To the Ends of the Earth: Missions & Martyrs

Ashley and Bailee dig into evangelical missions culture and the complicated role it played in shaping their beliefs and experiences. We unpack the inner conflict of whether missions and international aid were truly helpful, how savior complexes were woven into the narrative, and the lasting impact on native communities — where work assumed to be “good” often perpetuated harm and reinforced colonialism.

We share our own experiences on missions — from the pressure to see it as a “calling” to the way famous missionaries were held up as models of “radical obedience.” Together, we reflect on what stuck with us, what we’ve had to unlearn, and how we’re reimagining service, connection, and responsibility outside of that framework.

Fact Check: 

• El Salvador’s brutal civil war lasted from 1979 to 1992. In the early 2000s it was gripped by poverty and gang violence, and was considered one of the world’s most violent countries. El Salvador remains under travel advisories today.

Mother Teresa Controversy:
*Source: Christopher Hitchens’ book, The Missionary Position

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