A Balanced Way of Doing Missions

I love the word “balance.” Dietitians tell us to eat a balanced meal. Bankers suggest that we keep a balanced checkbook. The dictionary defines balance as: “ Equality of symbolic value on each side of an equation.” In most areas of life and in our world balance is a good thing. I believe missions is no exception—balance is critical. As a Southern Baptist pastor, I have been taught that missions is sending someone from America to a foreign land to live and tell people about Christ. But I had to ask myself, “Where is the balance?” I’ve discovered that there needs to be balance in the way we do missions. Most of our energies and resources have been invested in the sending of missionaries. But what about the other side of the coin?

The Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) challenges us to "make disciples." In those reached areas of the world Christians desperately need to be nurtured and trained in the faith. However, there are many that have not even heard a clear gospel presentation! It is estimated today that 87% of unreached people groups live in countries closed to traditional missionary activities. In other words, though western missionaries can be found in almost every country in the world, in many places they must work “undercover” and consequently are limited. God is raising up national missionaries to carry the message to their own people and to minister to their needs. In many ways nationals have distinct advantages in being missionaries in their native land. There are at least seven reasons why American churches should support national workers.

Seven Reasons to Support National Missionaries

1. Nationals are culturally conditioned and sensitive in  reaching their own people for Jesus Christ.
2. Nationals don’t need to spend years of study learning a foreign language in order to communicate effectively.
3. Nationals, being born and raised in the countries in which they will minister, are physically and psychologically adjusted to both climate and culture.  
4. Nationals have rights and privileges that might not be extended to a foreigner
5. Nationals are organizationally simple and able to live, minister and function on a far more basic level than their foreign counterpart.  Most have never known the luxury of cars, offices, telephones, computers or video equipment.  For many nationals, a bicycle is a great luxury!
6. Nationals do not need to go on furlough every few years. 
7. Nationals are economically conditioned to live on $30 to $150 a month in many parts of the world.   By contrast, the average cost for sending and sustaining a foreign missionary family of four is $30,000-$50,000 a year.

Mission LINK International desires to be the LINK between American churches and national missionaries throughout the world i  both reached and unreached (closed) countries. Our prayer is that churches everywhere will partner with MLI. One significant way of helping nationals is through training. We would like to set up a training /discipling center in every country in Africa to teach national Christians how to preach and live the gospel before their people.

MLI School Jinja: Visit our MLI School Jinja page for more information on our training school in Jinja

Download Mission Link's brochure for more information on the work we do.