Q&A with Clint

We sat down with Clint Lyons to talk about iReach Global’s commitment to working through local frontline workers, and what it means for the future of this ministry.

Q: Why is iReach committed to working through local frontline workers rather than sending missionaries from the outside?

A: My co-founder Toby and I both served as missionaries to Africa ourselves, and we saw firsthand what local workers can do that we never could as Westerners. We’d show up, love people, and serve faithfully, but we were always outsiders. Local workers aren’t. They already speak the language, they understand the culture, and they can build trust that takes an outsider years to earn, if ever. We know that local believers can go where foreign missionaries often can’t. That’s why we’re so committed to this model for ministry. We believe God has designed it for lasting transformation.

Q: What difference does it make when a local is the one doing the work on the ground rather than someone from outside the community?

A: It changes everything. When one neighbor shares the gospel with another neighbor, there’s no cultural gap to overcome first. People don’t wonder if their neighbor will leave in a few years. They know it’s someone who’s staying. That’s why we invest so heavily in equipping and standing behind our frontline workers. Because they’re not just delivering a message. They’re the ever-present hands and feet of Jesus in these communities.