EMQ Article

Missionaries as Mediators Between Donors and Recipients

By Jim Harries | Missionaries often mediate between donors and recipients who have little shared understanding of each other’s contexts. Donor expectations can sometimes pressure missionaries to act in ways that are culturally inappropriate or ineffective.

October 15, 2026

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EMQ » Oct - Dec 2026 » Volume 62 Issue 4

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Women and children gather for a cultural or community event indoors. — A refuge center in South Asia for women and children. Courtesy of IMB.

Summary: Missionaries often mediate between donors and recipients who have little shared understanding of each other’s contexts. Donor expectations can sometimes pressure missionaries to act in ways that are culturally inappropriate or ineffective. Jim Harries proposes that missionaries should act as trusted mediators who translate local contexts to donors. This would help to bring some balance to the relationship between donors, missionaries, and local people. Missionaries could then focus on locally appropriate ministry and be less perceived as conduits for foreign funding.

By Jim Harries

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