news

Online training for SEND team leaders

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

Mission team leaders serve in a difficult role in that they can neither devote themselves exclusively to their leadership responsibilities nor can they become totally absorbed in the ministry to the “nationals”. They must live in this ongoing tension of being both a leader to other missionaries and a missionary, involved in and setting the pace for the ministry of the team. Ken Guenther will be facilitating another session of the SEND online orientation for new team leaders from February 6 - March 18, 2012. The course explores what it means to be an effective team leader in a mission organization, and will give participants multiple opportunities to engage in discussions about the role, responsibilities and expectations of team leaders with mission leaders from many different countries. The course has room for 15 participants, and only a few places remain open.

Somber 30-Year Anniversary

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST

Today we are remembering the loss of Philip Armstrong, our first General Director, in a plane crash off the coast of Alaska on Sept 12, 1981.

Philip Armstrong, a chaplain in World War II, was one of SEND’s original GI founders.

Phil and four others were returning from Petersburg AK where SEND was opening radio station, KRSA. With Phil were Paul Mortenson, Bill Ballou, Wanda Ediger, and the pilot, Paul Backlund.

Listen to Philip on Moody Radio two months earlier

If you knew Philip, post a memory on our Facebook wall

Member Orientation Program in second week

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 04:00:00 EST

SEND's Member Orientation Program (MOP) is beginning its second week of training new missionaries for the challenges of cross-cultural ministry. This time, we have 12 participants, heading out to 6 different countries. Although a significant portion of the time is spent in the classroom, not all of the learning happens there. Yesterday, the participants visited various ethnic churches in the Detroit area, and later this week, they will be observing a ministry among Middle Eastern people. Another highlight in every MOP is the Day Alone With God, which is scheduled for Thursday of this week.

Church Planting Continues in Far East Russia

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:20:00 EST

Ken returned from his 11 day trip to Far East Russia with encouraging news. The Baptist churches with which we worked have grown in their vision for church planting over the past few years. Ken heard reports of several new church plants in FER both among Russians and minority peoples. The Russian churches in FER are investing heavily in fully supporting their church planters from their own offerings, something that was unheard of just a few years ago.

One of these new churches is meeting in one of the apartments that SEND used to own! Dema and Lena Gerisomovich and their 6 children lived in a very small 2-room apartment near the center of the city during the years that we lived in Khabarovsk. When SEND pulled out its missionaries from FER, we were able to sell a larger apartment to them for a greatly reduced price. Last summer, the Gerisomoviches began a new church in this apartment in the region of the city where we used to live. Using a variety of evangelistic and discipleship methods, the church has grown, and already new believers have been baptized.

Ken attended the worship service on his first Sunday in Khabarovsk. The service was followed by a birthday party for one of the members in which she said the most significant event in her life over the past year was putting her faith in Christ and joining this new church!

"Open the Sky" Inspires Wonder

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:02:00 EST

Anyone who has met missionary pilot Dwayne King vividly remembers him. His energy and excitement are infectious and the stories he tells reinforce the belief that with God, nothing is impossible. Author Mark Winheld captured the story of this wild-child-turned-frontier-missionary in his book, Open the Sky.

Publisher Xulon Press summarizes the book: "On September 1, 1991, bush pilot Dwayne King spearheaded one of the first missionary flights into the crumbling Soviet empire. The historic mission climaxed the transformation of a wild child from upstate New York into a selfless servant. The saga continues at Kingdom Air Corps, where he's training the next generation of young missionaries to fly the Word beyond where the road ends and wilderness begins." Stephen Saint, author of End of the Spear, says that "...Dwayne King's life proves that fulfilling God's purpose is the highest adventure...."

