The early apostles did not call themselves Christians. They said that they followed the way. And within Judiasm, they were known as the disciples (or pupils) of Jesus. THis was not uncommon: if you were taught by someone, you were their disciple, and a good teacher hung onto you until you could do everything that they knew.

Barnabas and Paul, working with the Greek speaking cosmopolitan culture of a port city, did not limit themselves to teaching Jews. And a new term — Christian was made. Those Greeks loved labels.

Acts 11.

²⁰But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. ²²News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; ²⁴for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. ²⁵Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they associated with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”

People have not changed.There is no group who are resistant to the gospel, and no nation where the work of the gospel is smooth.  Christians have been evangelising across cultural “barriers” sincce the very beginnings of the church. This is not a product of Victorian imperialism. This happens despite oppression. being unfashionable, an it can not be stopped by any label. The history of the church over the last 2 000 years demostrates this. Those who say otherwise have not read their history.