimony about what God is doing to raise his people up to engage the unreached in big, bold faith step ways!

If you would like to stand by churches and missionaries like these, please consider giving to the Missions Mobilization project. Watch Chad tell this story and learn more about 3M here .

A new man in Christ

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A new man in Christ

As Oscar* was wheeled into his hospital room, his mind was reeling with the events of the past few months and hours. First, his wife (after a near-death experience on an airplane) had utterly rejected the family faith — Islam — for Christianity.

Second, she had stayed faithful to this new “religion” even under verbal abuse and accusations from him.

Third, he had been sick and gotten better (just today) without the aid of this new God of hers. But the minute he spoke the words, “See what I have done without your God’s help,” he had been instantly paralyzed.

What did it all mean? Did this God have more power than Allah? It could not be possible.

Oscar had many moments to himself where he sat and pondered these things. His wife, Jen*, had told him about Isa — Jesus — and how he was the Son of God. He came to earth to redeem mankind and save him from his sin.

She begged him to repent and turn to Jesus.

He told her she was crazy and ripped up her Bible.

As Oscar lay in his hospital bed several nights later, he felt like he was dying. He began to ask forgiveness from everyone he could think of for all of the things he had done. He was about to ask Allah for forgiveness when the room with filled with light and he saw Isa standing in the room with a sword. Jesus told him two times to repent and believe in him, and Oscar refused. The third time, Oscar repented and believed. Isa told him to stand up and walk.

Instantly, the paralysis left Oscar and he was able to walk down the hall. The nurse on duty thought he was a ghost and fainted, but the next morning Oscar was reunited with his wife — now both believers in Christ.

Read the story of how Oscar's wife, Jen, came to faith.

*Not their real names

The Real Cost of Living

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Real Cost of Living

It’s a challenge to raise a family and be a Godly Christian. How much harder would it be if the food was hard to come by and you didn’t have a vibrant church family?

Just north of you, life is harsher than you realize and people are desperate for the saving Love of God. By compiling data from seven of our communities, we will give you a glimpse at life and ministry above the 60th parallel on the North American Continent. So read on and begin to understand the challenge, our vision, and how you can help.

SEND North brings in believers who live intentional, exemplary, Christ-like lives . We want to saturate these communities with God’s love!Please, go to https://www.send.org/go/north and discover how you can be involved.

Fan Mail: A Little Love For Those Serving In The Home Church

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fan Mail: A Little Love For Those Serving In The Home Church

Some of the heroes of God’s global mission are not just those boarding the planes, trains or other means of transportation in order to teach or serve or preach among unreached peoples.

They serve at home on the mission committee.

These are the folks who meet in a church boardroom or classroom on the first Monday evening of every month to pray, plan, and wrestle with how to help their church do global missions well . It’s a job facing many important questions:

And this is just a sampling from those monthly agendas…

So whether you serve a church of 30, 300 or 3,000 we want to recognize your service behind the scenes that enables missionaries to be sent out. They, in turn, can present the Good News about Jesus to those who may never have heard, and the impact may be eternal! We send out a SHOUT of encouragement and thanks to those faithful missions committee volunteers who invest hours of energy, love and prayer into God’s work to make His Name famous around the world!

We, together with your churches, thank the Lord for you, and pray for VISION, JOY and ENCOURAGEMENT. Thank you for your service.

" And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?" - Apostle Paul in Romans 10

You might also be interested in this free download:

A Dozen Ideas to Refresh Your Missions Committee

By Ellen Livingood, Catalyst Services

Other questions to consider:

Celebrating 20 Years of Chinese Diaspora Ministry

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Celebrating 20 Years of Chinese Diaspora Ministry

In 1999 the Lord called Martyn and Jill Hartley to help take the Good News to Chinese merchants and students living and working in Russia. In the years following, the vision for Chinese Diaspora Ministry (CDM) continued to grow as God called others to participate in the work! Many Chinese Canadians now contribute talent, time, and finances to engaging Chinese people who have left their homeland and are living elsewhere. Prior to the travelling restrictions due to COVID-19, Chinese Diaspora Ministry trips were taking place not only in Russia, but in Ukraine, other Eastern European countries and Latin America! In 2019 there were 25 CDM short-term trips with 27 professions of faith.

In early March 2020 nearly 100 people gathered in Toronto to commemorate 20 years of God’s faithfulness through CDM. Not only did the leaders celebrate God’s goodness over the years, they looked forward, presenting the vision of broadening the scope of the CDM to other Unreached People Groups.

May the Lord continue to raise up new, faith-filled workers to go to the Chinese and other unreached people!

View the SEND Canada Annual Report

COVID or no COVID

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

COVID or no COVID

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2020 Annual Report.

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As single young adults, Tyler and Camille believed God was calling them into cross-cultural ministry. Soon after they were married, their calling to serve overseas was affirmed. Together the Hildebrandts felt a yearning to inquire more about missions.

Called to Thailand

In 2019, Tyler and Camille participated in a vision trip to Thailand. They observed the ministry to the Shan, an unreached people group (UPG) in southeast Asia who are displaced, marginalized and poor. The Hildebrandts admired the couples who were diligently working with the Shan in different ways. Tyler and Camille returned to Alberta with the desire to return to serve in Thailand!

The Hildebrandts took the next six months to seek God and to listen to the counsel of trusted people. Over time, they believed that God was indeed leading them to serve among the Shan with the team there.

The Call Remains

In late 2020 God blessed them with a beautiful baby. After Everett was born, well-int ended people asked Tyler and Camille if they were now going to remain in Canada instead of serving overseas. Understandably, grandparents struggled with the thought of having their grandson in Thailand. However, the Hildebrandts believed that God was still leading them to serve cross-culturally! Having a baby did not change their calling, and they continue to prepare for mission service.

COVID-19 has brought so many challenges across the world! Many people are fearful and struggling. However, one lesson Tyler has learned is that God continues to call people even in the midst of a global pandemic.

Right now, Tyler and Camille are working, studying, and raising support. Lord willing, in early 2022, they will depart for Thailand. They are looking forward to living out their calling to spread the gospel and minister to the needs of the Shan people.

Cheerful giving can start in childhood

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Cheerful giving can start in childhood

By Anna McShane, SEND Communications — Back in the dark ages, when both my husband and I were very, very young, there was a family ritual that we found out later we shared. We each were given ten pennies a week for allowance. Those ten pennies were laid out in a row, and there was typically a little ritual lecture that came with them, “One of these pennies belongs to the Lord, one goes in your savings bank, and you can do whatever you like with the other eight.”

Ten pennies was a ticket to some very fun items – for me it was usually a new Matchbox car to add to my collection. But if one penny went to the Lord and one to savings, I had to wait two weeks to get that car. Clutching my dime, I’d leave my mom in the supermarket and trot next door to the hardware and make my selection. Some weeks it might be something other than a little car, but whatever – 8 cents a week was mine, but 1 cent was the Lord’s and the other 1 cent went into the bank.

Yeah. Things were CHEAP.

But interestingly, the principle remained deeply imbedded in both our minds: 10 percent goes out first to the Lord, 10 percent to savings. In our years of marriage, the 10 percent has often been more, but I don’t think it’s ever been less. (By the way: We aren’t as remarkable as the older couple we knew who started at 10 percent their first year of marriage, and then added another percentage each year of marriage. They were married more than 60 years; at the end, they were giving more than 60 percent of their income to the Lord.)

Times have changed

But it seems to me that things have changed. Last week, I took shoes to church for a shoe drive, money to go to missions. In the lobby was a jewelry sale, money to missions. Neither of these activities are wrong; in fact, they are great. Many of us have too many shoes, and if the sale of them can raise money AND put shoes on someone with none, that’s positively biblical. I like Go Fund Me and crowd-raising and car washes — but one-time fund-raisers shouldn’t replace habitual, consistent, generous giving to the Lord.

The loss of a giving mentality causes global missions to suffer. Ask younger global workers who their strongest financial supporters are – and they will probably list their parents’ friends or their grandparents’ friends. People who still look at 10 pennies and put one aside for the Lord and one into savings. People who commit to 10 percent and then up the ante each year till they hit 60 percent.

Funny thing. Those people never seem to feel deprived. They just love giving.

Ideas for developing cheerful giving in your children

Anna’s parents taught her to tithe when she was a wee child. Here are some ideas that other SEND families have used to develop generosity in their children.

Make it easy to set some aside: Anna’s parents could have given her a shiny dime each week — but a dime’s hard to split into 10 parts! If your child gets $5 a week, go with four dollar bills and four quarters. (Bonus: Kids get a little math lesson with their generosity lesson.) If you don’t want to worry about carting two quarters to church every week, consider investing in a piggy bank like this one or save your own pennies by grabbing a few used jars and making your own . The important thing is that the child can see her gift growing. When the jar’s full, let her trade in her quarters and drop her own bills into the offering.

Pay enough that the child can both give and spend: Matchbox cars don’t cost 10 cents anymore. Hardly anything costs 10 cents anymore! Make sure that your child’s allowance (or payment for chores, or however you end up getting money into your kids' hands) isn’t so small that they develop a scarcity mentality. A 10-year-old can practice self-control and save up over the course of weeks or months for a hotly desired toy, but that would be tough going for a 4-year-old — so they might feel tempted to dip into their tithe.

Model giving: Children notice what their parents do. Of course, we don’t advocate bragging about your tithing, but is it OK for your children to know that you give to the Lord, too. Let them drop the check in the offering plate. As you teach your children about money, mention that you base your weekly budget on what’s left after your own giving and savings. If you give to individual missionaries or ministries, let the kids know that, too.

Sponsor a child: Seeing your sponsored child’s photo on the fridge every day emphasizes the importance of following through on your financial promises. Talk with your own children about how your sponsored child relies on your consistent giving.

Pray for the missionaries you support: “In my family growing up, we had breakfast together every day. My parents would pull out a newsletter, and then we would pray for the missionary,” says SEND’s Amy Walters. “It’s easier to give to a missionary when you feel connected, and prayer connects us.”

Encouraging note: Young children might not understand the idea of money just yet, but most of them understand the joy of giving away their own artwork! Older children can write notes or emails. (Bonus: Kids get a little writing lesson with their generosity lesson.) This is another way to connect children with global workers — and it’s easier to consistently give when you feel connected.

Unity prayer for multicultural teams

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Unity prayer for multicultural teams

As Jesus approached his last days on Earth, he prayed for his disciples who walked the streets of Jerusalem with him — and he prayed for us, too.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one — as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” — Jesus, recorded in John 17:20-21

Unity. It’s so important, so powerful. We hear time and time again that people are drawn to Jesus because of the way his people love each other, even through conflict or difficult situations. Multicultural teams bring great benefit to missions work, but serving on them can pose challenges. Here, then, are some unity prayers for multicultural teams.

U = Understanding

Sure, multiple languages can cause issues on a multicultural team — but even when everyone shares at least one language, the deeper definitions of words can prove tricky. Imagine the misunderstandings over a term like leadership. It can mean, “Empower me to make my own decisions,” or “Tell me step-by-step what to do” — with a whole range of meanings between those two! Pray that multicultural teams will intentionally work to understand each other’s approaches to tricky concepts with grace and love.

N = Notice own culture

Recognizing the different ways others behave tends to come pretty easily to we humans — but examining our own culture can help us understand why we sometimes react with judgment or anger when we encounter someone who does things differently. Pray that each person on a multicultural team will humbly examine his or her own culture in order to more lovingly interact with others. (Read more about this idea here.)

I = Individual strengths

On a multicultural team, some members might have access to greater financial resources. Others might have no problem picking up a new language — perhaps because it’s similar to their first language. Others might have physical characteristics that keep them from standing out in a crowd and that offer them easier pathways to sharing the gospel. Pray that multicultural teammates will see these individual differences as Kingdom-building benefits, not sources of envy and strife.

T = Thankful hearts

God is on the move, growing his global church. He is calling missionaries from countries that used to be considered mission fields. As 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, he is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. His heart continues to beat for the lost, and he continues to use his people to accomplish his plans. Pray that multicultural team members will give thanks always for the teammates God has given them and for each opportunity to engage the unreached. (Ephesians 5:20)

An ideal, united multicultural team will not just be aware of cultural differences, it also will manage to make decisions and minister effectively without being derailed by those differences. Compromise will have to happen. Brothers and sisters will need to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21 — note the link between giving thanks and submitting). Pray that multicultural teammates will yield to one another, freeing each other up to minister out of their diverse strengths and creating even more pathways to sharing the gospel. And pray that their efforts will yield many new brothers and sisters for Christ’s global church.

More about multicultural teams

Walking with the Unloved

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Walking with the Unloved

From a SEND mission worker in the United States.

Soon after arriving in America to begin refugee ministry, I met Jamila*, a woman with a hard shell guarding her heart. However, as I began to develop a trusting and loving relationship with her, that hard rock front began to soften, and I could see that Jamila was gradually coming to life.

A Painful Story

As I learned Jamila’s story, I understood why she was so guarded. A few years earlier, in her home country, Jamila was standing close to a cooking gas tank when it unexpectedly exploded. The blast left Jamila with only one finger and a thumb, and severe burns on her upper body and face. She endured several painful operations that were not as successful as she and her husband, Aman, had hoped.

