September 6, 2026

The SEND U Blog

Reflections and Resources for Lifelong Learning for Missionaries

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Fulfilling Marketplace Ministry
Missionary Roles, Theology

Fulfilling Marketplace Ministry

In my previous post I sketched out the significance of work from a Christian perspective: Work is part of God’s original design for humanity.  The Fall brought toil and frustration to work but did not diminish the significance of work.  Understanding work in the light of our primary and secondary calling enables us to engage in all types of work for the glory of God and the good of our neighbors. Related Posts:Significance of WorkIs the era of professional missionaries over?Persons of Peace: What Are They?Meditation on Sin and SalvationA Book Review: Grounded in the Gospel: Building…Bridging the Divide Network… Read the whole post
Gary Ridley1 min read
Significance of Work
Theology

Significance of Work

I’ve been asked to give some thoughts on the theology of marketplace ministry. Apparently, some are experiencing a level of frustration balancing marketplace work (whether in education or business) with ministry work. I will share my thoughts in two blog posts. In this first post, we will identify the significance of work for a Christian. In the second we explore the implications for marketplace ministry. I hope to stimulate your thinking in these areas and do not presume to write as an authority in these areas. ”In the beginning there was work.” So begins the first chapter of Tim Keller’s book, Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God. He continues, Related Posts:Fulfilling Marketplace MinistryThe Power of Presence in a World of DistractionA Book Review: Grounded in the Gospel: Building…Are Missionaries Public Theologians Too?Meditation on the ChurchThe Church is God's Household… Read the whole post
Gary Ridley1 min read
Training

Reflections on the Radius Debate

In recent years, church planting strategies have been broadly divided into two major categories: Church Planting Movements and the traditional model or what is now being called the Proclamation Model. Sometimes advocates of Church Planting Movements (CPM) prefer to call their strategy “Disciple Making Movements” or DMM. If you are unclear about the differences between these two church planting strategies, see this very helpful article by Ted Esler in the International Journal of Frontier Missiology. The table on the last page of the article summarizes the distinctions. There has been no small controversy in the debate between proponents of Church Planting Movements (CPM) and proponents of the Proclamation Model. Blog posts and articles have sometimes included unhelpful and judgmental rhetoric. Related Posts:Book review: Stubborn PerseveranceKeeping urban church planters centeredFruit to Harvest: the key is abidingReview of Dialogical ApologeticsHow do we decide whom we can work with?Missionary Roles in Church Planting… Read the whole post
Gary Ridley1 min read
Books, Teaming, Book Reviews, Multicultural Teams

Are multicultural teams more innovative?

In theory, a multicultural team should have many more creative ideas than a team made up those of all one culture. But in reality, multicultural teams are often stuck in even deeper ruts of tradition than mono-cultural teams, because so much of their energy is devoted to keeping the peace and learning how to communicate. Rather than coming with a fresh new strategy, the team just continues to do what they have always done because the “way we have always done it” is the least risky and requires the least amount of explanation. In his book, Driven by Difference: How Great Companies Fuel Innovation Through Diversity, David Livermore of the Cultural Intelligence Center helps us understand what team leaders and team members on diverse teams need to do to create a climate and a process for true innovation.  As Livermore says, multicultural teams are not automatically more innovative.    … Read the whole post
Ken Guenther1 min read
Books, Leadership, Mission Leadership, Book Reviews

Book Review: Women in God’s Mission: Accepting the Invitation to Serve and Lead

Women in God’s Mission: Accepting the Invitation to Serve and Lead by Mary  T. Leiderleitner. Downer’s Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2018. This book is a summary of Dr. Mary Leiderleitner’s research into how women are serving and leading in God’s mission around the world. Her research was framed by two questions: 1) “What are diverse women experiencing as they lead in God’s mission? and 2) “What do they believe they need in order to do their best work as leaders in God’s mission?”  These questions were answered by 95 women from 28 countries through interviews, written surveys, and focus groups. She includes a lengthy explanation in the appendix of her research methodology. Related Posts:Sensible ShoesDo Not Make Me a Leader!The Missionary Family - A ReviewBook Review: Practicing Hope: Missions and Global CrisesA Great Resource for Understanding Diaspora MissiologyBoth invitation and challenge needed… Read the whole post
Beth Eckstein1 min read
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