June 17, 2026

The SEND U Blog

Reflections and Resources for Lifelong Learning for Missionaries

Author: Ken Guenther

Director of SEND U
The Six Conversations: Why Loving Conversations Matter for Cross‑Cultural Missionaries
Book Reviews, Cultural learning

The Six Conversations: Why Loving Conversations Matter for Cross‑Cultural Missionaries

Many missionaries today live with a quiet tension. On the one hand, they are deeply committed to relationships—within teams, churches, and communities across cultures. On the other hand, they often experience relational fatigue, misunderstanding, and isolation, even while surrounded by people. Conversations that once felt natural can become complicated by language barriers, cultural differences, and ministry pressure. Heather Holleman’s book The Six Conversations: Pathways to Connecting in an Age of Isolation and Incivility speaks powerfully into this reality. Rather than offering communication techniques or formulas, Holleman calls for a revival of loving conversations—conversations shaped by posture, not performance; by presence, not persuasion. For those serving cross‑culturally, this message is especially timely. Missionary life places extraordinary relational demands on people, and the quality of our conversations often determines the health of our teams, partnerships, and witness. Understanding the Author’s Perspective Heather Holleman is an associate teaching professor of advanced writing at… Read the whole post
Ken Guenther9 mins read
Musar and Healthy Conflict: A Biblical Lens on Team Health
Confrontation, Teaming

Musar and Healthy Conflict: A Biblical Lens on Team Health

Recently, the International Leadership Team (ILT) of SEND International went through an exercise to identify our strengths and weaknesses in relation to Patrick Lencioni’s model of the Five Dysfunctions of a Team. (Yes, Lencioni wrote a book about this, and it definitely is worth reading.) This framework has been widely used in leadership development because it highlights common barriers to team effectiveness. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Lencioni’s identifies these five dysfunctions: Absence of Trust – Team members are unwilling to be vulnerable. Fear of Conflict – The desire to preserve artificial harmony stifles productive, ideological conflict. Lack of Commitment – Without clarity and buy-in, decisions lack support. Avoidance of Accountability – The need to avoid interpersonal discomfort prevents members from holding one another accountable. Inattention to Results – Pursuit of individual goals erodes focus on collective success. Fear of Conflict and What Leaders Can Do Fear of conflict… Read the whole post
Ken Guenther8 mins read
Bridging Generations: The Power of Multigenerational Teaming in SEND
Teaming, Training, Team Formation

Bridging Generations: The Power of Multigenerational Teaming in SEND

A couple of weeks ago, I facilitated a panel discussion on multigenerational teaming at the SEND Europe Conference in Spain. As I’ve prepared for this conversation, I was struck again by the richness and complexity that generational diversity brings to our mission teams. Drawing from Tim Elmore’s A New Kind of Diversity: Making the Different Generations on Your Team a Competitive Advantage, I want to share a few reflections that I hope will resonate with SEND missionaries serving across generations—from Boomers to Gen Z. Not Just Cultural—But Generational Diversity As global workers, we’re trained to observe and adapt to cultural differences. But how often do we apply that same curiosity and intentionality to generational differences within our teams? SEND teams today often include four generations: Boomers (1946–1964): Loyal, experienced, and deeply committed to the mission. Gen X (1965–1980): Independent, pragmatic, and often the bridge between generations. Millennials (1981–1996):… Read the whole post
Ken Guenther3 mins read
A Minute to Think: Leading with Less in a Season of More
Leadership, Mission Leadership, Book Reviews

A Minute to Think: Leading with Less in a Season of More

In August 2025, I attended the Global Leadership Summit and heard Juliet Funt speak about what she calls “leadership gluttony.” Although I had never heard of Funt before, her session became my favourite of the entire event. I have since listened to Juliet Funt’s book, A Minute to Think. Her GLS talk focused on one chapter of that book, Chapter 5, titled “The Simplification Questions: Reclaiming the Best by Removing the Rest.“ Funt’s message struck a chord—especially as I think of what is next for SEND International. We’ve recently experienced a leadership transition in several key roles, and new leaders bring fresh energy and ideas. While these new directions inspire hope, Funt urges us to pause and ask: What can we remove from the old to make space for the new? Her book calls us to reclaim space in our lives, ministries, and leadership. It’s not a… Read the whole post
Ken Guenther5 mins read
Breakthroughs Among the Unreached: Waiting on the Master of Breakthroughs
Church Planting, Hardship, Resilience

Breakthroughs Among the Unreached: Waiting on the Master of Breakthroughs

The Long Road to Breakthrough If you’ve served among unreached people groups for any length of time, you know the ache of waiting. You know the weight of sowing seeds year after year, often with little visible fruit. You know the tension between hope and disappointment, between faith and frustration. Furthermore, you know what it is to pray for a breakthrough—a moment when the gospel finally takes root and begins to spread, when a church is born, when the kingdom of God becomes visible in a new place. But how long does it take for a breakthrough to come? And what do we do in the waiting? Most importantly, who is the true author of every breakthrough? This post is for those of you who are laboring in hard soil, tempted to lose heart, and wondering if your efforts will ever bear fruit. What have we learned about breakthroughs? And… Read the whole post
Ken Guenther9 mins read
Back To Top