Jamila required further medical attention, so it was decided that she should receive this attention in America. Jamila left her loving husband and son to live with her sister and brother-in-law in the States. Sadly, her sister and brother-in-law were less than kind. When they took Jamila shopping they would firmly state, “Get what you need, then we are going home.” They were too embarrassed to be seen with Jamila in public.

Withdrawn and Disconnected

Jamila, already self-conscious of her scars and appearance, began to withdraw and became emotionally disconnected from people. Eventually Aman and their son joined Jamila, but she continued to spend most of her time cooped up in their apartment.

This is when I met Jamila. One practical way I showed love to her was to not be embarrassed by Jamila’s appearance, especially when we were out in public. After spending several months with her, I was finally able to take Jamila to get her hair done; it was the first time in four years that she had visited a hair salon!

Jamila knows that I love her for who she is. As a result, it has not only opened Jamila’s heart emotionally, but also spiritually. I have been able to enjoy many conversations about Jesus with Jamila just by accepting her, scars and all!

When Christ walked on earth, He talked to and spent time with those who were outcasts, looked down upon by their society. Today ministry is much the same: it often includes walking with those who are lonely and unloved by people in the community where they live. And all it takes is people like you and me to do this.

*Names have been changed for security reasons.

Discover Missions Opportunities.

Biblical Values Education in Asia and Africa

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Biblical Values Education in Asia and Africa

Laura Bonney retired from SEND Canada in 2019 after 31 years of ministering to children and equipping others to do so through Christian Education. By human standards Laura was very successful in ministry! However, Laura prefers to focus on God’s faithfulness which she experienced when He:

Laura is grateful to God for His unending faithfulness!

Read about Laura and Ruth's Ministry in the Philippines

View the SEND Canada Annual Report

Typhoon Odette in the Philippines

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Typhoon Odette in the Philippines

Typhoon Rai, known locally as Odette, hit the Philippines last Thursday, December 16, 2021. It made 9 landfalls in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Palawan, bringing torrential rains, violent winds, landslides, and storm surges before exiting in the West Philippines Sea. As of December 20, 2021, more than 200 people died, 239 persons injured, and 52 were missing, according to the Philippine National Police. The numbers have yet to be verified by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The Filipinos are in dire need of our prayers and relief as damages left homes devastated, with no power, signal, food, and water supply. If you find it in your heart to be of help, we at the Philippine Sending Council of SEND, would gladly be of assistance in extending your help.

For your donations, go to this link: https://send.org/give/projects/aid

For donations from the Philippines, deposit or send it to our BDO account:

Bank Name: Banco De Oro (BDO) Teacher’s Village Branch-Peso Savings
Account Name: Philippine Sending Council of SEND International, Inc.
Account Number : 0065 2007 6170

#OdettePH

Get to Know Our Goers Part 3: Kenny And Brittany

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Get to Know Our Goers Part 3: Kenny And Brittany

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2021 Annual Report.

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Meet Kenny & Brittany, two of SEND Canada's recent appointees! The individuals you will meet in this series of posts ( read part 1 , read part 2 ) are preparing to go to the field or have recently been sent. They are an answer to prayers of many faithful believers that more workers be sent into the harvest field! Today, we hope you will enjoy getting to know Kenny & Brittany as you read their answers to the following questions.

How did you first feel called into missions work?

How far along are you in your support raising journey?

Where will you serve? And is there a particular people group you will be working with?

What is a fun fact about you?

What is one Bible verse that has inspired your involvement in missions?

What is the name of your Sending Church?

Favourite hot drink?

Current favourite worship song?

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

- Matthew 9:37-38

Explore Ministry Opportunities in Europe

Wake Up Call

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Wake Up Call

As a member care couple in SEND North, my wife and I frequently travel to villages to visit our people scattered across the 60/70 window in Alaska and Northwest Canada. For us, each visit is a real eye-opener, as life is far different from Anchorage where we live. Recently we were asked to fill in for a SEND North family for several months as they went on Home Service. The family has so many ministries going in that village, that we (and a just-out-of-college daughter who stayed behind) could only try to keep some of them going until they returned.

Our time there was beyond eye-opening, it was a big wakeup call on one hand and a great encouragement on the other. Because the family’s ministries are typical of SEND North families, we’ll call the family F. And because the attitudes of the residents of the village where we served are typical of many villages, we’ll call the village V.

We woke up to a difficult reality; those representing Christ in Northern villages still have a horrible reputation to overcome. We met several residents who were still bitter about the way that they or their relatives had been treated in church-run boarding or residential schools, though there had long been a public elementary and junior high school in V. Some told us that V is near what was one of the worst residential schools in the nation. Certainly, not all of the boarding schools in the North were nightmares, but neither was this one the only bad one.

The inexcusable physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and cover-ups were made worse in that these schools were usually operating in Jesus’ Name. In addition, the young children were forced away from their families, and according to many accounts were robbed of their culture, language, and traditions. One particularly bad memory from that time is that the young students were forced to speak English only and beaten when they spoke their own language. As well, there is abundant evidence of some courageous and compassionate missionaries who left their homes in the south only to proclaim the hope of the Gospel and the love of God. But the wounds of the people are deep and the horrible reputation persists, even passed on from generation to generation. As a result, the name missionary is so charged with negative baggage in some areas that our SEND North workers identify instead as Christ-followers or Christian workers to emphasize the distinction.

So where is the encouragement in this sad reality? I was encouraged that the many ministries of our team offer healing from those traumas in many ways. For example, this family operates an afterschool program in Jesus’ Name that offers kids a safe and supervised place to hang out with friends. Their house is known in the community to be a safe refuge, where kids can go when their own homes are not safe. Instead of removing children in crisis from their relatives in V, the Fs take children at risk into their own home temporarily and return them when their relatives are ready to take them again. We met several young adults who had fond memories of living temporarily with F family. It was a joy to see the F daughter speak to a three-year-old under her care in the local language instead of English, making sure he heard and understood it.

What encouraged me the most was that the ministries that the F family do in village V lift high the Name of Jesus, and that their neighbors now associate that Name with love and care in action, especially to the children in V. It is a joy to do what we can to keep families like the Fs keep serving their villages like V. Though there are many obstacles to ministry in the North, the love of God is undeniable in the way the Fs operate, and that love heals the deepest wounds.

First King

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

First King

The net had been set since the morning. We slowly motored closer and could see some of the floaters bobbing. We had caught something! Chum salmon after-chum salmon came into the boat, but then a real prize surfaced as we brought in the king of the salmon world. King salmon are among the most (if not the most) sought after fish here in Alaska’s interior. After weeks of checking the net in another location and getting some fish that were good enough to eat and some that we gave away to those with dog teams, we had finally caught our first king!

In keeping with local tradition, anytime you get a first, you give it or at least some of it to an elder. Our first king salmon didn’t stay in our hands for long as we passed it on to an elder. However, over the next week and a half, we found ourselves pulling in a handful more king salmon. The Lord also asks for our first and our best. What a great tradition and way to bring Scripture into the culture of the people here. Only giving out of excess doesn’t require much (Luke 21:1-4), but giving when it requires sacrifice, that requires faith.

Our example to look to when it comes to giving is God himself. He gave us His First and His Best (Jesus) and it cost Him dearly (John 3:16). When our giving to the Lord costs us some-thing we are honoring Him and He is worthy of honor (Proverbs 3:9).

Upward evangelism

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Upward evangelism

Editor’s note: SEND’s Communications department gets to see the big picture of how our organization engages the unreached all around the world. From this bird’s eye view, we can appreciate SEND’s willingness — even eagerness — to seize the opportunities God puts in our path, even if they aren’t part of our original plan. That’s how we got involved with refugee ministry in Macedonia . It’s how we started harvesting seaweed in Japan . And it plays a crucial role in these stories from Taiwan, shared by Asia Regional Director Jon Eckstein.

There are well over 100,000 Vietnamese in Taiwan. They’re mostly factory workers and often marginalized. Here in Taiwan we are both completely free and encouraged to engage them with the gospel.

SEND started ministering to the Vietnamese in Taiwan around 2010. Today, thousands of Vietnamese have heard the gospel and more than 100 have come to faith in the past three years alone. We’ve seen one church take root, plus several Bible studies and cell groups are reaching these migrant workers. Just this past Sunday, we saw three Vietnamese friends obey Christ through baptism! The call has gone back to Vietnam for pastors to come lead these new believers.

It’s been such an unexpected thing, and I’ll share two quick stories with you that illustrate that:

From jail to Jesus

A Taiwanese detention facility where people stay during the deportation process called our co-worker Rita and said, “We have this Vietnamese lady. She’s pregnant and has already escaped before. We can’t really keep a pregnant lady in the jail here. Could you take her for two weeks?”

Rita did, and that began a special relationship not only with this women but also with the detention facility personnel. Now, if the police or the immigration officials have any issues with Vietnamese migrants, they call us and ask if we can help out. This has opened many doors for us. What’s more, some of the immigration officials and police officers have come to faith through our example of helping these migrant workers out whenever there’s need.

'What happened to our worker?'

The second story is about a young migrant lady who works as a caregiver for the grandparents of a wealthy Taiwanese family. She started coming to one of our outreaches and became a Christian. Her life change was radical — so radical that her Taiwanese employer had to come and find out, “What happened?”

Soon her employer, too, began to ask questions about who God is — and has now accepted Christ through this Vietnamese migrant worker. Now, the employer even provides food and fruits and vegetables for the ministry! It’s been neat to see God using this employer because of the changed life of a worker.

Missiologically, these stories are not the way it’s supposed to go!

We generally don’t expect those who are vulnerable, those who don’t have a standing in society, to share Christ up the social chain.

But this is one way God is working in Taiwan. We have a lot of opportunities among Vietnamese migrants. In fact, we have too many! We need more people. So, when you think about Taiwan, think about the Vietnamese people and working among the diaspora here.

Diaspora ministry in Taiwan isn’t limited to Vietnamese. The other two groups we’ve done work with are Indonesians and Thai. There are about 250,000 Indonesians in Taiwan. They are, by and large, Muslims and we have complete freedom to work among them here. There are also about 60,000 to 70,000 Thai Buddhists here, and we have open doors to work with them as well. (Read the Joshua Project profiles of Vietnamese , Indonesians and Thai in Taiwan.)

God has opened up this opportunity for global workers who are interested in these people groups but can’t go live in these people’s home countries. They definitely can come live and serve in Taiwan! There is such a huge open door for migrant workers in Taiwan to be engaged with the gospel. Come join us!

Explore opportunities to serve in Taiwan . Or, email a missions coach who can help connect you with the ministry there.

Learn more about the unreached

How to grow missionaries from your congregation(s)

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

How to grow missionaries from your congregation(s)

By Lois Thorpe, former SEND missionary to Ukraine — I’m an idealist. And often a perfectionist. I have found this is a bad combination for effective ministry.

I had long wanted to have a missions group at my church in Southern California. It would be for people who were preparing for full-time, cross-cultural ministry. It would be for prayer and accountability. It would be a group that encouraged those on the journey of raising funds to go to the field. It would be a group where people could find a common vernacular because missions-speak can sometimes sound like a foreign language (partner development, furlough, TCK, UPG, etc.).

But I ran into obstacles every time I tried to plan such a group. My church didn’t seem big enough to support a group that would have built-in turnover as people left for the field. There didn’t seem to be enough people committed to long-term, cross-cultural ministry. People had different ideas of how often to meet or what to focus on. I didn’t feel qualified enough to do this alone. My list of excuses, fueled by my idealism, was not short.

Fast-forward several years. I kept my finger on the pulse of who in our church was interested in missions. I tried to get to know these people and encourage them in their journeys. But it still wasn’t a group; it was one-on-one fellowship.

I started to have conversations with people outside of our congregation about my group idea, and I began to realize it was possible if I started looking at it differently. I partnered with another missions-minded person in our network of churches and we decided to pool not just our two churches, but all the local churches within our network. It was like the light bulb finally turned on. This might work.

We began meeting and making lists of people in our churches who had expressed serious interest in cross-cultural ministry abroad. We began thinking about a central place to meet. We invited church leaders to participate in the conversation. After a few months of planning, we finally invited people to our first meeting.

Our Missions Story Group has been gathering for almost two years now. And to my amazement, it's still going strong. It’s a group with connections and informal accountability. We pray for one another. We talk about things we have in common and can learn from one another. We walk with people as they figure out how to raise money and how to partner with their senders. We discuss topics that will hopefully prepare them for future cross-cultural ministry.

We have focused on five principles to make our Missions Story Group successful:

We create space for safe discussion.

It’s not a missiology lecture. It’s not a teaching time. It’s a time to talk together around a planned theme. Often we invite missionaries to discuss a topic they have experience in, but we ask them to lead a discussion rather than lecture about their knowledge.

We value shared experience.

We cook dinner together and clean up together. We don’t invite participants into a polished program. We get to know one another through the time we spend in the kitchen and through conversations as we clean up. Our relationships make our discussions even better.

We let the group guide the group.

We’ve asked our participants where they feel they need to grow. We may plan the meetings, but we do it based on feedback from the group and observations we have made. We don’t have an “expert” make all the decisions or do any “teaching.”

