Explore Missions

If you feel God is leading you into missions, talk with your pastor, mission professor, and missionaries you know.

 
SEND International may or may not be your first choice but we would be happy to talk with you . We are open to all your questions and we’ll do our best to give you helpful answers.  

We hope these three sections below may help you as you explore your journey and place in missions.

Recognizing God's call

Do you struggle to know God’s will for your life? Do you want confirmation that you are doing what He wants? There is no magic formula for knowing God’s will for you, but these questions may help you on the journey.

The Bible is full of verses about God’s will for every Christian. God’s will is our salvation in John 6:40 and 2 Peter 3:9. God’s will is our sanctification and thankfulness in I Thess. 4:3; 5:18.

The Bible teaches that every believer’s life-purpose is to obey and glorify God. Cross-cultural ministry is closely tied to this purpose. “Missions exists because worship doesn’t,” says John Piper in "Let the Nations Be Glad," (Baker Book House 1993.)

The Great Commission starts in Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” Although it doesn’t say, “This is God’s will for YOU,” it is a general command to all believers to have some involvement in reaching the world through prayer, giving, or going.

Which part should you play? Knowing if God is calling you cross-culturally is both objective and subjective.

Objective questions to ask yourself:

• Are you aware of world needs?

• Have you identified your spiritual gifts and abilities?

• How consistent is your walk with God?

• What is your track record and experience in ministry?

• Do you have the necessary interpersonal skills for cross-cultural ministry?

• Do you have adequate training, especially in Bible?

• How is your physical health and energy level?

Subjective questions to ask yourself:

• Do you sense God is leading you into cross-cultural missions?

• How do you support this biblically?

• Have you prayed consistently about this?

• Has God given you circumstantial evidence?

• Do you have peace of mind about this?

• Do others confirm your interests when you share your burden for the lost?

• Does your church affirm your call?

God speaks in a many ways. Instead of waiting for a dramatic call, commit yourself to seek God’s leading and guidance and trust Him to lead! God doesn’t give maps, but He does give you a compass. You may feel stepping out in faith is too risky, so ask mature believers and spiritual mentors for their guidance. God’s Word and the church will help you make decisions.

 
If you are ready to move ahead and take the next step, it is time to talk with several people: your pastor, a mission representative, missionaries you know, and other mature Christians. Want to know more? Contact us with your questions.  

Choosing a mission

 
How do you choose one mission to join when there are many great agencies? Start by figuring out who you are. What are you passionate about — a particular kind of ministry, a country, a people group? Think about your gifting and what interests you. Your unique experiences may also affect your decision. Now that you have narrowed down the options, recognize that mission agencies also have distinct personalities. Here are some questions to ask:  

To learn more about our mission click here.

Staying financially fit

 
Sizable debt may hinder your journey into missions. Careful planning could reduce your time to deployment by years!  

Start by creating a modest budget:

Is the expense column too long? Then cut out the fat!

If your income is still short of expenses, plan your loans carefully. Remember, loans are easy to get and hard to pay off. You are responsible to pay back everything you owe, even if the loan is in your parent’s name.

 
If you want to explore going into missions with SEND further, a good place to start is our Get Started form.  

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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