02/10/2022
Our culture’s loudest voices today are secular and they are constantly screaming about one ‘existential threat’ after another. Daily we are told that ‘global warming’ or ‘global cooling’ or ‘climate change’ (this movement rebrands itself more than a snake sheds its skin) will kill us all in a few short years unless we abandon our freedoms and give the government unlimited powers over our lives. I remain unconvinced. This movement is a pretext for powerful people with evil motives to seize control of powerless people.
The most important statistic on the planet today is very simple and it doesn’t involve the weather. It involves people who haven’t heard or yet believed the Gospel of Jesus. Today as the earth’s population nears 8 billion, there are 4.7 billion Unreached People and out of that number 273 million are Unengaged People.
The most important statistic in short is this one:
There are 3,188 “Unengaged, Unreached People Groups” with 273 Million people waiting to hear the Good News.
Jesus assigned the church to take the Gospel to “every nation”.
That task is called the “Great Commission” and it remains the church’s primary responsibility today.
Journey has made a great commitment to the Great Commission. We believe that a “A great commitment to the Great Commission will grow a great church.”
Below, are some terms and definitions that explain the context of our mission:
Unreached People Groups
Source: International Missions Board SBC
A. 11,960 identified “People Groups” in the world with 7.9 Billion people.
What is an ‘Unreached People Group?
An ethno-linguistic group with a common self-identity that is shared by the various members. For strategic purposes it is the largest group within which the Gospel can spread without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance.
B. There are 7,329 “Unreached People Groups” with 4.7 Billion people.
Why are they Unreached?
A people group is considered unreached (UPG) when there is no indigenous community of believing Christians able to engage this people group with church planting. Technically speaking, the percentage of evangelical Christians in this people group is less than 2 percent.
C. There are 3,188 “Unengaged, Unreached People Groups” with 273 Million people.
Who are the Unengaged?
Unreached people groups are unengaged (UUPG) when there is no church planting strategy, consistent with evangelical faith and practice, under way. Gathering believers and planting churches are the keys to establishing an effective and multiplying presence among these people groups.
The Great Commission:
Matthew 29:18-20 NKJV
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 TEACHING them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
