A few months ago, Becky and I had a brief overnight in a country that’s known for being resistant to the Christian faith and closed to traditional missionary work. As we made our way through passport control and customs, I found myself wondering about the people around me. “What have they heard about Jesus? Have they ever considered that He might be more than a prophet?”

After we collected our bags, Becky and I looked for a place to satisfy our coffee craving. Of course, the omnipresent Starbucks was nowhere to be found. After scouring the terminal, we managed to locate a small coffee shop at the end of the arrivals hall. The barista didn’t understand much English, but he knew enough to take our orders. With a warm Americano in our hands, we settled down at a table to discuss how we were going to get to our hotel. As we talked, some soft music was playing in the background. After a few minutes of half-engaged listening, we suddenly recognized a familiar tune. It was a Christian worship song by Phil Wickham. When that song ended, there was a song by Lauren Daigle. I couldn’t believe it! The coffee shop was playing a Christian radio station! I don’t know if it was being broadcasted via shortwave or if it was streaming on the internet. Didn’t matter. What I do know, is that the black-shrouded ladies sitting next to us were sipping their lattes while hearing about Jesus!

It never ceases to amaze me that Jesus keeps showing up in the world’s hardest-to-reach places and among the world’s least-reached people. Our job at Reach Beyond isn’t to bring Jesus to the darkness – He’s already there! Our job is to find Him and fan the flame so others can see.

Our staff talks a lot about UPGs (unreached people groups), but what exactly is a UPG? More than 2,000 years into the Great Commission, how are there still entire cultures that are unreached? And what do we see as our role in bringing the gospel to these UPGs? 

As you read this, what is the Holy Spirit saying to you? What has God placed on your heart regarding the unreached? All of us have a role to play. Some go. Some send. Some pray. Some give.

In His Great Commission, Jesus commanded us to “go and make disciples of all nations” or people groups (Matthew 28:19, NIV).

This is our challenge. This is our call.

Thank you for the important role that you play in ensuring that individuals “from every nation, tribe, people and language [will one day stand] before the throne” in worship (Revelation 7:9, NIV).