Unreached Peoples

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Matthew 24:14 ESV

Did you know that 1/3 of the world has been denied access to the Good News?

That’s right. About 3 billion people are cut off from hearing Jesus’ name.

During Pentecost, the Spirit came upon the apostles like fire, and they began preaching in the tongues of those gathered there “from every nation under heaven,” leading thousands to faith in Christ. Those languages and countries are many of the very places in the world that are now closed off to the gospel message:

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearingJews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 

Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians (today’s region of Khorāsān in Iran), Medes (today’s Kurds) and Elamites (far west and southwest of modern-day Iran, stretching from the lowlands of what is now Khuzestan); residents of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq and parts of Iran, Syria and Turkeyknown as the Fertile Crescent), Judea (southern part of the region of Israel and part of the West Bank) and Cappadocia (central Anatolia, in the heartland of what is now Turkey), Pontus (eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey) and Asia, Phrygia (west central part of Anatolia, in what is now Asian Turkey, centred on the Sangarios River) and Pamphylia (southern coast of modern Turkey), Egypt and the parts ofLibya near Cyrene (North African coast near present-day Shahhat, a town in north-eastern Libya); visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”Acts 2:1-12 NIV

Because of this miraculous event in Scripture, many churches across the world set aside time on Pentecost Sunday each year to pray for the unreached to hear the gospel of Christ in a way they can easily understand.

Most unreached people groups (UPGs) live in nations closed off to the Gospel message because of oppressive governments and/or religions. Missionaries are forbidden, Christians are persecuted, and seekers risk their lives just by asking a question about Jesus.

Nearly 7,500 people groups are considered unreached, 90% of those in closed countries. And about 4,000 languages still have no Scripture portions at all, much less the whole Bible.

In the map above, the red areas are nations where Christians are persecuted. To the right of the nation’s name is the number of unreached people groups there. A “people group” is an ethnic population bound together by common language, culture, religion and/or other features which set them apart from the peoples around them. An unreached people group (UPG) has little or no way to hear the Good News about Christ. (For detailed information on all unreached people groups worldwide, visit JoshuaProject.net.)

Father please have mercy. More than 40% of the world’s population has yet to hear the Good News about Christ. Some unreached people groups are forbidden by law to convert to another religion. Others are isolated by rough terrain and lack of roads. Many languages still have no Scripture, and some don’t even have a writing system of their own yet. Many millions of people, especially in Asia and the Middle East, have never met a Christian. With no Bible and no witness, they live and die in total darkness. Speak to them in their dreams. Call out missionaries who will learn their languages and cross barriers to share the gospel with them. Give them access to the internet and connect them to Christian websites. Guide them to underground churches and brave believers willing to risk their lives to lead the lost to faith. Make a way for the Bible to be translated into every language and made available in a form they can easily understand. Lead persons of peace from UPGs to learn another language, hear the Word, and then take the Gospel back to their people. Tear down every idol and barrier. If the enemy has blinded the lost to Truth, then take the plaster off their eyes and show them Christ. May those not called by Your name seek You, find You and at last be known as Yours. Preach Your truth in every tongue in every language under Heaven, for what seems impossible unto man is not through You. Through You, all things are possible. We ask You now for signs and miracles and wonders, for dreams and visions from Your heart, for each one to hear Your Good News in their own heart language, for millions — even billions — to place their faith in You, for Your Kingdom to come to every nation and every heart all throughout the earth, and for every door closed to be opened now, in the name of Jesus!

Most of the world’s 7,425 UPGs have been cut off from the good news about Christ by

• Language barriers, such as
  • The Bible or other Christian materials have not yet been translated into their language.
  • There are no Christians who speak that language, no Christian witness among them.
• Illiteracy or no access to internet, radio, etc.
• Geographic barriers that make UPGs difficult to access, such as high mountains, deserts, jungles, rivers, ice and snow, lack of roads, etc.
• Anti-conversion laws — governments forbidding someone of one religion to choose another and/or forbidding Christians to share their faith.
• Government restrictions against churches, missionaries, Christian materials, evangelism
• Tribal, religious, family or other social opposition
• Spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 4:4)

So, what is this good news governments and religious leaders feel so threatened by?

There is only one God. He is the Creator of the Universe, infinite, all-powerful, perfect, holy. He created us because He loves us and wants us to enjoy Him and love others through His love. That is our whole reason for living. But sin (our prideful, selfish thoughts and actions) separates us from this holy God, preventing us from enjoying the abundant life and freedom we were created for. (John 10:10) Yet, still He loves us—so much, in fact, that He sent His Son Jesus to make the way for us to be reconciled to Him. (John 3:16) Jesus was born both fully God and fully human. Although he faced all the same frustrations and temptations we do, He did not sin. He preached and performed miracles to show us how much God loves us—healing the sick, lame, blind and deaf; casting out demons from those who were troubled; multiplying food for the hungry; calming storms: and even raising people from the dead. But the religious leaders—those who said they served God—hated Him. They spread lies about Him and arranged for Him to be executed (nailed to a wooden cross).

Yet, this was God’s plan all along. Our sin deserves death, but Jesus died in our place, a perfect sacrifice. Three days later, He rose from the dead. His resurrection is recorded in history. (More than 5oo people saw Him.) Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NIV). He is the only way we can be reconciled to God and have eternal life. When we believe in Jesus and turn away from our sin to follow Him instead, we receive His forgiveness and step into God’s loving, good purposes for our lives. What’s more, He promises us eternal life in Heaven, where every tear is wiped away. The demons tremble at Jesus’ name—and so do governments and false religions—because His Kingdom is not one of killing, stealing and destroying like earthly kingdoms are; but of abundant life. (John 10:10) When we choose to believe in Jesus and let Him be our Lord and King, His Spirit fills our hearts and lives with love, joy, peace (Galatians 5:22-23) and true freedom no earthly power can take away.

Do you want this free gift? (Ephesians 2:8-9) God is waiting here right now, with His arms open wide. Believe in Jesus, receive His free gift of grace, and choose to follow this One whose way is love. Let Him transform your heart, and you will never be the same again.

Unreached People Group Maps and Numbers by Region:

Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through giving a donation, shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, praying for them or inviting them to speak at your church, retreat or other event, click the buttons below:

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