Greatest weakness of modern missions

Austin Gardner • July 2, 2022

 emphasized evangelism and church planting rather than leadership training

 J Herbert Kane in his book A Concise History of the Christian World Mission explains how evangelism and church planting have hurt the modern missionary movement. Read on and think it over. You do not have to agree but I beg you to think about it.



Included in the category of church leaders are pastors, evangelists, teachers, and Bible women. To this day the churches in the Third World lack adequately trained leadership. Some of this is the result of missionary activity, which emphasized evangelism and church planting rather than leadership training. John R. Mott said that this has been the greatest weakness of the modern missionary movement. We were so busy winning converts that we forgot to train church leaders. Many of the smaller churches on the mission field, because of their size, are without full-time leaders. Their leaders are dedicated laymen who practice their profession, ply their trade, or work their farms six days a week and on Sunday lead the church services.


Other interesting quotes and articles about leader training


Practicing Servant Leadership

Training Leaders of Leaders

Training Leaders of Leader 2

Greatest Weakness of Modern Missions




By Austin Gardner July 31, 2026
The gospel doesn't end with a decision. It leads every new believer into a family where grace, truth, and the Father's love can take root and grow.
By Austin Gardner July 30, 2026
Why the Great Commission Was Never Meant for a Select Few
By Austin Gardner July 29, 2026
A short history of missions, and the question it leaves us with
By Austin Gardner July 28, 2026
What National Believers Wish Every Missionary Understood Before Arriving
By Austin Gardner July 27, 2026
What Jesus' incarnation teaches missionaries about belonging, humility, and reaching people from the inside instead of the outside.
By Austin Gardner July 26, 2026
The Single Most Important Area of Ministry
By Austin Gardner July 25, 2026
Why Language Is the Doorway to Belonging
By Austin Gardner July 24, 2026
How Deep Relationships Turn Strangers into Family
By Austin Gardner July 23, 2026
Why Identification Makes a Message Land
By Austin Gardner July 22, 2026
How Hudson Taylor's humility transformed missions by putting people before culture