March 13, 2026

The SEND U Blog

Reflections and Resources for Lifelong Learning for Missionaries

Category: Confrontation

Musar and Healthy Conflict: A Biblical Lens on Team Health
Teaming, Confrontation

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
Valuing Conflict
Character, Confrontation, Insider Movements, Team Formation

Valuing Conflict

I have just finished reading the latest edition of the Missio Nexus Anthology, an issue solely devoted to talking about conflict in the Christian community. It includes a few articles particularly focused on resolving cross-cultural conflict, and a couple of articles about dealing with differences between mission agencies. But the idea that most struck me was that conflict is important, even necessary for our development in our Christian life. Ted Esler, in his closing article in the Anthology, talks about “Loving Conflict.”  Conflict, he says, deepens relationships, is necessary for good decisions and shapes our character.  He concludes, Do you want to have strong relationships, good decisions, and a deeper character? Then learn to embrace and love conflict.… Read the whole post
Ken Guenther1 min read
Confrontation

Choose to Believe the Voice of Truth

I am finishing my read-through-the-Bible-in-2-years plan at the end of this month, and so these days, I am reading through the book of Revelation in the New Testament and the last of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. Yesterday in reading Revelation 20, I noted in my journal that a single angel from heaven can seize (arrest) Satan and throw him into the bottomless pit and keep him there (Rev 20:1-3).  It seems so simple and matter of fact.   God simply sends one of his angels who immediately finds Satan and arrests him without any extended battle or resistance.  Satan is prevented from deceiving the nations any longer until his prison term is over.    In Daniel 10, we read that of a battle between the angels and the demonic forces, and the prince of the kingdom of Persia is able to withstand the angels of God for 21 days… Read the whole post
Ken Guenther3 mins read
Confrontation

Declare Your Intent

I have just finished reading The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything, a book  Warren Janzen (our International Director) has been talking about.   One of the points that Stephen M. R. Covey makes is that one’s intent (motives) and how that intent is perceived by others have a huge impact on how much people trust us.     While we generally judge ourselves by the motives behind our actions, we judge others by their actions, and by our assumptions about their motives.     And those assumptions are often wrong.   But nevertheless, trust is damaged if our fellow workers or teammates believe that your motive in saying what you did or doing what you did was not to help or build them up but either to promote your personal agenda or tear them down.   So Covey says,  “People often distrust us because of the conclusions they draw about what we do. … Read the whole post
Ken Guenther2 mins read
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