We must teach and train our people to the point that they can make decisions, follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit and call their own pastors. They will not be able to do so until they really learn the basic principles from the word of God and how to apply them. Train up a church in the way it should go and when it is indigenous it will not depart from it.

The indigenous church is also self supporting. That means that the church must mature to a point that they can pay all of their bills and support their own pastor. For this reason, we must begin to teach them to tithe and give from day one. We must not do their giving because we feel sorry for their poverty. Much of their poverty is due to the fact that they do not know God’s word and have not learned to tithe and give. We must teach them exactly what God says about that.

The church must learn to pay its pastor and it must have a pastor. Many missionaries who were never full time pastors and have never started a church in the States do not seem to understand the plight of the pastor. If I am to live of the gospel he is to live of the gospel. Having the people learn how to tithe in no way hurts them. If God’s word is true for us, it is true for them. If tithing works in the United States, it will work overseas. It calls for much sacrifice and faith but without that they will never learn what it means to serve God. We must teach the church members the importance of the work of God and therefore of the man of God. We must magnify the office of the pastor and teach them why he must live of the gospel. We must also be careful to explain all from the word of God.

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and [as] the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

(Paul the apostle was not making the churches pay his way but Peter–Cephas not only was a burden to the churches but carried his wife with him.)

Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

(Paul wants to know if only he and Barnabas do not have the right to be full time preachers because he implies the rest are not “working.”) This word “power” means (according to Strong’s Concordance): power, authority, right, liberty, jurisdiction, strength, power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; leave or permission.

Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he [it] altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, [this] is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of [this] power over you, [are] not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live [of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for [it were] better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me. What is my reward then? [Verily] that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. I Corinthians 9:3-18

The verse here says that the Lord ordained that they live of the gospel and that leaves us without the option of doing what we want. The word “ordained” means; “command, appoint, ordain, set in order, give order, to arrange, prescribe.” (Strong’s)

Other verses teach us the same truth. Note the following verses in Matthew. We must be careful to understand that what God says in one language to one people he says to the others also.

{Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.} {Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,} {Nor scrip for [your] journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.} Matthew 10:8-10

The word “communicate” here means: be partaker, communicate, distribute, to come into communion or fellowship with, to become a sharer, be made a partner, to enter into fellowship, join one’s self to an associate, make one’s self a sharer or partner.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer [is] worthy of his reward. I Timothy 5:17-18

Philippians 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

The first answer almost everyone has is that even though Paul preached that the preacher should live of the gospel, he did not practice it. However you will find a verse below where he realized that he had been wrong. If we do everything for them and are not careful to make them carry all the responsibility that they can, we will damage the work of God. They will consider it inferior to what it really is. They will also feel inferior to other churches. Paul did make tents, but here he says to the church where he made tents: “Forgive me the wrong of not being a burden to you.”

II Corinthians 12:13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except [it be] that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

Let me hasten to say here that we must teach the preacher to sacrifice and pay whatever price necessary to do the work of gospel lest he be a hireling. We must at the same time teach the people their responsibility in taking care of their pastor. Please remember to be careful when you teach the national about living by faith. Share your testimony with him. As you speak of faith he sees your standard of living. He knows that you are not suffering in comparison with him. Be careful to not make him a hireling nor to teach him to lust after what you have as you tell him that he is to live by faith.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Philippians 4:11-12

I Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

If we have taught them to be self governing and then self supporting they can then reach the status of a real indigenous church when they reach out and start another local church, telling them how to do the work. They have learned and can now do the job. The missionaries’ job is to start a church that can start churches. Therefore we must teach and prepare them for a great work. Until they know how to make decisions and seek God’s face they will not be able to teach others to do so. Until they can support their pastor, pay the expenses of the church, and give to missions they will not be able to reach out and do it in another place. We have not reached indigenous status until we fulfill the great commission and go into the whole world.