What was Spain purpose in building the missions?

The Spanish had multiple purposes for building missions. Their primary goal was to convert the indigenous peoples of the Americas to Catholicism and bring them under the Spanish colonial rule. Other purposes included expanding the Spanish Empire, gaining access to natural resources and valuable commodities, and establishing a military presence in the region. By constructing missions, the Spanish sought to create self-sustaining communities that could support their religious and economic goals, while also facilitating their control over the native population.