Indigenous Missions

Family and Friends,

Today is World Indigenous Missions Day!  Let's celebrate.

Did you know that the gospel is spreading like wildfire around the globe today, especially in developing countries?  Sometimes we get accustomed to our own culture, where Christianity is on the decline (by percentage, that is...however, we would argue that there are pockets of Christians in our country today who are as "on fire" as any Christians ever were in this country), and assume the entire world is experiencing the same situation.  That is not the case.

Also, did you know that in this day and age the truly ground-breaking mission work, out on the front lines of the advancing kingdom of God, is performed almost exclusively by "indigenous," or native missionaries?  In other words, of the millions of people coming to Christ each year, probably over 99% of them are led to that relationship by someone from their own culture, a humble (and very poor, usually) servant of God who knows their language, customs, and cultural conditioning. 

Despite that fact, over 90% of the contributions of American churches to missions goes to the other 1% of missionaries. 

In other words, American churches almost exclusively invest in the work of Americans who go into other lands to do mission work (at a cost of $60-100k / year), despite the fact that as a group all missionaries from American and Europe (and all other developed nations as well) together accomplish less than 10% of the actual mission work that is done around the globe (realistically it is probably 1-2% at best).

Now, we are not advocating for the elimination of American missionaries.  We do not believe in that, and there are still some specialized ministries and services that developing countries need to receive from the outside, no doubt.  However, our main point is that there are some amazing investments to be made out there if you truly believe in advancing God's kingdom around the globe, and those investments are in the lives and ministries of native missionaries!

In summary, we believe there is a place for missionaries from American to be sent out, and a place for the identifying and supporting of outstanding native missionaries as well.  Every local church should develop a portfolio of missionaries they support from both of these categories.      

Our job at H.I.M., as we see it, is to scout out individuals and organizations in Haiti who fit the profile of the latter group, allowing churches to confidently invest in their ministries and in so doing truly transform Haiti for Christ.  The great thing is that you can support 10-20 of such ministry families for the same cost of 1 American family, and as a group they will easily accomplish 100 times as much missionary work!

Also, it is very likely that the missionaries your church already supports each have a lengthy list of great native missionaries they work with on a regular basis, in the country where they are located.  Those native missionaries could use your support to expand their work, obtain education, and network with other leaders in their field.  In this way the American missionary can not only deliver some specialized ministry service, but also become a scout and recruiter of native leaders who will carry the torch into the future and accomplish greater things than we ever imagined. 

We confess that many of these ideas are inspired by the work of Christian Aid Mission.  Click on that link to learn more, and while you are there be sure to sign up for their free book, "Reformation in Foreign Missions," as well as their e-newsletter.  However, we have to share the disclaimer that we don't agree with everything on their website or in the book.  It will absolutely call you to reconsider your approach to missions, but in our view it goes a bit too far, advocating for the virtual elimination of the sending of American missionaries.  As mentioned before, we believe there is both a biblical basis and the needed financial resources to do both.  But again, the book is very worthwhile and will challenge you in a very godly, holy way to do missions better for the glory of God.

To complete the circle and end where we started...today is World Indigenous Missions Day!  Celebrate with us!


Remember the amazing adventures of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world today!
-the grimm family adventurers