THE BARRIER
Student debt keeps qualified missionaries off the field.
Degrees Are Key
60% of the unreached live in countries that are closed to missionaries, but are open to college graduates.
Debt is real
Real tuition costs have grown by 2.6x since 1991.* Today, 55% of graduates have $28,400 in student debt.
Missionaries Are Stuck
Most missions sending agencies have a student debt limit for aspiring missionaries.
*Since 1991, inflation-adjusted tuition costs have grown by 2.58x (public four-year) and 1.97x (private nonprofit four-year)
Source: Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid (2021)
THE MOBILIZATION PARADOX
Higher Education is Strategic, but Student Debt Inhibits Missions Work
Why the Unreached?
Nearly 40% of the world still does not have access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, currently only 3% of the Christian missionary force is serving among them.
Why Long-Term?
Effective missions work begins with sharing the Gospel in the heart-language of the listener. Learning a language takes time, as does making disciples who make disciples.
Why foreign Workers?
Ideally, native workers will do the work of disciple-making. However, many places do not have a single native with the resources, knowledge, or scripture to do this work.