This glossary serves as a helpful resource for Australian Christians seeking to better understand and engage with global missions.
A rapidly multiplying movement of churches that plant new churches, with the goal of spreading the gospel widely and creating self-sustaining faith communities.
Ethnic or cultural groups where there are not enough local believers to share the gospel effectively without outside assistance.
A subset of Unreached People Groups (UPGs) that have no known church-planting efforts and little to no access to the gospel or missionary presence.
A subset of Unreached People Groups (UPGs) where there is little to no known Christian presence, often with no indigenous churches or mission efforts among them.
Individuals who leave their home culture to serve in a different cultural setting, sharing the message of Jesus and helping local believers grow in faith.
The biblical model where churches and individuals support cross-cultural workers through prayer, encouragement, financial giving, and practical assistance.
A process where cross-cultural workers build a team of supporters who provide financial and prayer support, recognizing that mission work is a shared responsibility.
A period of time when cross-cultural workers return to their home country to reconnect with supporters, update churches on their ministry, and rest before returning to the field.
Small cards with a missionary’s photo, ministry details, and prayer requests, designed to remind supporters to pray regularly for their work.
Nations where religious freedom is limited, requiring creative approaches for sharing the gospel safely.
Regular communication from cross-cultural workers to their supporters, providing updates on their ministry and specific prayer needs.
The work of translating the Bible into different languages, often for communities that have no written Scripture, enabling them to read and understand God’s word in their heart language.
A strategy where believers take up regular employment in a foreign country while sharing their faith in natural, relational ways.
A focus on training new believers to immediately begin making disciples themselves, leading to exponential growth in faith communities.
The study of mission strategies, cultural contexts, and theological foundations that shape how the gospel is shared effectively across different people groups.
Approaches used to enter and live in countries where traditional mission work is restricted, often through business, education, or humanitarian efforts.