• Every SEND missionary will have access to the resources and guidance needed for their ongoing personal and professional development

• Every SEND missionary will be proactive in creating habits of lifelong, intentional learning focused on both character and skill development.

• Coaching will become a pervasive method of supervision, leadership development and member development in SEND.

• SEND leaders will confidently and capably lead their teams to accomplish God’s calling and SEND’s mission, and will be nurturing their own personal development and the development of their team members while doing so.

• People will join SEND and stay in SEND because the mission is intentionally helping them to grow.

• Task and development.  SEND U holds the urgency of the SEND’s mission and the personal growth of SEND members as noncompetitive values.  Therefore priority will be given to both continual improvement in ministry effectiveness and developing the character of the members of SEND.

• Training in godliness.   SEND U recognizes the most valuable training is that which deepens our relationship with the Lord, and our reflection of His character.  Therefore reliance upon the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit are foundational to any training and coaching.

• Previous learning.  SEND U values God’s work of grace, personal experiences, and previous training of each SEND member.   Therefore training will seek to build on that foundation and as much as possible, be individualized to meet the needs of the member.

• Adult learning principles.   SEND values a facilitative approach to learning that builds on previous knowledge, involves the learner in the process of discovery, and demonstrates the immediate, practical relevance of what is learned.

• Lifelong learning.   SEND U will encourage each SEND member to pursue ongoing growth and learning, regardless of their position or experience.  SEND U will also aim to continually improve its training and coaching, and facilitate the development of its trainers and coaches.

Coaching is an essential component of the SEND U program, and a key method of accelerating learning, understanding of priorities, and development of skills.

Definition – “Coaching is an ongoing conversation that empowers a person or team to fully live out God’s calling in their life and profession.  The goal of coaching is to develop a person or team to more effectively reflect, correct, and generate new learning.  …  Coachees are in the driver’s seat.  Coachees choose their own growth goals.  Coachees reflect deeply about their current situation.  Coachees decide their next steps.  All the while, the coach listens and asks reflective questions, supportively challenging limited beliefs and behaviors.  Advice-giving is kept to a minimum so that the coachee can discover Holy Spirit inspired solutions.”   (Keith Webb)

SEND U has developed a pool of qualified coaches, who are able and willing to coach SEND missionaries and team and area leaders.

Four different types of training are under the umbrella of SEND U.   SEND U does not “run” all these training programs, but seeks to provide coordination and prevent overlap and duplication.

1. Self-directed learning through Individual Growth Plans.   IGP guide can be found at http://bit.ly/SENDUIGPguide. Each missionary is encouraged to develop one each year.
2. Pre-field training – Candidate Orientation Program, Member Orientation Program
3. Ministry skill and missiological training for current SEND missionaries.  Some examples:

              1. MOP-up – coaching for first-term missionaries after language school (http://bit.ly/MOPupexp)

              2. Multiplying Churches Globally – annual church planting training in Minneapolis

              3. The Coaching Workshop – 3 day training in using coaching in leadership and ministry

              4. Women to Women Ministry Training (http://www.entrust4.org/about/our-ministries/wwmt)

        4. Leadership training.   Some examples:

• Annual online orientation course for team leaders

• Regional leadership development cohort

• Annual training at Directors’ Council for field leaders

See a list of SEND U recommended training opportunities in the life of a missionary at http://bit.ly/SUrectrain

Although some materials are developed “in-house” by the SEND U team or teachers/trainers within SEND, SEND U also evaluates and uses appropriate training materials and programs offered by other educational and mission organizations.    SEND U training curricula identifies books, seminars, and training experiences that we believe will be particularly helpful.

• SEND U wiki – sendu.org – a web-based collection of training resources recommended by SEND personnel around the world

• SEND U blog – http://sendutraining.blogspot.com/

SEND U has a full-time director (living in Ukraine) and two full-time staff, one in Michigan and another in Alaska.  But much, if not the majority of the training and coaching is done by a host of other experienced SEND missionaries living in various countries around the world, sharing their experience and knowledge with their peers.   The SEND U Leadership Team meets monthly to discuss training needs of our missionaries, and plans and coordinates the various training initiatives.