Missionaries

Brethren churches have for many years been supportive of and active in missionary works. 'Proportionate to numbers the Christian Brethren have perhaps the highest numbers of missionaries in the field.' (Ward and Humphreys, Religious Bodies in Australia, 3rd edition, page 130) Brethren missionaries may serve under the Brethren name Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML), but there are also many who serve with other missionary organisations such as Wycliffe Bible Translators, MECO, Missionary Aviation Fellowship, Operation Mobilisation, New Tribes Mission, and others. Those acting under the CMML banner often have served in an unsalaried capacity, looking to the Lord in faith to supply all needs, including financial; the disproportionately high number of Brethren missionaries has in some part been explained by the tendency of assemblies not to have a salaried pastor, enabling funds to be channeled into missionary activities.

In Victoria, the Missionary Advisory Council (MAC) gives advice to assemblies and to individuals who are contemplating missionary service. Individual assemblies are able to commend individuals to missionary service; the endorsement of the MAC is given to those whose missionary activities are seen to represent Brethren assemblies generally.

Organisations similar to Victoria's Missionary Advisory Council operate in other states, and throughout Australia the Australian Missionary Tidings magazine publishes reports of the missionary labours of Brethren missionaries.

Working within Victoria are a number of full-time workers commended as representing the work of Christian Brethren assemblies within the state. These are named missioners.