What are some of the global trends we are seeing and how do these present opportunities for us to advance the Great Commission? THE GREAT COMMISSION

See NOTE 1

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matt 28:19-20) MISSIONS OVER THE AGES

Jesus gave the Great Commission 2000 years ago, what’s happened since? Pagan Christian Empire State Reformation Modern 33- 100- 310-1500 1500- 1750- 1900- 100 312 1750 1900 present Early Apostolic Modern Age Rise of Islam (7th C) Apostolic Age: Missions as the itinerant preacher

 AD 33 – On Pentecost day Peter preaches and 3000 Jews from various Mediterranean Basin nations are converted. The nations represented included Cappadocia, Pamphylia, Phrygia, Asia and Pontus [Turkey]; Media, Elam, Parthia [Iran]; Mesopotamia [Iraq]; Arabia; Crete; Egypt; Libya and Rome [Italy].  AD 34 - After Stephen’s martyrdom:  Philip takes the gospel to Samaria.  The gospel is spread in Judea [Israel], Phoenicia [Lebanon], Damascus in Syria, Cyprus and Antioch in Syria [but now in modern Turkey] (Acts 11:19-20).  Philip baptizes an Ethiopian.  Saul of Tarsus - also known as Paul - is converted. Apostolic Age: Missions as the itinerant preacher

 Paul spends time in Arabia (Gal 1:17).  AD 39 – Peter preaches to Gentiles in the house of the Roman centurion Cornelius in Caesarea Maritima.  AD 47 – Paul and Barnabas embark on first missionary trip to Cyprus and Western Anatolia [part of modern Turkey].  AD 51 – Silas joins Paul on his second missionary journey through Syria, Cilicia [in modern Turkey] and later Greece.  AD 54 – Paul begins his third missionary journey.  Paul evangelised Illyricum [the Balkans: Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and coastal Croatia] (Rom 15:19) and Titus went to Dalmatia [Croatia] (2 Tim 4:10) and Crete (Titus 1:5). Apostolic Age: Missions as the itinerant preacher

 AD 60 – Paul evangelizes Malta on the way to Rome [Italy] (Acts 28).  Some claim that Paul reached Spain (as he had expressed his desire to do in Rom 15:28).  John initially worked with Peter in Jerusalem (Gal 2) and Samaria (Acts 8). He was later interned on Patmos [a small Greek island] (Rev 1:9).  According to the World Christian Encyclopedia (1982), it is estimated that by AD 100 the number of Christians in the Roman Empire had grown to 1 million out of a population of 181 million (0.6%). Apostolic Age: Missions as the itinerant preacher

 The following accounts are based on tradition, not necessarily reliable.  Peter  Hippolytus and Eusebius say that Peter preached in Asia Minor 2 [Turkey] and Italy.  Besides Peter own indirect reference (1 Pet 5:13), there is a strong tradition 1 of Peter preaching and being martyred in Rome.  John  Irenaeus and Eusebius both record that John preached in Asia Minor and died in Ephesus [Turkey].

1 Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Lactantius and Eusebius 2 Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Bithynia and (the Roman province of) Asia Apostolic Age: Missions as the itinerant preacher

 Matthew  It is generally supposed that for 8 years after the ascension of Jesus, Matthew preached in Judea. The early Christians believed that Matthew continued his ministry by preaching in Ethiopia and Arabia. Still others suggest he worked in Palmyra [Syria] and among cannibals on the shores of the Black Sea. 1 Hippolytus says that Matthew preached in Parthia [Iran].  Philip  Hippolytus says that Philip preached in Phrygia [Turkey].

1 “The Twelve – A Study of the Apostles” by: James Korthals Apostolic Age: Missions as the itinerant preacher

 Thomas  Eusebius writes that “Parthia [Iran], according to tradition, was allotted to Thomas as his field of labour…”  Hippolytus: Thomas preached to the Parthians, Medes, Persians [Iran], Hyrcanians [part of modern Turkmenistan and Iran], Bactrians [northern Afghanistan], and Margians [part of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan] (and) … Calamene, the city of India… Apostolic Age: Missions as the itinerant preacher

 Bartholomew (Nathaniel)  Hippolytus writes that “Bartholomew, again, preached to the Indians, to whom he also gave the Gospel according to Matthew…” 1 According to Eusebius, “Pantaenous is said to have gone among the Indians where a report is that he discovered there the gospel according to St. Matthew among some who knew Christ; Bartholomew, one of the Apostles had preached to them and had left them the writings of St. Matthew in Hebrew letters.” 2  Other traditions suggest that Bartholomew preached in Mesopotamia [Iraq], Persia [Iran], Egypt, Armenia, Phrygia [Turkey] and the shores of the Black Sea. 2

