Send

From sweeping panoramas of international missions to practical advice for serving our local communities, Send is an inspiring and insightful introduction to church planting.

While its focus on church planting might cause some readers to decide Send is not for them, Essian points out that planting demands whole-church involvement even from its earliest stages. It requires the participation and gifts of the whole body of believers. Some leaders are specifically called to be boots-on-the-ground planters, but church plants also depend ...upon the generous support of core members, givers, and volunteers.

“First, your neighbor to the right of you, as well as the one to your left, is not there by accident. God has orchestrated 10,000 things for them to be there, ‘that they should seek God’ (v 27). Second, where you are and when you are there is also purposed by God. Thus, in fact, you are sent wherever you are.” (Essian, Send, p. 74).

Send is concise and accessible. Essian drives home deep truths with a relatable tone and memorable illustrations.

This book is structured simply, moving from the cosmic scope of God’s mission in the world to a focused consideration of how our individual churches and gifts fit into this mission. It is helpful reading for any ministry leaders or active laypeople, whether or not they are actively involved in church planting at the moment.

Send proved especially timely reading for me since my home church (where my husband is a pastor) is experiencing its own “superbloom.” We are growing, and it is astonishing and humbling to see the Spirit at work in our community. People are hearing the gospel. People are digging into the Word. People are asking the question their leaders love to hear: “How can I serve?”

One the whole, Send is a memorable and motivating little book. If you or your church are involved in church planting (or may be in the future), this is an excellent resource to add to your library.

What is the point of church plants today? In Send, Jim Essian challenges readers to engage in God’s mission through three key actions: praying, giving, and going. The book begins with a compelling vision for the glory of God and the urgent need for believers to actively participate in spreading the gospel.

Senders and Goers

One of the most powerful insights in Send is Essian’s emphasis on church planting as the primary biblical strategy for gospel expansion. He explains how planting new churches is essential not only to address the growing number of church closures but also to keep up with population growth and cultural shifts. Church plants are uniquely positioned to reach people in a rapidly changing society, contextualizing the gospel in ways that established churches often cannot.

Essian also makes a helpful distinction between “senders” (those who stay and support the church) and “goers” (those called to plant new churches or go to unreached areas). This distinction encourages readers to reflect on their own role in God’s mission and how they can contribute with their unique gifts.

Purpose and Intentionality

The book concludes with a thoughtful exploration of spiritual gifts and “gospel goodbyes.” Essian highlights how understanding our gifts can help us find our place in God’s mission. I thought how technology allows us to encourage those who leave a church while also welcoming newcomers—a timely reminder of the opportunities for connection in our digital age.

In the end, Send left me challenged to pray for revival and dream bigger for God’s glory. I was reminded of the importance of being ready to serve wherever God calls and to be a faithful team player in His mission. This book is an inspiring call to action for anyone seeking to live out their faith with purpose and intentionality.

I received a media copy of Send and this is my honest review.

I thought this book was great for helping one to think of living in a sent way. The book discusses many ways in which you can live your life in a way that reflects the importance of the Gospel.
When discussing Church planting, Essian highlights the importance of being generous and not having a scarcity mindset. This is such an important point to remember, knowing that God will provide and we don’t have to hoard resources or be scared to ‘lose’ people but instead can have a missional culture built from the beginning. This abundance versus scarcity mindset comes up ...in other chapters of the book and is a great reminder each time.
A quote I loved was “where you are is where God sent you.” In books or conversations around sending, it can be easy to focus on going away and having an impact elsewhere. For some that is the case, but for many God is calling us to reach our neighbors now in our neighborhoods and workplaces. So I am a fan of the way this book highlights being sent where we are and having a local focus. Essian presents practical ways in which we can have a local impact.
The final thing I’ll highlight from this book is how Essian focuses and encourages the reader to start with prayer. It is clear from this book that prayer is important, foundational and not something to be overlooked when doing ministry.
Overall I think this book is well written and provides a great lens to view living a sent life through while providing practical steps to take.