Knock. God Can Redeem the Time!
By Susan
, a mission worker in Russia.
My goal in my teaching career was to work
and
save enough money t
o t
ravel around the world. What I
did
not
know, though, was that God was also working in me and growing my heart for
cross-cultural ministry.
Over several years I attended numerous mission con
ferences to learn from missionaries and to hear about their experiences.
The
se
missionaries affirmed that there was a place for
me
in mission work
and
encouraged
me to
not let
self-imposed barriers
,
such a
s being single
,
be a hindrance to getting involved.
The Missions Director at
my
church heard about SEND and
was pleased to learn
that the organization is Christ
-
and prayer
-
centered,
is all
about the kingdom of God, and
is
team
-
ba
sed
. He felt confident recommending SEND as an organization I could work well with.
Did I Miss My Chance?
Soon after, a
SEND mission coach
reached out
to me
.
I admit I was
afraid
to respond to the e
-
mail; I had not yet sorted out what I wanted to do in missions and so put off my reply. That didn’t stop God though. He continued to remind me about SEND.
By the time I was ready to talk to the coach, I figured it was too late to go overseas that year and that I had missed my chance. However, a godly friend encouraged me to just “knock”. “God can redeem the time, even though you think it is too late.”
When I finally reached out to John, the mission coach, I realized I was communicating with someone who loved God. And, even though I did not know exactly what I wanted to do in missions, I felt safe talking with him. I could see that John cared about me and what God wanted for me, so I could trust him to guide me well.
Since
I am
a teacher,
John
directed my
attention
to
a teaching opportunity in Russia. As
I
prayed about that ministry,
I
became convinced
I
should
take the next step.
God Throws Open the Doors
So, o
n May 11
of that year I ap
plied to SEND and on
May
31
,
I
resigned from
my
teaching position!
Even though
I
thought it was too late to do anything that year, God flung open the doors and by September
I
was in Russia!
I am so thankful that my friend urged me to “knock” and watch for what God would do.
If you’re serious
about serving God, even though you
may
f
eel f
earful, take th
e first step
!
You c
a
n tr
ust
God
for what comes next
!
Choosing an internship or missions opportunity can be overwhelming! We'd love to help you find an opportunity that matches your gifts and passions. Our experienced mission coaches are ready to connect with you!
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!