1 “India,” at the time, meant everything from Arabia to the east. 2 “The Twelve – A Study of the Apostles” by: James Korthals Apostolic Age: Missions as the itinerant preacher

 Thaddaeus:  Hippolytus says that Judas also called “Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus” (Matt 10:3) “preached to the people of Edessa [city in Turkey], and to all Mesopotamia [Iraq], and fell asleep at Berytus [i.e. Beirut in Lebanon], and was buried there.”  James the son of Alphaeus  An item about James the son of Alphaeus that has been passed down through tradition is the report that he may have travelled to Spain to preach to the Jews in bondage there. It is said that he then travelled back to Jerusalem. 1

1 Ibid Apostolic Age: Missions as the itinerant preacher

 Andrew  Eusebius says that Andrew preached in Scythia [parts of Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Romania, Poland]. Hippolytus says: “Andrew preached to the Scythians and Thracians [Bulgaria]… (and) Achaia [Greece]”.  Simon the Zealot  It is claimed that Simon the Zealot preached principally in Mesopotamia, including Parthia [Iran] and Babylon [Iraq]. Eusebius in his Church History names Simon as one of the missionaries “beyond the Ocean to the isles called the Britannia Isles.” This happened after preaching in Egypt and Africa. 1 1 “The Twelve – A Study of the Apostles” by: James Korthals Apostolic Age: Missions as the itinerant preacher

 Matthias  According to Nicephorus, Matthias preached the gospel in Judea and then went to Ethiopia. The Synopsis of Dorothea says he preached the gospel to barbarians and cannibals in the interior of Ethiopia and that he went to Cappadocia [Turkey]. 1  John Mark  Eusebius write that “Mark was the first that was sent to Egypt, and that he proclaimed the Gospel which he had written, and first established churches in Alexandria”. 2

1 Ibid 2Church History, Ch. 16.1 Apostolic Age: Missions as the itinerant preacher

 This excerpt from Pliny the Younger’s (governor of the Roman province of Bithynia) letter to emperor Trajan about AD 110 indicates that, only 80 years after the crucifixion of Christ, Christianity had spread to the point that it was causing a notable stir in the Roman Empire:  The matter seems to me worthy of your consultation, especially on account of the numbers of defendants. For many of every age, of every social class, even of both sexes, are being called to trial and will be called. Nor cities alone, but villages and even rural areas have been invaded by the infection of this superstition.  As Pliny was in a rather out-of-the-way province on the north coast of modern Turkey, this seems to indicate that just a few generations after its beginning, Christianity had permeated every level of society. 100-312: Missions in the pagan Empire

 With the dispersion after the Jerusalem persecution and the gospel going to the Gentiles, the centre of gravity in Christianity slowly started to shift from Jerusalem to:  Africa: Alexandria (Egypt) & Carthage (Tunisia)  Middle East: Antioch (Syria)  Europe: Rome (Italy)  AD 100-313: the Church grows in the Roman Empire despite persecution by 10 emperors. 100-312: Missions in the pagan Empire

Tertullian declares, “We are not a new philosophy but a divine revelation. That’s why you can’t just exterminate us; the more you kill the more we are. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church… And you frustrate your purpose. Because those who see us die, wonder why we do, for we die like the men you revere, not like slaves or criminals. And when they find out, they join us.” 1 1 Apologeticum 100-312: Missions in the pagan Empire

Cen % Christian Non- White Evangelization Scripture tury white of world languages 1st 0.6% 70% 30% 28% 6 2nd 3.5% 68% 32% 32% 7 3rd 10.4% 66.4% 33.6% 35% 10

 At the beginning of the 3rd century, Edessa (Urfa in Turkey) became the first Christian state. North Africa was a key Christian centre. Egypt alone had a million Christians by the end of the 3rd century.  Circa 200 AD, Tertullian, in a letter to Roman magistrates opposing persecution of Christians, could boast that “nearly all the citizens of all the cities are Christians”. 1

1 Ibid: This statement, we suspect, is something of an exaggeration made for rhetorical effect, but it does show that the number of Christians was large. 100-312: Missions in the pagan Empire

