On September 6, 2023, Keith Carey (Joshua Project) and Gordon Ellison (WorldVenture) joined together to pray for the Unreached People Group of The Day.
People Group Focus: Khalaj in Iran
Challenges:
Reaching an Unreached People Group with the gospel can be a challenging task due to various reasons. Here are some of the challenges associated with reaching an unreached people group with the gospel:
- Cultural and Linguistic Barriers: Unreached People Groups are often characterized by cultural and linguistic barriers, making it challenging for traditional missionary methods to reach them effectively[3].
- Religious Challenges: Animosity toward Christianity is one of the religious challenges that some missionaries face when serving in some areas. In some cases, Christianity is viewed as a foreign religion, and there is direct opposition to proselytizing[2].
- Lack of Access: Some countries have deported missionaries and won’t allow anyone in to share the gospel, making it difficult to reach unreached people groups[2].
- Safety Issues: Safety issues are some of the challenges that missionaries face when serving in other nations. Some countries are politically unstable, and there is a risk of violence and persecution[2].
- Identifying the Unreached People Group: Identifying the unreached people group in the territory is crucial. Discovering all we can about their culture and language and what unifies them as a group is essential. How do they think? How do they live? What gives them dignity and identity? [1].
- Force for Evangelism: Describing the force for evangelism is also important. Which department or institution in the church will best be able to get results? Which members have the capacity to spread the good news to this particular people group? [1].
- Lack of Indigenous Community of Believing Christians: To be unreached means that you don’t have contact with a community of followers of Christ. People are considered unreached when there is not a church with sufficient resources to make the name and truth of Christ known to them[6].
- Lack of Resources: Lack of resources is another challenge that missionaries face when serving in unreached people groups. Some areas are remote and difficult to access, making it challenging to provide basic needs such as food, water, and shelter[4].
- Lack of Interest: Some unreached people groups may not be interested in hearing the gospel message due to their cultural beliefs and practices[4].
In summary, reaching an unreached people group with the gospel can be a challenging task due to various reasons such as cultural and linguistic barriers, religious challenges, lack of access, safety issues, identifying the unreached people group, force for evangelism, lack of indigenous community of believing Christians, lack of resources, and lack of interest.
Citations:
[1] https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1989/08/reaching-unreached-people-groups [2] https://nathancreitz.net/unreached-people-groups-challenges/ [3] https://www.preaching.com/articles/strategies-for-engaging-with-unreached-people-groups/ [4] https://e360bible.org/blog/unreached-people-groups/ [5] https://globalfrontiermissions.org/gfm-101-missions-course/the-unreached-peoples-and-their-role-in-the-great-commission/ [6] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/rethinking-unreached-peoples
Definitions
An Unreached People Group (UPG) is an identifiable group of people distinguished by a distinct culture, language, or social class who lack a community of Christians able to evangelize the rest of the people group without outside help [1][5]. In other words, a people group calls “us, us” and “them, them” by distinguishing insiders and outsiders[1]. According to Joshua Project, there are approximately 17,428 unique people groups in the world with 7,400+ of them considered unreached, which means that they have little or no access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ [1]. A people group is considered unreached when there is no indigenous community of believing Christians able to engage this people group with church planting, and the percentage of evangelical Christians in this people group is less than 2 percent [6]. To be unreached means that you don’t have contact with a community of followers of Christ, and there is not a church with sufficient resources to make the name and truth of Christ known to them [6].
Citations:
[1] https://globalfrontiermissions.org/gfm-101-missions-course/the-unreached-peoples-and-their-role-in-the-great-commission/ [2] https://www.imb.org/2016/11/22/what-do-we-mean-by-unreached-peoples-and-places/ [3] https://radical.net/podcasts/radical-podcast/mission-precision-defining-unreached-people-and-places/ [4] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-unreached-people-groups-still-matter-in-missions/ [5] https://ephesiology.com/blog-post/defining-unreached-and-unengaged-people-groups/ [6] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/rethinking-unreached-peoples
Prayer Requests
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” Matthew 7:15-16—Pray that the Lord gives this people group the discernment to recognize false prophets and the grace to know the true Prophet, Priest and King, Jesus Christ.
Prayer Focus
- Pray for Iranian Christians to reach these Turks.
- Pray for Bible translation, Christian literature and media to become easily accessible to them.
- Pray they would find truth in Jesus Christ.
- Pray for the Khalaj Turks to experience God’s glory and seek His face.
- Pray for Khalaj Turkish disciples to make more disciples.
How Can You Help?
- Pray.
- Download the Joshua Project App.
- Copy and paste the link to this blog post and share an answer to this question: What did you learn unexpectedly from today’s broadcast?
- Invite someone to join you on October 4. Watch for details of the next broadcast at www.worldventure.com/events.
- Answer God’s call to go by completing this form to talk to someone.
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