The Unreached People's Group.

It was my first missionary journey and whilst out on evangelism to one of the unreached communities, I had an encounter that had stuck with me to date.

As we reached, as usual, I was with an interpreter since I didn't have a grip on the local language.

We encountered a lady who was about to prepare lunch for her family and engaged her.

And as my custom is when sharing my faith, I asked if she knew who Jesus is, and her response came back as a NO.

I didn't think the interpreter communicated my message correctly, so, I urged him to ask her again, this time stressing the name of Jesus.

And he did and the response was the same.

Only that this time, she beckoned that we should tell her who Jesus is. And we did. Praise God!

That encounter remains one of the high points of my missionary journeys-- as it made a mess of my sunesis.

"How is it even possible that there's someone who hasn't heard about Jesus?" I kept asking myself as we made our way back to our mission base.

Maybe you are in that boat where you are wondering or probably asking if there are truly people who haven't been reached with the gospel -- People who have never heard of the name Jesus or His finished works on the cross. ( Rom 10:14)

Well, let me help with responding with an emphatic YES to your quest! There are.

Fascinating indeed, especially in a world where some of us have unrestricted access to hearing about Him, which has birthed some of the encounters we enjoy.

Even worse is the fact that as these people die before the Gospel gets to them, they head off to a Christ-less eternity. No second chance.

Yeah! All this happening whilst we keep crying to God for one breakthrough after another, so we can live big on a earth that would soon pass away.

Now, the question becomes:

What will you do with this information?

Cry? Pray? Fast? Give?

The truth is:

All these are great, but until it is with a dire commitment to be a part of the GOing, it isn't amounting to much.

Remember, Jesus didn't give us a substitute for GO-ing.

The Bible reckons that the laborers are few and that we should pray that God should send men to GO into the harvest field. ( Mathew 9:35-38)

The thing is:

Do we see ourselves as the people Jesus commissioned into the harvest field?

When we pray that God should raise people to GO for missions and don't create time to be a part of GOing ourselves, are we truly sincere?

Hmmm...we have to realize this:

No mission comes out of convenience. Those who are part of it, are making huge sacrifices for the faith they hold dear.

Besides, when we pray that others should be sent into the mission fields, are we suggesting that some people have all the time in the world, or are called to sleep on cement floors or open lawns?

Are we insinuating that some have a special anointing to tame the bloodthirsty mosquitoes in these regions?

Ha! Now I get:

We are praying for those who have been gifted or imparted with missionary stomachs to eat concoctions or drink cholera waters to arise and embrace their calling.

Can I emphasize?

The command to GO didn't exempt anyone from GOing.

I believe that if it becomes our genuine heart's desire to truly GO, God will place it in our hands. (Philippians 4:13)

As we plan and look forward to having vacations in Hawaii, Maldives, or even Dubai, it's important to know that planning toward GOing for missions is also possible.

It isn't less. It is more. It is the real deal. Give towards missions but also plan to be a part of it. Don't let anyone cheat you.

Let's plan to be a partaker of the sufferings of Christ. Let's not just sing that we love Him with our mouths. Let's show Him that we do by planning to GO with our legs, too.

If our ministry is rift of world evangelization, then we risk delaying the return of Christ.

If the unreached people's group is where God's heart is, seeing that He wants all men saved, that's where ours should be as well.

I'm sure that as we begin to make going for missions our hearts cry, by asking God to send us, not just others-- but us; God will begin to create opportunities for us to be His outstretched arm and legs to these unreached communities.

He would make a way for us to GO, indeed.

Shalom.

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Further Scripture Reading.

Go ye into the world and preach the gospel to all creation *(Mark 16:15)*

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” *( Matthew 28:16-20)*