 And with his typical sarcasm Tertullian says, “Of course we aren’t treasonous - if we were, we are so numerous in even your own estimate that we outnumber your soldiers! If you killed us all, who would be left for you to rule?” 1 2 1 Ibid 2 Tertullian writes, “For upon whom else have the universal nations believed, but upon the Christ who is already come? … Parthians, Medes, Elamites [Iran], and they who inhabit Mesopotamia [Iraq], Armenia, Phrygia, Cappadocia, and they who dwell in Pontus, and Asia, and Pamphylia, [Turkey] tarriers in Egypt, and inhabiters of the region of Africa which is beyond Cyrene [Libya], Romans and sojourners, yes, and in Jerusalem Jews, and all other nations; as, for instance, by this time, the varied races of the Gaetulians [Algeria], and manifold confines of the Moors [African people], all the limits of the Spains and the diverse nations of the Gauls [France], and the haunts of the Britons - inaccessible to the Romans, but subjugated to Christ, and of the Sarmatians [Iran], and Dacians [Modern Romania & Moldova, and parts of Hungary, Bulgaria and Ukraine], and Germans, and Scythians [Russia], and of many remote nations, and of provinces and islands many, to us unknown, and which we can scarce enumerate? In all which places the name of the Christ who is already come reigns, as of Him before whom the gates of all cities have been opened, and to whom none are closed, before whom iron bars have been crumbled, and brazen gates opened.” [Answer to the Jews ] 100-312: Missions in the pagan Empire

©Joshua Project Map source: Logos Bible Software 312-600: Missions with the Christian State

 After Constantine’s Edict of Toleration (AD 313) Christianity spread legally in the Roman Empire.  314 - Gregory the Illuminator converted King Tiridates III of Armenia to the Christian faith. Armenia thus became a Christian nation.  Martin of Tours (316–96) preached to the Burgundians (East Germanic Tribe). 312-600: Missions with the Christian State

 330 – Ethiopian King Ezana of Axum makes Christianity an official religion.  382 – Jerome is commissioned to translate the Gospels (and subsequently the whole Bible) into Latin – the language of the Roman Empire.  Major missionary advance as Ufilias takes the gospel to the barbarian Goths in mid-4th Century.  Patrick (c. 390-460) goes to Ireland where he undertakes his monumental mission.  397 - Ninian established a monastery on Whithorn Island in Scotland. From that base, he laboured for the conversion of the Picts and Celts. 459 AD 312-600: Missions with the Christian State

 496 - Frankish King Clovis converted to Christianity and baptized. Conquers half of France and paves the way for Charlemagne’s “Holy Roman Empire.”  Columba (c. 521-597) goes as missionary to Scotland.  Augustine goes as missionary to Britain in 597 AD.  Kilian was an Irish missionary bishop and the apostle of Franconia (nowadays the northern part of Bavaria), where he began his labours towards the end of the 7th century.  Willibrord (c. 658–739) was a Northumbrian (north east England and southern Scotland) missionary, known as the “Apostle to the Frisians” in the modern Netherlands.  Boniface (672-754) from Wessex became a missionary to the Germans for 40 years before being martyred. ©Joshua Project Cent. Non-white White 600-1500: Missions with the Christian State 1st 70% 30% 2nd 68% 32% 3rd 66.4% 33.6%  Note the impact of Islam (7th 4th 64% 36% century onwards) on the 5th 61.9% 38.1% white / non-white ratio. The 6th 59% 41% modern myth that 7th 55% 45% Christianity was always a 8th 51% 49% “white man’s religion” is th 9th 55% 45% untrue. Before the 7 century (advent of Islam) the 10th 39% 61% church was predominantly 11th 37% 63% non-white, but Islam almost th 12 35.7% 64.3% obliterated the African and th 13 34% 66% Middle Eastern church, while 14th 25% 75% Europe withstood the Islamic 15th 7.4% 92.6% advance.  Likewise the evangel- Cent. % Evangel- Scripture isation of the world Christ ization languages decreased after 7th -ian of world century. 4th 18.6% 39% 11  In 1389 large numbers 5th 22.4% 42% 13 of Christians marched 6th 24% 39% 14 through the streets of 7th 23.8% 35% 14 Cairo, denouncing Islam 8th 22.5% 31% 15 and lamenting that they 9th 20.8% 28% 16 had abandoned the 10th 18.7% 25% 17 religion of their fathers 11th 18.8% 25.5% 19 from fear of persecution. 12th 19.4% 26% 22 They were beheaded, 13th 23.9% 27% 26 both men and women, 14th 24% 27% 30 and a fresh persecution th of Christians followed. 1 15 19% 21% 34

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Christian_missions 600-1500: Missions with the Christian State

 The Assyrian Church produced many zealous missionaries, who travelled and preached throughout Persia and Central and East Asia in the 7th and 8th centuries. ‘Nestorian’ Christianity reached by 635. About the same time Nestorian Christianity penetrated into Mongolia, eventually reaching as far as Korea. Some historians even suggest that they made it to the shores of Japan. The Christian community later faced persecution from Emperor Wuzong of Tang (reigned 840–846). He suppressed all foreign religions, including Christianity, which then declined sharply in China.  Anskar (801-865), “Apostle of the North”, laid the foundation for Christianity in Scandinavia. Cyril (826-869) and Methodius (c. 815-885), the “Apostles of the Slavs”, worked in Moravia and invented an alphabet for the Slavs. 600-1500: Missions with the Christian State