We invite guests to share.

We realize that our missions experience is not the end all. We want to hear from people in different parts of the globe, in different spheres of ministry, in different stages of life. Some of our discussions with missionaries have been about team relationships, working with/under nationals, and third-culture kids. We’ve watched films with cross-cultural applications.

We keep our eyes open for new people to invite.

So far we’ve sent three people off to the field. Each time this has felt like a loss in the group, but it’s the nature of what we’re trying to do. At the same time, we’ve been able to invite a few other people in as they have come to our attention.

These principles may be outside of your comfort zone, and they definitely take more time than planning a lecture or buying pizza for the group. This group doesn’t look like my idealist, perfectionist concept, but it has been even better in reality. We continue to be encouraged by the 10 or so participants who regularly come and the seven churches they represent.

I challenge you to think about starting a group within your local church(es) for people who are considering missions. Yours might look completely different than ours. If you can’t make this work now, pray that someday this will happen. In the meantime, get to know the people who have expressed interest in cross-cultural ministry. Take them to lunch or meet them for coffee. Even if your missions experience is limited, take the opportunity to walk with them and grow together. Encourage them that they are not alone in their missions journey.

About the author: Lois Thorpe served with SEND at Kyiv Theological Seminary in Ukraine for 10 years. Her missions experience also includes working as the missions coordinator at her church and teaching English in South Korea. And the other "missions-minded person in our network of churches" that she partnered with to start the Missions Story Group? She's getting married to him next month.

Russia field engages two new UPGs

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Russia field engages two new UPGs

Two decades ago, as the Soviet Union crumbled, a young Slavic couple moved across the border from their native Ukraine, hoping to reach other Russian speakers with the gospel.

Slavic* and Katya* arrived in Russia’s Ural Mountain region to a city of one million—but they found only one evangelical church with 100 members. The next two years were exciting, as God added 50 young believers to the church.

God went on to lead Slavic and Katya to a different church-planting effort in Russia, but they never forgot their time in the Ural Mountains.

Our team in Russia has long asked the Lord for opportunities to engage new unreached people groups. In the past year, he started opening door after door in answer to these prayers.

Slavic and Katya were the keys.

As our team sought the Lord’s leading, Slavic and Katya reconnected with two of the young men who had come to Christ during their stay 20 years ago. These men were now pastors and each had roots in two of Russia’s 80 unreached people groups.

Other believers in the community had started to write Christian songs in their own language.

Not only did God give Slavic and Katya these connections, he gave his Word. For the first time, the whole New Testament has been published in the language of one of the unreached people groups.

After 20 years, Slavic and Katya have returned to this Ural Mountain region, once again ready to engage the lost — although this time, their focus isn’t on Russian speakers. They’ve joined a passionate team of experienced and new workers, all with a heart to make disciples among the unreached.

For Slavic and Katya — and for our team in Russia — the time is right. God’s time is always right.

Thank you, Lord, for your perfect timing.

May these unreached groups be reached with the gospel.

Reprinted from SEND International's 2016 Annual Report .

*Not their real names

11 ways to pray during the crisis in Ukraine

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

11 ways to pray during the crisis in Ukraine Ask God to redeem this situation by drawing many people to Himself. May Ukrainians discover that Jesus is the only true source of peace, safety, comfort, truth and freedom For the opening of corridors both for evacuation and humanitarian aid around cities under attack in Ukraine. Many people in these cities are without heat and electricity. For many churches that opened their doors to neighbors offering food and shelter. For protection of many kids and parents who will spend another night in bomb shelters, metro stations or on the roads to safer places and all brave volunteers risking their lives to evacuate people. For logistics of getting funds and humanitarian aid to churches and refugee camps so they continue to have food, medicine and other supplies. For protection of lives but also church buildings that were built so sacrificially for years. May these churches be a beacon of light for those who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior! For many pastors leading their flocks at this critical time of decision and risk. They carry a heavy burden. For many believing men who will have to bear arms against a professional army as the war continues. There is no other alternative for them, that we know about. Pray also for the many women who are fighting as well. For the Lord to cause the opposing army to lose the will to fight, be afraid, be confused, or use other methods to stop the war. For many volunteers who are setting up camps for refugees, so that they will have necessary funds, places for accommodation, and physical strength to serve. For many believers to stay strong, continue trusting the Lord and not to give in to panic, fear and desperation. Learn more about how SEND is serving in Ukraine. Give to help crisis response efforts in Ukraine. Advocate for Ukraine with these church resources.

Approached by a stranger

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Approached by a stranger

By Merla Gogel, SEND Canada Mobilizer

As Ashley* was walking home from preschool, she was approached by a man who asked if she would like a bicycle for one of her children. Ashley thought it odd that a man, unknown to her would speak to her, so she politely declined and continued on her way.

That very day, the same stranger approached Garrett* asking him the same question. Garrett thought, "why not?" since it would afford him an opportunity to get to know someone in the neighborhood.

Upon engaging Garrett in a conversation, the man recognized that Garrett was a foreigner which sparked many questions about what he and his wife, Ashley, were doing in this community in Central Asia. Garrett also inquired about the stranger’s family and work. Soon Garrett came to the realization that he is a close relative of the director of the language school where Garrett teaches. This director has already shown some spiritual interest. Garrett recognized that this is a wonderful opportunity to have two contacts from the same family!

Not Individually

Garrett and Ashley work with a national pastor who has a vision to evangelize people, not individually, but in groups of people who already have a relationship with each other and have shown a spiritual hunger. Studying the teachings of Jesus together allows people to benefit from group interaction. Additionally, meeting individually with a foreigner would raise many questions, but meeting in a group where the members already know each other provides a safe environment for study and learning. Also, when someone makes a decision to follow Christ, hopefully it will not be a shock to their friends or family since Scripture is studied together.

Growing Friendship

Garrett continued to have contact with this man each day as he passed his shop to and from work. At first the conversations were about the weather, family, and about their respective countries.

However, after one of these chats, the man, no longer a stranger, invited Garrett to have tea with him. Garrett readily agreed and had the privilege of speaking with him for about two hours — careful to bring up spiritual things when they fit the context.

At the end of the conversation, it was clear that the man was open to a deeper friendship and that he was not closed to speaking about spiritual matters. Garrett continues to pray for the man to see if spiritual hunger develops. When it does, Garrett will invite him to study God’s word. The study starts with Creation and goes chronologically through Scripture showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy, the giver of salvation, and the One through whom there can be renewed relationship with God.

This is a true story, but some names have been changed for security reasons.

Discover Ministry Opportunities

Learn about SEND's ministry in Central Asia

Pray for Central Asia

Read about the miracle that brought one Muslim man to know Christ.

Merla Gogel serves as a mobilizer for SEND Canada. She served in Japan for 12.5 years as a church planter and now serves in the Canadian office.*

Garrett continued to have contact with this man each day as he passed his shop to and from work. At first the conversations were about the weather, family, and about their respective countries.

However, after one of these chats, the man, no longer a stranger, invited Garrett to have tea with him. Garrett readily agreed and had the privilege of speaking with him for about two hours — careful to bring up spiritual things when they fit the context.

At the end of the conversation, it was clear that the man was open to a deeper friendship and that he was not closed to speaking about spiritual matters. Garrett continues to pray for the man to see if spiritual hunger develops. When it does, Garrett will invite him to study God’s word. The study starts with Creation and goes chronologically through Scripture showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy, the giver of salvation, and the One through whom there can be renewed relationship with God.

*This is a true story, but some names have been changed for security reasons.

Discover Ministry Opportunities

Learn about SEND's ministry in Central Asia

Pray for Central Asia

Read about the miracle that brought one Muslim man to know Christ.

Merla Gogel serves as a mobilizer for SEND Canada. She served in Japan for 12.5 years as a church planter and now serves in the Canadian office.

Spiritual - Japan Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Spiritual - Japan Series

The Japanese people are very spiritual, following both Buddhist and Shinto traditions. One woman talks about how her life changed once she heard the truth. Part of the series "Japan: Unshakable Hope." Find links to the other videos in this series below.

Related Series

Finding Hope - Japan Series

Forward From Disaster - Japan Series

Adult and Child Wellness Inventories

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Adult and Child Wellness Inventories

These wellness inventories assess spiritual, physical, social, emotional and intellectual wellness. They provide tools to help an adult woker or a missionary kid see where they are doing well and in which areas they could improve their wellness.

Click here to find the Missionary Kid (MK) Wellness Inventory .

Find out more about the adult inventory — which can be used individually or in a debriefing or counseling setting — here .

The Yup'ik Way - Alaska Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Yup'ik Way - Alaska Series

Even though Alaska is part of the USA, the culture out in the bush is unique. This video offers a glimpse of this atmosphere, as a man describes how life has changed in his Yup'ik Eskimo village in western Alaska. Part of the video series "Alaska: Life in Your Face." Find links to the other videos in this series below.

Archery (Siberia) - Russia Series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Archery (Siberia) - Russia Series

Exciting things happen when a personal hobby turns into incredible opportunities for evangelism and discipleship. Part of the "Reaching Russia Together" series. Find links to the other videos in this series below.

Related Series

Untapped Potential

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Untapped Potential

Catalyst Services, “Postings,” Feb. 2012

Creating Missions On-Ramps to Serve

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Creating Missions On-Ramps to Serve

Three churches share how they connect with different groups within their congregations — from millennials to business people — to create and communicate ways to serve.

Catalyst Services, “Postings,” Sept. 2013

Measure Church Missions Potential

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Measure Church Missions Potential

Ten indicators of how ready a church is for global involvement, including whether cross-cultural outreach has leadership support and whether the congregation is outwardly minded.

Catalyst Services, “Postings,” Sept. 2010

The Church Involvement Spectrum

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Church Involvement Spectrum In this article about church-agency relationships, the author defines 7 levels in the church-involvement spectrum. Where is your church on this spectrum? Catalyst Services, “Postings,” Jan. ’11:

Global Positioning Survey

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Global Positioning Survey

The Global Positioning Survey is a worksheet to help individuals or couples determine where to go and what to do in missions.

Get Away

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Get Away

When was the last time you had the urge just to get out and go somewhere? Maybe you spent days at home sick or caring for someone. Perhaps it was after weeks in the same grind of work and commute with no fun in sight. Remember how good it felt to experience a change of scenery? Now imagine what it would be like to live within one square mile (or less) with half of your modern amenities and no ability to get away. Now you are getting a glimpse of one of the biggest struggles of living in the 60/70 Window.

You see, above the 60 ^th Parallel on the North American Continent, there are just under 3 million square miles of wilderness (7.600 million km²). The overwhelming majority of the beauty of this land is out of reach unless you exert a lot of expenses and effort. Across this region of the Far North, you will only find roughly 910,879 people. That is only about one-third the population of Toronto, Canada, or one-fourth of those who live in Los Angeles, California. All of this to say, it is isolated up here, and that impacts everything.

This info-graphic gives you another perspective on how hard it is to get away for some of our communities.

That also shows how hard it is to get items into town. This isolation imposes a severe limit to the resources for entertainment, not to mention resources needed to survive. One has to get creative at times.

This isolation increases the cost of living, the rates of depression, and the likely hood of destructive coping mechanisms. So you find that those who need Jesus the most are the hardest to reach! Another reason why it is not easy to do ministry in Alaska or Northern Canada .

So, we continue to plow ahead and work to saturate these communities with God's love by bringing just the right number of believers into town. Please pray with us for the right people and resources to fulfill this vision. You might be surprised how many ways you can help us out. Some are very easy to do. Check out the list on this page .

Crossing Cultures

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A child's confident prayer

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Journey through Russia with video series

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Journey through Russia with video series

By Amy Walters in Michigan

SEND Communications' short video collection, "Reaching Russia Together," offers a front-row seat to how God is answering prayers for the unreached across this vast country.

“Reaching Russia Together” features six short videos highlighting different aspects of SEND’s ministry in Russia. The series spans nearly 4,000 miles and introduces three teams serving across the country.

Watching the videos you will meet the diverse people of Russia and learn how SEND workers are empowering Russian churches to reach beyond their borders and establish reproducing churches.

You will hear about the life of the Russian orphan .

You will see ministries in action and hear testimonies of lives changed by Christ .

And you will see how two global workers use their special talents — archery and throat singing — to connect with their communities.

Russia is home to 179 people groups, 90 of which remain unreached. SEND workers are expanding their ministries to more people groups and need people to come alongside them to pray, give and go join the work. Maybe throat singing isn’t your special gift. But whatever gift God has given you, He can use it to reach Russia.

Happy To Help

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Happy To Help

"I recently had a full day of running errands, and moving people and stuff all around town. In the midst of it all, I heard myself regularly saying, "I am happy to help." And I meant it. Especially with the COVID season, we are all in, the ministry of physical helps has greatly increased.

I always keep in mind that these physical helps are still just momentary and temporary. As much as we are happy to help, we are most eager to help by pointing people to Jesus.

I continue to share the gospel whenever possible. Sometimes in short nuggets of truth and sometimes in longer more full explanations. We are also seeing an increase in the desire to know more of who God is. Yet I have a craving to have more opportunity to share the truth of God's word in more visible and public ways.

