Urgent needs: Passionate response
It often takes a team to save lives. When each member plays his or her role with passion, lives are changed forever. Like 15 Shan girls from a village in northern Thailand. They were the core of the new church plant, but they were in danger. Each was nearing the end of their free schooling and for the vast majority of girls in that village, that means being sent to the large cities to become prostitutes.
Girls like 13-year-old Nina who met SEND missionaries when she started coming to the community center to make crafts. As she listened to the Bible stories they told, she grew interested in reading the Bible for herself and soon joined their study. Through this, Nina trusted in Jesus as her Savior.
Nina wanted to share the gospel with her family as well and invited the missionaries to her home. After several visits, Nina’s parents offered their home to host a Bible study. Each Friday they listen as their daughter reads a story from her Bible and the missionaries lead a discussion.
The missionaries shared Nina’s story with SEND’s US and Canadian offices. Soon the story, including Nina’s prayer request for her family, was posted on SEND’s blog. As people around the world read it, they prayed for the salvation of Nina’s family. Just a few weeks ago, God answered those prayers and both of her parents put their faith in Christ as well.
We also heard about 12-year-old Pompan. After her brother died, her family connected with the SEND missionaries. She began coming to the Bible study and became a Christian a few months later.
During the Bible study, Pompan heard the story of the three men in the fiery furnace. Later, at her school, she was faced with a dilemma. Every morning, everyone in the school would bow down to worship a prominent statue of Buddha. But Pompan refused. When the teachers confronted her on it, she said, “The only Lord I bow down to is Christ.”
These were the very girls facing the terrifying likelihood of sexual slavery. Many have older sisters that are already enslaved. What could the missionaries do to break this cycle?
They came up with a plan. Since paying for school was too much of a burden for the families, they would find sponsors to fund the girls’ education and provide housing. Now they just needed to get the word out.
The SEND US and Canadian offices leapt into action. Media spread the message through blog posts and eblasts and features on the website. Representatives met with donors and shared the girls’ stories. Receiptors patiently and carefully documented each donation. In just ten days, all 15 girls had sponsors, and within a month, the dorm was fully funded!
Doug Harder, the Southeast Asia Regional Director, wrote, “I sat here today looking at the profile pictures of all these girls, and could hardly contain my joy.” Those girls are safe because three key groups stepped up: the missionaries, the SEND offices, and the donors. Each played a vital role.
SEND missionaries around the world have dreams and projects and plans just like those in Thailand. We in the US Office love to provide them with the resources they need. We do that best when our operations are fully funded. That’s where you come in. When you support the US Office, you enable us to continue to provide your missionaries with vital leadership and essential services. Your gifts keep the team moving forward.
One SEND partner who appreciates the value of the ministry of the US Office is offering a $75,000 matching grant. So right now, when you give, your contribution will be doubled.
Together, our team—the missionaries, the US Office, and you, our partner—can share the life-saving message of the gospel with the lost.
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?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