 Alfred the Great was King of Wessex in England from 871 to 899. He “translated Christian writings into the language of the common people. Set up a palace school and founded two monasteries. Devoted half his time and money to religious purposes.” 1  The Bohemian people embrace Christianity, but their “Good King Wenceslaus” is soon murdered c. 929 by opposing pagan rivals. 1  988 - Vladimir, sole ruler of the Kievan Rus [Historic Ukraine and Russia], is baptized. 1  In the 10th century, “Hungarians and Poles begin to convert to Christianity, and Christianity reaches Iceland and Greenland to the west.” 1 1 Christian History Institute 600-1500: Missions with the Christian State

 Peter Waldo (1140-1205) sent his followers them out two by two (both men and women) into villages and market places to teach and explain the Scriptures. Some referred to the Waldenses as the “poor men of Lyons”. Often disguised as peddlers, they travelled throughout southern and central Europe, spreading the gospel. Not part of the mainstream church they were persecuted and many were martyred.  1220 - Dominican Friars established as a teaching order… Some became missionaries to Central Asia, Persian Gulf, India and China. 1 1 Ibid Reformation 1500-1750: Rediscovering the Gospel

 The German, Johannes Gutenberg (c. 1400–1468) invented the printing press which played a key role in the Reformation. He printed 180 copies of the Bible in 1455. Reformation 1500-1750: Rediscovering the Gospel

 In this period the focus was on Europe rediscovering the gospel. 1517 + : Protestant (Magisterial) Reformation begins teaching salvation by grace alone and advocating the Scriptures in the common language of the people. 1525 + : The Radical Reformers (Anabaptist) reintroduced believer’s baptism and opposed having a State Church. 1536 + : English Reformation starts. 1545–63 Council of Trent (Catholic Reformation). ©Joshua Project Reformation 1500-1750: The New World

 A new age of discovery and Christian expansion began.  1486 – The Portuguese, Bartolomeu Dias, was the first European to sail around the southern point of Africa.  1492 – The Italian, Christopher Columbus (sponsored by Spain) discovers America. Catholicism was brought to South America by the Spanish and Portuguese. Many Protestant Christians escaping religious persecution in Europe would bring the gospel to North America.  1770 – The Englishman, Captain Cook, was the first European to discover Australia. Century % Non- White Evangelization Scripture Christian white of world languages 16th 18.9% 14% 86% 23% 36 17th 22.3% 15.9% 84.1% 25.2% 52 Early Modern 1750-1900: Going to the “Heathen”

 Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700–60) established Herrnhut as a Moravian settlement in Saxony, from which the Moravian Brethren begin their missionary work. Missionary colonies were established in the West Indies, in Greenland, amongst the North American Indians, Livonia and the northern shores of the Baltic, to the slaves of North Carolina, to Suriname, to the Negro slaves in several parts of South America, to Tranquebar and the Nicobar Islands in the East Indies, to the Copts in Egypt, to the Inuit of Labrador, and to the west coast of South Africa. 1 1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Zinzendorf von Zinzendorf Early Modern 1750-1900: Going to the “Heathen”

 At a Baptist ministers’ meeting in 1786, William Carey raised the question of whether it was the duty of all Christians to spread the Gospel throughout the world. Carey is now known as the “father of modern missions.” In 1792 he published his ground-breaking missionary manifesto which consists of 5 parts outlining his basis for missions including Christian obligation, wise use of available William Carey resources, and accurate information. The points were: 1. A theological justification for missionary activity, arguing that the command of Jesus to make disciples of all the world remains binding on Christians. Early Modern 1750-1900: Going to the “Heathen”

2. A history of missionary activity, beginning with the early Church and ending with David Brainerd and John Wesley. 3. Tables, listing area, population, and religion statistics for every country in the world. 4. Answers to objections to sending missionaries, such as difficulty learning the language or danger to life. 5. A calls for the formation by the Baptists of a missionary society and description of the practical means by which it could be supported. 1  Carey finally overcame the resistance to missionary effort, and what became the Baptist Missionary Society was founded in October 1792. 1 1 Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Carey_(missionary) Early Modern 1750-1900: Going to the “Heathen”

 Some notable missionaries include:  China: Robert Morrison, William Burns, .  Africa: Robert Moffat, David Livingstone, , Alexander MacKay.  Adoniram Judson (Burma), Henry Martyn (India and Persia), Samuel Zwemer (Apostle to Islam), John Paton (New Hebrides), James Calvert (Fiji), David Brainerd (American Indians), John Williams (South Pacific)  (1832-1905) founded the China Inland Mission (now OMF International). Canadian A.B. Simpson (1843–1919) founded the Christian and Missionary Alliance. C.T. Studd (1860-1931), missionary to China, India and Africa, founded Heart of Africa Mission (now WEC International). Early Modern 1750-1900: Going to the “Heathen”

