2 MIN READ

Take a look at the graphics below to learn how local missions are both effective and wise stewardship. II Timothy 2:2

Empowering local believers is most effective

Local, national believers can reach the unreached far more efficiently and effectively. National church planters are uniquely positioned to bring the Gospel to their own communities, and the results speak for themselves:

• Cost Efficiency: National missions are 40x or more cost-effective than foreign-sent missionaries.

• Faster Church Planting: Local church planters can plant churches in 4x less time because they already understand the language, culture, and customs of their communities.

Time

In the traditional foreign mission model, it takes years for a Western missionary to relocate, learn the language, and navigate the complexities of a new culture. This extensive timeline delays the Gospel's spread and church planting efforts. By contrast, national believers are already fully immersed in their local context, allowing them to start planting churches immediately.

Funding

Supporting foreign missionaries often comes with a hefty price tag. The average investment needed to keep an American missionary in the field for four years is a staggering $284,000. In comparison, supporting a national church planter engaged in local missions for the same period costs between $6,000 and $45,000. That means, for the cost of sending one foreign missionary, we could support multiple national believers who are ready to take action now.

Outcome

Under the national church planting model, it takes just 1-2 years to see new believers and church plants flourish. These new churches can begin planting additional churches within 4 to 10 years, sparking a multiplication of discipleship that spreads quickly throughout the region.

Local Missions are Wise Stewardship

Investing in national believers isn’t just faster—it’s also better stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to us.

Traditional Model

In the foreign-sent missionary model, a single church plant can cost between $400,000 and $1,000,000 or more, as the costs of relocation, cultural training, and long-term living expenses add up.

Stewardship-Driven Approach

By directly funding national church planters, it lowers the cost of a single church plant to an average of $1,000 to $20,000. This allows churches and donors to reach significantly more people with the same resources, ensuring that the Gospel can spread far and wide, even in the most unreached areas of the world.

Funding Comparison

The average American missionary needs to raise $71,000 per year to stay in the field, totaling $284,000 over four years. Meanwhile, national church planters can be fully funded for just $6,000 to $45,000 over four years, maximizing the reach and impact of every dollar invested.

Conclusion

This additional focus in our efforts is transforming the way we think about missions. By investing in local believers who are already embedded within unreached communities, we can plant churches faster, more effectively, and at a fraction of the cost of traditional mission models. This is wise stewardship and a powerful strategy for fulfilling the Great Commission in our generation. Let’s send more!