The SEND U Blog

Reflections and Resources for Lifelong Learning for Missionaries

Year: 2016

Lessons to be Learned from the Church in Asia – Part 1 (2016 Global Discipleship Congress)

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On February 19, 2016

In Disciple-making, Prayer

A few weeks ago I had the amazing privilege of joining together with 6000+ believers (mostly Asians) at the Global Discipleship Congress (GDC) in Manila, Philippines. It was a transformational experience as God used several Spirit-filled Asian leaders to challenge us to intentionally live a life of making disciples — to live out our faith and to pass it on to others. Wishing that all SEND members could experience GDC along with me, I started jotting down a few notes for a potential blog (a poor substitute for actually being present, I know, but hopefully better than nothing).

Rev. Edmund Chan

The Global Discipleship Congress got its start with God working in the heart of Rev. Edmund Chan, a Singaporean pastor with a passion for seeing churches be intentional in their disciple-making. As Rev. Chan welcomed us to the Congress, he remarked,

“My burden for the church is that many Christians don’t pass on to faithful people the things that they learn. Or worse, they try to ‘pass it on’ without ‘living it out’! Oftentimes, we live a life of inconsistency that compromises discipleship and truncates disciplemaking. The 2016 GDC Asia Conference seeks to address this need for the Asian Church. It’s time for the Asian Church to arise in the disciple-making mandate! Join us. A global discipleship movement is well on its way!” You can read here how God led Rev. Chan to start the Global Alliance of Intentional Disciple-Making Churches. I encourage you to take a few minutes to browse this website and explore some of the resources. I had the privilege of hearing Rev. Chan speak on prayer at a local church following the Congress. To my recollection, it is the most compelling sermon I have ever heard on prayer. I encourage you to take some time to watch it here.

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When Personal Development Became Exciting for Me

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On February 12, 2016

In Lifelong Learning, Growth Plans

I remember the minute personal development became exciting for me. I was sitting in a training room in Singapore listening to the introductory session on Christian coaching. I showed up to the training kind of on accident. I didn’t know the first thing about coaching but a few months earlier someone had asked me to consider going. He also volunteered to pay for the training and to watch my 3- and 7-year-old for a week. So, I said yes.

At the end of that first session, we were directed to a document called “Personal Development Worksheet.” It had about 15 different headings and we were instructed to brainstorm as many goals as we could under these headings. We didn’t have to figure out how to accomplish them, just list some areas we wanted to grow in or things we wanted to accomplish.

We headed back to our room and I started writing. It was hard at first. As a mom with small kids, it had been so long since I’d had 10 minutes alone to sit and think about what I wanted beyond a shower and a hot cup of coffee. But once I got started, the ideas just poured out. I was getting more and more excited about each possibility as I wrote down long-dormant hopes and dreams. I looked over at my husband very enthusiastically and said “Isn’t this so great? I have so many ideas! I’ve never done this before.”

With a sheepish grin he responded, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I do this every year.”

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A Great Resource for Understanding Diaspora Missiology

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On February 5, 2016

In Missiology, Book Reviews


A review of Diaspora Missiology: Reflections on Reaching the Scattered Peoples of the World, edited by Michael Pocock and Enoch Wan, Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2015

The theme of The Evangelical Missiological Society’s 2014 Annual (and regional) meetings was “Diaspora Missiology.” The Content of the 2015 annual monograph are select papers from the 2014 conference. This book extends the audience of the conference.

The book is organized into six parts. Each chapter begins with a helpful abstract.

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The Least of These

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On January 29, 2016

In New Missionaries

Matthew 25:37–40 (NIV)
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Although many, including Mother Teresa, have understood Jesus’ reference to “brothers” to include all the poor and oppressed in the world, I don’t believe that fits the context or the way that Jesus uses the term “brother” in the Gospel of Matthew.  Instead, I believe that Jesus is referring specifically to those who are his disciples and are suffering deprivation because of their service in spreading the Gospel.

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EMS Occasional Bulletin on Same God Question

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On January 19, 2016

In Missiology

This morning I opened my email inbox to find a Special Edition of the Occasional Bulletin of the Evangelical Missiological Society. The Topic: Wheaton and the Controversy Over Whether Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God” was compelling and realigned my plans for today to read through the 32 pages.

After an introductory article by Robert J. Priest, the president of EMS, the bulletin includes 22 short articles that briefly address the question: “What are the missiological implications of affirming, or denying, that Muslims and Christians worship the same God?” I was happy to see in the word from the editor that “While our Occasional Bulletin is normally only available for EMS members, this special issue is open to the public.” So I am free to share with you the link to the bulletin.

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