As followers of Christ, we are called to participate in the Great Commission—the mandate given by Jesus to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). This commission echoes throughout Scripture.

From the beginning, God’s heart has been set on redeeming people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. In Genesis 12:3, God promised Abraham that through him, “all peoples on earth will be blessed.” This promise was reiterated to the patriarchs and prophets, culminating in the coming of Christ, who declared, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

The book of Revelation paints a glorious picture of the fulfillment of this promise, with a multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne of God, worshiping Him (Revelation 7:9). This vision serves as a powerful reminder that God’s redemptive plan encompasses the entire human race. It is our privilege and responsibility to participate in this grand mission.

When we read “all nations” in places like Matthew 24:14 or Matthew 28:19, we read the word “nation” as a country. However, the original word in the Greek is “ethne,” which can be translated as “people group.” When we read those texts with this in mind, the question becomes, “What people groups have not been reached?” These are called unreached people groups.

An unreached people group (UPG) is a distinct ethnic or cultural group in which less than 2% of the population is Evangelical Christian, and there is no indigenous community of believing Christians capable of evangelizing the rest of the group. These groups are often isolated from the influence of the gospel, either geographically, culturally, or linguistically.

UPGs are not defined by political boundaries or national borders; instead, they are identified by their unique cultural and linguistic characteristics. Many of these groups have little or no access to the gospel.

According to the Joshua Project, an organization dedicated to tracking and engaging UPGs, there are currently over 7,000 unreached people groups in the world, comprising approximately 3.2 billion individuals. This staggering number represents nearly 42% of the global population with little or no access to the life-changing message of the gospel. These are not merely numbers; they represent precious souls created in the image of God, yet living in spiritual darkness without access to the hope and salvation found in Christ.

For many of us, we know several churches within our area. For those in unreached places, it is highly unlikely they’ve interacted with a follower of Jesus, let alone heard the gospel. Romans 10:14-15 says:

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

As the body of Christ, we have a sacred responsibility to respond to the Great Commission and take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Reaching UPGs is not the burden of a few dedicated missionaries or organizations; it is a calling that every believer must embrace with passion and urgency.

The impact of reaching an unreached people group extends far beyond the individual souls that come to know Christ. When the gospel takes root in a community, it has the potential to transform entire cultures and societies.

Furthermore, as new believers are discipled and equipped, they become agents of transformation within their own communities. They can contextualize the gospel message in a way that resonates with their cultural context, breaking down barriers and facilitating the spread of the good news far better than an outsider.

The global Church has a vital role to play in this endeavor. Through prayer, financial support, and sending missionaries, we can partner with indigenous believers and organizations to reach the unreached. It is a collective effort that requires the mobilization of resources, talents, and a deep commitment to the Great Commission.

As we consider the urgency of reaching the unreached, let us be reminded of Jesus’ words: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38, ESV). May we be a people who answer that call, driven by a love for God and a desire to see all nations come to know the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.