"Oh! For eloquence to plead the cause of China; for a pencil dipped in fire to paint the condition of this people!"
— Hudson Taylor, Founder of the China Inland Mission

When Westerners first learn about global missions in China, the story of Hudson Taylor, a 21-year-old missionary who departed Liverpool harbor for China in September 1854, often takes center stage. Taylor's life and approach to missions provide important lessons that continue to resonate today, particularly when viewed through a new wave of missions. 

One of the defining features of Taylor's work was his willingness to adapt to the local culture and empower local believers. After losing financial support from the Chinese Evangelization Society, Taylor went on to found the China Inland Mission in 1865, based on his experience and a belief in relying on God to provide for the mission's needs. Unlike other missions of the time, Taylor’s work empowered local believers and avoided dependence on Western control.

This distinction becomes even more profound when we consider the larger historical context. Before the 1920s, missions in China followed a model that placed Western missionaries in charge, both theologically and organizationally. Financial resources remained under Western control, reinforcing a sense of dependency and a narrative that Christianity was a foreign imposition, fueling anti-Christian sentiment.

A Turning Point for National Missions

By the 1920s and 1930s, a shift occurred in China as local believers began forming independent, indigenous churches. These movements sought to eliminate the Western influence in Christianity, reconcile Chinese Christians with their communities, and increase the effectiveness of evangelistic efforts. This drive for autonomy sparked a period of revival in China, demonstrating the power and sustainability of missions led by local believers.

The growth of the church during this time—and even under the intense persecution that followed—mirrors the vision of the There and Now campaign: empowering national believers to lead the way in reaching their own people. Just as the Chinese church thrived when local Christians took charge of their own evangelism and discipleship efforts, the There and Now approach seeks to support indigenous leadership across the globe, ensuring that the Gospel can spread more effectively and sustainably.

Lessons from the House Church Movement

The rise of China's unregistered Underground Church during the Cultural Revolution stands as a testament to the power of local leadership. Despite intense persecution, this movement grew exponentially, even outpacing the registered Three-Self Church in membership. The house church movement, also known as the Born Again Movement or Word of Life Church (WOL), was founded by Peter Xu in 1968. Despite facing imprisonment, torture, and forced labor, Xu and his fellow believers remained resilient, and the movement continued to grow—demonstrating the power of indigenous leadership.

As Yalin Xin notes, “From the very beginning, the WOL movement was a self-sponsored movement.” Local believers funded the movement out of their own businesses, proving that the financial resources necessary for missions can and should come from within the local church. This independence allowed the movement to thrive, even in the face of adversity. Today, the WOL movement is one of the largest Christian movements in China, with an estimated 20 million members.

The Role of the West in Local Missions

What can we learn from China’s church history? The lesson is clear: When national believers are empowered to lead, the church grows stronger, faster, and more resilient. Western missions, while well-intentioned, can sometimes create dependency or impose cultural barriers that hinder the Gospel's spread. The There and Now campaign recognizes this and calls on Western Christians to support local believers financially, prayerfully, and with humility—allowing them to lead in their own nations in addition to their mobilization and sending efforts. 

By shifting new resources to empower local believers, we can ensure that the work of evangelism is done by those who already know the culture, speak the language, and are deeply embedded in their communities. Like the house church movement in China, these national believers are not hindered by Western cultural expectations or the high costs associated with foreign missions. Instead, they can focus entirely on reaching their own people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

A New Era of Missions: There and Now

The There and Now movement is built on the belief that our present day most effective way to reach the unreached is through empowering national believers. China’s history has shown us that indigenous leadership is crucial for church growth and resilience. The There and Now model takes this lesson to heart, calling on the global church to invest in local believers who are already positioned to share the Gospel in their own communities.

Just as Hudson Taylor once pleaded for the cause of China with a "pencil dipped in fire," we now have the opportunity to fan the flames of local missions across the globe. The time to act is now. With over 3 billion people still unreached, we must equip and empower the national church to lead the way. 

Let us support the work of national believers—there and now—so that the Gospel can reach every corner of the earth.