At SEND International, we’ve seen time and again how God brings the right people to the right places.

"This probably looks impossible, but you serve a God who is greater." These are the words of Abigail Niles, a young woman who followed the Lord to Romania.

March 7, 2025 Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution only to break it in less than a week? On March 1, 1.8 billion Muslims began their annual fasting month called Ramadan. They are supposed to fast completely—no water or food—during daylight hours from March 1–Mar 29. It begins with much fanfare, promises, and declarations, as fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims believe that faithfully keeping the fast ensures one’s place of favor with God. But many Muslims won’t be able to keep the fast through the whole 30 days. The reasons and excuses are myriad. Sometimes they will continue to claim to be fasting, but in reality, they are eating behind closed doors. To gain God’s favor, they must fast through the whole month, not just part of it. So, they live with the guilt and shame of not fulfilling the requirements of Islam. What was supposed to help gain their salvation now stands in condemnation. A Feast Within the Fast To complicate matters even more, Persian New Year’s Day is March 20, right in the middle of the fasting month. Persian New Year is one of the most important cultural holidays for most Iranian and Afghans, as well as many others with a Persian background scattered throughout Central Asia and the Middle East. In fact, many people with Persian heritage don’t just celebrate on one day. Their New Year’s celebrations extend over two weeks! How do they reconcile these two weeks of festivities within Ramadan? For Arab Muslims, it is a non-issue. But for the Persian world, it IS a struggle. The hard-core Taliban will try to push people to keep the fast. However, many will lean more towards keeping their more ancient pre-Islamic traditions of New Year’s. I would encourage you to take time to explore with your Muslim neighbors and colleagues why they fast. Then share why Christians fast. Perhaps read Isaiah 58 with them, summarize it, and ask for their thoughts on this passage. One more thing to note during Ramadan is the Night of Power. Each year, during Ramadan, on or about the 27th day of the month, there is a special time called the Night of Power. This year it will happen on or around March 26. Muslims believe the Night of Power is when Mohammad first received the revelations of the Quran from the Angel Gabriel. Prayers offered up by Muslims during Ramadan—especially prayers in a mosque—are believed to be weightier than prayers at any other time. However, prayers on this special Night of Power, prayed in a mosque, are considered infinitely more valuable than any other prayer. Many Muslims will stay up all night praying on the Night of Power to earn extra points with God. There is a small problem in all of this, though—Muslims can’t agree on which night is actually the Night of Power. It is sometime during the last ten days of Ramadan, with tradition stating that it is on the 26th or 27th night. There are several resources to help Christians and churches pray for the Muslim world through this month of Ramadan. I would encourage you to connect with some or all of them. Please make others in your church aware of these resources. Perhaps you could even host a special prayer time at your church, utilizing these resources. Ramadan 30-Day Prayer Guide Booklet – This can be purchased as a hard copy or PDF. Prayercast – A wonderful website with many videos on the Muslim world. If you sign up, you can receive daily prayer videos that also work great during a Sunday worship service to help raise awareness of the need for prayer for the Muslim world.

"He must increase, but I must decrease."

A hunger for discipleship. Physical hardship. Spiritual darkness.

Hajj 2025 (or Hajj 1446 AH in Islamic year) is when over a million Muslims will descend on Mecca for pilgrimage from June 4 through June 9.

Over the past few weeks, I had the privilege of joining several SEND leaders on a deeply moving survey trip through Myanmar and Nepal. This journey wasn’t just about exploring ministry opportunities—it was about listening, learning, and witnessing firsthand how God is at work in some of the most complex and challenging corners of our world.

We asked three of our SEND International missionaries to describe the spiritual climate in the communities where they serve. Here's what they said...

Living in Fear

From Siberian winters and language barriers to pandemic isolation and regional conflicts, our missionaries share deeply personal moments of doubt, spiritual stretching, and questioning their calling.

Faith Conversations with Muslims

Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution only to break it in less than a week? On March 1, 1.8 billion Muslims began their annual fasting month called Ramadan. They are supposed to fast completely—no water or food—during daylight hours from March 1–Mar 29. It begins with much fanfare, promises, and declarations, as fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims believe that faithfully keeping the fast ensures one’s place of favor with God.

Have you ever had your plans unexpectedly rearranged? That’s exactly what happened during my visit to a refugee family.

Intentional planning, preparation, education, and rest are all essential components of effective mission work. This is especially true for missionaries working overseas.

The weight of shame for Muslims is all-encompassing, overwhelming, and so painful. It causes them to avoid seeking help at all costs.

Many of our missionaries show the love of Christ by being available and helping at-risk families by taking care of children for short-term periods or even sometimes long-term.

For some, holidays with family are important, especially with grandkids in the picture.

Explore the power of hospitality! From unplanned visits to cultural meals, discover how to make every guest feel special.

We have a Christmas ornament that states: “Wise men still seek Him.” I like that statement, but it is missing something. We seek him because he first sought us. Inside each of us, there is a voice calling us to know our creator. Saint Augustine wrote in his Confessions,  “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Our Muslim friends need to hear these wise words written so many years ago. They seek to settle the restlessness and uncertainty they feel through their actions or merit by following the Five Pillars of Islam: Fasting, Giving to the Poor, Pilgrimage/Hajj, Daily Prayers, and Reciting their Creed. But it is God’s gift for us to find our rest in Him. It is not based on who we are and what we do, but on him and what he has done for us. Our call as followers of Jesus is to speak the Word, live out the Word in front of them, and help them see that this rest, this grace, is not based on good deeds but through submission to the Lord.

“Every good landing starts with a stabilized approach.” As a student pilot, I often heard my flight instructor remind me of this truth. In part, he meant that achieving the goal of a safe landing starts with intentional preparation. Wouldn’t we say that this principle applies to many aspects of life? In fact, the more difficult the task we face, the more important the preparation becomes.

In a remote corner of Siberia, Russian & Buryat Christians are taking steps to reach the Soyot people

Whenever a hurricane or a typhoon of the highest category hits a country, lives are lost. Even with emergency services deployed ahead of time and numerous warnings, there will still be loss of life. It is tragic and inevitable.

When in Taiwan: Cultural Do’s and Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Taiwanese Christians Answer God’s Call to the Unreached

“I love her, but I could never marry her. Her father would never allow it as I am from a different ethnic group and lack the social standing to even approach him.”

Beyond What We Could Ask or Imagine: God’s Mighty Work in LOVE Europe