missionaries

(noun)

Members of a religious group sent into an area to evangelize or offer ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.

Related Terms

Examples of missionaries in the following topics:

  • The Catholic Church

    • After the destruction of the Western Roman Empire, the church in the West was a major factor in preserving classical civilization, establishing monasteries, and sending missionaries to convert the peoples of northern Europe as far north as Ireland.
    • Pope Gregory the Great played a notable role in these conversions and dramatically reformed the ecclesiastical structures and administration, which then launched renewed missionary efforts.
    • In this environment, Christianity spread from Roman Britain to Ireland, especially aided by the missionary activity of Saint Patrick.
    • Soon, Irish missionaries such as Saints Columba and Columbanus spread this Christianity, with its distinctively Irish features, to Scotland and the Continent.
    • Soon, important English missionaries such as Saints Wilfrid, Willibrord, Lullus, and Boniface would begin evangelizing their Saxon relatives in Germany.

  • Namibia

    • One of the first European groups to show interest in Namibia were the missionaries.
    • In 1805 the London Missionary Society began working in Namibia, moving north from the Cape Colony.
    • In the 1840s the German Rhenish Mission Society started working in Namibia and co-operating with the London Missionary Society.

  • The Kingdoms of Madagascar

    • Ratsimilaho's successors gradually weakened the union, leaving it vulnerable to the growing influence and presence of European and particularly French settlers, slave traders, missionaries and merchants.
    • Due to the influence of British missionaries, the Merina upper classes converted to Protestantism entirely in the mid-19th century, following the example of their queen, Ranavalona II.
    • Christianity, introduced by members of the London Missionary Society, was made the state religion under Queen Ranavalona II and her prime minister, highly influential statesman Rainilaiarivony.

  • Calvinism

    • After the establishment of the Geneva academy in 1559, Geneva became the unofficial capital of the Protestant movement, providing refuge for Protestant exiles from all over Europe and educating them as Calvinist missionaries.
    • These missionaries dispersed Calvinism widely, and formed the French Huguenots in Calvin's own lifetime, as well as causing the conversion of Scotland under the leadership of the cantankerous John Knox in 1560.

  • The Caste System

    • The illustrations were made by an Indian writing master and presented to an American missionary school in 1836.

  • Louis XIV and the Huguenots

    • Protestant peasants rebelled against the officially sanctioned dragonnades (conversions enforced by dragoons, labeled "missionaries in boots") that followed the Edict of Fontainebleau.

  • Culture and Religion in Pre-Islamic Arabia

    • The northwest was under the influence of Christian missionary activity from the Roman Empire, where the Ghassanids, residents of a client kingdom of the Romans, were converted to Christianity.

  • Expansion of the Maurya Empire

    • He sent out missionaries to travel around Asia and spread Buddhism to other countries.

  • Spread of Islam

    • Conversion to Islam was boosted by missionary activities, particularly those of Imams, who easily intermingled with local populace to propagate religious teachings.

  • The Rise of the Monasteries

    • Monks provided service to the church by copying manuscripts, creating art, educating people, and working as missionaries.