Ziklag F - 9.13 - Hospitality

The Potential for Long-term, Sustainable Christian Growth

Late Day! Alleluia! But here as promised is….

The 12-Part Mission Plan: Revitalizing the Global Church for Long-Term Impact

This is the final in a four-part, week-long study on ways the global Christian Church, regardless of denomination or agenda, can unite on long tern mission strategies based upon opportunities evident by wisdom applied to understanding the seasons.

As the modern world moves further from its Christendom roots, the need for honest, vigorous, and strategic mission work has never been more critical. This mission cannot rely solely on mercy work or short-term projects but must instead focus on long-term spiritual and social transformation through robust evangelism and discipleship. By targeting countries that show the greatest receptivity to the Gospel and integrating culturally sensitive approaches, the Church can lay the groundwork for a global spiritual renewal. This mission plan will focus on a combination of countries with historical staying power, social hospitality, and strong views on marriage—factors essential for cultivating environments ripe for enduring Christian growth.

Below, I have compiled a comprehensive 12-part mission strategy targeting the most receptive countries, combining insights from the initial assessments of the two lists. These countries have been selected based on their potential for long-term, sustainable Christian growth, particularly in their openness to foreigners, their cultural hospitality, and their societal emphasis on strong family values.

1. Nepal

• Mission Priority: High

• Reason: Nepal's strong cultural staying power, religious traditions, and openness to foreigners make it an ideal target for long-term mission work. The country's respect for family and marriage as central institutions further supports the potential for a receptive Christian community.

• Strategic Approach: Focus on relational evangelism through local families and village leaders, particularly in rural areas where the traditional values of marriage and community are strong.

2. Thailand (Siam)

• Mission Priority: High

• Reason: Thailand, with its long history of resisting colonization and its relatively open cultural attitudes toward foreigners, provides a unique opportunity for evangelism. Its deeply ingrained sense of hospitality and respect for marriage and family life form a fertile ground for the Gospel.

• Strategic Approach: Work through community organizations that focus on family welfare and development, while creating spaces for interfaith dialogue in urban areas where young families are searching for deeper spiritual fulfillment.

3. Mongolia

• Mission Priority: High

• Reason: Mongolia’s cultural resilience and recent openness to Christianity after decades of Soviet influence make it a key target for mission work. Family structures remain strong, and there is a growing curiosity about spiritual matters.

• Strategic Approach: Establish long-term community centers that focus on family counseling, marriage seminars, and youth outreach, tapping into Mongolia’s emphasis on strong families and communal life.

4. Iran

• Mission Priority: High

• Reason: Despite being a tightly controlled Islamic Republic, Iran has witnessed a quiet but explosive growth of underground Christian movements. The strong view of marriage and family in Iranian society creates a framework where Christian marriages could act as powerful testimonies.

• Strategic Approach: Covert, family-centered mission work, focused on discipleship and support for underground churches. Use online and encrypted communication platforms to reach the educated middle class and younger generations curious about the Gospel.

5. Ethiopia

• Mission Priority: High

• Reason: Ethiopia’s ancient Christian roots coupled with a high rate of nominal Christian belief means there is a tremendous opportunity for spiritual revival. The strong sense of marriage and family, particularly within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, can provide a basis for deeper discipleship.

• Strategic Approach: Strengthen existing Christian communities through leadership development and family-based ministry. Create partnerships with local churches to revitalize the faith and provide sound theological teaching.

6. South Korea

• Mission Priority: High

• Reason: South Korea is already home to a thriving Christian community, but the recent cultural shift toward secularism and materialism means there is still work to be done. The country’s strong emphasis on family values and its global missionary sending culture make it a key strategic player.

• Strategic Approach: Equip and send missionaries into surrounding regions while deepening discipleship and family-centered ministry within the Korean Church. Encourage local churches to strengthen their focus on family, marriage, and community.

7. Nigeria

• Mission Priority: High

• Reason: Nigeria’s rapidly growing evangelical movement coupled with its strong family structures make it a country of strategic importance. However, ongoing violence in the north necessitates a wise and careful approach to mission work.

• Strategic Approach: Work through local churches and communities to strengthen Christian marriages and support family welfare, particularly in regions suffering from economic instability or violence. Focus on leadership development and long-term discipleship programs.

8. Afghanistan

• Mission Priority: Medium-High

• Reason: Afghanistan remains one of the most difficult and dangerous mission fields, but its tribal structure and respect for family life suggest that a long-term, covert mission strategy could eventually bear fruit.

• Strategic Approach: Establish secure, covert networks for discipling underground believers. Focus on small, family-based house churches and emphasize marriage as a model for Christian witness.

9. Tanzania

• Mission Priority: Medium-High

• Reason: Tanzania is a peaceful country with a mix of Christian and Muslim populations. The hospitality of its people, along with their respect for marriage, makes Tanzania a promising field for mission work.

• Strategic Approach: Build partnerships with local churches and provide long-term discipleship programs that focus on strengthening families. Encourage marriage counseling and family outreach in areas that are becoming more secularized.

10. Uganda

• Mission Priority: Medium-High

• Reason: Uganda’s growing evangelical community, along with its strong family structures, provides a fertile field for missionary work. However, the influence of Western secularism is beginning to challenge traditional values.

• Strategic Approach: Focus on building strong Christian marriages and creating community-based ministries that emphasize family unity. Work with local churches to foster spiritual growth and resist secularization trends.

11. Myanmar (Burma)

• Mission Priority: Medium-High

• Reason: Myanmar’s political instability and complex religious landscape make it a challenging mission field, but its traditional views on marriage and family life offer opportunities for Christian witness.

• Strategic Approach: Engage in discreet, family-centered evangelism that provides social support for communities affected by conflict. Focus on long-term discipleship and leadership training for local Christian families.

12. Laos

• Mission Priority: Medium

• Reason: Laos is a communist country with strict controls on religion, but its traditional values around family life provide an opening for covert, long-term mission work.

• Strategic Approach: Focus on underground house churches and family discipleship. Provide discreet social support for families and build relationships through trust and small-scale, local initiatives.

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Criteria for Missionary Strategy:

1. Staying Power: Countries that have demonstrated cultural and religious resilience over centuries are more likely to absorb and adapt Christianity in lasting ways.

2. Hospitality to Foreigners: Places that are historically open to foreigners are more receptive to long-term mission efforts, particularly those based on relationships and community integration.

3. View of Marriage: Societies that have strong views on marriage and family provide a stable environment where Christian values can thrive, particularly when modeled by missionary couples and families.

Marriage and Family: The Cornerstone of Sustainable Mission

In each of these 12 nations, marriage plays a vital role in society, serving as the backbone of communal life and the foundation for transmitting values across generations. In order for a missionary effort to succeed, it is crucial to understand and engage with the local views on marriage and family, positioning Christian marriages as a model of love, commitment, and faith.

Strong Christian families will naturally become pillars of the community, and as they grow in faith, they will bring others into the fold. This mission plan does not merely aim to convert individuals; it seeks to transform entire communities through the strength and example of godly families living out their faith in culturally appropriate ways.

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Final Thoughts

The future of Christian mission lies not in grand, short-term projects, but in a return to the slow, relational work of making disciples and building strong Christian families. As Christendom fades in the West, the global Church has an opportunity to re-engage with the world in a deeper, more meaningful way. The 12-part mission strategy outlined here offers a pathway for long-term, sustainable growth in key regions, providing a roadmap for Christian witness in an increasingly complex and secular world.

In Jesus' name, may these efforts be blessed, and the harvest be plentiful.