New Missions Paradigm

Ep. 594: The ‘New Paradigm’ of Missions is the Future of Great Commission Work

May 20, 2026June 9, 2026

MinistryWatch has long been a proponent of what some call the “New Paradigm” of missions. This New Paradigm has several components, but at its core is the notion that well-trained indigenous missionaries are better positioned to evangelize their neighbors than American missionaries who come from thousands of miles away with little knowledge of the language or culture of the people they hope to evangelize. A new study suggests that if Christian missions organizations want to…

The ‘New Paradigm’ of Missions is the Future of Great Commission Work <br> <p style='font-size:18px;line-height: 1.2em;'>New study suggests traditional missions organizations will need to adapt to remain viable</p>

The ‘New Paradigm’ of Missions is the Future of Great Commission Work

New study suggests traditional missions organizations will need to adapt to remain viable

May 18, 2026June 9, 2026

The ‘New Paradigm’ of missions is the future of Great Commission work: A new study suggests traditional missions organizations will need to adapt to remain viable.

Ep. 528: Gen Z and Missions, ACNA’s Archbishop Takes Leave, Churches Deal With Gov’t Shutdown

November 7, 2025June 9, 2026

On today’s program, an Oklahoma pastor was fired after reporting missing church funds—this, despite the fact that he followed denominational rules in raising his concerns. Now, his bishop has been arrested for embezzlement. We’ll take a look. And, Gen Z is bringing a new paradigm to traditional missions. A new report examines what they value—and what they don’t. We’ll have details. Plus, churches and ministries are working to fill in the gap as SNAP benefits…

Skeptical and Grounded: Gen Z Brings New Paradigm to Traditional Missions <br> <p style='font-size:18px;line-height: 1.2em;'>Why Gen Z isn’t settling for spin</p>

Skeptical and Grounded: Gen Z Brings New Paradigm to Traditional Missions

Why Gen Z isn’t settling for spin

October 31, 2025June 9, 2026

InterVarsity and Arbor Research Group held online focus groups with 54 Gen Z young adults across the U.S. to understand how they think about Christian missions.

Ep. 461: Dordt University’s Aaron Baart on “Missions Upside Down”

May 1, 2025June 9, 2026

In the Great Commission of Matthew 28, Jesus plainly told his disciples to go to all parts of the world and make disciples. And for 2000 years, Christians have done that, and God has blessed that work. Today, mature Christian believers on every continent in the world. That’s why some Christian leaders are re-thinking what it means to “go.” My guest today, Aaron Baart, is one of them. He got involved in foreign missions in…

Making ‘Global Disciples’ <br> <p style='font-size:18px;line-height: 1.2em;'>Creating discipleship training programs in near-culture contexts</p>

Making ‘Global Disciples’

Creating discipleship training programs in near-culture contexts

November 6, 2024June 9, 2026

For 28 years, Global Disciples has been committed to training indigenous or near-culture leaders to make Christian disciples among their own people.

Did Evangelicals Break Haiti? <br> <p style='font-size:18px;line-height: 1.2em;'>Not all help is helpful, and we need to be more discerning about how we help – and not just in Haiti</p>

Did Evangelicals Break Haiti?

Not all help is helpful, and we need to be more discerning about how we help – and not just in Haiti

March 8, 2024June 9, 2026

The news coming from Haiti is not good. It’s not been good for years, for decades, but today it’s even worse.

Helping College Students Reframe Missions <br> <p style='font-size:18px;line-height: 1.2em;'>Dordt’s dean of chapel encourages students to consider how they can help—by not going.</p>

Helping College Students Reframe Missions

Dordt’s dean of chapel encourages students to consider how they can help—by not going.

January 17, 2024June 9, 2026

In his role as chief of staff and dean of chapel at Dordt University in Iowa, Aaron Baart is helping college students rethink what it means to support missions or even become a missionary.

Church Adopts New Paradigm, Only Supports Indigenous Missionaries <br> <p style='font-size:18px;line-height: 1.2em;'>Michigan's New Hope Community Church believes it gets a higher return on Kingdom investment</p>

Church Adopts New Paradigm, Only Supports Indigenous Missionaries

Michigan's New Hope Community Church believes it gets a higher return on Kingdom investment

January 2, 2024June 9, 2026

Since its founding in 1990, the church has taken a posture of generosity for missions work by embracing the new paradigm of “indigenous church planters doing the work of Gospel advancement” in their homelands.

New Mission Mindset <br> <p style='font-size:18px;line-height: 1.2em;'>Global Assist provides executive coaching to native disciple-making ministries</p>

New Mission Mindset

Global Assist provides executive coaching to native disciple-making ministries

December 15, 2023June 9, 2026

As part of the new paradigm of missions, Global Assist serves native church planters and disciple-making ministries as a consultant and executive coach to ensure the world is reached for Christ.

Biglife International Trains Indigenous Leaders in 162 Countries to Make Disciples <br> <p style='font-size:18px;line-height: 1.2em;'>Disciple-making is one of the few movements that outpaces the birthrate, Biglife’s CEO said.</p>

Biglife International Trains Indigenous Leaders in 162 Countries to Make Disciples

Disciple-making is one of the few movements that outpaces the birthrate, Biglife’s CEO said.

November 28, 2023June 9, 2026

The statistics shocked Biglife CEO Heerema. Less than 2% of missions dollars are used to reach 97 % of the least-evangelized people in the world.

‘Reaching the Rest’ with the Gospel <br> <p style='font-size:18px;line-height: 1.2em;'>The ministry to unreached people groups strategically empowers indigenous leaders in areas like India, Southeast Asia, and Africa to reach their own people with the Gospel.</p>

‘Reaching the Rest’ with the Gospel

The ministry to unreached people groups strategically empowers indigenous leaders in areas like India, Southeast Asia, and Africa to reach their own people with the Gospel.

October 19, 2023June 9, 2026

Reach the Rest, through its network of local ministry partners, is seeing growth among Christians in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha in northeastern India.

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