K.Z. and his wife have been in ministry for 16 years. They recently were forced out of the area where they had been working.
“Climbers were attempting to scale several rock walls while we were visiting the Garden of the Gods in Colorado. The size of the climber when compared to the huge rock wall that was before him is what grabbed my attention. I was drawn quickly to this scene because our current season in life (the unknown before us) is reflected in the climber’s task that was before him. Immense size, where to place your hands/feet next, what path to take up this rock wall, the climb/journey that seems impossible, the feeling of being alone, small, weak. I am thankful that even if most of those emotions that were stirred up for me in that photo are true, that I am not alone and the Lord will give daily strength and grace as he leads.”
A.K. focuses on ministry among the Hakka people.
“The sun glowed gold as I hurried through the city sidewalks. Suddenly, a bright light to my left caught my eye. Turning, I saw an alley full of scooters, a common enough sight in this busy Asian city. Yet the blinding brilliance of the sun that streamed beyond them seemed to beckon each of the scooters onward, out from the darkness of the alley and into the light. An almost surreal moment amidst the shadows of a concrete jungle.”
John’s main ministry is directing D House Sendai, a discipleship-focused missions exploration program. He and his wife, Susan, also serve at Tsubamesawa Church. They have been in Japan since 1993 and in Sendai since 2013 — they moved there about two years after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast Pacific coast region of Japan in 2011.
“This photo was taken at the Iwakiri Jidokan, an after-school program/facility for the children of working parents. Susan and I, along with our D House interns, volunteered there. Here, Susan reads 'Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes' to the children, who had walked to the Jidokan from a yochien (kindergarten), which is why they all have matching hats. She had the children all participating as she read/sang in English. I was inspired because Susan was having so much fun and clearly the children were having fun, too.”
Akiko and her husband, Mitsuo, returned to their native country of Japan as missionaries with SEND in 2001. They are involved in evangelism, with the goal to plant a church on the Oshika Peninsula, where the 2011 tsunami hit. Akiko took this photo during a trip to Tokyo.
“I think this picture captures some aspects of Japanese society:
1) It is still safe for children to commute to school by train on their own.
2) Commuting time is long for adults and children as well.
3) Life in Tokyo is busy and is tiring.
4) People seem to be indifferent to each other (woman and man sitting next to the girl).
I hope this helps to bring more awareness of the tremendous spiritual need in Japan.”
Darwin and his wife, Karen, have been career missionaries in Japan with SEND for 12 years. He serves as SEND Japan’s business manager.
"I went with a group of foreigners on a trip sponsored by the prefecture of Fukushima to let people know that the area is safe to return to after the nuclear disaster. Behind the hotel, I found this beautiful scene."
Hannah moved to Japan just over a year ago and is deep into Japanese language study. She took this picture on a short bike ride along the river in Hino, Tokyo.
"I’ve been learning about the ordinary moments mixed with the extraordinary. Ever since my mentor said 'Look for the light,' I’ve been learning how light shines forth in different ways, and how to take what seems like very ordinary moments in my day, and turn them into adoration. This is a photo that reminds me of God's light shining forth."
See winners of the 2016 Missionary Photo Contest.
See winners of the 2017 Missionary Photo Contest.
See winners of the 2018 Missionary Photo Contest.
