Lessons from Our Missionaries

At Mission ONE, we’ve spent more than three decades walking alongside same culture or near culture missionaries. Why? Because when missionaries serve within their own cultural context, they bring a depth of understanding and wisdom that no outsider could replicate. They know the language, the customs, and the rhythms of daily life. They understand the history, the wounds, the hopes, and the complexities of their communities because they live them.

Our missionaries can build deeper and more trusting relationships and communicate the gospel more clearly. Committed to investing in sustainable solutions, they care about their communities—where they call home and raise their families.

Mission rooted in local vision

This is why we care deeply about their vision. We want to support and walk alongside them as they take ownership in the transformation stories of their communities. They’re not translating someone else’s vision—they’re living out a mission that’s already rooted in the fabric of their own story. That’s the key to seeing long-term impact.

Our 540 missionaries are leading with courage, creativity, and compassion. And when we come alongside them, we don’t just amplify their work—we learn, grow, and become part of a transformation much bigger than ourselves.

For Mission ONE, some of our most meaningful lessons have come through the relationships we’ve built on the ground—working side by side with same or near culture missionaries through both challenges and successes. In fact, Mission ONE was founded on a lesson from our very first partnership with a local missionary.

Where it all began: A lesson in listening

In 1988, Bob Schindler, a traveling evangelist, was invited to teach at a Bible college in Kenya. The missionary who invited him offered this advice:

“You will be a blessing. But while you are here, listen. Learn what it’s like to live as a Kenyan.”

Bob Schindler, Mission ONE Founder, in Kenya, 1988

Bob listened—and that’s when he met Pastor Wilfred, a local missionary who had come to faith and planted a thriving church in his own village. Previous attempts by Western missionaries to reach that village had failed; the cultural gap was too wide. But Wilfred, as someone from the same culture, carried the gospel in a way that made sense, with wisdom, humility, and understanding. That moment changed Bob’s view of missions. He thought,

“There must be some way to help these local leaders. They can share the love of Christ in their cultures in ways I cannot.”

And with that, Mission ONE was born. This core value—partnering with same culture or near culture missionaries—has shaped our mission from day one. It’s not just a strategy; it’s the very foundation of our story.

Here are other lessons they’ve taught us:

Real transformation comes through real lives

It’s easy to highlight the most profitable projects or the most “impressive” outcomes. But the truth is, the lessons that have most deeply shaped us came from people. They came from quiet stories of perseverance. Real impact, real transformation, and real discipleship have come through real missionaries—people living out the gospel in their communities. That’s where we’ve found the most meaning and intentionality in our ministry.

The most powerful impact often goes unseen

Some of our missionaries serve in high-risk areas where public ministry isn’t even possible. The only way to approach a village may be through creating a micro-project which meets a very real need while making space to build relationships and eventually share the gospel. Building authentic connection takes patience and a quiet faithfulness. It takes staying rooted in purpose even when no one is watching, and persevering even when the results are hard to see.

God is always moving with purpose

Many of our missionaries have endured hardships most of us will never face—displacement, danger, poverty, loss. Yet, we see a joy that comes from a deep trust in God’s faithfulness to bring all things together for good (Romans 8:28). Even when the path feels challenging in the face of being misunderstood, there’s a peace that comes from knowing there’s always more to the story than what’s being seen on the surface.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” –Isaiah 55:10-11

Walking together in faith