The Challenge of Missions

Over three billion people—60% of the world’s population—live in Asia. 94% of them are lost and most of them have never heard the Name of Jesus!

The number of countries closed to traditional foreign missions are increasing—from zero in the year 1900 to 65 in recent years. Yet in China alone, some 25,000 people are getting saved each day. This is the work of the Holy Spirit through the prayers, and support of God’s people from around the world and the commitment of the native missionaries.

Facts About Native Missionaries

A native missionary is a full-time Gospel worker working in his own or a similar culture.

Native missionaries have more access to the interior parts of a country where most of us are  not allowed to travel.

Native missionaries are cost effective since they live at the local standard which is much lower than the standard in Western countries.

Native missionaries are accountable to their local leader or pastor. TSM staff closely monitors the effectiveness of the native missionary before and after an adoption is approved.

Normally, TSM native church planters are supported only for 18-24 months.  During this time the pastor is expected to build up a congregation and teach the believers to tithe.  We do not make people dependant on outside support.  Our goal for all local churches is to support their own leaders.

Meet a World Changer

Sister Mary of China was saved while in university. Soon afterwards she started preaching the Gospel. Almost immediately she was arrested, and thrown into jail. Another time her neighbors ransacked her house, stoned and beat her. They made her walk around with a dunce cap on her head. At midnight, when she painfully lay down in her ruined home, she heard an angel singing to her, "If you recognize me, I will recognize you. If you deny me, I will deny you." Sister Mary says, "In the morning, my body hurt, but my heart was very happy.  "Altogether, she spent more than 25 years of her life behind prison bars. The most common phrase in her mouth today is, "by God’s grace," and "praise the Lord."

Now, at the age of 80, sister Mary has planted more than 40 churches. She oversees more than 100 churches with a total of over 5000 believers scattered throughout China. Among the believers in her churches, are many former communist leaders whom she has led to the Lord over the years.

Why "Adopt" a Native Missionary?

Often foreign missionaries are barred from long-term evangelism and church planting in restricted access nations like China, Nepal, Bhutan and India. However, natives can travel freely within their own countries.

Native missionaries have no language or cultural barriers. They don’t have to spend years learning the language and the customs of the people they will reach. They identify with their own people, so Christianity is not viewed as a foreign religion.

Native missionaries are an effective living testimony. The people in the area where they live see the changes God has made in their lives.

Supporting a native missionary is not expensive. Depending on the area, only $50-150 US will meet all of the monthly living expenses of one native missionary and his family in many Asian countries.

Many want to be full -time Gospel workers. At present we have many workers waiting to be supported. Most of them are trained to evangelize and plant churches. Others are assisting in their local congregations and are waiting for financial help to minister full time. Many are already ministering in faith, trusting the Lord to supply their needs.

Do You…

Sense the urgency of our Lord’s command to preach the Gospel, but you are not able to go to the foreign field right now?

Want to pray specifically for missionaries all over the world, but need to know more about them?

Have finances to give to spread the Gospel, but want to be sure that they are used economically and effectively?

How Can I "Adopt" a Native Missionary?

Be a partner with native missionaries by "adopting" one of them. The Sowers Ministry will link you together with a native missionary partner like sister Chu to spread the Gospel.

Pray specifically for a native missionary. Your individual prayer or that of your cell group can be the decisive factor in breaking down strongholds of Satan, and increasing the effectiveness of a missionary.

Support a native missionary. Your financial commitment will help these evangelists to minister full-time among the lost in their own countries.

Provide ministry tools to your missionary. Bibles, tracts, teaching books, musical instruments, films, and other Gospel materials are desperately needed. Bicycles, motorbikes, and other modes of transportation are needed as well. Your special financial gifts will enable the native missionary to reach the lost more effectively.

Back to Top