Frequently Asked Questions
1. What do you mean by "native missions"?
When people traditionally think of missions they usually think of a person being sent from one country to another to do evangelistic work. Native missions is completely different. It does not involve sending a foreign missionary into another land. Instead, it involves a Christian minister evangelizing his own people. Since he is working in his own land, among his own people, he is a native missionary. Another term for this concept is "indigenous missions." Also, some people speak of a "national worker" or a "national pastor." All these varying terms refer to the same concept of a person being a missionary to his own people.
2. Do native missionaries only evangelize among their own people?
It is not unusual for a native missionary to speak several different languages and dialects. Also, they usually have a good understanding of the culture of neighboring tribes and peoples. For this reason, it is not uncommon for an indigenous missionary to not only labor among his own people, but to reach out to adjacent tribes, cultures and ethnic groups. Although there may still be an ethnic or cultural gap, it is much smaller between an indigenous missionary and a neighboring people group and a foreign Western missionary and this same people group. Thus, a native missionary can be very effective in reaching this people group.
3. What is a "people group"?
The terms "people group" or "people" as used in missions language refers to a distinct ethnic or cultural group. One of the most outstanding marks of a specific people group is its language or dialect. However, other cultural, religious, or ethnic characteristics also may help define a particular group.
4. What is an "unreached" people group?
By "unreached" we mean a specific people group that either has no Christian witness at all, or if there a Christian presence it is so small as to be historically ineffective in evangelizing that people group as a whole.
5. Does ANM send out missionaries?
No, we do not. Traditionally when most people think of a missionary, they think of someone being sent somewhere to evangelize. However, since ANM works with indigenous missionaries there is no need for us to send out missionaries. Rather, we work with those who are already living in the region which needs the Gospel message.
6. If you do not send out missionaries, what does ANM do?
In short, we are a bridge, a conduit. To explain in greater detail: One of the realities of the world in which we live is that the greatest harvest fields, ripe for evangelization, are in the some of the most poverty-stricken and dangerous locales on earth. At the same time America and the West have an overabundance of material resources, much of which is not used with any kind of appropriate spiritual stewardship. ANM seeks to serve as a bridge between the regions of need and the sources of supply. We advocate for native missionaries, presenting their situations to the churches in America, speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves. We have found that when Christians in this part of the world learn of the needs of their brethren overseas, their hearts are moved to offer assistance. It is then that we can serve as a conduit for equipping indigenous missionaries in the cause of world evangelization.
7. Does the "native missions" in your name refer to Native Americans?
One of the most common questions we receive about our ministry is whether we are an agency that works with Native Americans (also known as American Indians). As noted above, the "native" in our name refers to any indigenous or national missionary work. This not limited to the Americas. Indeed, although we do work with some ministries in North and South America, most of our work is in the Eastern Hemisphere.
8. How large is the scope of ANM's ministry?
God has truly blessed this ministry. We work with 201 indigenous ministry partners in 75 countries of the world. Yet, mentioning the number of countries only gives a superficial understanding of the work of our ministry partners. For within these 75 countries are many thousands of ethnic groups. It is proclaiming the Gospel among these people groups that is at the heart of our mission.
9. What is the primary focus of your ministry?
Our primary goal is to aid and equip native missionaries to evangelize and disciple the unreached peoples of the earth. Since the vast majority of the unreached people of the world are found in the 10/40 Window, this is a primary target of our efforts.
10. Are you opposed to more traditional, Western-style missions?
No. We thank God for the many thousands of men and women who currently, and throughout the history of the church, have obeyed the call of God to labor in difficult and often dangerous places in order to advance the kingdom of God. However, that is not what God has called ANM to do. We are called to work with native missions, which is the means by which the Holy Spirit is doing much of His work in the world today. And we do believe that this is the most effective means to fulfill our Lord's Great Commission for world evangelization.
11. Why are native missions so effective?
Native missionaries begin their ministry with distinct advantages over the foreign missionary. They already know the language and culture of the people they are called to evangelize. They are already used to the physical climate, environment, and political situation. Their standard of living is vastly different from a foreign missionary, and thus they can live and minister on a fraction of the resources. They can begin their work after minimal training and preparation; it doesn't take them years to learn the language and culture. Finally, they are working among their family, friends and neighbors. Thus, they are committed for the long-term work of missionary endeavor.
12. How much of my donation will actually go overseas?
You can count on at least 90% of any donation going directly to the mission field. ANM's standard administrative deduction is 10%. This deduction from donor gifts is used for salaries, office supplies, utilities, computers, equipment, gasoline, and all of the other items that are required to operation an international ministry with dozens of employees. We work very hard to be good stewards and operate as frugally as we can. We want as many funds as possible to be used to help the real focus of ANM, our overseas partners. If you would like to know more about our financial policies and standards, please click here .
13. How long has ANM been in existence?
Advancing Native Missions began in 1992 as a vision given to two men already working in the field of indigenous missions. If you would like to read a brief history of ANM please click here.
14. Is ANM part of any particular denomination or church group?
No. We are an interdenominational ministry that works with many different churches from a wide variety of backgrounds. This is true for both the ministries we work with overseas as well as our ministry friends and supporters here in the U.S. We hold to a basic faith as Bible-believing, evangelical Christians committed to the unity of the church and proclamation of the Gospel. For further understanding, you may want to read our Statement of Faith.