It’s easy to have high ideals when we set out to plant churches cross-culturally. That is good. The Builder of the church has called us to make disciples of all nations. Yet this calling is not without opposition. Jesus Himself faced rejection and suffering. In the end, He was crucified—but even that was part of God’s design.
Church planters today step into the same reality, experiencing victories, but also valleys, setbacks, and struggles. The following voices from All-Nations teams share challenges they face.
“In our context, sometimes when people come to faith, they don’t join the church because of fear of betrayal, and they become dependent on ‘safe’ foreigners for discipleship. It is hard to know how to disciple them while moving them toward becoming a part of a local body.”
– RB, Reya Nurani Team
“One of the many challenges is that the Tarahumara people have a migratory lifestyle. With no local economy, they travel out of the area to work for months at a time. The believers go separate directions and often can’t meet with other believers while they’re gone. This hinders discipleship and leadership development.”
– JB, Tarahumara Team
“There is intense social pressure built into the cultural identity of the people we serve. For most, it seems like a greater sin to go against their customs than to continue in the sin of the custom itself.”
– EW, Mixtec Team
“Often when we try to speak to someone about the gospel, their reply is, ‘But that’s not our religion.’ And that settles it. The few significant spiritual conversations we have had with people have come after months and years of prayer for them.”
– LS, Sungai Team
“Evangelists who are not connected to any local churches come over from [a neighboring country.] One went behind the back of our local pastor and told a woman who was not getting along with her husband to run off and marry a pastor in [the neighboring country].”
– CS, Madara Team
Jesus said: “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The work is difficult, but the outcome is sure. When the Spirit of God moves, opposition cannot stop the advance of His kingdom. Please join us in praying for All-Nations teams as they press forward in faith. Pray that disciples may be multiplied, churches established, and Christ glorified in places where His name is scarcely known.