Let’s explore missions, together
By Josie Oldenburg, SEND Communications —As soon as you open your heart to becoming a missionary, all kinds of potential problems can rush in and start to distract you. My husband and I, for example, struggled to narrow down where to serve, and we had several family members tell us that we should just focus on the needs in the US. Confident that God’s plan for us included serving overseas, we pressed on—and we found a missions agency that helped us work through these issues.
The mission coaches at SEND International offer Explore Together, an interactive online community dedicated to exploring next steps in missions—and to removing the problems standing in your path. (If you’re already eager to sign up, click here ! Otherwise, read on for examples of problems that Explore Together helps solve.)
Problem: I feel drawn to overseas missions, but I don’t have anyone to talk to about it.
Solution: Explore Together offers monthly opportunities to meet up online with people who are in a similar place.
“The amazing thing about Explore Together is that everyone is in a similar boat,” says Rachel Pauwels, one of SEND’s mission coaches. “Our groups consist of people from all ages, stages, and backgrounds who are eager to learn and fellowship together as they grow in what the Lord might have for them in missions.”
Problem: Every time I talk about moving overseas, people tell me it’s better just to serve at home. How can I help them understand?
Solution: Through Explore Together, you’ll catch a vision for God’s grand mission story, which includes calling believers to enter different cultures in order to share the love of Christ. Plus you’ll learn how to share this vision with others in your life.
“God’s heart is for the nations! We see throughout Scripture that he desires to see people from all ethnicities come to know him,” says Missions Coach Andy Gilbert. “Explore Together will open your eyes to what God is doing around the world.”
Problem: The world’s too big. I feel overwhelmed by the number of needs! I don’t know how to take steps forward.
Solution: You are not alone; many future missionaries experience these same feelings! Explore Together includes conversations designed to help you identify practical next steps on your mission journey.
“Like everyone in life, missionaries do not have it all figured out! Explore Together will help you wrestle with the natural questions that come with a desire to serve internationally,” Andy says. “The best part is that we get to wrestle with these questions in community.”
Problem: I care about missions and know I should be involved somehow, but I’m just not sure what my role might be.
Solution: Explore Together provides community, learning and exposure to help you pray through God’s direction for your life—whether that’s to serve him as a missionary overseas or to more intentionally live on mission in North America.
“There are many ways and opportunities to serve in missions,” says SEND Mission Coach Andy Miller. “As a missions coach, I enjoy helping people to realize how their God-given talents, abilities and gifts can be used. Explore Together will help you to process those things in the safety of a community!”
Problem: I really don’t want to be alone on this journey.
Solution: SEND mission coaches come alongside every member of Explore Together, offering advice and encouragement.
“Considering missions can definitely be overwhelming,” Rachel says. “It’s completely normal to feel the Lord leading you into overseas missions, but to have no idea where to even start! As a coach, I’m ready to walk alongside of people in all stages of their missions journey.” SEND offers Explore Together for free to people exploring missions, but we do ask that you jump in feet first, committed to growing personally and to helping your fellow explorers grow as well. Click here to sign up. We can’t wait to Explore Together with you!
The mission coaches at SEND International offer Explore Together, an interactive online community dedicated to exploring next steps in missions—and to removing the problems standing in your path. (If you’re already eager to sign up, click here ! Otherwise, read on for examples of problems that Explore Together helps solve.)
Problem: I feel drawn to overseas missions, but I don’t have anyone to talk to about it.
Solution: Explore Together offers monthly opportunities to meet up online with people who are in a similar place.
“The amazing thing about Explore Together is that everyone is in a similar boat,” says Rachel Pauwels, one of SEND’s mission coaches. “Our groups consist of people from all ages, stages, and backgrounds who are eager to learn and fellowship together as they grow in what the Lord might have for them in missions.”
Problem: Every time I talk about moving overseas, people tell me it’s better just to serve at home. How can I help them understand?
Solution: Through Explore Together, you’ll catch a vision for God’s grand mission story, which includes calling believers to enter different cultures in order to share the love of Christ. Plus you’ll learn how to share this vision with others in your life.
“God’s heart is for the nations! We see throughout Scripture that he desires to see people from all ethnicities come to know him,” says Missions Coach Andy Gilbert. “Explore Together will open your eyes to what God is doing around the world.”
Problem: The world’s too big. I feel overwhelmed by the number of needs! I don’t know how to take steps forward.
Solution: You are not alone; many future missionaries experience these same feelings! Explore Together includes conversations designed to help you identify practical next steps on your mission journey.
“Like everyone in life, missionaries do not have it all figured out! Explore Together will help you wrestle with the natural questions that come with a desire to serve internationally,” Andy says. “The best part is that we get to wrestle with these questions in community.”
Problem: I care about missions and know I should be involved somehow, but I’m just not sure what my role might be.
Solution: Explore Together provides community, learning and exposure to help you pray through God’s direction for your life—whether that’s to serve him as a missionary overseas or to more intentionally live on mission in North America.
“There are many ways and opportunities to serve in missions,” says SEND Mission Coach Andy Miller. “As a missions coach, I enjoy helping people to realize how their God-given talents, abilities and gifts can be used. Explore Together will help you to process those things in the safety of a community!”
Problem: I really don’t want to be alone on this journey.
Solution: SEND mission coaches come alongside every member of Explore Together, offering advice and encouragement.
“Considering missions can definitely be overwhelming,” Rachel says. “It’s completely normal to feel the Lord leading you into overseas missions, but to have no idea where to even start! As a coach, I’m ready to walk alongside of people in all stages of their missions journey.” SEND offers Explore Together for free to people exploring missions, but we do ask that you jump in feet first, committed to growing personally and to helping your fellow explorers grow as well. Click here to sign up. We can’t wait to Explore Together with you!
The path to missions can feel overwhelming! Our experienced mission coaches will walk alongside you every step of the way.
• Explore where and how you can serve with SEND.
• Subscribe to Explore, our free monthly newsletter full of inspiration, ideas, and encouragement for people interested in discovering their role in cross-cultural missions
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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?
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