 The 19th century is sometimes called the Protestant Century. Protestants established missions throughout the world. Organizations such as the British and Foreign Bible Society, the American Bible Society, the Sunday School Union, and the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions lead in the spread of the Gospel message. Note the radical increase in world evangelization and the languages of the Scripture. Century % Christian Non- White Evangelization Scripture white of world Languages 15th 19% 7.4% 92.6% 21% 34 16th 18.9% 14% 86% 23% 36 17th 22.3% 15.9% 84.1% 25.2% 52 18th 23.1% 13.5% 86.5% 27.2% 67 19th 34.4% 19% 81% 51.3% 537 What are some of the global trends we are seeing in today’s world? How do these present challenges or opportunities for us to advance and complete the Great Commission? Modern 1900-Present: Missions Changing

 Some notable missionaries include:  and (China ). Roland Allen (China and Kenya), Amy Carmichael (India) and Jim Elliot (Ecuador)  William Cameron Townsend founded Wycliffe Bible Translators (1942) focussing on the translation of the Bible into minority languages. Loren Cunningham started YWAM (1960). K.P. Yohannan formed Gospel for Asia (1979).  With an emphasis on ministry to the persecuted church, Brother Andrew founded Open Doors (1955), while Richard Wurmbrand started what became Voice of the Martyrs (1967). SUCCESS OF MISSIONS

 We see the effectiveness of Protestant mission work in the 19th & 20th centuries in the % Christian and evangelization of the world. Missions have reached virtually every region of the world. 100,000 new Christians every day. 4,500 new congregations every week. Non-white Christians are again the majority. Century % Christian Non- White Evangelization Scripture white of world languages 14th 24% 25% 75% 27% 30 15th 19% 7.4% 92.6% 21% 34 16th 18.9% 14% 86% 23% 36 17th 22.3% 15.9% 84.1% 25.2% 52 18th 23.1% 13.5% 86.5% 27.2% 67 19th 34.4% 19% 81% 51.3% 537 20th 33% 59% 41% 72% 1500 GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY

 According to Joshua Project’s website (2015):  65 million people hear the Gospel for the first time every year.  178,000 will hear the Good News today for the first time.  In the last 12 months 50,000 new churches were started. 1

1 SOURCE: Joshua Project

DECLINE IN WESTERN MISSIONARIES

40,000 From 1985 to 35,000 2008 long-term 30,000 missionaries (4+ 25,000 years) sent out by 20,000 U.S. mission 15,000 agencies has been 10,000 flat to declining. 5,000

0

5 8 2 6 9 1 5 8 8 8 9 9 9 0 0 0 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 PERSECUTION

 Not all of the decline in missionary effort is simply disobedience or lack of strategizing on the part of Christians. Some of it is due to opposition from Atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or Animists.  Satan does not give up ground without a battle. More Christians were martyred in the 20th century (45.4 million) than in the previous 19 centuries combined (24 million). 1  About 200 million Christians in 60 countries currently suffer persecution. Globally, approximately one in ten Christians suffers persecution. Every 24 hours, another 480 believers are martyred for their faith in Christ.

1 Source: World Christian Encyclopedia (2001) PERSECUTION

 According to World Watch Monitor:  4,344 Christians were “killed for faith-related reasons” in 2014, which is “more than double the 2,123 killed in 2013, and more than triple the 1,201 killed the year before that”.  The largest number of deaths occurred in Nigeria (2,484), the Central African Republic (1,088), Syria (271), Kenya (119) and North Korea (100).  1,062 churches were “attacked for faith-related reasons” in 2014. The majority of attacks took place in 5 countries: China (258 churches), Vietnam (116), Nigeria (108), Syria (107), and the Central African Republic (100). WORLD WATCH LIST 2018

 Open Doors compile a World Watch List of the 50 worst countries in regards to Christian Persecution. Here are the Top 20 (highlighting the ones in Africa).

1) North Korea 8) Iraq 15) Syria 2) Afghanistan 9) Yemen 16) Uzbekistan 3) Somalia 10) Iran 17) Egypt 4) Sudan 11) India 18) Vietnam 5) Pakistan 12) Saudi Arabia 19)Turkmenistan 6) Eritrea 13) Maldives 20) Laos 7) Libya 14) Nigeria WORLD WATCH LIST 2018

SOURCE: https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/ RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM 8 of top 10 countries with greatest persecution of Christians are dominated by Muslim extremists.

