6,000 Unreached People Groups? That Ought To Change Our Priorities
https://withinreachglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/6000-unreached-people-groups-that-ought-to-change-our-priorities-001-1024x707.jpg 1024 707 Within Reach Global Within Reach Global https://withinreachglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/6000-unreached-people-groups-that-ought-to-change-our-priorities-001-1024x707.jpgThere are roughly 6,000 people groups—distinct ethnic tribes—who have never heard of Jesus before.
Compound that number from people groups to individuals, and the numbers are staggering. Two and a half billion people who are waiting at the other end of our obedience—waiting for a ray of hope and love, and a touch of grace.
I don’t want you to hear that as a statistic. Those aren’t numbers. They are individuals, just like you and me. They have the same needs, wants, hurts and desires that you and I have. These people are somebody’s mother, somebody’s father, somebody’s child, somebody’s brother, somebody’s sister.
2,500,000,000+ people. Unreached. Unengaged. Forgotten.
In an age where we have every technological opportunity to spread the message of the gospel to the far edges of the planet, we are not doing all that we can do to bring the gospel to these people!
The truth is, we don’t really care about them. Because care brings concern, and concern breeds compassion.
When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ – Matthew 9:36-38
When is the last time you heard a message in church about unreached people groups? When was the last time you donated money to the specific purpose of reaching unengaged tribes? It’s not a hot topic, is it?
And yet, I do believe that Matthew 24:14 is a call for us to join God in ushering in the end of the age by complying with the stipulation he has placed upon himself—that until the gospel is taken to every distinct people group, the end will not come.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. – Matthew 24:14
Eternity hinges upon our response to the call of God.
(A few people who read my blog disagree with this. They have made it clear in their comments that they “don’t like my tone” on this point, or that my “theology is in error.” But what I would say is, “have you ever spoken with someone who has never, ever heard of Jesus before? Have you walked through village after village, community after community, and not found a single person with knowledge of the gospel?” The problem is, we don’t understand lostness! Especially in the context of the 10/40 Window tragedy.)
The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time – Carl F. H. Henry
I want to challenge you to pray for the unreached people groups that we are reaching at Within Reach Global. Then, once you’re done praying, let your concern transform into compassion, because compassion is empathy with wheels.
We need you to stand with us as we reach the forgotten ethnic tribes of Southeast Asia. We need you to play your part in bringing the gospel to those whose lives hang in the balance.