God alone knows the exact numbers of missionaries coming out of the new mission initiatives. What we can identify however, is the epicenters of the largest movements.

1. Korea has taken the lead among the new nations to send out its missionaries. Their foreign mission movement began about 1980 and today they have close to 22,000 “official” missionaries outside Korea. They have many more tentmakers and Christian businessmen in places like China. A new dimension to the Korean program is their program of bringing potential missionaries from restricted countries, training them in Korea, and sending them back to serve in their own countries.


2. China has enormous potential. Their vision was well documented by Paul Hattaway in Back to Jerusalem (BTJ). Though criticized for being sensationalized and without substance, this movement is being taken more seriously as the vision has spread from the house church movement to the young intellectuals and business class, who form “China’s Third Wave.” Outside agencies working in or into China and leaders of the Chinese Diaspora have come alongside the BTJ movement and are finding ways to train leaders and prepare potential missionaries. If the vision of sending 100,000 Chinese missionaries all through the countries between China and Jerusalem becomes a reality, it could become the greatest missionary movement the world has ever seen.


3. Nigeria is already sending out 5,200 missionaries. The largest of their organizations is CAPRO which is sending missionaries all over the world. The Nigerians have heard about what is happening in China and have set themselves the goal of raising up 50,000 missionaries who will work through North Africa to meet up with the Chinese in Jerusalem. They see themselves standing together with the Chinese on the Mount of Olives to receive Jesus when He returns.


4. Ethiopia has also heard about the Chinese vision and though Ethiopia's involvement in international missions is still in its early stages, the potential is enormous. They envision sending up to 500 foreign missionaries in the next ten years and 50,000 within a century.


5. Latin America: Under the umbrella of COMIBAM, the Latins have 4,500 missionaries working outside of their countries and another 8,000 working within their countries. Within Latin America, there are focal points in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Combined Latins are a formidable missionary force.


6. North East India: While most of India is still dominated by Hinduism and Islam, five of the seven provinces of North East India have large populations of evangelical Christians. Recently missions in North East India have begun to understand their potential to become a center for sending out international missionaries.


7. Philippines: About five million Filipino migrant workers are spread out throughout the Middle East. Many thousands are Christian. Mission leaders in the Philippines recognize that if only some of these could be trained to share their faith effectively they could have the same effect as the little slave girl who advised Naaman the leper where to go for healing. A plan to train thousands of these workers has been set in motion and could have a profound effect throughout the Middle East.

Can you imagine a world in which new workers from these countries join with the existing missionary force to bring in the last great harvest? Surely our Lord must be pleased as He watches more and more nations participating in The Mission of God.

Comment on this post: howard.brant@sim.org