Sadly, nearly half of Christ-followers in Iran have fled the country since 2008. PERSECUTION

 According to Open Doors, the main drivers behind Christian persecution worldwide are:

1. Islamic extremism: the main driver in 33 of the top 50 countries.

2. Dictatorial paranoia: the main driver in 6 countries.

3. Religious nationalism (Buddhists & Hindus): the main driver in 5 countries. 4. Communist and post-communist oppression: the main driver in 4 countries.

5. Organized corruption: the main driver of persecution in Colombia and Mexico. CLOSED TO MISSIONARIES

 By AD 2000: 1) Restricted Access (Unevangelized): There are 38 closed countries in the “unevangelized” world, meaning that foreign evangelicals have either restricted or no access to enter. This includes 85 anti-Christian megacities. 1 2) Restricted Access (Evangelized): There are 31 closed/restricted-access countries in the “evangelized non-Christian” world, including 180 non- Christian megacities. 1 3) Closing Doors: At the annual ratio of 4 to 3, more countries are newly closed to foreign missionaries than are newly opened to them. 1 David B. Barrett & Todd M. Johnson in “World Christian Trends AD 30-AD 2000”  When Jesus sent out his 12 disciples to evangelise he told them (Matt 10:16):

I am See sending NOTE 1 you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

 In other words we ought to be shrewd in our evangelisation efforts. We need to strategize when we evangelize. STRATEGIZE

 We now have to reconsider modern missionary methods in order to see if what worked previously is still relevant today.  So what is the answer to evangelism in these countries? Is there a more effective strategy which needs consideration? 1. Relief work. 2. Ministry to refugees from closed countries. 3. Ministry to global visitors from closed countries at international events. 4. Indigenous missionaries.  Let’s just consider the case for indigenous missionaries. INDIGENOUS MISSIONARIES

 “With the explosion of the church in the Southern Hemisphere, we must ask, does the church of the Lord Jesus Christ still need the western, denominational career missionary? Since this model of service is 200 years old, have we not come to a stage where we need to ask ‘How does God want us to serve the church in the present context?’ ” - Paul R. Gupta and Sherwood G. Lingenfelter  Some feel that the best strategy is to find the national Christians that God is using in the places which are closed to foreign missionaries. Partner with those who have access to the people we can’t reach – through prayer and financial support. CLOSED TO MISSIONARIES

4 out of 5 of the remaining 7,000 unreached people groups live in restricted access countries

86% of the world's Hindu, Muslims, and Buddhists do not know a Christ-follower CLOSED TO MISSIONARIES

 Countries with the highest percentage of unreached tend to be the most closed to Christianity. 91% of those least- reached live in areas that restrict Christian witness. 1  200 years ago you could go to virtually any country in the world as a missionary if you had the call of God, the courage, and the financial support.  The missionary movement that began in the 18th and 19th centuries was indeed a sovereign move by God. But things have changed. The countries where foreign missionaries first went, like India, Burma and China, are all closed to foreign missionaries today.

1 http://globaldisciples.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Pray-For-The-Least- Reached-Web.pdf ADVANTAGES

 More than 60% of the world’s population lives in countries closed to Christian missionaries from North America. 1  These include countries which are predominantly Muslim, Atheist, Buddhist, Hindu and Animist.  Just India and China alone make up 1/3 of the world’s population and are in the region where we find the majority of the world’s unreached people groups.  But an indigenous missionary does not require permission to enter the country – they are already citizens.

1 http://www.aboutmissions.org/statistics.html ADVANTAGES  Human Resources.  It is a fact that, before going to war, military strategists consider the size of their population as opposed to that of their enemy. This illustrates that the amount of human resources available to carry out a task is extremely important. 1  The world is a very large place—with more than seven billion people… If we continue to depend only on missionaries from the West, much of the world will never hear the gospel. 1

1 http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/the-advantages LANGUAGE & CULTURE

 Consider Turkey, which contains the city of Antioch (Antakya) where believers were first called Christians. Turkey was the Roman province of Asia where Paul did much of his initial missionary work, and it was the home of the 7 churches in Revelation. The NT contains several epistles by Paul to the churches in this area (Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon).  Turkey has a population of 77,695,904 (2014 census) with 99.8% of people being registered as Muslim. 1  The country is one of the least evangelized countries in the Middle East.

