The Great Commission
· “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations (ethne)”
Matt 28:19, a church (fellowshipping disciples) for every ethnic people group.
· “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”
Mark 16:15, the gospel for every person.
Resulting in God’s glory and kingdom filling the earth, “...worship from every nation, tribe, people and tongue.” Rev 7:9, Hab 2:14.
A Church For Every People – what is the status?
· 6,900 Unreached / Least-Reached ethnic people groups out of 16,600 total groups in the world. (“Unreached - Least-Reached” is defined as less than 2% evangelical individuals and less than 5% Christian adherents in the people group.)
· 3,800 of these Unreached / Least-Reached groups are small, under 10,000 in population, so the task isn’t as large as it first appears.
Countries with the most Least-Reached people groups
| Country | Least-Reached Ethnic Groups |
| India | 2,233 |
| Pakistan | 447 |
| China | 428 |
| Bangladesh | 372 |
| Nepal | 355 |
The Gospel For Every Person – what is the status?
· Bible translation: "About 82% of the world's population have New Testament Scriptures in their language. However, to complete the remaining 18% will require possibly as many as 2,200 new translation efforts."
· Christian radio broadcasting: Studies indicate Christian radio broadcasts are in the languages of about 91% of the world’s population.
· Jesus film: There have been approximately 6.5 billion viewings of the Jesus film and it is available in over 1,100 languages covering 95% of the world’s population.
· Status of the gospel for every person: Approximately 70% (4.6 billion) of the world’s population have heard the gospel in some form. 30% (2 billion) have had virtually no exposure to the gospel message.
Status Summary: A Church For Every People Group And The Gospel For Every Person
· A church for every people group: 6,900 Least-Reached groups out of a total of 16,600.
· The gospel for every person, estimates:
| 10% | true believers |
| 20% | nominal adherents |
| 40% | heard, no response |
| 30% | virtually no exposure |
Challenges of the unfinished task
· Spiritual challenge: More Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in the previous 19 centuries combined.
· People challenge: The remaining people groups and individuals tend to be in remote locations, have great language and cultural barriers, practice religious fundamentalism, and are the most resistant to the gospel.
· Political / national challenge: The countries with the most Least-Reached tend to be closed to Christianity.
· Church challenge: Only one out of ten cross-cultural missionaries labor among unreached people groups. Out of every $1.00 (one US dollar) of Christian giving to all causes less than one penny goes toward pioneer church planting among least-reached people groups.
Why are we to complete the task?
Not because it is our duty,
though it is.
Not because it will bring eternal life to many,
though it will.
Not because it will improve the living conditions of the poor,
though it will.
though it will.
Not because it will improve environmental stewardship,
though it will.
Not because we will be rewarded,
though we will.
We should disciple the nations because
Jesus is worthy to receive their honor, glory and praise.
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Rev. 7:9
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Rev. 5:12
My Source:Joshua Project
PO Box 62614
Colorado Springs, CO 80962-2614 USA
(719) 886-4000