Please pray with us for discernment on how to best hold the truth of God's word out for the community to hear and understand. Pray that we would hear whatever direction God wants us to take and to courageously follow Him. Serving God out here means patience and perseverance. Pray for us as we seek His direction and continue to follow Him."
-Jon Casey

Evacuating Families - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Evacuating Families - Ukraine Crisis Story

We are so thankful for our partners in Ukraine who are searching for men, women, children, and families to rescue and bring to safety.

Here is an update from a pastor in Ukraine: In God's mercy, we were able to evacuate two families from under the shelling in the city. It was an actual miracle of God that we found these people, who were sitting in a basement. They had no electricity, no water, no gas. We looked for them in the basement using a flashlight. When we found them, they cried and praised God for their rescue. The curfew was beginning and so we had to spend the night there and experience the full horror of bombardment. In the morning, when we planned to leave, they started a mass shooting from a military helicopter, glass was scattered from the windows, the building shook, but we were fortunate to pack 13 people into two light cars along with a little bit of stuff. We fled the village and transported them to our town, about 500 kilometers away. Praise God for these rescued families.

Please join us in prayer for our partners as they continue to go into harm's way to make these rescues.

Give now to help relief efforts

The Merger

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Merger

The unfortunate trend within the church is to split when the going gets tough, even though our goal is the same; to make disciples. We are blessed to know that God can bring different cultures together to advance His Kingdom. We know this because this is the story of SEND North’s relationship to SEND International. We used to be two separate organizations, but God brought us together through an extraordinary merger!

SEND North was born as Central Alaska Mission (CAM) by a man with a vision. Vince Joy, pilot, and preacher, and his family established this vital village ministry in Alaska in 1937. CAM was comprised of four programs: village ministry, Cross Roads Medical Center (1956), KCAM Christian Radio (1964), and Alaska Bible College (1966). At Vince Joy’s death in 1966, his legacy at CAM was carried on by the Board of Directors.

The Board struggled with growing the ministry due to the technicalities of legal, financial, and staffing challenges. This was when they met Phil Armstrong, Director of the Far Eastern Gospel Crusade (FEGC). FEGC was a semi-large organization started by WWII veterans in Japan and the surrounding area, who saw the devastation of the war and the need for God within the local people they encountered. After much prayer and discussion, SEND International was born through the merger of CAM with FEGC in 1971. This pairing provided help and guidance with the ministries in Alaska and set the stage for God to continue to expand these ministries across the globe.

Let us be honest at this point, the unity between the Asia-based and the rural Alaska-based ministry was geographically perplexing, but the two organizations understood their need for one another. While the locations, cultures, and values between the two areas were very different, the goals of both organizations, as well as the characteristics of these areas, were somewhat similar. Both groups sought to spread the Gospel to the indigenous regions within their reach. Both encountered language and cultural barriers as well. Finally, both organizations had the drive for church-planting and building relationships. This pattern of bringing cultures together to minister has repeated itself many times over as SEND International opened ‘fields’ in Europe, Russia, and Asia. SEND North is one of those ‘fields,’ making disciple-makers in Alaska and Northern Canada.

SEND International still uses these same bonds to unify the vastness of their ministry locations as well as the diverse cultures represented within local, multi-cultural teams. By seeking to use each person’s strengths, engaging with the culture, seeking out open hearts, and committing to areas for the long haul, SEND International and SEND North to continue to work as one for the advancement of the Gospel.

Heroic Days - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Heroic Days - Ukraine Crisis Story

February 26, 2022 With crisis raging now in Kyiv, our hearts are heavy. Our prayers go out for our sisters and brothers in Ukraine. One of our partners in Ukraine has been sharing updates with us. Here is an excerpt from one of the emails:

Join us in praying, giving, and advocating for our friends in Ukraine.

“Help Ukraine”

Give now to help relief efforts

Small Gifts, Big Impact - Ukraine Crisis Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Small Gifts, Big Impact - Ukraine Crisis Story

Sometimes the smallest gifts make the biggest impact. This was the case in this story below from one of our church partners in Ukraine:

This week was full of ministry, including handing out 120 bags of groceries, unloading humanitarian aid trucks, helping with the personal needs of people in their places, and cooking porridge for civilians. I got the idea of buying flowers for women who received aid from us. I thought maybe it wasn't time for this yet, but when I saw the smiles and tears of happiness of the refugees, I understood that it had been the right decision. One of the women told me: "I want to thank you for everything, for clothing, for groceries, but especially for the flowers -- it is a symbol of hope, mercy and peace." When you hear what people are saying, how hard it was for them to live under occupation or under gunfire or how they evacuated -- and then see the smiles at the flowers and aid, you understand that you are doing the right thing. Also the businessman from whom I bought the flowers, when he found out who they were for, gave me some of them for free.

Thanks for the help you have given. May the Lord bless and protect you. Peace to you!

Your prayers and gifts (big and small) are truly making a difference in Ukraine!

Give now to help relief efforts

The Influence of a Sending Church

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Influence of a Sending Church

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2021 Annual Report.

-----

Tiffany began attending Sturgeon Valley Baptist Church near Edmonton at the tender age of two. Since then, Sturgeon Valley has played an important role in Tiffany’s life and spiritual journey. Today, Sturgeon Valley plays a crucial part of Tiffany’s ministry in Japan.

While Tiffany was growing up, she and her family were separated by distance from their relatives. Tiffany felt safe around the church community. The people became like aunts and uncles to her. The multigenerational community at Sturgeon Valley was also Tiffany’s spiritual family. As she interacted with the believers, Tiffany grew in her faith step by step.

Sturgeon Valley also provided opportunities for Tiffany to serve. In high school, Tiffany went on a mission trip to Brazil, and was involved in ministry at the church. As a young adult, she led youth Bible Studies and worked in the Girls’ Club. While some ministries pushed Tiffany out of her comfort zone, Sturgeon Valley also allowed her to serve in her sweet spot – being their bookkeeper! Tiffany loved that role!

When God called Tiffany into cross-cultural ministry, the church community stood with her.

Soon after being accepted to serve with SEND, both the church and individuals gave generously, enabling Tiffany to participate in a vision trip to Japan. When Tiffany was raising support for long-term ministry in Japan, she was given opportunities to share in worship services and small groups about her future work. Sturgeon Valley even allowed Tiffany’s friends to hold fundraiser events in the church building to help raise support.

A special memory for Tiffany is the Commissioning Service in 2018, when Sturgeon Valley sent her out to serve God cross-culturally. Individuals spoke words of encouragement, and many people gathered to pray over her.

During Tiffany’s first term in Japan, Sturgeon Valley continued to pray for and communicate with her. On a few occasions, interviews were recorded and played during Sunday services. Individuals also contributed to care packages for Tiffany.

When Tiffany returned for home service in Canada, the church community again blessed Tiffany by welcoming her back, giving her opportunities to share about her ministry, and involving her in church life.

Sturgeon Valley’s love, care and support throughout Tiffany’s life is evident. As a result, their impact extends overseas as Tiffany serves God in Japan!

Explore Ministry Opportunities in Asia

Uncovering the unreached

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Uncovering the unreached

The evangelical church in Ukraine, where SEND started working soon after the fall of the Soviet Union, is beginning to develop into a missions force. Kyle Eipperle and his wife, Carrie, have served with SEND in Ukraine for more than 16 years — long enough to see the church start sending Ukrainians as cross-cultural workers. Kyle’s work inspires Ukrainian believers and churches to notice and respond to the unexpected Great Commission opportunities that surround them.

Q. What is your ministry?

I work to mobilize the local church on the mission field to pray, send, or serve in missions to unreached people groups — we call this “frontier mobilization.” Part of my ministry has been devoted to ethnographic research on unreached peoples in Eurasia and Central Asia. My research has led me to develop Russian- and Ukrainian-language prayer guides that highlight unreached peoples in the former Soviet Union. The prayer guides contain demographic information, an ethnographic profile, and strategic prayer points for UPGs.

Q. How many guides have you published?

My first prayer guide was produced in 2009. It was a small, Russian-language booklet about the unreached people groups of Ukraine. Since then I have published four additional Russian-language guides and one guide in Ukrainian. We have distributed over 5,000 print versions. The guides also are available as digital files, and have been distributed among churches in Ukraine and Russia. The digital file — in English and in Russian —is also available for download on the Joshua Project web site.

Q. How do you go about researching these guides?

At first, Joshua Project was the main source for my research. Later I found other sources. But English sources lacked crucial ethnographic information about the people groups I was researching. Sometimes there was not even a photograph available of the people group. I then turned to sources in Russian. I have even had the opportunity to interview someone from one of the people groups I am researching.

Q. What have been some of the most fascinating things you’ve discovered in your research?

I’ve discovered people groups that are not mentioned in English-language sources! I have always been fascinated with discovery. Growing up I wanted to become an archaeologist and dig up treasures. In a way, that dream has become a reality. I have uncovered 20 people groups within Russia that have been hidden from Western missionary endeavors.

Q. Why did you decide to research unreached people groups?

As the Ukrainian church began to develop as a missions force, I started researching unreached peoples to learn more about the people and places Ukrainians were going, or could potentially go, as missionaries. I discovered a very diverse ethnic population within the former Soviet Union. I learned that nearly all the people groups in Russia are still unreached, including Russians. I thought up ways to share what I’d learned. Since then, I have made it my goal to find creative ways to inform believers about the needs in Eurasia and Central Asia.

Q. How does your ministry help make disciples among the unreached?

There are people groups that have existed for centuries but have been ignored by Western missionary endeavors. Why has this happened? Well, it is impossible to send a missionary to invisible people. To complete the Great Commission, we must know who are the ethnic people groups of the world.

Q. How are believers using the guides you’ve put together?

Individuals use the prayer guides in their personal prayer times. Small groups are praying for a people group each time they meet. Some churches have adopted an unreached people group or highlight an unreached people group once a month during their worship service.

Q. What kind of feedback have you gotten?

First reactions to the prayer guides range from shock to utter disbelief. A frequent comment I’ve heard from Ukrainians is, “I had no idea these people lived here!” One person who had a surprised first reaction reported back to me a year later that he since has made contact with foreigners in his hometown. The prayer guides have a way of opening our eyes to the people around us. I used to think that Ukraine was home only to ethnic Ukrainians and a small percentage of ethnic Russians. Turns out, Ukraine is a very diverse country. There are more than 130 ethnic people groups that call Ukraine their home.

Q. How is prayer connected to engaging the unreached?

I believe prayer is the key element in bringing the gospel to lost people. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus instructs his disciples to pray earnestly for laborers to be sent to the unreached. In Colossians 4:3, Paul called on the church to pray that he would be allowed access to declare the gospel to the unreached. The goal of my research is to inspire Christians to pray strategically for unreached peoples.

Learn more about the unreached

Be a Disciple-Maker

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Be a Disciple-Maker

What does discipleship mean to me and what is it to be a disciple-maker in the north? I have to admit that when I hear people talk about discipleship in regards to churches and ministries, I often think of sterilized environments such as church Sunday school rooms and auditoriums. These I think are a far cry from the sandy shores of Galilee and the dusty streets of Jerusalem where the Author of our faith called and trained His disciples.

I grew up the son, nephew, and brother of several great pastors and have spent my share of time in the Sunday school rooms and auditoriums of churches where I received amazing teaching on the Scriptures. But this is not where I was discipled. No, I was discipled outside the church. I had the incredible privilege of being discipled by many different men who were willing to let me tag along as they lived life and demonstrated faith and character.

My father was and is easily the most influential of all of the men who invested in me. As a pastor of a small country church, he had the flexibility to spend a lot of time with me, more than the average dad, but it was how he spent that time that made the difference. I tagged along with him and watched him fix people’s cars, visit people in the hospital, have coffee with people in their homes, listen to endless problems from the broken-hearted, and help anyone who needed it. When it was time for me to get involved in full-time ministry, it wasn't book knowledge that helped the most; it was the example of my dad that impacted me more than anything.

He was discipling more than myself during that time. I remember a time when my best friend and I needed help pulling out a fender on one of our cars. My dad came up with a great idea of using a tree and a chain to help pull on it and the bumper. When the plan worked, my dad exclaimed, “Praise the Lord!” That expression impacted my buddy, who much later gave testimony how my dad influenced him to give God credit immediately in whatever he was doing. My dad was teaching godly character through mechanics.

Since moving to Northern Canada, I have seen how discipleship and disciple-making can be very organic, much like it was in the days of Jesus. Instead of spending time with men on the sandy shores of Galilee, it’s the gravelly beaches and rough waves of Teslin Lake where I enjoy teaching and talking with people. Instead of the dusty streets of Jerusalem, it’s the wood cutting lot where we help people get their winter firewood. I have shared more about Jesus Christ and the Bible with people at the local restaurant over coffee than anywhere else. Northern discipleship requires meeting people where they are at and living out the Christian life alongside them.

