Arctic Barnabas Ministries
While SEND North members and other Christian missionaries serve diligently around the Far North, they intentionally live selflessly. Nonetheless, it is essential they are supported and cared for as well. As Romans 1:11-12 states, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Based in Kenai, Alaska, there is an organization dedicated to just this.
The goal of Arctic Barnabas Ministries (ABM)
is to serve the serving. The ministry of 17 years focuses on fulfilling the spiritual and practical needs of missionaries throughout Alaska and Canada by supporting them in various capacities. Arctic Barnabas is divided into three departments: Funding and Resources, Operations, and Ministry. Mark Mowery, Ministry Coordinator for ABM, oversees all the direct ministry to the in-field workers.
Within the Ministry department, Mark works with his team to coordinate retreats including a retreat center, guest hosting, counseling, travel, work teams, and buying/shipping supplies unavailable in the villages to members. Another program within the Ministry division is the Minute Men-- a group available for immediate projects willing to mobilize quickly if a member is in need.
The most recent project by ABM is an orientation curriculum for new missionaries coming into the field. The idea behind this is to give team members an even clearer idea of what to expect in their particular villages culturally. ABM is excited about the prospects of this new project as they also begin developing a program that focuses on serving the support staff of organizations like SEND North.
In an interview, Mark identified the five keys to their ministry at ABM. Shepherding focuses on face to face time with in-field members. Serve includes work projects and temporarily supplying speakers for village churches. Refresh looks to rejuvenate members through retreats and the ABM retreat center. Equip provides spiritual and practical tools, as well as training. Finally, Connecting creates a network of local support churches that work with members directly.
When asked what their greatest challenge to their work was, Mark identified two: financial and staff support. ABM limits cost for in-field members as much as possible. They do this by providing transportation around town when members come in, hosting an annual retreat where members only have to pay for half the cost of the weekend, and by completing work projects in the villages at little or no cost to the members. ABM is also looking for staff who are experienced in the mission field and cross-cultural situations.
ABM is looking to the future. They are hoping to expand deeper into Canada, solidify their orientation program, and begin a branch of ministry to the organizational leadership side of other mission organizations.
SEND North deeply appreciates the care that ABM shows for our members and their investment in their lives. Our member care department fulfills a similar mission, focused on our team specifically and their well-being in the field. The ultimate goal for both ABM and SEND North’s member care team is to encourage, enliven, and enrich those in the field so they can continue to pour into the people of their communities, whom they love and work daily to grow disciples of Jesus Christ.
Written by Kelly Quist
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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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