What it takes to
get in the field.
Meet the Jamesons. A young family of four—Matthew, Rachel, and their two children—have responded to God’s call to bring the Gospel to one of the world’s most overlooked people groups:
…The Kucong of China & Vietnam.
The Kucong of China & Vietnam.
✅ An ethnic minority with little to no access to the Gospel.
✅ Over 500,000 Kucong people are spread across remote mountain regions
✅ Many speak only their local dialect and practice animistic religions.
✅ Bible translation in their heart language is incomplete, and there are almost no known believers among them.
The Road to
the Field is Long
The Jamesons can’t do this alone. And their journey is not short… The estimated timeline: 5 - 7 years!
Before they even leave home…
Costs vary greatly depending on the ministry destination, but the average missionary raises around $70,000 for a family of four.
This typically takes 12 - 18 months of meetings and asks.
Each early exit represents:
Years of preparation lost
Tens of thousands of donor dollars spent
Unfinished ministry
Discouraged communities back home
Unreached people still unreached
Once they reach the field…
It’s not uncommon. 47% missionaries leave the field within the first 5 years.
The reasons? Isolation, poor communication systems, fundraising fatigue, cultural stress, or lack of visibility.
Each early exit represents:
Years of preparation lost
Tens of thousands of donor dollars spent
Unfinished ministry
Discouraged communities back home
Unreached people still unreached
The Hidden Cost of Sending
Sending a missionary family isn’t cheap—and it’s not just about flights or housing.
Estimated “Get in the Field” Budget: $75,000–$120,000
Estimated Monthly Support: $6,000–$8,000/month
Here’s what it covers:
Training & Certifications
Language School & Tutors
Visas & Immigration
Healthcare & Insurance
Housing, furniture, vehicles
Childcare & Education
Local Transportation
Media & Communication Tools
They’re Not Alone: It Takes a Village!
Every missionary is backed by a village of supporters and professionals, often invisible to the outside world:
✅Sending Organization
Mobilizer – guides the family through early decisions
Supervisor – oversees their growth & direction
HR Team – handles documentation and benefits
Director – connects vision to strategic goals
IT & Tech Support – ensures safe, secure communication
Marketing & Media – helps them share stories
Language Helpers & Tutors
✅Home Church Network
Pastor & Elders – provide spiritual oversight
Missions Committee – champions fundraising and logistics
Church Friends & Groups – moral and relational support
✅Support Team
50–100 individual givers, monthly donors, and prayer partners
Support Raising Coach
Mentors
Prayer partners
What Happens When They Burn Out? 📉
It’s not uncommon. 47% missionaries leave the field within the first 5 years.
The reasons? Isolation, poor communication systems, fundraising fatigue, cultural stress, or lack of visibility.
Each early exit represents:
Years of preparation lost
Tens of thousands of donor dollars spent
Unfinished ministry
Discouraged communities back home
Unreached people still unreached
We build villages that keep missionaries in the field.
With the right tools and training, missionaries are set up for decades of strong ministry.
See what a strong village looks like >>
450,000 missionaries…
over 65-80 million
active Christians in the US alone.
We can’t build villages
without you.
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We can always connect you with an awesome missionary, or you can use these great prayer resources created by some other awesome ministries: Voice of the Martyrs, Pioneers, Joshua Project.
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We’re calling all nerds to use Your Nerd Powers for Jesus. Use those hard-earned technical skills to build new tools for missionaries working in the field. We have a couple of spots, but another great resource is Switchboard.io.
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Missionaries are poor. Help us equip them with some of the best tools in the world and set them up for decades of impactful ministry.
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We don’t send missionaries, but we have some great friends who do!
You are the village, literally. The mission can not be finished without you.
What is your part?
