Writing from over three decades of experience serving God in the mission fields of China, John Nevius provides a critical and vitally important look at missionary methods still commonly used in the 21st century that are crippling indigenous churches and hindering the real spread of the Gospel. This book outlines what later became known as "The Nevius Plan" and seeks to counteract the popular idea that rapidly hiring and supporting large numbers of native evangelists to proclaim the Gospel message is Biblical, helpful and the best way to reach a people group. Nevius proves both from the pages of Scripture, and years of his own difficult experiences in China, that this is not the case. The path to patiently planting and developing healthy, missionary churches lies in the age-old methods of the Bible, and not in the schemes and plans of men that promise rapid growth and fast results. This is recommended reading for anyone involved in foreign missions, supporting foreign missionaries, or involved in some way with church planting projects.