Gifts of Advent: Hope in Two Songs

Advent is a season of reflection but also of anticipation. It means “coming” or “arrival”. For the Church, it means the arrival of Christ. Oswald J. Smith said, "We talk of the second coming. Half the world has never heard of the first." This month we are reflecting on the first advent and remembering some moments when our missionaries experienced the gifts of hope, love, joy, and peace on the field as they prepare for and anticipate the second advent.

Gifts of Advent: Hope in Two Songs

Imagine the excitement that Mary experienced as she anticipated the arrival of Jesus, the advent of a long-awaited Messiah. An angel, Gabriel, appears to her and tells her that she will be the one to carry and deliver this gift to the world. She believes God will do this and while visiting Elizabeth she sings a song of praise for what God has done. Though Jesus has not been born yet, she sings as though it has already happened. God was fulfilling his covenant promise of mercy to Israel and the world through the arrival of the Messiah that she carried in her womb. So it is with great hope that she sang, “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever” (Luke 1:54-55).

In 2021, a team in Siberia is experiencing a similar gift of hope as they work with the Buryat people and the Buryat are singing a similar song to Mary’s! Among the Buryat, it’s the older generation that’s coming to Christ. This is important because “...if grandma and great aunt and uncle become believers, the younger ones will pay attention” Daniella, a team member, said. They realized that, “The Buryat needed their own songs, in their heart language, to connect with the influential older generation.” Thus, the Praise Workshop was born! Now the Buryat are singing their own song of hope with their own instruments and in their own language! The song is called “Under the Protection of the Most High, Ps. 91” and the chorus is translated as, “The God Most High is the Living God. He holds me in the palm of His hand. My faith, my hope are in Jesus, the Lord.” The team hopes that the older generation will connect with Jesus through making their own songs and that this will lead to younger generations also coming to know Jesus. The Praise Workshop is a step in that direction and “a true miracle [they] didn’t even dream of even five years ago!”

As you think about these two songs of hope, how is God giving you hope in this season?

Get more details about this story of hope from our blog from last April , Songs of Hope in the Heart Language, and be sure to watch the video of their song, “Under the Protection of the Most High, Ps. 91” there too!

Additional Posts

By SEND media Team August 4, 2026
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
By SEND Media May 11, 2026
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
By SEND Media May 11, 2026
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
Show More