Welcome to the brave new world of mission security

A large group of officials from a country closed to Western Christian workers are visiting a university near your church. The director of a student ministry calls and asks if he can bring them over on Sunday. They want to see what an American church is like. It just happens to be your missions conference, and the speaker is an under-the-radar worker in that very country.

A group of Japanese engineering students come for an ESL game night, and bring their Yemeni friends. The Yemeni students have lots of questions about the missionaries pictured in your church missionary display.

You want to keep the congregation aware of prayer needs for your missionary families, so you list a different family each week in your bulletin with contact information. The church web site lists your missionaries, too, and their letters are there at an easy click.

Stop . Wait!

Welcome to the brave new world of mission security. “What happens at church stays at church” went out the window with global internet access. What is posted on your church web site is searchable in the deepest corner of a country totally hostile to Christians. Even linking the term “missionary” to people you support could put their lives in danger or irrevocably compromise their ministry.

The security issues that missions have dealt with for years are now being faced in churches. Questions like:

Giving in to the Enemy?

Unfortunately, changes of this sort are often construed as caving in to the enemy. Shouldn’t we be bold in our witness? Didn’t Jesus call us to lay down our lives for the Kingdom? Why should those who are hostile to Christ dictate what we do in our own country?

When does caution take precedence over boldness? God can use the witness of a martyr, but a living, breathing witness, imbedded in a hostile-to-Christ culture, is able to deeply influence the world around him.

No easy answers. Lots of questions. Talk to the agencies your missionaries are with about ways you can protect their valuable ministries but still keep them in prayer.

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Additional Posts

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?
By SEND Media May 11, 2026
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
By SEND Media May 11, 2026
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
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