(5) Mission boards have not grasp the thrust of NT missions.

This can likewise be said for the large majority of Christian ministries proliferating today.

What is the primary, basic, essential thrust of New Testament missions then? The thrust is seen in the New Testament presentation of the growth of Christianity. Nothing has changed, or nothing should change from what we see there.

Missions and growth of Christianity is set by the New Testament president. Evangelism, discipleship, church planting. This is "missions" as the Bible presents it. This is the work of the Lord as defined by the Bible. See What is the work of the Lord But mission boards define the Lord's work as anything anybody does as long as he calls it "ministry".

For example, I met a family that are missionaries to China. They run an orphanage. I was very excited when I heard that in the mission's conference where I was this family was going to be there also. I purposely found the man, and sat beside him at a meal in this mission's conference. I asked him what problems he has in his church. He told me that the government has people watching them constantly, and they cannot have services or a church nor witness to anyone. Even their employees are checked by the government, and the government puts spies in among their employees (at least one is designated by the government and they have to accept him). This makes it impossible for them to even witness to the children in their care, much less have a church among them and teach them the Bible. But this missionary easily raised $6000+ a month income for this "ministry". Is this New Testament missions? I say no. The early Christians died for their faith, because they refused to be quiet. How can a Christian missionary accommodate himself to such a situation is beyond me. But what's more important, how can churches line up to take on his support when he by his own admission refuses to witness to Christ except to non-Chinese (living in China)?

For another example, what about single women in the mission field? A pastor is going to have a hard time allowing a single woman to be alone working in establishing a church. He knows that this is only done by a lot of preaching and teaching and dealing with difficult problems. How does a woman do this without infringing on the Bible's commands for the women to be silent in the church assembly when men are present? But this is encouraged by mission boards. Although they do not publicly admit it, the question is raised, how can a single woman plant a local church? You say, she is not doing that but rather she is witnessing. Good. Then if she is at all successful, where does she put or recommend her converts to go to church? Suppose she only works among women and children. When they get saved then what? They want a church. They want the father/husband to be saved. What happens if he does accept the Lord. The single missionary woman is again facing the same problem. The problems grow quickly no matter how you turn this around.

I do not see how any single missionary woman can work except under a male missionary church planter. (When she works with a couple, there is always stress because she is free to work with the male missionary, but the missionary mother and housewife is not free.)

In the end analysis of things, we do not need more Christian ministries. We need people who go to the lost, witness to them and see them saved, then get them baptized and disciplined and then to be active, participating members of a local church. This is biblical missions. Anything else is not. When biblical missions happens, God has another base of operations (another local church to support missions and send personnel) from which to work from. The kingdom of God has "grown" thereby, and this is missions. This is the principle thing, the priority, the norm for missions. But sadly church planting ministries are becoming scarce in our modern world. The glamour and glitz of Hollywood and Fifth Avenue advertising blows unsound ministries into the "best and most glamorous"  ministries around, easily attracting mission's dollars.