One of my favorite discipleship moments from this last year was taking a younger man from our church out moose hunting. He was having a little trouble finding a bull for his family’s winter meat supply, which is a crucial thing to have in the North. I knew where to go and what to do because an older friend had shown me in a previous year when we needed help getting a moose for the freezer. I was able to teach the younger man what to do after he shot the moose, and how to properly care for the 1200lb animal to respectfully harvest all the usable meat. While we worked on butchering the meat, we talked about life and faith and discussed how he could be involved in our church’s ministry. A couple of weeks later, he preached his first message at our church. God is continuing to work in his life, and I am excited to watch him as he disciples others.

Jesus walked along with his disciples and taught them as He went. Jesus was a master at taking common things, such as water, wheat, and even fish to teach Kingdom lessons to those who followed Him. He gives each of us common things every day that are opportunities to teach those around us. Are we willing to take the opportunities He gives us, regardless of where we live, to advance the Kingdom and make disciple makers?

-A SEND North Team member

Sharing life in order to share Life

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Sharing life in order to share Life

The United States and Canada have welcomed more than 50 million immigrants, many of them from countries closed to Western missionaries. In response to this great opportunity, in 2016, SEND launched its newest field: Diaspora | North America. Below, one of our diaspora workers shares about her developing relationship with a refugee named Princess.*

Many refugee women arrive not speaking English. They don’t have cars and they do have small children, so we study English together at their homes. Recently, Princess and I have been reading children’s books together. Little Bear and Richard Scarry were well-loved, and then I brought Princess the story of Joseph.

Praise God, Princess was prepared to connect with this account.

“This is a story of a prophet! My mother learn a little Arabic because she wanted to read about prophets,” Princess said. “She teached me some! There is another prophet — Job. I like him. He had bad things happen. He was very patient.”

Seeing Princess’ excitement, my husband offered to bring her more stories of the prophets — stories that are both in her own language and in a digital format that she can send to her mom, who lives in a closed country. Thanks to modern technology, they can discuss these stories via WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

Princess’ eyes lit up! “My mom would be too happy! Oh, and I can listen in my language and then say the story in English and you can correct my English!”

Because they’ve witnessed horrific deeds performed in the name of God, many refugees feel nervous about pushy “religion.” They need to see real love, true care, and good friendships. We’ve spent a year building a relationship with Princess through prenatal classes, birthing, nursing struggles, landlord troubles, sewage floods, and moving apartments — living life together — and now SHE has the idea of studying Bible stories.

Yes, I think we can do that!

Thank you, Lord, for bringing the unreached to our neighborhoods. May Princess and other refugees come to trust the living God.

*Not her real name

Reprinted from SEND International's 2016 Annual Report .

Making Disciples in Northern Canada

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Making Disciples in Northern Canada

This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2020 Annual Report.

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One of SEND’s ministry fields is right within the borders of Canada! Several unreached people groups live in the “60/70 window”, a geographic area that spans across the Yukon and Northwest Territories, Nunavut, as well as Alaska.

Located in the northernmost regions of the Americas, this area experiences extreme cold and darkness for many months. The spiritual climate is also particularly challenging . Substance abuse, poverty, loss of culture, and suicide are tragic realities that are amplified in many regions of Northern Canada and Alaska.

Long-Term Vision

The long-range vision of SEND North is to make disciple-makers in the North. This vision places Jesus-followers in small, often remote villages to join in the daily life of close-knit communities and bring the gospel. In the extreme environment and extreme need of the North, SEND Canada workers seek to demonstrate God’s extreme love.

An Unusual Year with New Opportunities

The year 2020 required missionaries to get creative - and that is exactly what they have done! One missionary displayed art in his window that related to each Sunday’s radio-broadcasted sermon. When most camps were not able to have overnight programming in the usual “away-from-home” locations due to COVID restrictions, one group of missionaries brought the camp experience to the village by putting on a day camp for the kids! Each day the children dug into the Word of God, sang their hearts out, painted, created, played games, swam in the river for hours, and had a blast.

This unusual year also brought wonderful opportunities for partnerships with other ministries. SEND North partnered with 8 organizations to distribute kits containing PPE, over 250 Christmas care packages, and thousands of Bibles - some even in the Inuktitut language! In contrast, some enjoyed a renewed simplicity in ministry as missionaries offered the life-changing practice of simply reading the Bible together with people in their homes.

God is working in the North, and we believe He is not done bringing light and hope to the 60/70 window!

Watch a video: From Shamanism to Christ

Get to Know Our Goers Part 1: Susan

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Get to Know Our Goers Part 1: Susan

1. This post is an excerpt from SEND Canada's 2021 Annual Report.

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Meet Susan, one of SEND Canada's recent appointees! The individuals you will meet over the next few weeks are preparing to go to the field or have recently been sent. They are an answer to prayers of many faithful believers that more workers be sent into the harvest field! Today, we hope you will enjoy getting to know Susan as you read her answers to the following questions.

How did you first feel called into missions work?

o Susan: I always wanted to be a part of missions, but I never felt a calling to a specific place. After years of waiting, wondering, and researching, I connected with SEND. I was willing to go anywhere, and they sent me to Eurasia for two years. Now I hope to return to share Christ’s love to those who have never known him.

2. How far along are you in your support raising journey?

o Susan: About 20%

3. Where will you serve? And is there a particular people group you will be working with?

o Susan: I am hoping to serve in the Eurasia region.

4. What is a fun fact about you?

o Susan: For the first few months of living together, My roommate and I communicated almost exclusively through google translate :)

5. What is one Bible verse that has inspired your involvement in missions?

o Susan: Romans 12:2 " Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will."

6. What is the name of your Sending Church?

o Susan: Countryside Community Church

7. Favourite hot drink?

o Susan: I don't have favourites, but I do enjoy a good cup of tea...and also a latte

8. Current favourite worship song?

o Susan: O Come All Ye Unfaithful by Sovereign Grace Music

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. A sk the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

- Matthew 9:37-38

Pray for SEND Workers

Why Travel So Far to Engage the Unreached?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Why Travel So Far to Engage the Unreached?

You’ve felt God’s call to missions – but getting started can be intimidating.

At SEND we've helped hundreds of people overcome the challenges of getting to the missions field.

Our coaches are ready to connect with you!

Discover Missions Opportunities.

So You're Thinking of Getting Involved in Missions?

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

So You're Thinking of Getting Involved in Missions?

Being a disciple of Jesus is important for anyone hoping to be involved in missions. But what does discipleship mean?

KAMP

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

KAMP

Serving jail time for two years can still be a life sentence.

Once they have gone through “the system,” many inmates come from jail and prison marked by their past decisions. Time in prison has taught them that they are criminals and hopeless to change. So when they get out, they act on these beliefs. While it is unfortunate how many offenders return to jail because of their post-release decisions, organizations like KAMP help affect the cycle so inmates can choose a better life.

Kodiak Area Mentoring Program (KAMP) is a ministry in Kodiak, Alaska focused on inmate rehabilitation. Mentors speak to inmates while they are still in prison about the Gospel and what it means to have a purpose in life beyond crime. With the Gospel, they see how they are not defined by their sins, but there is a chance for redemption through Christ.

If inmates respond well to the mentorship program, KAMP team members offer a variety of services post-release. They will pick up inmates at the jail on their release date to bring them to safe housing. They will help build resumes, drive them to interviews, and whatever else they need to surround the individuals with a positive community, so the temptation to fall back into crime is lessened.

Every Friday, KAMP hosts a free dinner and Bible Study that includes a sharing time for these individuals to talk about their struggles in a safe, encouraging environment. The results have proven so positive; other nationwide programs are looking to the KAMP model as a guide.

For one couple, two years in jail could have been the end to a hopeful future. Their life sentence of condemnation was before their eyes. But, the couple found the Lord in jail and came out ready for a change. Today, they are mentors in KAMP and have shared their story with many. Their family is reunited now, and they have no temptation for drugs, alcohol, or crime because their desires are fixed on Jesus. For this couple, their entire lives, and their children’s lives, could have been defined by their time served and their crime. Instead, their time in jail led them to the Lord and offered them a future better than they would have had prior to their jail experience.

To learn more about KAMP’s impact, visit their website . ( http://74.220.207.183/~kodiakme/ )

People Work

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

People Work

There is nothing more satisfying after a full day of work than shutting down my computer, turning off the office lights, and breathing in the fresh air as I walk from the office to my car. I can measure my work on the drive home by thinking through what I accomplished that day. Between the emails, crunching numbers, and completing projects, I have tangible evidence that I went to work, and it was worthwhile.

However, many SEND North team members do not experience this. Their work environment is not a desk space, and their work regularly cannot be measured. Their efforts, though as valuable as our own, are intangible.

A SEND member who started out on the business side of ministry, recently remarked on this when talking about his transition into SEND. When he and his wife joined SEND North, they realized their focus would have to be “people work.” People work all about building relationships and understanding the environment. Inherently, it is selfless because it requires putting other’s needs above your own time and monetary interests. In the Far North, many residents operate on their own time, and needs are immediate, creating unpredictable service opportunities.

Our hope at SEND North is to integrate with each village, which leads to the long-term commitment of our team members in each area. Too often, our members can build a positive relationship for years, and it will be suddenly lost because of the influence of family, alcohol, or health issues. It is easy, then, to feel unproductive or ineffective for our field members. Still, they do not give up on a person or turn them away just because they are too difficult: God desires every heart to know Him, and we are the tools for the task.

In the village, our members don’t punch in and out of work at any set time. They are frequently called in the middle of the night for help or asked to take the rest of their day to watch the neighbor kids. Through all of this, the goal of SEND North is true disciple-making, no matter how long it takes. Therefore we will invest all of our time, interests, and desire into building relationships among the native people. Our time, money, and effort all belong to the Lord.

Is the Lord calling you to people work? Pray with us; give with us; and go with us: to spread the Gospel in the Far North and beyond.

- Kelly Quist

5 Steps Toward Global Engagement

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

5 Steps Toward Global Engagement

A simple outline that can guide your church as you think through progressive steps in launching or rethinking your global engagement. This practical list includes starter questions, too.

"Posting" from Catalyst Services, January 2012

Six Types of Missionary Care

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Six Types of Missionary Care

Cross-cultural workers need care from their home church. "Missionary Care: Where Does a Church Begin?" spells out six types of care and lists simple ideas for how church members can care for their missionaries. Catalyst Services, “Postings,” March 2014.

Get ready for missions

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Get ready for missions If you are curious about your readiness for missions, consider these questions: What has given you the greatest feeling of accomplishment in your ministry? How was that effort initiated and what obstacles did you overcome? What contacts do you have who are non-Christian? When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone and how did you do it? How have you discipled someone one on one? What experiences have challenged your faith and how did you work through them? What is your devotional life like individually and as a family? How do you and your spouse make major decisions or deal with conflict? How do you and your spouse use your gifts and talents to complement each other? To get training and experience for missions right where you are, consider these options: Attend a Perspectives training. It offers an excellent missions education, possibly at a location near you. Get involved with your church’s missions program. Be missional in your community, looking for opportunities to meet people’s needs and share the gospel. Talk with a SEND missions coach. Education Requirements SEND’s education requirements for long-term missionaries differ based on the field and the assignment. Most opportunities require a Bachelor’s degree and SEND would like to see about 30 hours of Bible training. But there are exceptions—SEND takes into account a candidate’s experience and age and may also accept candidates before they complete their training. If you have questions or concerns about whether you would qualify, don’t rule yourself out! Instead, talk to us about your interests and background. We’re here to help.

The business of redemption

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The business of redemption

Tucked away in the corner of a large gated property, the crumbling walls and debris-filled rooms of the warehouse cried out for redemption. It was obvious that the old Communist-era facility would need significant repairs to become the ministry hub for which Don and Krystal Zollinger had prayed. But when Don first saw it, rather than being repelled by the decay, his first thought was, “This location has so much potential.” Just minutes away from the Roma community, the large building was perfect for meeting the multi-faceted needs of the people. Then the landlord said, “You can use it for the first year free of charge, if you fix the exterior walls and some of the interior.” After more prayer, Don and Krystal said, “Yes.”

That was in 2011. Fast-forward to 2015 and you’ll find the property has a new life serving as a place where the Roma and Albanians can find new life in Christ. Space that was dilapidated and useless is now used for classrooms and workshops. In it girls gather and learn how to sew. Boys acquire woodworking skills. Ladies meet for women’s events. And men come together to work in the Roma men’s Fabrication Workshop. The building also hosts kids’ clubs, Bible studies, and community events. Besides imparting life skills, Don and Krystal have been able to share Jesus with many and have seen some choose to follow him as a result of all that is offered through this multipurpose ministry building.

The building also houses Inovat, a new Business as Missions wood-burning stove venture that Don felt led to start. The initiative was motivated by three critical needs: 1) Roma men are desperate to find work in order to provide for their families; 2) Albanian houses do not have central heating and need another source of warmth during the winter; and 3) the Roma and Albanians need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Inovat provides a solution to all three needs.

Don says, “There are many Roma men who want to work and be trained by us. If our products sell well, then we would have the privilege of working with these men, empowering them with skills, and building strong relationships so that we can ultimately share the gospel of Jesus with them.” In its first season, all the stoves Inovat placed with a local retailer sold within ten days. Don says, “The retailer now wants to order 150 more to have in his warehouse for the next season. He would also like us to design other stove models to display in his shop.”

