Defining Unreached Areas and People
It is necessary to prioritize and focus on areas of the world with no Christian witness because every person deserves the chance to hear the gospel and respond. Focusing mission work on unreached people groups ensures that those who have never had access to the message of Christ receive that opportunity. An area or people group is considered unreached if there is no viable indigenous church able to evangelize their people.
Often, there are formidable barriers of language, culture, prejudice, or lack of Christian witness, preventing an unreached group from responding positively to the gospel. Churches can participate in frontier missions through several practical means. Allocating a percentage of the missions’ budget for unreached areas will help fund work among them. Setting prayer initiatives for unreached groups raises awareness and intercession (Lausanne Movement, 2016; Winter & Koch, 2002).
Furthermore, sending short-term teams to unreached areas exposes church members to needs and opportunities, and adopting an unreached group for regular prayer and support connects the congregation emotionally. Finally, partnering with missionaries and organizations targeting the unreached provides practical assistance.
Practical Solutions to Addressing “The Great Imbalance”
The article “Finishing the Task” shows a significant imbalance between mission efforts among reached versus unreached people. As the data show, only about 2.4% of missionaries currently work among the unreached, while 97.6% work in reached areas (Winter & Koch, 2002). Addressing this imbalance can involve educating Christians on the need, promoting the adoption of specific unreached groups, increasing sending of missionaries to unreached fields, and funding evangelism efforts among unreached peoples. As more understand the disparity, they can help mobilize prayer and resources to address it.
Thus, mobilizing more workers from Asia, Africa, and Latin America can help fill the gap. It is also necessary to develop unique training programs to equip missionaries to work effectively in unreached areas dominated by Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism (Winter & Koch, 2002). There is also a need to develop strategic partnerships between churches and missions in different countries to reach specific unreached groups. Prioritizing personnel, money, and prayer for the unreached is vital.
The world’s unreached people must be a top priority. As churches catch this vision, they can participate in tangible ways through giving, prayer, sending, and partnership. Focusing strategic efforts among those without access to the gospel will allow Christ to be glorified in every nation.
References
Lausanne Movement. (2016). State of the World – Jason Mandryk & Molly Wall – YLG2016 [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Winter, R. D., & Koch, B. A. (2002). Finishing the task: The unreached peoples challenge. International Journal of Frontier Missions, 19(4), 15-25. Web.
