How I Ended Up in Missions and Why I Watch War Movies
By a member of SEND North
Some of us who have served a long time in missions have been asked to share how God called us in the hopes that a younger generation can relate to this, at least in part, and respond to God’s call for their lives. I’m not sure many will relate to my story, but perhaps you will, so here goes.
When I came to faith at Indiana University in the early 1970s, my first fellowship was with believers in my dorm who were Russian Language majors. As I prayed with them, I became aware of the persecution that Russian believers faced. I was fascinated with the courage and sacrifice of Russian pastors in the cause of the gospel. I remember praying, “Lord, show me how I can help the church in Russia and East Europe.”
He did. While in graduate school (the Lord had taken my fear of tornadoes and turned it into a fascination with meteorology), I went to the Urbana 1979 Missions Conference, looking for opportunities to teach at an African university as a tent maker when I graduated. Instead, I learned of an organization preparing Russian language Bibles, literature, and radio programs for what was known then as the Soviet Union. I spent the next 10 years working with the Slavic Gospel Association, preparing science apologetics radio scripts for young people, translating them into Russian, and broadcasting them on short waves into East Europe and the former USSR.
So, that was my call to missions. It was hardly a Damascus Road experience. Yet, in all the steps over the years, God drew me in the same direction, turning fears into fascinations, fascinations into prayers, and prayers into service. The whole process was a call to missions.
So, that was my call to missions. It was hardly a Damascus Road experience. Yet, in all the steps over the years, God drew me in the same direction, turning fears into fascinations, fascinations into prayers, and prayers into service. The whole process was a call to missions.
The world has changed a good deal since that original calling. More than four decades after the Urbana conference, my wife and I now care for missionaries in remote places with SEND North in Alaska and Western Canada. We serve others who are reaching out to refugees in Northern cities and indigenous people in remote villages. But I still work to support, encourage, and pray for the bravest people I know who sacrifice and serve the cause of the gospel.
And that is why I watch war movies. I am not a particular fan of blood and explosions. But stories of courage and sacrifice for a higher cause draw me in. I can still hear John Stott’s Urbana message in his British accent, “Our God is a missionary God, and he who would serve him must be about the missionary enterprise.” Are you being drawn into God’s gospel story?
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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