Inovat’s relationship with Marketplace & Development Enterprises (MDE) will enable it to gain official status, comply with Albanian law, tap into capital to move the start-up from a concept to a viable, self-sustaining business, and partner with other like-minded believers who have the skills and expertise to help the ministry flourish.

Don and Krystal are grateful for the many facets of God’s redemptive process. They’ve watched him redeem an old building and then use it to redeem lives for his Kingdom. Don says, “Our continued prayer is that God would use Inovat as a strategic door-opener to greatly impact the Roma community as we participate in establishing churches among them.” Will you pray with us for God’s continued blessing on this ministry?

To learn more about MDE and read more stories like Don and Krystal’s, visit www.buildmde.com.

Mentoring Matters: Steve's Story

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Mentoring Matters: Steve's Story

“I am so blessed to have a mentor. I was in college and trying to figure out what to do with my life, when a pastor and family friend made the choice to deliberately invest in my life. He spent hours talking with me and helping me grow as a person. He encouraged me to think creatively about how God could use my talents and abilities. He helped me figure out what I am good at - and what I’m not good at! He encouraged me to take courageous steps that helped me grow. When there were areas in my life I needed to improve, he challenged me to address them. Now, many years later, he continues to be my mentor. He continues to challenge me and has helped me navigate through some tough times. I have learned so much from his wisdom, and continue to be inspired by his example. Have you considered finding a mentor? I highly recommend it! And maybe it is time for you to consider mentoring someone!"

Discover Ministry Opportunities

Navigating the Mission Field: Essential Traits for Impactful Service

shane.dougherty@solertiae.com (Bradley McIlwain) — Mon, 27 May 2024 16:57:42 GMT

Navigating the Mission Field: Essential Traits for Impactful Service

As a missionary and follower of Jesus, I’ve spent many years serving others in a variety of contexts. This journey has exposed me to the diverse challenges and successes experienced by people from every corner of the globe. Engaging with and ministering alongside individuals from different cultures has significantly shaped my faith and my approach to ministry. It's become clear that certain qualities are essential for anyone looking to serve effectively and resiliently. These qualities must be rooted deeply in a vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Here are four that I have come to personally value and consistently seek in others who are responding to God’s call to share the Gospel.

Compassion: The Heart of Mission Work

At the core of every missionary's heart should be profound compassion. This isn't merely a passive feeling of sympathy, but an active engagement and deep empathy with the people you serve. The Gospel of Matthew speaks powerfully about this, noting in 9:36 that when Jesus saw the crowds, "he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." This type of compassion compels action and demands that we see and love people as Jesus does.

In practical terms, this means addressing the immediate needs of individuals and striving to understand and alleviate the deeper issues plaguing their communities. Whether it’s offering comfort to a distressed mother or providing meals to those without food, every action is driven by a love that sees beyond the surface.

Curiosity: The Bridge to Cultural Understanding

Curiosity is perhaps one of the most underappreciated, yet essential traits for any missionary. In a world rich with diverse cultures, languages, and traditions, a genuine curiosity helps us navigate these differences with respect and understanding. This means more than just learning another language or reading about a country's history. It involves an immersive engagement with the community, asking questions, participating in local traditions, and truly listening to the stories of the people.

Creativity: Innovating to Meet Needs

Creativity in missions is not about the arts per se, though they can be a fantastic tool. It’s about innovating to meet both physical and spiritual needs in sometimes challenging circumstances. During my time abroad, I've seen how a creative approach can transform missionary work. This could be as simple as using technology to improve education in a remote village or as complex as developing community programs that address specific local issues such as unemployment or healthcare.

Courage: The Spirit’s Call to Bold Faith

Finally, courage. This is not the absence of fear, but the conviction to act despite it. Following the Holy Spirit’s leading might mean stepping into unknown places or situations that seem daunting. It might mean speaking out against injustice in a community or choosing to live in challenging conditions because that’s where God has called you to serve.

In Conclusion

To those considering a life of service and impact, I extend both an invitation and a challenge. An invitation to step into the world with open hearts and minds, ready to serve, learn, and lead where God takes you. And a challenge to embody compassion, curiosity, creativity, and courage in all that you do for Him. Being a missionary isn’t just about crossing seas or changing landscapes; it’s about crossing the street to meet your neighbor, changing your perspective to embrace new ideas, and ultimately, impacting the world one act of love at a time. Whether your mission field is abroad or in your backyard, these characteristics are essential for serving others resiliently.

Bringing True Healing

Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Bringing True Healing

“Tell me again how this patient got here?” I asked the hospital staff workers.

“He came by wheelbarrow,” they said.

Still in disbelief, I looked at the picture they had taken when the patient had arrived. The staff were also surprised by the patient’s mode of transportation. I eventually found out that they traveled “many miles” to get to the hospital. The patient and his family were too poor to afford a taxi or even a local bus, so the family and some friends took it upon themselves to bring him to the eye hospital by wheelbarrow!

Thankfully, he was able to receive the treatment he needed and return to his village after recovering from surgery. This reminded me of another story in the Bible where four men carried a paralytic to Jesus for healing. However, the place where he was staying was so crowded they couldn’t get in.

So, the friends went up on the roof, dug a hole through it, and lowered him down right in front of Jesus, so that he might see him face to face. These were true friends and through their efforts, we have an amazing account of Jesus not only healing him, but also forgiving his sins! It was an amazing testimony that sent shock waves through the community because they had never seen or heard anything like this before.

Will you go the extra mile?

As we think about the people the Lord has brought into our lives and community, what are we willing to do to help bring them the healing they need? What would we be willing to do to bring others to Jesus? Would you be willing to bring them by wheelbarrow or carry them on a bed? Thankfully, for us today, it is probably more about the sharing of a timely word rather than a physical exertion. But are we ready to help out when the need arises? Are you and I willing to go the extra mile so that others may hear the saving words of Jesus?

Ask the Lord to give you opportunity this week to share his grace and peace with one Muslim. Perhaps this could involve sharing the story of the paralytic, who was carried by four of his friends, or another story the Lord places on your heart. Whatever message it is, share it with love and compassion, just as these friends shared their love and compassion with their paralytic friend.

10/10 Prayer Initiative

We and many others are praying for 10% of the Muslim world to come to Christ in 10 years. It’s a simple and yet truly profound request that we are bringing before God, as only he can make it happen. God has declared through the prophets many times that he is calling people from the ends of the earth to believe and put their trust in him. We agree and ask that many be saved from the Muslim world. Would you join us? We specifically pray every first Friday of each month while some have selected other days of the month. But we are united with one voice—for many Muslims to come to know him as Lord and Savior.

Pray for an end to the unrest sweeping US college campuses. Pray for peace and for level-headed thinking to prevail. Hate has gained a foothold and we pray for the peace, power, and healing touch of Jesus to change these agitators’ hearts.

Pray for Christian workers in Muslim lands. Pray for strength for each day and for courage and wisdom in how to live out their faith.

Pray for the continued stream of refugees coming into our country, both legal and illegal, that they would hear the gospel of Jesus for the first time in their lives. Pray for wisdom for our government leaders to know how to resolve the complex immigration issues and for prudent steps to be implemented.

Pray for visions and dreams for your Muslim friends, neighbors and colleagues, so that their long-held beliefs and traditions would be shattered and replaced with the light of Christ.

Explore News: Praying for Ministry, Team, and Family

Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Explore News: Praying for Ministry, Team, and Family

“What is one way our audience can be praying for your ministry, team, or family?”

Please join us as we pray for God’s blessing in their important work to reach the unreached.

Pray for the unreached people of Central Asia and Russia!

Pray that we will see movements of disciple-makers among these people groups! But on a more personal note, please pray that my team, my family and I would all find people open to truly study the Bible with us and who will bec

Pray for the continuous movement of God’s love in those touched by the Holy Spirit during Ramadan.

Throughout history, God has spoken to Muslim people through visions and dreams. Pray for this to happen amongst the group we work alongside, the Miga, and for it to result in a movement of Miga following Jesus.

Ramadan (the Muslim month of fasting) started this year on March 11. Ramadan is a month that Muslims are particularly open to hearing from God and having spiritual conversations. We pray that our team’s interactions with the Miga during Ramadan was fruitful and that the Holy Spirit guided them to God’s love and salvation.

Pray for Love Europe this summer 2024!

Love Europe is an opportunity for young Europeans, ages 18 to 35, to go to other countries in Europe, to take part in missions, and show the love of Christ in a practical way on their continent. Through this trip, the hope and prayer is that more Europeans would be mobilized for ministry and to share the gospel, whether in their own countries, around Europe or around the globe. Love Europe will include orientation, a week of cross cultural ministry, and debrief. The cross cultural ministry trips will be hosted by SEND missionaries in Croatia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain.

Our hope is that this is just the start of Love Europe and that it could be continued as an opportunity to mobilize and serve in the future. We want to see more Europeans raised up who love their countries and who follow the calling to serve God! You can help support through our page: https://send.org/give/projects/love-europe

Pray for God to provide workers.

We have a growing ministry with a shrinking team. Please pray for God to provide workers.

Please pray for summer camp preparation. This is a big time of ministry for us and takes a lot of work and help to pull off. The planning is starting now!

Find out how you can become a SEND missionary .

• Explore where and how you can serve with SEND .

Dreams and Visions

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Dreams and Visions

By a member of SEND Diaspora | North America team.

Have you had any vivid dreams recently? This isn’t a question you would normally ask most people, but we often ask it now since we have heard many dream stories from Muslims. Most Westerners attribute dreams to eating something spicy the night before, but in many other parts of the world, dreams are taken very seriously.

My wife asked a couple we were visiting this past week whether they had any dreams recently. The husband’s response was very quick and interesting. He said, “No I haven’t…well, not yet. But I know a friend who has and it has changed his life.” He proceeded to tell an amazing story of how his friend traveled the Afghanistan-Iran-Turkey-Greece-plus another European country path. It's a common route Afghan immigrants take to get to Europe. This friend was pretending to be a Christian because he had heard it might help his chances of getting from Afghanistan to the West.

Looking For Help and Finding God

He had spent his last bit of money to reach his final European destination, but he arrived there penniless. He decided to just sit down and wait. Soon, two men came down the street and he thought to himself, Ah! Here are two men who look just like me. He called out to them in his language, but they ignored him. A little while later, another man came down the street and he thought, Yes, this man is certainly Afghan. However, when he called out to him, “Friend, countryman! How are you?” This man also ignored him.

He was disappointed, but without any money, he had nowhere else to go. So, he continued to wait. Not long after, he spotted another man who looked a bit like him. He called out to him the same way, but this time, the man showed the slightest flicker of recognition in his face as he walked by. However, he didn’t stop or even respond to his greeting. The traveler guessed from the man’s facial response that he was a countryman, and even though the man ignored him, he followed him home from a distance.

He reached the house that the man had gone into, pounded on the door, and shouted, “Please, open up the door. I know you are Afghan. I have no money and just need a place to stay for one night!” The door slowly opened and after some back and forth, the man let him in. He was given some food and a small room ot stay in. Over tea, they discovered they had some friends in common, namely the husband who was telling me the story here in America. By the end of the day, he went to sleep in a small room with a window.

Suddenly, he awoke from a deep sleep with the brightest light he had ever seen shining on him through the window. He was dazed as it was still the middle of the night and should have been pitch black outside. Much to his surprise, the light increased and there was now a man standing there radiating the blinding light! The man in white said, “Come.” and motioned with his hand. He repeated, “Come.” The traveler knew immediately that this man in white was Jesus, and that he should no longer pretend to be a follower of Jesus. He should now follow Jesus with his whole heart.

While he was thinking this, two more men in blinding white light also appeared on either side of the first man, and they repeated the same word, “Come.” Then, as quickly as they arrived, they were gone, and he lay there in bed stunned. He woke up his new friend and they called their mutual friend in Indonesia and another one in Germany. He told them what had just happened and suggested they all follow Jesus, too. The others, though amazed, still declined. But they said, if Jesus appears to them, then they will certainly follow him.

The husband telling us this story said he was still waiting. We shared that we have been followers of Jesus for many years and have never had a vision like that. We also added that God doesn’t give dreams or visions to all his followers. But the man was unmoved and repeated he was still waiting for a vision or dream. We talked further and prayed for him that God would show him that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Please join us in praying for this young man and his family; they are so close to entering the Kingdom of God!

Superstition Versus Truth

How has this Ramadan month gone for you? Have you had opportunities to interact with Muslims? Have you had an opportunity to share about the meaning of true fasting? Some people we know are holding out and still fervently fasting, others have given up on fasting and aren’t even trying to fake it. They said, “It is just too hard to do and we are so hungry.” Fasting is hard and it is a clear example of human effort to try to please God.

This Friday (April 5) or Saturday (April 6) will be what Muslims call the “Night of Power”, the night Muslims celebrate the giving of the first words of the Quran to Mohammed. They don’t know the exact day, but many believe it to be the night of the 27th day of fasting. Prayers said on this day are believed to be worth more than any other day or time. Some people will spend the whole night praying in the mosque to gain more favor. This night is also a special night for Muslims as many believe it is also the “Night of Destiny” wherein your whole next year will be decided this night. It is a blend of superstition and tradition, and we pray for many Muslims to be freed from this bondage.

