Compensating Missionaries

As a missiologist in the European-continental tradition, qualitative research has always come more naturally to me than quantitative. This bias was reinforced through my anthropological studies that emphasized participant observation over statistics.

The Great Commission calls us “to make disciples of all nations.” The central focus is on making mature followers of Christ, not simply converts. This requires godly models lived out in humility and grace for long periods of time.

At the East Asia Christian Conference meetings in 1964 in Bangkok it was unequivocally stated that, “inasmuch as theresponsibility for in-service preparation rests upon the receiving Churches, it is essential that they accept this responsibility fully. They must provide for adequate language study and also for general orientation.”