Missionary photo contest 2017: Winners!
Drumroll please … announcing this year’s winners of SEND’s annual photo contest! We love how these three photographs capture the uniqueness of God’s creation and of the people who dwell in it. Scroll down to see the winners, and click here to see 2017’s honorable mentions.
First place: ‘Friendly Family,’ by B.A., East Asia
B.A. and his wife lead a team focused on initiating a disciple making movement among Muslim college students.
“One of the things that I enjoy most about my role is having the opportunity to visit our students’ families and their hometowns during summer and winter holidays. This photo was taken on one of those trips. After taking two flights and driving nearly 10 hours up into the mountains, we finally arrived at a small town seated on a large grassland below mountains towering over 20,000 feet. Itching to walk around after traveling for so long, I took a stroll out into the grasslands to explore. I came across a Tajik grandmother walking with her two grandchildren and was immediately drawn to their beautiful smiles and friendliness. After speaking with them for a few moments, I asked if I could take their picture. This image is one of my favorites because for me it captures the warmth and friendliness of the Muslim peoples in our country.”
Second place: ‘The Lost City,’ by Doug H., Myanmar
Doug serves as the ministry director for SEND’s team in Thailand. He and his wife, Lynn, have been in Thailand for less than two years, but with SEND for 29 years. They also have served in the Philippines and in Europe. Doug took this photo in Lashio, Myanmar.
“SEND has worked among the unreached Shan people group in North Thailand for six years now. But the heartland of the Shan for centuries has been the Shan State of eastern Myanmar. I finally had a chance to visit Lashio, nestled in the mountains of northern Myanmar, this past year. Up until recently no foreigner could live in this city, but the doors of this creative access country are tenuously opening. I took this photo when I was on the roof of my hotel one morning, praying for this lost city that desperately needs the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Third place: ‘Midnight Sun,’ by Daniel Bühler, Canada
Daniel has served in village ministry in Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories, Canada, for the past 10 years. Fewer than 800 people live in the village. He took this photo just outside his home.
“On this summer day, bushfires caused the midnight sun to glow red, and I saw an opportunity to get this picture. Later I saw that my neighbor’s children had a little Canadian flag in my picture too, a great addition as Canada celebrated 150 years in 2017. I like to take pictures against the sun; it makes the plants shine and brings out great colours.”
See winners of the 2016 Missionary Photo Contest.
See winners of the 2018 Missionary Photo Contest.
See winners of the 2016 Missionary Photo Contest.
See winners of the 2018 Missionary Photo Contest.
Additional Posts

Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?



