What Is the History of Christian Missionaries in South Asia?

Jesus’ disciple Bartholomew may have been one of the first missionaries to bring the New Testament to one country in South Asia. It is said he left behind a copy of the Gospel of Matthew. He was followed, most likely, by Thomas the Apostle and Bishop David of Basra. This all took place within the first three centuries following Christ’s ascension.[1]

Ancient texts tell of the rise of the church through Christian missionaries in South Asia.[2] Myth and tradition surround the early era of Christianity in South Asia. Geography and commerce also played a major role in who, when and where missionaries made an impact.

The 15th and 16th centuries brought waves of Catholic missionary orders, such as the Franciscans, Jesuits, Augustinians and Dominicans, as they followed new sea routes into South Asia. Among these early visitors was Francis Xavier, a Jesuit Catholic missionary. His journeys along the coasts of early modern South Asia and nearby regions helped introduce Christian teaching and worship in local languages and communities.[3] One of the earliest known Christian texts in one South Asian language, the Portuguese–Tamil Primer of 1554, shows how trade, empire and Christian faith were already beginning to intersect in this part of the world.

By the 19th century, new waves of Protestant missionaries were also serving in Asia, often alongside emerging local churches that were learning to stand on their own.[4] Christian women such as Amy Carmichael from Ireland, who spent decades in South Asia caring for girls and young women, modeled a steady, sacrificial Christian faith expressed through humble service.[5] During the same era, Lottie Moon—a Southern Baptist missionary from the United States who labored in China—helped mobilize believers and local churches at home to pray, give and send more workers to share the Good News around the world.[6] The stories of these Christian women continue to encourage both women and men today as they look for gentle, culturally sensitive ways to share the Good News and strengthen local churches in South Asia and beyond.[7]

No missionary work is easy. The complexities of many South Asian countries—from culture to language to geography—have long made missions especially challenging. GFA World recognizes and appreciates these possible barriers and is able to meet them with exceptional understanding because GFA missionaries are from the country in which they serve.

One of the unique aspects of GFA’s missionary program is the training and support of women. These women missionaries take tender care and love to some of the most vulnerable of South Asia: widows, women and children. A GFA woman missionary is able to approach a woman in her home without misinterpretations and can establish true friendships that create trust.


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