What missionaries can give their supporters during COVID-19
By Josie Oldenburg, SEND Communications —
Culture affects all of life—including a nation’s response to a pandemic As a result, missionaries living and serving cross-culturally have much to offer their support teams during this challenging time.
Broader perspective
Back when the pandemic started, the news in America was primarily about China, Italy, and Spain. But as COVID-19 swept through New York, that changed. As the US struggles with the pandemic and cases continue to rise, most of our news reports focus on the situation within our own borders.
Missionaries, you can give those of us in struggling countries a broader view! Those of you in Spain or Italy or the Philippines have experienced some of the most stringent lockdowns in the world. Tell us about it. Tell us what was hard and how you made it through. Encourage us by sharing how God worked in you and through you during that intense season. ( SEND Spain missionary Brooke Nagel shares her story here.)
Hope for the future
Those precious faces gathered in their masks filled my eyes with tears. I immediately texted it to our children’s director: “Look at this photo! Someday, being together again WILL be possible!” It gave me hope.
Missionaries, many of your countries have COVID-19 in check and you’re back to living more-or-less normal life. Tell us what it feels like. Describe what ministry looks like and how fulfilling it can be, even when precautions remain in place. Give us hope.
Grace for givers
Part of my job includes reading all our missionary newsletters, and I have been moved by how many of our folks, without any prompting from the mission, have included statements like these in their missives:
It grieves me how the current pandemic has affected so many people in so many ways.
If things have become tight financially and it seems difficult to maintain your monthly pledge right now, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. God will provide and I can adjust my budget. We are in this together!
Missionaries, thank you for understanding that for some of your supporters, the greatest COVID crisis is its economic impact. Thank you for your grace toward them, your concern for them, your prayers for them.
With statements of trust like these, you’re telling us that you trust in God to provide, and you’re inspiring those who aren’t suffering economically to consider their own ability to give. You have the unique opportunity to encourage us by telling us how he provides, even during this incredibly challenging time.
I’ll start: About two months ago, one of my supporting churches delivered the bad news that they were no longer able to sustain their missions budget. I included this information in an email to my support team. Within minutes, one family quadrupled their support; within days a new supporter came on board. A former supporter also re-joined the team, and now I’m back at a full support level.
Missionaries, please tell your stories! Your supporters need the encouragement, the reminder that God provides, and the hope of a future not as full of conflict and loss as this present moment.
Additional Posts
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?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
