Even if it is a little more expense wise, you are still encouraging the indigenous church to take ownership over the mission - even if you are funding it for a time. Indians reaching Indians or Ukranians reaching Russians is better than Americans doing it all because it spreads the responsibility for reaching the world across the world. It will happen much faster that way, instead of locking up the mission in the hands of the very expensive and highly trained American missionary force.

One of our next steps will be to support (or find support for) two national pastors in our Siberian republic. It will be a little more than in India, but still much less than sending an American. If we eventually partner with a Ukrainian or Belorussian it might be a little more than a national, but will still be less than an American.

When we were in India a few weeks ago, I met an indigenous evangelist/church planter. He was working with a hospital that we were working with to do our clean water project. He was going along with our project to share Christ, raise up leaders, and plant churches. I met him and heard his story. He comes highly recommended for his work elsewhere. He also walks miles each day through the mountains to visit Hindus and share Christ with them. He is showing the Jesus film and has a strategy to disciple and raise up local leaders. He has received theological training at a Bible college in the plains. We decided to support him because he was doing the same thing as the IMB missionary who was also in the area. But, he was native, knew the language and the people, was trusted and accepted, walked miles each day, and only needed $800 for 6 months full support.

The IMB would tell me not to do that because they don’t want the indigenous church to become dependent on funds from the West. Long term, they have a point - to an extent. Yet, we have mobilized a large missions force of Westerners that is dependent upon support from the West. Why don’t we use that same support and fund about 30 indigenous missionaries for the cost of funding one American? Or, use the American in a catalytic way to network with the indigenous church in a way that fuels the spread of the gospel like Guy seems to be saying.

I do think S. Baptists have played a pivotal role in “raising our children” to the point that they are now no longer dependent upon us. As spiritual parents of the generations preceding, it is often difficult to accept that our “kids” no longer need us like they used to. My role as a N. American, S. Baptist missionary is different than was that of my parents who came back in the early ’60’s. For me one of the big challenges of missions today is to try to understand the role we are now to be playing in a global movement of God to bring the nations to Jesus. I applaud your bold thinking as you continue to explore these issues.