The Unreached
What is a “People Group”?
A “people group” is a unique group of people that shares the same language, culture, and geography. In the Bible, the word “nations” is the Greek word, ethnos. It’s where we get the English word, ethnic. It’s talking about people groups, not countries.
In less academic terms, a people group is a tribe (although in modernity, the word “tribe” is typically associated with primitive groups). In the melting pot of America, the concept of people groups or tribes is a thing of the past, but many parts of the world still identify strongly with their people group and still speak their native language.
What is an “Unreached People Group” (UPG)?
Two thousand years ago, Jesus commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of “all nations” — all people groups — yet many are still waiting.
It’s not an issue of one person being more lost than another. It’s an issue of access. America is full of lost people, but America is also full of churches and a multitude of Christians to share the Gospel with them. Lost Americans have access. Billions of people around the world do not.
It’s been two thousand years since Jesus commanded His disciples to go, yet entire people groups are still waiting to hear about Jesus for the first time.
Can you imagine?
In those two thousand years, we’ve landed on the moon. We’ve eradicated diseases. We’ve invented the Internet. Yet billions of people still don’t know who Jesus is.
Contrary to popular belief, these people are not hidden away in jungles or on remote islands. They’re living in plain sight in some of the largest cities in the world.
They’ve waited long enough.
3 Ways to Get Involved Today
GO: Is God calling you to go and proclaim the Gospel to a people that has never heard? To a place where there are no churches?
GIVE: If you’re not called to go, send somebody. Commit to giving sacrificially as a monthly partner to hold the rope for others who are called to go.
PRAY: “Adopt” a UPG, and commit to praying daily/weekly for them.
