Bibles for the Arctic
" We hear about outreach, but it never comes to our community.
"
That is what Derek heard from an Inuit person in Nunavik. "We feel forgotten. How did you come to contact us and help us?" The story began as Derek was working with Samaritan's Purse Canada, Northern Youth Programs, and the Arctic Diocese of the Anglican Church to bring health kits to Canada's Arctic communities. As Derek began talking to various ministry workers in these remote places, he heard of the need for Bibles and resources in Inuktitut, the heart language of the Eastern Arctic.
That is what Derek heard from an Inuit person in Nunavik. "We feel forgotten. How did you come to contact us and help us?" The story began as Derek was working with Samaritan's Purse Canada, Northern Youth Programs, and the Arctic Diocese of the Anglican Church to bring health kits to Canada's Arctic communities. As Derek began talking to various ministry workers in these remote places, he heard of the need for Bibles and resources in Inuktitut, the heart language of the Eastern Arctic.
SEND North has a mission to "make northern disciple-makers," so one of our focuses was to obtain discipleship materials in Inuktitut to go along with the Bibles and health kits. Through the help of Samaritan's Purse Canada, our team secured $40,000 in Bibles and discipleship materials to go to these remote villages, and the response of gratitude has been incredible.
As the people in this region looked at reopening churches from the Covid-19 shutdown, they were discouraged and frustrated that they did not have the masks, hand sanitizer or disinfectant spray needed to comply with the government's requirements. The health kits we offered them had exactly what they needed to reopen their churches! Some asked if we could send even more masks to give to their church members who needed them. When we asked Norm Miller, the Executive Director of Northern Youth Programs, about how to get more masks, he remarked that people had sent him hundreds of hand-made masks that he didn't know what to do with. God had already supplied for the need before we knew of it!
Over and over, we have seen God work out details, timing, and connections perfectly. Even when there were problems or conflicts, God turned them around for His glory. When Norm returned from one of the delivery trips, he said: "I can rejoice in the fact that 1 out of every 10 people in that region can now have a Bible in their language of choice, and churches can reopen on Sunday after being closed for over 3 months." To God be the glory, great things He has done!
Please pray that God would continue to work out the details as we deliver Bibles and resources to more and more communities. Pray for safety for the pilots and that God would use these
resources to make northern disciple-makers.
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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