Cross-Cultural Calling | SEND International

Solving the cross-cultural-calling riddle

By Josh Jellel — Andrew Phillips might be you. He heard God calling him to something more in his Christian walk. He heard a missionary couple speak about their life serving God in Japan and felt it. But that nascent, acute sense of purpose, for many people, is accompanied by an equal uncertainty about what to do next.

Andrew’s story is particularly complicated: When he felt the call, he didn’t even know of the church that would ultimately send him, and a pivotal ministry he participated in — SEND International’s D House(“D” for discipleship) in Japan — didn’t exist yet.

How did Andrew successfully navigate an uncharted path through not-yet-existing ministries toward full-time cross-cultural ministry in three short years? Some of the steps he took may help you solve the riddle and navigate your own path toward missionary service.

Step 1: Hear the call? Make a call!

“I immediately began looking for opportunities to minister to Japanese people,” Andrew says. “I messaged a number of mission agencies, including SEND, but the Lord was not opening any doors to go overseas.” So Andrew began searching for a church with cross-cultural ministry opportunities on Google — “Our Lord is the Lord of the Internet.” He found a local church where he could serve as a conversation partner in an English class. Andrew was now connected to mission agencies and a church. Speaking of …

Step 2: Get connected to a church and community

Andrew’s pursuit of his call led him to a church that shared his vision and passion. Being in the right church for him and having a close relationship to it were key:

God also uses our church and community to voice the sought-after confirmation we often desire. “Having only been at my church for a few months, I had no idea if they would agree to be my sending church,” Andrew says. “The Lord made it clear that D House was the next step when the pastor and mission committee agreed not only to send me but to support me financially!”

At D House in Japan, Andrew found next-level Christian community. The D House program stresses discipleship in community — a cohort of believers simultaneously being discipled and discipling others — and Andrew learned a lot during his time there: “I have learned that it is about relationship. It is about sharing, praying with and for, and encouraging one another to be in the Word. [D House leader] John did this almost every morning at the breakfast table. He modeled the importance of asking questions, challenging one another, being a servant, and walking in faith.” But you don’t have to go to Japan to find these kinds of crucial spiritual interactions: They are taking place in vibrant Christian communities and churches all around you. Find them!

Step 3: Embrace opportunity

If you’ve done the above, you will likely discover that opportunities find you. For Andrew, first it was simply his willingness to be a conversational English partner through his church in the U.S. that drew an invitation. “After visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Miyamoto, I was quickly invited to join their Japanese ministry, which consists of the English class and Bible studies,” he says. “This was clearly the Lord’s plan as he was preparing to open the door for me to go to Japan.”

Then came an email from one of SEND’s mobilizers presenting him with an opportunity to follow his passion for Japan to Japan. “As I continued to minister alongside the Miyamotos, I received an email from Ron Hardy at SEND asking if I was still interested in Japan. Ron told me about the D House internship, and I saw it as a great opportunity to see and be a part of the missionary work happening in Japan.” Embracing one opportunity led to another, then another.

Andrew recommends seeking out a short-term mission trip: “In our home countries we only see a glimpse of who God is and what he is doing in the world. On a short-term trip, you will meet Christian brothers and sisters who have a different language and culture than you, yet despite the differences you will see a heart for God just like yours. And the cool thing is that you get to participate!”

Step 4: Discern God’s leading

Each opportunity to work with others is an opportunity for God to work in you. Of his Japan D House experience, Andrew says, “God helped me to serve in ways I had never served before. Not only were the culture and language brand new but so was the ministry. By taking hold of the opportunities presented to me, the Lord taught me that I could work with children.” And that was just the start for Andrew. He has since taught at a vacation Bible school, tutored in inner-city Detroit, provided relief in Flint, Mich., assisted at Life Challenge Christian rehab, been asked to teach K-2 at church, and returned to Japan to disciple high school students.

Reflecting on each new experience allows you to discern exactly what God is equipping you to do next. As Andrew recounted disciple-making in Japan, this processing was evident: “In discipleship we are partnering with God. I cannot make someone want to be a disciple. I learned that if I am faithful in doing what God has called me to do and say, he will use that and work in people’s hearts in ways that only he can.”

Riddle solved?

The good and bad news about the cross-cultural-calling riddle is that there are many right answers. This challenges those who like a clear path toward a goal and comforts those who chafe at one-size-fits-all approaches. Andrew’s solution, however, demonstrates some basic actions that will benefit anyone who is exploring a calling to cross-cultural ministry. Make a call. ( Or fill out this quick form to get connected with SEND. ) Seek out a like-minded church, and grow in your own discipleship to Christ. Embrace opportunity and short-term service, and let those experiences help you discern God’s leading.

The path to missions can feel overwhelming! Our experienced mission coaches will walk alongside you every step of the way.

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Photos courtesy of D House leader John Edwards.

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Choosing a Missions Organization

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?