From Theory to Reality: A Family’s Journey to Ukraine
The paths into cross-cultural ministry can be as unique and varied as the people who God calls to serve him in his global harvest. The Holy Spirit knows us and knows how to move in his followers as they contemplate cross-cultural service. David knew this and marveled,
Lord, you have examined me;
you have known me.
2 You know when I rest [ a ]
and when I am active. [ b ]
You understand what I am thinking
when I am distant from you. [ c ]
3 You scrutinize my life and my rest; [ d ]
you are familiar with all of my ways.
4 Even before I have formed a word with my tongue,
you, Lord, know it completely!
5 You encircle me from back to front,
placing your hand upon me.
6 Knowledge like this is too amazing for me.
It is beyond my reach,
and I cannot fathom it. Psalm 139:1-6
David rested in and was encouraged by God’s perfect understanding of all his habits, his conversational style, his preferences, etc. Therefore, it seems to follow that the Holy Spirit, himself, cultivates each person’s passion, provides each person’s guidance, and opens doors for each person to gain experience and skills, all in the most unique ways for each person he calls.
Lord, you have examined me;
you have known me.
2 You know when I rest [ a ]
and when I am active. [ b ]
You understand what I am thinking
when I am distant from you. [ c ]
3 You scrutinize my life and my rest; [ d ]
you are familiar with all of my ways.
4 Even before I have formed a word with my tongue,
you, Lord, know it completely!
5 You encircle me from back to front,
placing your hand upon me.
6 Knowledge like this is too amazing for me.
It is beyond my reach,
and I cannot fathom it. Psalm 139:1-6
David rested in and was encouraged by God’s perfect understanding of all his habits, his conversational style, his preferences, etc. Therefore, it seems to follow that the Holy Spirit, himself, cultivates each person’s passion, provides each person’s guidance, and opens doors for each person to gain experience and skills, all in the most unique ways for each person he calls.
Some people begin this journey by reading books, some by meeting people from a culture different than one’s own, and some by growing up bi-culturally. But no matter where we start, God’s unique path into cross-cultural service always moves us out of theoretical connection with other people to real relationships with genuine people who happen to be very different from us.
Facing faith questions head-on
That is what happened to one Arizona family whom God has called to serve him in Kyiv, Ukraine. Tim and Angela Mitchell spent many years following Jesus, growing in their understanding of his Word and his transforming work in the world. Their family expressed the redemptive love of Jesus by fostering children. The generosity of their love would sometimes even extend to their kids’ families of origin, as they hoped and helped some families reunite healthily.
Tim’s faith journey included struggles when he encountered Bible critics that sowed doubt about the veracity of the Scripture’s claim to be the Word from God. In fact, Tim’s search for answers led him all the way to doctoral study in textual criticism.
While engaging with an academic organization of theological educators and thinkers, Tim met SEND International, cross-cultural theological educator, Rick Perhai, who serves in Kyiv, Ukraine. Rick challenged Tim to use his training to help Ukrainian pastors, lay people, and fellow theological educators address questions and doubts in their Ukrainian context.
While engaging with an academic organization of theological educators and thinkers, Tim met SEND International, cross-cultural theological educator, Rick Perhai, who serves in Kyiv, Ukraine. Rick challenged Tim to use his training to help Ukrainian pastors, lay people, and fellow theological educators address questions and doubts in their Ukrainian context.
As their conversation went on, the Mitchells did sense that God was indeed leading them to serve Jesus by helping train Ukrainian Bible scholars, pastors, and leaders.
However, this conversation happened before Ukraine’s people were plunged into war in 2022. What did this mean for this leading of the Spirit they had sensed? Deep concern and questions added a new layer of complexity to their discernment process.
However, this conversation happened before Ukraine’s people were plunged into war in 2022. What did this mean for this leading of the Spirit they had sensed? Deep concern and questions added a new layer of complexity to their discernment process.
Putting theory into practice
It became clear to the Mitchells and to our long-term workers currently in Ukraine that the theory about serving Ukrainians needed to continue in Ukraine to give way to genuine connection and real relationship building. So, instead of testing the waters, they boldly plunged in.
In January 2024, Tim and Angela and their three eldest kids, headed to Ukraine for ten days to make real connections with real Ukrainian people, understand the true conditions on the ground in Ukraine, and experience what it means to trust God in a very new context than what they knew in Arizona.
They joined Rick and his wife, Marilyn Perhai in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, for a seminary student retreat. And here, they met Ukrainian students. They were struck by the students’ hospitality, kindness, and trust in God’s continued goodness despite the war.
They sensed how different life was for these seminary students—students who spoke a different language, who worked multiple jobs to deal with chronic underemployment, all while juggling family and ministry, and all in a country under attack.
These students also had the chance to connect with Tim and Angela. One thing Tim didn’t anticipate was that these seminary students were very curious about Tim’s doctoral work in textual criticism. They asked many questions about Tim’s faith journey and his studies. The very questions and concerns that had sparked Tim’s own Bible education were also the same questions many of these students had encountered as well.
Embracing new realities
Once in Kyiv, Angela says it was a real blessing to see the actual places where they might live, where the kids would go to school, and where Tim would eventually teach. They met other SEND teammates and even had the chance to meet Ukrainian language teachers, and other families living in Kyiv as expats. Being in a real Ukrainian context allowed them to understand that culture and language learning are big priorities if they are to thrive in such a challenging place.
Even feeling the real weather differences gave them another chance to see the challenges of adapting to life in Ukraine.
“For us desert rats,” Angela explained, “(one challenge) is accepting the cold and different changes of seasons. But that it can also be fun and exciting—the kids liked that. But also just realizing that being able to adapt to the bleak cold winters is definitely a challenge we know we will face.”
In today’s world, faithful followers of Jesus will be challenged to keep pushing out of the theory of living as salt and light, and further into his light, where real gospel-fused relationships are forged. Knowing that he encircles us front to back and knows our unique path into his harvest, enables us to love real people on their paths. As we continue to follow the Holy Spirit’s calling, we begin to discover the areas we need to grow in which will help us in facing real challenges in a suffering world hungry for Jesus.
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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