It is the gospel, the good news, that our salvation rests on Jesus and him alone, not on anything good we might have done or will do. That shows both God’s love and his grace. Jesus died on the cross for us so that we might have life. He loves us the same, every day. His love isn’t fickle, nor does it come in varying degrees depending on the day. His love is steady and he is ever faithful.

10/10 Prayer Initiative

Join us as we pray for the Muslim world, especially during this special season of Ramadan. Muslims are seeking a special revelation and spiritual growth during this time, and we pray that God will reveal himself like never before. Through dreams and visions, we pray that his grace would flood out across the Muslim world and draw many to himself. We are praying for 10% of the Muslim world to come to Christ in 10 years. What a wonderful time for a spiritual awakening to happen during the month of fasting that the true Savior of the world would become known to many.

Feel free to ask others in your church, in your small group, or in your Sunday School class to join you in special prayer for the Muslim world this month. Muslims are praying more during Ramadan, than any other month, for revelation and direction. Pray for the Lord of the Harvest to answer their prayers with dreams and visions that point them to the True and Living Hope, Jesus Christ.

Pray for Muslims as they celebrate the end of Ramadan with days of feasting, parties, and get-togethers, that they will come to see Jesus as the Lord and giver of life.

It is hard for many Christians living and working in Muslim countries during Ramadan month. May they experience the grace of God in abundant measure as they serve in his name.

Nothing is Impossible with God

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Nothing is Impossible with God

By a member of SEND’s Romania | Europe team

You might be wondering how I ended up in Romania. The short answer is—God brought me here. My calling to overseas missions began long before I recognized it. At age four, I understood and received the message of salvation. In that moment, I simply believed that Jesus died on the cross, rose from the dead to save me from my sins, and gave me a home with him forever. Although I wasn’t fully aware of the amazing transformation God brought about in my life that day, I had stepped into a new life, received a new identity in Christ, and been entrusted with a new mission. As I grew older, I learned how to develop my relationship with my Heavenly Father through the study of his word and prayer.

Early seeds planted

As a young girl, I was mesmerized by the stories of missionaries who would visit my church, share fascinating pictures, and give remarkable accounts of God’s work in foreign lands. I remember thinking that I would be interested in becoming a missionary, but I had no idea what steps I needed to take. Plus, I had the impression that missionaries must have special qualities or skills that I did not possess. The possibility of me being a missionary seemed inaccessible, so although my heart was open, I dismissed the thought for a while.

Drawn to youth ministry

Throughout middle school and high school, God gave me the opportunity to engage in “local ministry” in my hometown as well as in several other states. I loved helping with Vacation Bible School during the summer and participating in my school’s choir that traveled around to various churches. In college, I recognized God tugging my heart toward working with teens, so I became a youth leader at my church.

During my college years, the Lord increased by burden for the lost through a variety of experiences. At the age of 20, I went on a short-term mission trip to Finland. I also took an Introduction to Islam class and a class about France that raised my awareness of the spiritual darkness in Europe. Until that point, I was not aware of the significant Muslim presence in Europe and the post-Christian culture that now permeates these countries. Over the next 10 years, the Lord allowed me to travel to eight more countries. The first four years after graduation, I taught science at a Christian school where I had daily interactions with Chinese exchange students, as well as students from Indian and Hispanic families.

A united calling to Romania

We sought counsel from our church’s mission’s director, and he eagerly suggested we pray about overseas missions. Jason and I were open to this possibility. We started by taking a vision trip to Spain, considering Jason’s prior knowledge of the language and our interest in serving the people of Europe. God used our trip to confirm his leading into overseas missions, though we were uncertain whether we were supposed to go to Spain or somewhere else. When we returned to the USA, we recognized the need to find a mission agency that could assist us with next steps as well provide continuing accountability, support, and encouragement once we arrived in our host country. SEND International impressed us right away with their core values, good reputation among people we trusted, and our mobilizer’s personal and professional interactions with us. When we applied and were accepted, it felt like entering a family rather than just an organization. The staff made us feel seen, known, heard, and loved from the beginning.

We invite you to come and explore the opportunities in Romania . Together, we can minister to the unreached in this country. Talk to a missions coach today!

One Couple’s Choice to Stay, Welcome, Invite, and Love

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

One Couple’s Choice to Stay, Welcome, Invite, and Love

If you could see the person who made this statement, the last thing you would think is that she or her husband are too old to see what God is doing in their Russian city with a predominantly Muslim population.

The statement comes from the recent newsletter of a vibrant Ukrainian-American couple who have now served for many years in Russia (RU) as church planters.

Dima and Lena (names changed for security) regularly send videos of new believers in their 20s at worship services, Bible studies, or baptisms from their exploding church plant in this region in the foothills of the Urals. They are finding that the young people in their city are hungry to find meaning in life, to understand the true heart of God, and what it means to know and love him. Many are studying the Bible in a growing number of small groups, many of which take place in Dima and Lena’s small, urban apartment.

But these young people don’t have to come to their apartment to encounter love and relational stories about Jesus, or their infectious joy. Dima can often be seen in the city center performing music in one town square sporting an open piano and enjoying conversation with anyone who stops by to listen or to chat.

And Lena is known in the local shopping mall as the hospitable woman who teaches master classes in cooking in that retail venue, introducing mall goers to Ukrainian as well as American dishes. Through her master classes, Lena has the privilege to engage in friendships with many local people.

Loving through community immersion

Dima and Lena have figured out that loving people in Jesus’ name starts with entering their world and being a part of a local community in a loving and generous way. This willingness to be in community spills into hospitality as both Dima and Lena are also quick to invite people into their home and invite them to talk about deeper issues of life, including views of God, a topic that many Muslim people do enjoy talking about.

Dima and Lena are not so much trying to control this movement of the Spirit as they are trying to discern where it is moving and seek to cultivate it and participate in it.

Church planting among an unreached people group is less about numbers and events and much more about individual relationships. For Dima and Lena, in this Post-Soviet Russian city, the sum effect has been a movement of the Spirit that is growing local, believing communities at a rapid pace.

That same relational approach is also how Dima and Lena continue to nurture the community that God is building in their city. They bring the same zest for life in Jesus to their discipleship of new believers. With many years of learning and serving under their belt, Dima and Lena are living examples that abundant life in Christ enables us to stay relevant and vibrant in relationship building for his glory.

They really want people to come and serve both short-term and long-term. It is still possible to receive a visa to go to Russia, but it’s also true that there is some elevated risk to come to a country where freedoms for citizens and visitors are greatly curtailed. Serving in Russia will stretch new cross-cultural workers to trust God in profound, new ways. It will require resilience and courage, and a deep confidence in God’s provision of both when you need it most.

From Everywhere to Eurasia with SEND

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

From Everywhere to Eurasia with SEND

By a SEND missionary in Eurasia

If you close your eyes and try to picture a map of the world, you might see, in your mind’s eye, the continents of the world, the giant land masses of Asia, Africa, South America, and so on. Or maybe you can visualize a few big countries like China, Nigeria, Ukraine, India, Brazil, or France. But can your mind’s eye picture the complex interconnection of multiple cultures, peoples, and languages that make up hundreds of local communities all over the globe? What a swirling interwoven masterpiece that is! These culturally complex communities and people movements are global realities that our God sees, and that He can use for His glory.

Even in our globally-connected world, our modern eyes often cannot see the many different ethnic groups, multi-cultural societies, or people migrations that exist in hundreds of “dots” on the map all around the world. But this reality is most people’s lived experience on earth, and an experience that God is already using to build gospel bridges to places and peoples that are hard to reach with the Good News of Jesus.

This is the movement of God’s Spirit to bring the Good News of Jesus to every tongue, tribe, and nation. SEND Eurasia seeks to participate in God’s movement to send His people from hundreds of points on the globe to hundreds of culturally and linguistically complex, local points full of people He loves.

When God Called Grace

This miraculous movement of people can be seen in the story of our very own SEND teammate, Grace P. Grace’s story demonstrates this extraordinary wisdom of God in leading His people from everywhere to everywhere for His glory.

Grace comes from Quezon City, Metro Manila in the Philippines. Her story begins right in her own community. She began walking with Jesus as her Savior on May 16, 1985, when she was 15 years old. As she grew in her understanding of Jesus and His love for her, Grace’s heart to serve grew as well, and she began to serve His people through music ministry, Sunday school teaching, and in many other ways. Grace also grew in her desire and skill in sharing the gospel and got involved in the evangelistic outreach of her church.

Every story starts right where a person finds themselves. But Jesus always grows His children to move beyond their comfort zone. Grace soon had opportunities while she was working, after university, to minister on short-term, cross-cultural trips. Then, God took Grace to a different part of her own country, to the southern island of Mindanao. There she encountered people of a very different faith, and there she was challenged to follow God deeper into the nations, even farther away.

Grace Responds to God’s Calling

That experience was almost 20 years ago for Grace. Since then, God opened doors for Grace to receive more ministry and vocational training. God led Grace from a less-focused calling to a specific burden and a specific path to serve in His harvest in Central Asia. He never gave her more than a few new steps at a time, and there were challenges, reversals, and moments of stalling along the way. But she now looks back at almost ten years of adaptation, of language learning, and of relational ministry with people she loves because God first loved her, and first loved them.

From everywhere to everywhere is not a movement of only one lone person. It is a community movement. From the beginning, the church was an intercultural team movement:

¹ Now Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who grew up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me to do the work for which I called them.” ³ Then they fasted and prayed, laid their hands on them, and let them go. ⁴ After they had been sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. ⁵ Arriving in Salamis, they began to preach God’s word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John to help them (Acts 13:1-5).

Do a little geographical digging and you’ll find that these saints came from very different local communities. Why would God throw together such a motley crew? How were they able to serve in unity?

Short answer?

It brings Him glory when His people live with one another in a way completely contrary to the world around them, and He gives us what we need.

¹⁴ For it is he who is our peace. Through his mortality he made both groups one by tearing down the wall of hostility that divided them. ¹⁵ He rendered the Law inoperative, along with its commandments and regulations, thus creating in himself one new humanity from the two, thereby making peace, ¹⁶ and reconciling both groups to God in one body through the cross, on which he eliminated the hostility. ¹⁷ He came and proclaimed peace for you who were far away and for you who were near. ¹⁸ For through him, both of us have access to the Father by one Spirit. ¹⁹ That is why you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the Messiah Jesus himself being the cornerstone. ²¹ In union with him the whole building is joined together and rises into a holy sanctuary for the Lord. ²² You, too, are being built in him, along with the others, into a place for God’s Spirit to dwell (Ephesians 2:14-22).

What a privilege to come together from everywhere to serve everywhere people need Jesus, and to go together where the Gospel hasn’t yet gone.

Grace’s team in Central Asia is just one of our SEND Eurasia teams looking for more teammates. We are praying for Jesus followers called from everywhere to serve in the masterpiece of multi-cultural communities one finds in Eurasia.

Ministering During Ramadan

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Ministering During Ramadan

It was the middle of the month of Ramadan, and it was hot in the Central Asian country we were living in. We were out shopping for materials to make a set of clothes. As we walked into the next open shop, we looked around but saw no one. A fan was running in the back, rotating 90 degrees in an endless motion of back and forth. We called out and said hello, but no one answered. We assumed the shopkeeper had just stepped out for a minute, so we continued looking for materials around the shop.

Suddenly, down one aisle, we saw a pair of legs on the floor, poking around the corner. Our hearts stopped in our throats. We rushed to see what had happened and if the man was ok. Thankfully, he was fine and sound asleep on a mat on the floor! It was his way of coping with fasting on hot summer days. In all our excitement and relief, we inadvertently woke him up. He rose and yawned, asking if he could help us. Later on, we realized that many shopkeepers in our city did the same thing during those hot summer days.

This year, Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, will be from March 10 to April 8. During this month, Muslims fast from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. In the past, they used white and black threads to determine when the fast started and stopped. In the evening, when you couldn't tell the difference between the two threads, fasting was over for the day. In the morning, when you could tell the threads apart, the fasting would begin. Today, most Muslims have an app on their smartphone that tells them when to start and stop!

Ramadan has an intense, highly anticipated start, with almost every Muslim able to participate in the fast. Mosques are full of people at prayer times, faithfully reciting their prayers, as Muslims believe that all prayers said during Ramadan are worth more than any other time of the year. Prayers said specifically during the night of power, which occurs sometime during the last ten days of the month, are equal to prayers good for 1000 months! It isn't known which date is actually the night of power, but tradition holds that it is most likely the 27th day of the month, which will be on April 5, 2024.

Navigating this important holiday

Your Ramadan experience largely depends on your social status. Living in a Muslim country/community and watching the month unfold around you is interesting. It is much more difficult for the poor and working-class people than those with means. If you are poor, you have to work all day to earn your living, no matter the heat or how long the day is. If you are wealthy, you have air conditioning, and many will try to flip their schedule and sleep during the daytime and stay up eating and visiting others at night.

Stores will do the same and open much later in the day and extend into the evening. Many restaurants will be closed all day and only open for the evening. Some restaurants close for the whole month, and the owner will go on vacation! Travelers, pregnant women, the sick, and children are exempt from fasting, so those who can travel will often do so during this month.

