An alliance for the unreached people groups will make Pentecost a day with a special focus on those who have not yet had a chance to hear about Jesus.
The first Pentecost marked the beginning of the gospel going to the farthest corners of the earth. Imagine a revived movement of believers reaching the hardest corners of the earth for Christ until all have heard the only message that can give lasting hope, writes the Alliance for the Unreached on its website.
Big entities like Missio Nexus, Partners International and Operation Mobilization are behind the alliance that wants to bring more attention to the world´s unreached people groups. According to Joshua Project there are still 6,997 people groups in this category. The total number of people in these groups is 3.16 billion.
Prayer is crucial
Jason Mandryk, the author of Operation World, underlines that the number of people who are beyond the reach of the gospel, is growing year by year. He encourages people to pray for those who do not have access to the gospel.
The power of prayer knows no boundaries, requires no visas, is not owned by any denomination or ministry, can reach atop the highest mountain, to the deepest valley, and into the darkest corner of every human heart. It is our privilege and responsibility to be a part of the beauty and glory of praying for the unevangelized and least reached peoples, he writes on the alliance´s website.
Not optional
Larry Andrews, a spokesman for the alliance, explains how the word “and” is very important in the great commission Jesus gives in Acts 1:8: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. ”
Jesus does not ask his disciples to choose one of the places to go, Jerusalem, or Judea or Samaria, or to the ends of the earth. He expects them to preach his good news in every part of the world, even to the remotest unreached peoples, he says.
One percent
According to Mission Network News only one percent of the money given to foreign missions is targeted towards reaching the unreached. The Alliance for the Unreached hopes that a special day with focus on the least reached people groups will change the priorities. The alliance has developed resources that are available for churches and organizations who want to get involved in a new way. Larry Andrews encourages everyone to pray about how to take part.
Pray that God will show you how to use your unique gifts and passions to spread the good news of Christ. Pray also that he will open your eyes and your heart to be moved by the Great Commission, he says.
No closed nations
Many nations are today regarded as closed for traditional missions. Global Intent and Tent International, two international resource centres for tentmaking, experience that the same nations have a desire to recruit Christian professionals.
The doors are wide open. We have a desire to see Christian professionals and business people go to work, build the nations, share the Gospel and bring God´s kingdom in much greater numbers than we experience today, says Phill Sandahl in Global Intent.
By Steinar Opheim