In Reply to: I don't think that's what Oldtimer is referring to posted by Acheick on July 01, 2004 at 17:31:37:
Christians in China know their own people, speak the language, are a living example day after day, and eat the food, drink the water and happily accept what Westerners would consider backwards 3rd-world conditions. And they can reach their own people at a fraction of the cost it costs to ship even one American 'missionary' over to China.
Plus they are there long-term, not only for a few weeks. What can someone who doesn't even speak the language accomplish in 3 weeks? J.P. Yohanan proved in India that indigenous Indian Christians could accomplish far more for a fraction of the cost.
I'm not saying Westerners shouldn't go abroad as missionaries, and there are places in the world they are needed, but I question when they go to places such as China and India. It might simply be better to live frugally at home in the U.S. and send money abroad AND reach their own people while they're at it.