Mark Winheld will be at the SEND International offices on April 12 to read and sign copies of his book. You can order the book by calling 1-866-909-2665 or go to www.xulonpress.com.

online course for team leaders completed

Fri, 1 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST

Another edition of SEND's online Team Leader Orientation has concluded with thirteen team and field leaders from nine different countries enrolled in this leadership training course, sponsored by SEND U. Besides mission leaders from SEND, three leaders from WorldTeam joined the class. Ken Guenther, the director for SEND's training department, facilitated the course. The course was designed to be highly interactive, with no long lectures or lengthy reading assignments. The content was delivered through web-based articles and short online audio and video presentations. Since the participants were located in many different time zones, and were online at various times throughout the day, they interacted with one another and the facilitator by posting in forums that were read by the other participants at their convenience.

Although a couple of participants are still completing their last few assignments, the course concluded on March 20. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan prevented one of the mission leaders in Japan from finishing the last week due to his heavy involvement in the relief efforts. Other participants had to deal with heavy ministry commitments or family sicknesses along with the course requirements. But nevertheless the majority of the leaders have completed all the assignments successfully.

Many of the participants commented on how much they appreciated the interaction with other team leaders. This level of interaction, where leaders from different countries were able to learn from one another's experience, was the fulfillment of a dream of Ken's, and a goal of the course.

All of the assignments were practical, dealing with real-life realities and challenges in their leadership roles. Many of the participants noted how timely this course was in prompting them to work through this issues that they were facing right now in their leadership or in preparation for a role they were about to accept. During the course, each of the mission leaders developed an outcomes-based job description for themselves, focusing on a few key result areas for their leadership and ministry. They wrote a plan for how they will provide oversight for the members on their team, and another plan for their own ongoing development as leaders.

Ken Guenther says that course will be offered again toward the end of 2011. Several SEND mission leaders have indicated that they would like to enroll the next time that it is offered.

online team leader orientation in middle of Week 1

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST

Thirteen mission leaders from nine different countries have enrolled in the second edition of SEND U's Team Leader Orientation. The course began on February 21 and will continue until March 20. Ken Guenther, the course developer, is facilitating the course. Three team leaders with WorldTeam have also joined the course, and are adding a further breadth to the interactions between the course participants. The course is hosted by EFCA's EQUIP training department.

Mission team leaders serve in a difficult role in that they can neither devote themselves exclusively to their leadership responsibilities nor can they become totally absorbed in the ministry to the “nationals”. They must live in this ongoing tension of being both a leader to other missionaries and a missionary, involved in and setting the pace for the ministry of the team. Over the years, SEND International has recognized the strategic importance of this level of leadership for both the accomplishment of SEND’s vision and the retention and development of our missionary personnel. This course seeks to give an introductory orientation to team leaders to enable them to understand their new role and give them some tools for ongoing development of their leadership skills.

online training for SEND team leaders to be offered again

Fri, 3 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST

The next edition of the online SEND Team Leader Orientation will be offered over a 5 week period, starting on February 14. The beta testing of the first online training course for SEND team leaders was completed back on October 17, with 13 different team leaders from 7 different countries successfully making it to the finish line. During the month of December, the course developer and facilitator, Ken Guenther, plans to revise the course, using the evaluation and feedback from the the beta test. The response to the course was overwhelming positive (see blog post), and several SEND leaders have indicated that they want to enroll or encourage other team leaders to enroll.

Scripture speaks to Muslim Man

Sat, 29 May 2010 08:15:00 EST

Although God has blessed me with several years of serving with the Team, I had not yet had a Bible study in the community. God has given me four close friends/contacts, but it has been hard to take these men to the next level. My unmet desire for a Bible Study had left me feeling boring, insecure, exhausted, and discouraged. I kept asking God why it has taken so long, and praying for Him to open hearts and make a way.

Praise God, in the last two months, God answered my prayers. As my friend
and I enjoyed an open conversation about the love of God, I sensed it was the time to pursue a Bible Study. I said, “If you would like to learn more about the LOVE of GOD, why don’t we study the Bible together?”

He was open, and we are studying using a Chronological Bible Story method. We are now learning about Abraham, and my friend is learning God’s story and enjoying it! I remember hearing it said, 'It is not easy to wait for God’s timing, but it is worth it.'

I am so grateful and encouraged by seeing God answer my prayers in His perfect timing! Please pray that God would open the heart and spirit of my friend through the power of His Word.