I assume by Missionaries, you mean those who came to
spread Christianity. Those who came to the Americas usually came in the wake of European
settlers/conquerors. Religion tended to follow conquest, and more efforts were made to
destroy existing religious structures than to spread the Gospel. A tremendous amount of
historical treasure was destroyed by Catholic Priests in Mesoamerica in the name of
ridding the area of "Idolatry." Reception was somewhat passive resistant; with the
possible exception of Pope's Rebellion in the American Southwest, in which Pueblo
Indians attacked Spanish/Catholic settlements and drove out Catholic
priests.
In North America, Native Americans were sometimes
forced to accept Christianity. In New England, they were treated as the "lost tribe of
Satan," and many were destroyed. In one instance, and entire palisade of Indian women
and children were burned to death, an event for which Cotton Mather "gave praise to God
for a sweet sacrifice." Some Indians were forced to accept Christianity and became
"praying Indians" in "Praying towns."
The reception in Asia
was much more resistant. The first true missionary to China was John of Montecorvino,
who attempted to baptize Chinese children wholesale. He failed to build an established
Church because the Chinese were by nature not inclined to organized
religion.
In both China and Japan, there was enforced
isolationism whic included religious practitioners. Although Portuguese Jesuits managed
to gain a small foothold in Japan, they were generally opposed. Many times those who
promoted Christianity were crucified (an ironic twist) as a warning to others. Even
today, Christians are a small minority in Asia.
An
excellent resource you might enjoy reading is Giles Milton's Samurai
William. Jame's Clavell's Shogun is based on this true
story.
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