Ministering to a New Generation of Missionaries
It's always special to meet young interns and prepare them for their work in the field. It takes a lot of courage to go and live in a remote area thousands of miles away from home. Our sending offices and sending partner organizations prepares them well, and we at SEND North—a receiving area—provide them with support they need while they are on the field.
We had an intern from Germany who was just 18 at the time. It was his first time being very far away from home. His English was good, but it was evaporating from jet lag. With a 7-hour delay in Seattle, his flights from his home in Germany took a full day. He was having difficulty keeping his eyes open, and we just had a short time to prepare in Anchorage before he would be flying in a much smaller plane to a much smaller village.
Sharing Knowledge
One of my tasks on the Logistics and Support (L&S) team is to introduce the story of SEND to folks visiting our Anchorage office. So, as a part of his brief orientation, I found myself describing to this young intern how SEND International that was launched by ex-GI's who went back to Pacific battlefields with the Gospel after World War II.
Young missionaries must know they are joining God's work spanning almost 80 years. This knowledge also gives them a sense of belonging that they are part of a line of men and women who responded to the call of the Great Commission.
Another way the L&S team serves our people is with shopping and shipping from Anchorage. Some people on our team are way better at this than I am, but they were unavailable that day. So, after other L&S team members introduced him to finance, cross-culture tips, and safety issues related to his internship, it was up to me to get him supplied and equipped.
His first Alaskan adventure was shopping in Anchorage, at rush hour, in a blizzard. Unplowed busy roads provided its challenge, but we were able to get most of the things he needed. Being part of the L&S team also meant being the taxi and shuttle when our people came into town, which I was happy to do for our intern.
He would be working outdoors in one of the coldest parts of the planet. We got supplies not only for him but also for his host family in the village, who are also from Germany. That support system will greatly help him adjust to this new place and ministry. Having a host family ready to receive our young missionaries assures them they have someone to run to for encouragement and direction.
God Is Stirring the Hearts of Young People
I was impressed with this young man, as I have been with the other six German interns I met while living in Anchorage. When giving an overview of SEND's history, I tell people it is a story of each generation responding to a difficult calling from God. SEND's ministry here in Alaska is difficult, complicated, lonely, frustrating, risky, and expensive.
Serving on a team that supports young people taking on these challenges is an honor. They transition from living in a large urban center in Europe to serving many months in a rural Alaska village—the difference is so striking that they might as well have gone to Mars. They took a leap of faith, knowing they had a big God before them.
It has been a special joy to meet the brave and bright generation of German interns who serve our people and help them launch their adventures here. We pray that these short-term experiences will make a lasting impact that moves them to commit long-term in God's perfect time.
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!