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey#Religion LANGUAGE & CULTURE

 Turkey has a smaller Christian percentage of its population than any of its neighbours, including Syria, Iraq and even Iran, due to the Assyrian Genocide, Armenian Genocide and Greek Genocide during and after WWI, and the subsequent large scale population transfers of Turkey’s Christian population, most notably Greece, and the forced exodus of indigenous Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks and Georgians upon the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. This was followed by the continued emigration of most of the remaining indigenous Christians over the next century. During the tumultuous period of WWI and founding of the Turkish republic, up to 3 million indigenous Christians are alleged to have been killed. Prior to this, the Christian population stood at around 20% of the total. 1

1 SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Turkey LANGUAGE & CULTURE

 There are more than 1,500 foreign missionaries in Turkey. Most are still involved in getting acquainted with the new culture and taking language courses. 1  The normal time it takes for adequate language acquisition in order to become semi-fluent and able to really communicate the gospel and get familiar with the Scriptures is about four years. But the fact is that about half the mission-force turns over every year. Most people last about a year or two and then go home, having never mastered the language and with no fruit to show for it. 1 Using conservative figures of $40,000 per missionary, that’s roughly $60 million a year being spent on mission work in Turkey and the number of indigenous believers is barely experiencing any growth! 1 1 SOURCE: http://www.goforchrist.org/history_of_missions LANGUAGE & CULTURE

 The leadership within the small indigenous church is frustrated with all the foreigners. Most pastors in the Turkish churches are poor. They not only have their responsibilities in the church, but many are working two or three jobs just to earn a living. They have a vision to reach their own people, but lack resources. 1  This is not by any means an attempt to undermine the good work done by many foreign missionaries, but as Paul R. Gupta and Sherwood G. Lingenfelter state, “While there may still be a significant place for the well trained, western, cross-cultural church planter, the growing edge of mission today is strategic partnership, coming alongside the national church and mission task force, and working together to reach the unreached.” 1 Ibid ADVANTAGES  Language and Culture.  It often takes a cross-cultural missionary his first term (4-5 years) just to learn the language and adjust to the culture. This means that it is not abnormal for five years and over a quarter of a million dollars to be spent on the mission field while the missionary learns the language, adjusts to the culture, and does a minimum of ministry. In contrast, the indigenous or native missionary has no need to learn the language or adjust to the culture that he has known since birth. From his very first day on the mission field, the indigenous missionary is able to concentrate on his two priorities— evangelizing the lost and establishing churches. 1

1 http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/the-advantages ADVANTAGES  Identification.  There is a great deal of anti-American and anti- European bias in many of the least evangelized countries of the world. In many people groups, it is virtually impossible for a Western missionary to preach the gospel, because he is rejected for his nationality long before he has the opportunity even to communicate his message! In contrast, the indigenous missionary has little problem with such bias, because he is of the same flesh and blood as those to whom he preaches. 1

1 http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/the-advantages IDENTIFICATION

 Following the 1949 takeover by the Communist Party of China, Catholic and Protestant missionaries were expelled from the country, and Christianity was vilified as a manifestation of western imperialism. 1  150 years of missionary work ended when the 5,600 missionaries left. Westerners feared that the estimated 750,000 Christians would not survive the harsh rule and persecution of the atheistic government determined to exterminate believers. Yet instead, 60 years later, the number of Christians has grown to more than 100 million, with estimates of between 20,000-30,000 people a day being converted. This dramatic growth is a result of the indigenous Chinese Christians evangelising locally.

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism_in_China IDENTIFICATION

 This story has repeated itself in almost every country where foreigners went to colonize. Foreign missionaries introduced the gospel, but then exponential growth took place in the church when national workers began to bear the responsibility of reaching those in their own country. Christianity does not thrive as long as it is perceived as a ‘foreign’ religion. Indigenous Christians who speak the language of the people, know the culture, live life-styles consistent with their countrymen (as opposed to the much higher standard of living enjoyed by most foreign missionaries) are much better suited to reach their own people and are far more effective in doing so. 1

1 http://www.goforchrist.org/history_of_missions ADVANTAGES  Another problem that missionaries from the West often face is their inability or unwillingness to live on the same level as those to whom they minister. Some Western missionaries live in homes that seem like mansions to the native; they drive expensive cars, while the native takes a bus; and they send their children to private school, while the native sends his to public school. In contrast, the indigenous missionary lives in the same neighbourhood, takes the same bus, and sends his children to the same school. 1

1 http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/the-advantages ADVANTAGES  Financial Resources.  It costs a great deal of money to send and support North American and Western European missionaries. Many missionary families require $3,000 to $5,000 a month to work in a foreign land where the average salary is often less than $200 a month. In contrast, the indigenous or native missionary is able to live on the same salary as his fellow countrymen. 1  Another source estimates that “the typical cost to send an American family overseas is around $75,000- $100,000 a year. Yet in a majority of the poorer countries around the world, indigenous workers require only $3,000-$6,000 annually.” 2 1 http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/the-advantages 2 http://www.goforchrist.org/history_of_missions INDIGENOUS MISSIONARIES

