What is the primary purpose of Christian Aid?
To establish a witness for Christ in every unreached nation, as well as to encourage and strengthen evangelical Christianity in nations where Christians are persecuted or few in number.

What is your ultimate goal?
When the disciples asked for a sign of the end of the age, the Lord told them that the gospel would be preached in all of the world as a witness unto all nations (Matthew 24:14). Our goal is to be used of the Holy Spirit to complete the Church and fulfill this prophecy.

Do you send out foreign missionaries?
Yes, hundreds of them, but not directly. Instead of sending Americans to other countries, Christian Aid collects funds from missionary-minded Christians in the United States and sends them to indigenous mission agencies in poor countries. These agencies then send out the missionaries

Is your philosophy to "use the nationals"?
Absolutely not. Missionaries who hire local citizens to work for them coined this phrase. Many foreign organizations lure workers from indigenous groups that have no funds to pay them, and turn them into hirelings. This neo-colonial practice has decimated local groups and hurt the cause of Christ in many nations. Christian Aid does not use Christians in other countries, but we do send help that enables them to do the job God has given them to do.

Then would you say that God uses them?
God uses native missionaries to build His church among their own people. In contrast, American missionaries use citizens of other countries to start branches of their denominations or mission organizations. This practice allows the Christian faith to be identified as "institutional colonialism" or "cultural imperialism." We help indigenous missions only.

How do you define the term "indigenous"?
It means "native to the land." Indigenous Christianity is not an imported denomination or other foreign organization. A palm tree from Panama transplanted in Pennsylvania will not survive because it is not indigenous. But fertilizer from Pennsylvania applied to the palm tree in Panama will cause it to thrive in its native soil. Likewise, financial help from believers overseas can strengthen an indigenous ministry.

What about tribes and nation with no Christians? Don't foreigners initially have to reach them?
Essentially, all unreached people groups have relationships with believers through marriage, trade or similar neighboring tribes. At times, native missionaries must build upon a cultural overlap, such as learning variations of a native dialect to communicate with certain tribes in their countries. Our job is to find these believers, discern which ones are effective and send our help.

How many native missionaries exist?
More than 400,000 are on the fields or ready to go. Approximately 100,000 of these have no regular support, but are evangelizing and planting churches in their own nations with the few resources they currently have.

Under which mission boards do these indigenous missionaries serve?
They serve under the discipline of independent faith mission boards that are based in their respective countries. All of these boards are separated from apostasy and rooted solidly in the authority of God's infallible Word.

Are they accountable?
Definitely. Christian Aid has carefully researched and interviewed the leaders of the mission boards we assist. All must demonstrate that they are faithful stewards. These missions maintain full accountability for their missionaries, both financially and spiritually. Most have audited financial statements.

Where do all of the native missionaries come from?
As new churches are born out of evangelical revivals in Asia, Africa and Latin America, they very quickly begin to send out missionaries. Hundreds of these gospel workers have forfeited secular employment to serve the Lord full time in faith.

How can we be sure that native missionaries are sound in doctrine and Biblical in their practices?
Christian Aid appraises indigenous mission groups, examines their doctrinal statements and evaluates the fruits of their ministries to ensure that they are adhering to God's Word. Many of the leaders of these groups have been students in America and we got to know them while they were here.

Don't we first need to train the nationals before putting them on the field?
Thousands of indigenous ministries operate Bible institutes and missionary training schools that provide practical field experience with focused classroom teaching. Christian Aid supports more than 100 Bible institutes in China that have trained and sent out more than 40,000 native Chinese missionaries. Many native missionaries have also opted to study abroad at evangelical colleges and seminaries in America, Canada and Europe.

Won't giving money to indigenous works lead to corruption or fiscal irresponsibility?
Christian Aid never gives funding directly to individuals. We send help to mission groups whose leaders are responsible to one another. The group leaders then transmit the support to the workers. Every missionary is under the discipline of the leaders of his group. We have yet to see a case of corruption where all workers reported directly to supervisors who were citizens of their own country.

Shouldn't indigenous churches be self-supporting?
They always are. Christians in poverty-stricken nations generally give a far greater proportion of their income than do believers in wealthier nations, even though their burdens are greater. They must feed the starving as they care for widows, orphans, lepers and other destitute believers. These churches are self-supporting, but there is no such thing as a self-supporting mission board or Bible school. They must pray for support from God’s people all over the world. Christian Aid does not support local churches or pastors. We only send funds to mission boards to help send out missionaries.

Why can't indigenous mission boards provide support for their own workers?
The majority of these mission boards are based in lands of abject poverty. A billion people, including many evangelical Christians in Asia, Africa and Latin America, cannot find jobs that will provide cash income. They stay alive by growing tiny plots of rice, fishing or hunting insects. Those who do have paying jobs give generously and sacrificially; however, their wages are so low that the total sum of their tithes and offerings may only be a few dollars a week.

How much support does a native missionary overseas need?
Support needs vary by location and circumstances. Those who work in cities require more than those working in rural villages. Likewise, those who are married with children require more support than those who are single. You can help provide the needs of a native missionary for as little as $50 per month. Click here to learn more about becoming a missionary sponsor.