'This is war'
By SEND workers in Ukraine
For many believers in war-torn eastern Ukraine, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” is no longer just a Christian cliché. James’ advice has become a harsh reality.
Yelisey, a pastor from the Lugansk region, described the situation in a Ukrainian Baptist magazine:
“Try to imagine your city and your life when there is no water for a month. Imagine how you might do dishes. You cannot flush the toilet, wash your face, do the laundry. There is nothing to drink.
A church member holds a white flag as he delivers drinking water in the conflict zone.
“There is no electricity in the city. You can’t use any of your favorite appliances. During a sleepless night you flip a switch, but you can’t disperse the darkness in your room or in your soul.
“No gas. If you want to cook a meal, you have to leave your apartment building and look for wood to make a fire.
“Worst of all, you have no means of communication. Crouching behind walls shaking from explosions, you cannot call loved ones to say goodbye, and they cannot call you to find out if you are still alive. Basements, cold, dark and damp, are overfilled with scared people. Children are crying and women are hysterical.
“Leaving the basement is dangerous. The brave ones can expect a thousand pieces of shrapnel from exploding mines. Dead bodies are lying in the street. Elderly who are having a difficult time breathing can’t expect an ambulance to come. There is no medicine or food in the stores because they’ve been looted.
“This is horrible. This is war.”
Yelisey’s church was burned beyond use.
“It’s easy to love others when everybody is smiling,” he said. “But how do you love those who hate you?”
Yelisey's church was destroyed in a fire.
One day a group of armed men gathered outside his window, and Yelisey’s heart was gripped with fear and hatred.
“I understand that it’s wrong to hate, and I was praying that God would free me from those feelings and would teach me to love,” he said. “I came to understand that I have to look at all people, without exception, through God’s eyes. And in God’s eyes, all people are lost, dying sinners who need salvation.
“I remembered Philippians 2:5 — ‘Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’ When this word was dissolved in my heart, I opened the door of my apartment.
“It was a warm evening and the sun was setting. I approached the armed men, those who rightfully deserve the judgment and wrath of God. After greeting them and introducing myself, I said, ‘Guys, you need to repent! You need to ask God for forgiveness of your sins.’ After these words, the hatred was gone and my heart was warm with feelings of compassion and pity for dying souls."
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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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