They are not commissioned to produce carbon copies of the home church in America. But as the standard of living in the Third World rises, material possessions do not put the missionaries out of touch with their national counterparts as they once did. In some cases, our missionaries may even have to consider a higher lifestyle in order to close the material gap. The very nature of cross-cultural church planting means that missionaries will only spend a few years in one place. Normally, they will not live in the same house more than one term.
Moves tend to become more difficult as the family becomes larger and as church planters grow older.
With their life purpose of planting new congregations ever before them, however, cross-cultural church planters realize that to remain in one place too long will keep them from fulfilling their purpose. Every field needs at least one cross-cultural church planter who has the mindset of a strategist. This does not mean, however, that the strategy which emerges is the product of his or her mind alone. The best strategists need input from others. It does mean that they are goal and objective oriented.