However, after the first week or so, the excitement wears off. For many Muslims, Ramadan becomes similar to New Year resolutions—earnestly followed for a week or two, then dropped. Many will pretend to fast, but what happens behind closed doors is another story. Here in the West, many Muslims, especially new immigrants, cling to their religious beliefs because it is the only thing they have left. They have lost everything else. In fact, you have immigrant Muslims being "better" Muslims and following Ramadan more closely here than they did in their home countries.

Ramadan can be both a difficult and a good time for ministry. You will have to take into account that some Muslims will be sleepy or still asleep even until noon and change your visiting times accordingly. They will want to be hospitable and offer you tea or coffee, even though they will not drink with you. We usually refrain from drinking or eating around Muslims during this month unless we are visiting in the evening after the fast has broken. We encourage you to participate if you are invited to join for an evening meal to break the fast.

10/10 Prayer Initiative

We continue to pray for the Muslim world, especially on the first Friday of each month, hence the timing of this newsletter. We are seeking the throne of God and pleading for 10% of the Muslim world to come to Christ in 10 years—a remarkable prayer for a remarkable people. More Muslims have come to Christ in the last 30 years than in the previous 14 centuries! I and many others firmly believe this is due to the outpouring of prayer for the Muslim world over these last 30 years.

The prayer guides can be purchased and downloaded or ordered from this site . Be careful when ordering, as the PDF file looks very similar to the printed copy.

Another helpful guide to help you pray is the Prayercast videos found here ; if you sign up, they will send you a different video each day during Ramadan about different Muslim countries and people groups.

Feel free to ask others in your church, small group, or Sunday school class to join you in special prayer for the Muslim world this month. Muslims pray more during Ramadan than any other month for revelation and direction. Pray for the Lord of the Harvest to answer their prayers with dreams and visions that point them to the True and Living Hope, Jesus Christ.

Pray for Christians living and working in Muslim countries during Ramadan. Pray for protection and grace, as tempers can get short when people are hungry, tired, and thirsty.

Pray for peace in the Middle East. It is a complicated situation, and many people are suffering. There are Christian churches in Gaza that are caught in the middle of this crisis. Each day, they need our prayers for wisdom, grace, and strength.

Pray for Muslims in the West to see the grace-filled lives of Christians and be able to interact with them. Most Muslims have never met a true Christian. We pray that this changes in our cities and towns in the West as the church reaches out with love and grace.

Explore News: What is your day-to-day life on the field actually like?

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Explore News: What is your day-to-day life on the field actually like?

People often have misconceptions about missionary life (for example, that missionaries are spiritual giants evangelizing 100% of the time and seeing many people come to Christ quickly). In actuality, our missionaries are ordinary Christians seeking to be faithful followers of Jesus as they minister to those around them.

It Ebbs and Flows

Embrace An Open Agenda

Go With The Flow, But Make Sure Your Own Needs Are Met

"This is one of the hardest questions to answer because I don't know if I have a 'typical' day. I have learned to always prioritize spending time alone with God when I wake up because I really do get my strength from him and must depend on him. Then, the rest of the day depends a lot on what I am working on during that season. Sometimes, it means going to my teammate's home and working with them on planning the national youth missions event, Misión Posible. Other times, it consists of meetings on TEAMS for my role on a leadership team in my field or planning a SEND Europe missions trip for the summer. I meet with young people several times a week to drink coffee or eat a meal and talk about life. Most weekends, I travel around the country to participate in youth camps or gatherings. For those, I could be speaking, leading the devotionals, or giving a workshop, so the work ahead of time depends on what is needed. Wednesday evening is a regular time on my calendar when I have my home group with my friends, and that is part of my own community time and helps fill my cup.

Work and Play Can Intermingle

"Missionary work is a whole bunch of different things. Work can look like play, and play sometimes feels like work. It's hard to know which is which sometimes. Meeting non-Christian friends is fun and is not work for them, but trying to share the gospel with them is my work, so it kind of is for me. The day-to-day routine is hard to explain because few days are the same. I work to prepare for programs and events during the day and then execute the events in the evenings and weekends or off seasons (like summer or Christmas holidays) when students are out of school and people are off work. But I also leave time open to meet people and be available for the people I'm trying to reach. So my work goes by seasons rather than days or weeks."

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Ministering to a New Generation of Missionaries

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Ministering to a New Generation of Missionaries

It's always special to meet young interns and prepare them for their work in the field. It takes a lot of courage to go and live in a remote area thousands of miles away from home. Our sending offices and sending partner organizations prepares them well, and we at SEND North—a receiving area—provide them with support they need while they are on the field.

We had an intern from Germany who was just 18 at the time. It was his first time being very far away from home. His English was good, but it was evaporating from jet lag. With a 7-hour delay in Seattle, his flights from his home in Germany took a full day. He was having difficulty keeping his eyes open, and we just had a short time to prepare in Anchorage before he would be flying in a much smaller plane to a much smaller village.

Sharing Knowledge

One of my tasks on the Logistics and Support (L&S) team is to introduce the story of SEND to folks visiting our Anchorage office. So, as a part of his brief orientation, I found myself describing to this young intern how SEND International that was launched by ex-GI's who went back to Pacific battlefields with the Gospel after World War II.

Young missionaries must know they are joining God's work spanning almost 80 years. This knowledge also gives them a sense of belonging that they are part of a line of men and women who responded to the call of the Great Commission.

Another way the L&S team serves our people is with shopping and shipping from Anchorage. Some people on our team are way better at this than I am, but they were unavailable that day. So, after other L&S team members introduced him to finance, cross-culture tips, and safety issues related to his internship, it was up to me to get him supplied and equipped.

His first Alaskan adventure was shopping in Anchorage, at rush hour, in a blizzard. Unplowed busy roads provided its challenge, but we were able to get most of the things he needed. Being part of the L&S team also meant being the taxi and shuttle when our people came into town, which I was happy to do for our intern.

He would be working outdoors in one of the coldest parts of the planet. We got supplies not only for him but also for his host family in the village, who are also from Germany. That support system will greatly help him adjust to this new place and ministry. Having a host family ready to receive our young missionaries assures them they have someone to run to for encouragement and direction.

God Is Stirring the Hearts of Young People

I was impressed with this young man, as I have been with the other six German interns I met while living in Anchorage. When giving an overview of SEND's history, I tell people it is a story of each generation responding to a difficult calling from God. SEND's ministry here in Alaska is difficult, complicated, lonely, frustrating, risky, and expensive.

Serving on a team that supports young people taking on these challenges is an honor. They transition from living in a large urban center in Europe to serving many months in a rural Alaska village—the difference is so striking that they might as well have gone to Mars. They took a leap of faith, knowing they had a big God before them.

It has been a special joy to meet the brave and bright generation of German interns who serve our people and help them launch their adventures here. We pray that these short-term experiences will make a lasting impact that moves them to commit long-term in God's perfect time.

Christ in the Muslim World

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Christ in the Muslim World

Please join us in praying on the first Friday of every month for those in the Muslim community to find the beauty of Christ in their lives.

By a member of SEND Diaspora | North America team.

Who Provides?

One of the refugees we were ministering to had just discovered how easy it was to acquire things in America. Not only that, he couldn’t believe how fast he could buy what he wanted.

“I just bought a new car!” he said excitedly. “I lived in Turkey as a refugee for seven years and was never allowed to buy even a moped. I lived in Iran for several years before that and was never allowed to buy a bicycle. But, after just seven months here as a refugee in the U.S., I got my driver’s license and bought a car. I had to pay a lot to get both, but I finally have the freedom to buy anything here.”

Who Do We Rely On?

This was both encouraging and discouraging to hear. I was glad that after almost a decade of treading water as refugees, they could finally start making something of themselves. But on the other hand, materialism could quickly get a grip on their heart and mind. If they think if we just work hard enough, we can make ourselves successful , that mindset might also translate to working hard to earn God’s favor. It could also be the reverse; since they are now successful, they will think they do not need God at all.

Ramazan

Also known as Ramadan to Arabic speakers, this is the month of fasting for Muslims. It starts on March 10 this year and runs through April 8. Many Christians join together every year to pray for Muslims using a prayer guide called 30 Days of Prayer. We invite you to join in too! You can order the prayer guide at the 30 Days Prayer website. You can order either a print version for $3.50 or a digital version for $2.50 (They look very similar on the web, so make sure you order the format you want.) If you want the printed copy, I encourage you to order soon to ensure it reaches you before Ramadan.

Pray for the 10/10 Prayer Initiative

This prayer initiative began in 2018, so we are in the sixth year of this 10-year initiative. Will you pray for Muslims scattered globally to experience the life-giving grace of God? Will you ask others to join you? Perhaps you could gather your Sunday school class or small group and host an evening of prayer on the first Friday of the month. We pray that 10% of the Muslim world will come to Christ in 10 years!

Prayer Requests

Navigating the Path: Overcoming Challenges Faced by New Missionaries

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Navigating the Path: Overcoming Challenges Faced by New Missionaries

Cultural Adjustment

One of the primary challenges for missionaries is adapting to a new culture. Language barriers, unfamiliar customs, and social norms can create a sense of isolation.

Ways to Overcome:

Missionaries often find themselves far from family and friends, even in North America, leading to loneliness and isolation.

Ways to Overcome:

Emotional Stress

Witnessing poverty, suffering, and challenging living conditions can affect missionaries' emotional well-being.

Ways to Overcome:

Logistical Challenges

Learning to build your own schedule, faithfully ministering when someone isn't always watching, and learning culturally appropriate ways to plan and work can be overwhelming for new missionaries.

Ways to Overcome:

Missionary work often involves spiritual challenges, testing one's faith and resolve.

Ways to Overcome:

A Rewarding Journey

While the journey of a missionary is undoubtedly challenging, it is also a profoundly rewarding and life-changing experience. By acknowledging and proactively addressing the challenges, new missionaries can find strength, resilience, and a deeper connection to their mission.

Remember, you don't have to overcome these obstacles alone. Our faithful God will always be with you and the people He will send to come alongside you. At SEND, we strive to send well, preparing and equipping our missionaries for God's work in the field. We also ensure you are received well with teams and leaders ready to help you as you start your ministry.

SEND Resources

On the Ground in Myanmar and Nepal: Hope, Resilience, and Opportunity

On the Ground in Myanmar and Nepal: Hope, Resilience, and Opportunity

A Glimpse of Grace in Myanmar

Navigating Complexity with Faith

The Road Ahead in Nepal

Why This Matters for SEND

Spiritual Climate on 3 Mission Fields

Describe the spiritual climate where you serve.

Sharing Jesus in spiritually tough places isn’t easy. People’s past experiences, cultural differences, and deep doubts often shape how they respond to the gospel.

Can you describe a time when you felt stretched or questioned your calling?

Can you describe a time when you felt stretched

or questioned your calling?

From Siberian winters and language barriers to pandemic isolation and regional conflicts, our missionaries share deeply personal moments of doubt, spiritual stretching, and questioning their calling.

Fasting for Favor

Fasting for Favor

Flexibility in Ministry

Flexibility in Ministry

EXPLORE NEWS: Goals

EXPLORE NEWS: Goals

Freedom from Shame

Freedom From Shame

Your Right Now is Not Your Forever

Your Right Now Is Not Your Forever

HOLIDAYS: A TIME TO EMBRACE AN ETERNAL MINDSET

HOLIDAYS: A TIME TO EMBRACE AN ETERNAL MINDSET

A Sacrifice Worth Making

From an Adopted Family to an Eternal Family

And persevere, we shall.

Hospitality in a Unique Cultural Context

Hospitality in a Unique Cultural Context

Rest for the Restless

Rest for the Restless

Share and show what resting in God looks like

10/10 Prayer Initiative

Prepared for Landing

Prepared for Landing

Contributed by Barry Rempel

When the Unreached is Within Reach

When the Unreached is Within Reach

The Buryat and Soyot Connection

Small Steps with Big Impact

Leveraging Shared Experiences

Leveraging Shared Experiences

Finding common ground for gospel conversations ﻿

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Muslim friends

10/10 Prayer Initiative

Please also pray for:

When in Taiwan: Cultural Do’s and Common Pitfalls to Avoid

When in Taiwan: Cultural Do’s and Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Recycling

DON’T

DO

Public Transportation

DO

DON’T

Showing Respect

DO

DON’T

Superstitions

DO

DON’T

Taiwanese Christians Answering God's Call to the Unreached

Taiwanese Christians Answer God’s Call to the Unreached

Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus to Muslims

God’s Work Continues

The Only Mediator We Need

The Only Mediator We Need

Jesus Mediates for Us

10/10 Prayer Initiative

Beyond What We Could Ask or Imagine: God’s Mighty Work in LOVE Europe

Beyond What We Could Ask or Imagine: God’s Mighty Work in LOVE Europe

From idea to reality

Hearts changed and minds opened

How Summer Activities Enhance Year-Long Ministry

How Summer Activities Enhance Year-Long Ministry

They open doors for more recurring activities

They sustain connections with the people we serve

They energize the leaders

Rising Above the Noise

Finding common ground for gospel conversations

When God Tells You to Move: How We Ended Up in Obanazawa