What role did missionaries play in the spanish colonies?

Answer 1

The question, written in past tense, suggests that missionaries are a thing of the past. Actually, there are probably more Christian missionaries today than ever before.

Missionaries believe they are carrying out the Great Commission of Jesus in a very literal way. Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 (among other places) describe the goal to go into all the world, acting as witnesses of Jesus, and making disciples (students) of Jesus.

This goal of sharing Christ's message and creating disciples demonstrates itself in a number of ways. Among these include:

-Direct proclamation of the Gospel message and evangelism

-Church-planting

-Relief or crisis response ministry

-Training (both religious and secular)

-Social justice

-Community development

There are presently close to a quarter million Christians worldwide who would describe themselves as missionaries. The United States churches are the largest sender of missionaries (with still large numbers from other traditional missionary sending countries). However, "2/3 world countries" such as South Korea, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Philippines (among others) have a large number of missionaries and/or are rapidly increasing the missionaries sent. Additionally, there are millions of people who involve themselves in short-term mission projects.

Answer 2

They led settlers through the mountain passes.