The Salween-Mekong Project · The Plan
The Plan
Our goal: every evangelist knows God’s Word well, and every Lisu village along the Salween hears the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our goal
Strong Lisu churches that can support themselves
We want to train evangelists and leaders in God’s Word so they can share the gospel, teach others, and help church members grow into mature Christians who support themselves and their own churches. The years below count from when the project starts.
Starting now
We send our first 25 evangelists
Our evangelists are already trained. We start by sending 25 of them (five from each country), while Bible classes continue every two months and new churches start where people come to faith.
Within 20 years of the project starting
Every Lisu village has heard the gospel
No village is left out, and every village with Christians has a church.
Within 30 years of the project starting
Lisu churches send their own missionaries
The churches train their own leaders and send out missionaries from their own members.
Why the Lisu church has slowed
Four reasons, and how the plan answers each one
The Lisu church grew fast about 100 years ago, but its growth has slowed. These are the four main reasons. The plan is built to answer them.
1
Too little Bible teaching
Many Lisu have no access to good Bible education, or no money to study, so evangelism and discipleship have suffered.
2
No support after foreign teachers left
When foreign teachers left, Lisu believers were left without a support system or accountability to keep growing.
3
Poor villages cannot pay pastors
Many communities cannot support their pastors and evangelists, who must take full-time jobs, so the work stalls.
4
Families depend on growing opium
Where opium is the main crop sold for money, a new believer can hardly support a family. Teaching other crops and trades gives families another way to earn a living.
The five kinds of work
What the project will do
01
Train evangelists and leaders
A four-year Bible and leadership course, taught step by step, with some going on to master’s or doctoral study. Intensive classes of up to two weeks meet every two months, and a new class starts every year.
- Each evangelist teaches at least 10 others every year
- Goal: 70% of students finish in four years with good grades (a 3.0 GPA or higher)
- 80% of graduates serve in their own communities or new fields
- Once a year: a conference for students and workers. Once every 3 to 5 years: a large convention
02
Send local evangelists
Lisu evangelists who have graduated from Bible studies with Asians for Christ go out to the areas assigned to them. Each is supported with travel and fair wages until the local church can support him, and a new group is sent every five years.
- A report from every evangelist, every month
- Evangelists work full time and take classes several times a year
03
Start new churches and strengthen them
When at least 10 households in a village become Christians, a church is started. In some areas, 4 to 5 new churches a year. We help buy the land as a loan, and the church pays it back. A committee oversees each building.
- Up to 10 church buildings a year
- A week-long intensive for 50 to 200 church leaders, once or twice a year
04
Camps, children’s homes and other ministries
Ministries that meet real needs and open doors for the gospel, each with a trained leader and support until it can run on its own.
- A week-long youth camp and a women’s conference each year, 100 to 500 each
- Up to one children’s home for as many as 40 at-risk children, cared for by a trained Christian couple
- 2 to 3 other ministries a year: drug rehab, mental health, gospel media and music, and relief after disasters or war
05
Teach families skills to earn a living
Within 10 years of the project starting, classes in each country teach honest ways to earn a living, so families can turn away from growing opium, drug dealing and prostitution, and churches can support themselves.
- 2 to 3 classes a year, taught by experts: coffee farming, small business, handcrafts and more
- Goal: 70 to 80% of those attending put the new skills to work
How we stay accountable
Every worker reports. Every gift is tracked.
Monthly reports
Every evangelist, church plant and ministry reports each month, including new believers.
A count of every village, every year
A survey of every village, every year, counts Christians, leaders and missionaries to track the spread of the gospel.
Tests and attendance
Students are tested before and after their classes, and attendance is taken at every class and conference.
Receipts and weekly building checks
Church construction is checked every week, with receipts collected and reports filed.
Surprise visits
Ministries are visited at random to confirm the work is real and needed.
Photos and recordings
Events, classes and buildings are documented so partners can see the work.
More about the project
See the ways to give and read the story
Board members, churches and partners can ask for the complete written proposal.
Overview
What the project is, where the two rivers are, and why we start with 25 evangelists.
Our Story
How Stephen grew up in a Lisu village that feared spirits, came to Jesus, and has seen more than 5,000 people baptized in the past 10 years.
Budget & Giving
Support one of the first 25 evangelists, give a one-time gift, and see the full budget.
