The opposition to this teaching has been fierce, but by God’s grace I have fought a good fight. I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. I have continued to testify to pastors, churches, traditional missionaries, members of our staff, our Board of Directors, the Council of Trustees and to everyone else who will listen. Change must come, and by God’s grace it will come no matter how long it takes or how strong the resistance may be from those who want to preserve their religious traditions.

My constant prayer is that Christian Aid will not forsake our divine calling as a voice for change within the evangelical community. We have continued both the work and the witness for 50 years, enduring the pain of constant attacks and frequent alienation from our fellow Americans who look upon us as a threat to their traditions.

In so doing we have gained the love and admiration of Christian leaders who serve with indigenous missions all over the world. Through Christian Aid they have been given a voice to express their concerns about the true situations they face in serving our Saviour within their respective countries.

And their voices are being heard. In recent years there has been a great change in the attitudes shown by Christian leaders in America toward native missions based in other countries. More and more we hear expressions of appreciation for indigenous ministries from pastors, missions committee members and even from executives of colonial missions.

The task is by no means finished, but strong statements by Christian Aid have borne fruit in bringing about the changes that are needed. In fact, some traditional colonial-type missions are now sharing (though ever so slightly) their largesse with indigenous missions. And they are even doing it without attempting to colonize the ministries they help. And hundreds of individual American missionaries are directing their personal gifts and offerings toward the support of indigenous missions.

Perhaps the greatest development of all has been an explosion of new U.S. organizations patterned after the Christian Aid model. When we began 50 years ago there was only one other mission that was even slightly similar to Christian Aid, and it was 50% colonial. I believe our testimony and influence played a major part in moving them toward being 100% non-colonial. And most of the new organizations, following the lead of Christian Aid, are also non-colonial.

God’s Word says, “Let us not grow weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). As we have pressed the battle unceasingly for so many years, we are finally beginning to see the changes that are so greatly needed. This we have done, but have not left the other undone. The task of providing support for native missions in poorer countries is going ahead stronger than ever. We now support 104 Bible institutes in Communist China. They are training 30,000 Christian workers every year. And have already sent out about 40,000 ambassadors for Christ to plant a witness for His name in every part of China. I could never have dreamed of such a development when I was there 54 years ago.

Bob Finley Founder, CAM

In the subcontinent of India we now support nearly 200 indigenous ministries that have 20,000 missionaries on the field. Throughout Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the former USSR the story is the same. The total missionaries deployed by ministries we assist now number more than 90,000. They are reaching hundreds of tribes and natives where no believers have ever existed previously.

By God’s grace we expect to see the fulfillment of our Lord’s eternal purpose within this generation, as you join hands with us to make it possible.