 Is there a Biblical precedent for indigenous missionaries?  In the book of Acts, Paul was often driven out of churches within weeks of having planted them. In all cases the work was continued by the new indigenous Christians he left behind. (e.g. Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Philippi, Thessalonica See and Berea). NOTE 1  After Jesus heals the demoniac in the region of the Gerasenes, the local people asked him to leave the area.  Mark 5:18-19 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said:

Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had See mercy on you. NOTE 1  Mark 5:20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.  This man had a powerful See NOTE 1 testimony. He had been possessed by multiple demons, was obsessed with death (lived in a graveyard), refused to wear clothes, would scream and mutilate himself. He was known to be dangerous, but would break the chains when they attempted to restrain him. Aware of this man’s history and seeing what he had become, demonstrated to people Jesus’ power over Satan. INDIGENOUS MISSIONARIES  So in an area where Jesus was forbidden to operate, he used an indigenous missionary to do the work. And the former demoniac evangelised the Decapolis, which was a term for “ten cities”. These people were Gentiles (they were herdsmen of pigs). Jesus saw in the healed man a natural evangelist to the people who had just rejected Christ. This man was one of them; he could find a natural acceptance among them that Jesus could not.  The former demoniac could not have told his hearers very much. His knowledge of the Scripture was most likely extremely limited. His message was probably very simple: “I once was in bondage to sin. I met Jesus and everything changed. He can do the same for you.” Today we might think him poorly equipped for such a task, but Jesus chose him for the job. INDIGENOUS MISSIONARIES

 K.P. Yohannan is the founder of Gospel for Asia, one of the largest evangelical Christian missionary organizations in the world, with a focus on India and Asia.  Gospel for Asia adheres to Yohannan’s belief in the efficiency and efficacy of “national missionaries”, or missionaries that are native to the nation or culture being served. K.P. Yohannan INDIGENOUS MISSIONARIES

 According to Yohannan:  86 countries prohibit or restrict Western missionaries.  Only 10-33% of Western missionaries are involved in evangelism and church planting.  The average Western missionary spends only 3% of his time involved in direct evangelism.  Up to half of all new missionaries do not last beyond their first term on the mission field.  There are around 285,000 indigenous (aka national, native, home) missionaries serving in the world. They make up two thirds of the world’s missionary force. 1 1 K.P. Yohannan, “Come Let’s Reach the World” INDIGENOUS MISSIONARIES

 Yohannan says:  There was a time when Western missionaries needed to go into these countries where the Gospel was not preached. But now a new era has begun, and it is important that we officially acknowledge this. God has raised up indigenous leaders who are more capable than outsiders to finish the job.  Only ¼ of North American cross-cultural missionaries are involved in evangelism activities (such as preaching, translation, church planting, and teaching), while ¾ are involved in administration and support work (such as agriculture, aviation, community development, literacy, medicine, and relief efforts). 1

1 K.P. Yohannan, “Come Let’s Reach the World” INDIGENOUS MISSIONARIES

 There are over 3,000 indigenous mission boards in India that have a combined total of 100,000 missionaries. 1  One indigenous ministry surveyed the believers in the churches they planted and found that 80% had come to faith in Christ because they had seen a miraculous act of God or experienced an answer to prayer. 2  That same indigenous ministry holds that their average missionary will plant 3 churches within the first 5 years on the field. 2

1 Finley 2004, 47 2 Chacko 2008, 138 INDIGENOUS MISSIONARIES

 Indigenous missionaries do 90% of pioneer mission work, but only receive 10% of mission funding. Meanwhile foreign missionaries do 10% of pioneer mission work, but receive 90% of mission funding. 1  Doesn’t it make more sense to use our resources to support 25-30 indigenous workers for the same amount it takes to support one American missionary family?  According to Joshua Project “The more effective strategy is to send more money than missionaries.” 2

1 Finley 2004, 178 & 244 2 http://joshuaproject.net/resources/powerpoints INDIGENOUS MISSIONARIES  In 2017 South Africa was the second largest economy in Africa after Nigeria. South Africa also has one of the highest GDP’s per capita on the continent.  God has blessed many South Africans with resources and a standard of living far higher than that of Christians in the least evangelized, poorer countries of the world.

In many cases, by staying in our own country and keeping our jobs, but sending a portion of our surplus to support indigenous missionaries, great things can be accomplished to further the cause of the gospel! AUTHOR: Gavin Paynter  For more ministry downloads visit: https://agfbrakpan.com/ministry-archives.aspx  For more ministry downloads by Gavin Paynter visit: https://agfbrakpan.com/ministry- archives.aspx/Gavin%20Paynter COPYRIGHT INFORMATION  NOTE 1: Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett, courtesy of http://sweetpublishing.com  Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from the NIV:  THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.  Scripture quotations taken from the NASB:  New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (http://www.Lockman.org)