Uncovering the unreached
The evangelical church in Ukraine, where SEND started working soon after the fall of the Soviet Union, is beginning to develop into a missions force. Kyle Eipperle and his wife, Carrie, have served with SEND in Ukraine for more than 16 years — long enough to see the church start sending Ukrainians as cross-cultural workers. Kyle’s work inspires Ukrainian believers and churches to notice and respond to the unexpected Great Commission opportunities that surround them.
Q. What is your ministry?
Q. What is your ministry?
I work to mobilize the local church on the mission field to pray, send, or serve in missions to unreached people groups — we call this “frontier mobilization.” Part of my ministry has been devoted to ethnographic research on unreached peoples in Eurasia and Central Asia. My research has led me to develop Russian- and Ukrainian-language prayer guides that highlight unreached peoples in the former Soviet Union. The prayer guides contain demographic information, an ethnographic profile, and strategic prayer points for UPGs.
Q. How many guides have you published?
Q. How many guides have you published?
At first, Joshua Project
was the main source for my research. Later I found other sources. But English sources lacked crucial ethnographic information about the people groups I was researching. Sometimes there was not even a photograph available of the people group. I then turned to sources in Russian. I have even had the opportunity to interview someone from one of the people groups I am researching.
Q. What have been some of the most fascinating things you’ve discovered in your research?
Q. What have been some of the most fascinating things you’ve discovered in your research?
I’ve discovered people groups that are not mentioned in English-language sources! I have always been fascinated with discovery. Growing up I wanted to become an archaeologist and dig up treasures. In a way, that dream has become a reality. I have uncovered 20 people groups within Russia that have been hidden from Western missionary endeavors.
Q. Why did you decide to research unreached people groups?
Q. Why did you decide to research unreached people groups?
As the Ukrainian church began to develop as a missions force, I started researching unreached peoples to learn more about the people and places Ukrainians were going, or could potentially go, as missionaries. I discovered a very diverse ethnic population within the former Soviet Union. I learned that nearly all the people groups in Russia are still unreached, including Russians. I thought up ways to share what I’d learned. Since then, I have made it my goal to find creative ways to inform believers about the needs in Eurasia and Central Asia.
Q. How does your ministry help make disciples among the unreached?
Q. How does your ministry help make disciples among the unreached?
There are people groups that have existed for centuries but have been ignored by Western missionary endeavors. Why has this happened? Well, it is impossible to send a missionary to invisible people. To complete the Great Commission, we must know who are the ethnic people groups of the world.
Q. How are believers using the guides you’ve put together?
Q. How are believers using the guides you’ve put together?
Individuals use the prayer guides in their personal prayer times. Small groups are praying for a people group each time they meet. Some churches have adopted an unreached people group or highlight an unreached people group once a month during their worship service.
Q. What kind of feedback have you gotten?
Q. What kind of feedback have you gotten?
First reactions to the prayer guides range from shock to utter disbelief. A frequent comment I’ve heard from Ukrainians is, “I had no idea these people lived here!” One person who had a surprised first reaction reported back to me a year later that he since has made contact with foreigners in his hometown. The prayer guides have a way of opening our eyes to the people around us. I used to think that Ukraine was home only to ethnic Ukrainians and a small percentage of ethnic Russians. Turns out, Ukraine is a very diverse country. There are more than 130 ethnic people groups that call Ukraine their home.
Q. How is prayer connected to engaging the unreached?
Q. How is prayer connected to engaging the unreached?
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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