It is estimated that of the 7.5 billion people alive today, 3 billion of them live in unreached people groups with little or no access to the Gospel, and with less than 10% of missionary work done within these groups. So clearly we must prioritize reaching the unreached in obedience to Christ’s words in Matthew 24:14,

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

And yet a logical question is, “Why bother going to countries where there are churches?”

The answer lies, first in the fact that it need not be an either/or choice and, secondly, in the statistics below:

– There are an estimated 2-3.5 million pastoral leaders worldwide
– Only 5% of which have been trained for pastoral ministry
– So…95% of church leaders worldwide have no theological training, according to The Center for the Study of Global Christianity, 2015

So…among reached people groups are there churches? Yes.

However, is the church leadership normally equipped to fulfill its God-ordained mission? No.

And therefore, the following foundational, biblical principles are not at work:

-2 Tim. 3:16-17 – “so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
– Titus 1:9 – “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
– 2 Tim. 2:2 – And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

Therefore, churches in Reach People Groups need to be…

Strengthened

After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”… 41 And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Acts 15:36, 41)

Encouraged

“Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts.” (Col. 4:7-8)

Equipped

“for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:12)

The opportunity for short-term mission teams:

– The role of visiting, short-term teams is to encourage and empower local long- term ministries by joining their ongoing efforts.
– For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. (Romans 1:11-12)

So…missions: unreached or reached people groups. Answer: yes.