Why near-culture?
As Global Disciples, our “near-culture” approach to missions is what sets us apart. We are committed to training indigenous Christians who live near or have access to people still without the Good News of Jesus. It is easier for these indigenous disciples to relate to people and share the Gospel because they speak a similar language or a have familiar cultural background. That bridges the gap and creates deep, authentic connections with the people they want to reach. Our local trainers often report that when people see a near-culture disciple—someone who looks and sounds a lot like them—it overcomes the suspicion or distrust of Christianity as a “Western” or “foreign” religion, and they are more willing to listen and learn.