Former Naval man finds ministry niche with native missions group

DALLAS, Texas — With his Naval service and Bible college behind him, Taun Cortado was exploring several paths in which to serve Jesus. There was a management position at a Christian radio station in the mid-West, a missionary opportunity in Hungary, a possible church plant in Michigan, or he and wife, Diana, could stay in San Diego, where he was offered a six-month tutorship under the direction of his pastor.

Then he met K.P. Yohannan,

A soft-spoken man with a love for Jesus as big as his native India, it was Yohannan’s passion—for Christ and India—that prompted the Asian transplant to start Dallas-based Gospel for Asia.

Cortado was formally introduced to Yohannan after the former Navy man expressed interest in a possible ministry position with the organization. Cortado was already familiar with the group since sponsoring one of their native missionaries several years earlier. It was a ministry brochure, though, that beckoned Cortado to consider, “Are your dreams, ambitions and goals worth a million souls?”

“That really challenged me to think about the future,” he said.

During a brief, unscheduled encounter with Yohannan during a speaking engagement in 1999, the India native challenged Cortado to carefully consider the ramifications of his ministry goals.

Yohannan explained to the searching Cortado that, as a pastor, he could expect to have a circle of influence of about 250 people.

“‘Or you can affect the lives of millions for the rest of your life,” Cortado was told. “He prayed for me and left. The Lord challenged me (that) I should be considering the eternal significance of what I do.”

Still, there were issues.

“I remember praying, ‘Send me anywhere but Dallas, Texas,’” Cortado said.

Four months later, after lots more prayers and raising personal support—all GFA staff are required to raise their own support so that 100 percent of ministry donations goes directly to the mission field—the Cortados were heading to Dallas, to serve in the headquarters office.

There were other sacrifices.

But the remarkably simple philosophy of the native missionary movement, coupled with the servant’s heart mentality of Yohannan and his staff, drew the Cortados. Today he serves in various capacities including coordinator of the U.S. radio division, church relations and heading occasional tours to India for donors, sponsors and the media.

Parallel passion
In many ways, Cortado is an ideal representative for Yohannan and his cause. Both are soft-spoken and passionate about native missions. Both are an unassuming presence when entering a room.

Cortado has also traveled widely, having accepted Christ in 1979—the same year Yohannan founded Gospel for Asia—while serving the Navy in Spain. It was far removed from his childhood in Beacon Hill, Seattle, where he was raised a Jehovah Witness. Years later, he’s still enamored with the Pacific Northwest, calling it home. During his first decade as a believer, Cortado said he lived “in-and-out of the faith.”

Like his mentor, Cortado shares in Yohannan’s sometimes critical assessment of American evangelism, especially when it comes to reaching the 10/40 window, the area of Africa, Europe and Asia that sits north of the equator at 10 to 40 degrees. Up to two-thirds of the world’s population lives there, yet it’s the least evangelized.

Meager assistance
According to Gospel for Asia figures, the average Christian earns $31,000 annually and yet just 89 cents, he said, is spent to reach the lost in the 10/40 window.

“Its an abomination,” Cortado said. “We are shallow, we are hollow, we are plastic and we compromise with the world.”

Cortado said he believes the result is widespread accounts of powerful revival and miracles in Third World countries, why Americans follow it on television, radio and in magazines.

“Faith requires that you have to put it into practice,” he said. “We have welfare, we have public schools and an electronic grid that’s fairly reliable.

“If the church isn’t challenged, the church is wimpy, the church is selfish and the church is self-centered. We are not willing to sacrifice, we are not willing to suffer. Let’s face it, most Christians don’t tithe.”

Still, Cortado is confident the self-centered church is about to be challenged from an unlikely source.

“The younger generation just seems to be on fire and wants to get away from the trappings of the high church,” Cortado said. “They want to do something tangible for Christ. They are enthusiastic and ready to sacrifice. It’s not just a position in the church.”

Voice of the ministry
In his role in church relations, Cortado travels the nation, informing and inviting local churches and believers to become involved in Gospel for Asia’s booming ministry.

“I’m the voice of the native missionary to the American church,” he said. “I can’t do what they (native missionaries) do. They can’t do what I do, but together we can move the gospel forward.”

Their specialty, he said, is moving the gospel forward in good stewardship. According to Cortado the average cost to send a missionary and his family to the mission field, including training, relocation and living expenses, is $70,000. Gospel for Asia, using native missionaries, can do it for $1,500.

“There’s no furlough, there’s none of that stuff,” he said. “He goes in and lives his life among the people. What you see is what you get.”

Published by Keener Communications Group, October 2005

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