When Jesus commanded His followers to “make disciples of all nations” in Matthew 28:19, He was not referring to political nations. The word Jesus used for nations in Greek is “ethne,” from which we get the English word “ethnic.” Jesus commanded us to make disciples from every ethnic people group. In Matthew 24:14, He said, "And this Gospel will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Until we accomplish this, the task is unfinished.
Reach Beyond is committed to helping the global Church to make disciples among unreached people groups (UPGs). These are cultures and locations where Jesus Christ is largely unknown, and the church is relatively insufficient to make Him known in its broader population without outside help.
According to Joshua Project, there are still 7,000 UPGs, making up over 40 percent of the world’s population. The map below shows where the unreached are primarily located, but we also know we have the opportunity to reach displaced people groups in our own countries.
We want unreached people everywhere to hear about Jesus, see Him in action and learn how to follow Him. Because of our strengths in media, Reach Beyond has prayerfully decided to prioritize the 1900 largest unreached people groups of 100,000 or more in population.
Weekly UPG Prayer Focus
Country: Mali | Population: 6,831,000 | Language: Bambara | Main Religion: Islam | Evangelical: 1.10%
As the largest ethnic group in Mali, the Bambara are also one of the most powerful and influential. Their native language is spoken throughout the country. The Bambara work as farmers, raising crops and livestock, and many also hunt game and gather wild honey. During the short rainy season, they often entrust their livestock to their Fulani neighbors while entire households work the fields. The Bambara highly value marriage and children. Virtually all adults marry, and even elderly widows have suitors. While most Bambara identify as Muslims, many still practice traditional animistic religious beliefs. Ask God to raise up intercessors and to break up spiritual ground among the Bambara. Pray for discipleship among Bambara believers and for a healthy, growing church.
Country: Indonesia | Population: 9,274,000 | Language: Banyumasan Javanese | Main Religion: Islam | Evangelical: 1.18%
The Java Banyumasan farm fertile lands near the Serayu River in southern Central Java. They are accomplished farmers who use advanced techniques and modern equipment. Some work in heavy industry while others work in smaller industries, such as bamboo weaving and brown sugar production. Other Javanese sometimes refer to them as “Java Mendoan” for their famous dish: mendoan tempe, a fermented soybean cake coated in spiced batter and fried. Over 97% claim a Muslim identity, but only about 20% take their faith seriously. Most practice traditional animism and seek to appease the spirits. Ask God to set them free from spiritual bondage. Pray that they will see that Jesus rules over all spirits. Pray that He will establish a vibrant church among them.
Country: Turkey | Population: 396,000 | Language: Bulgarian | Main Religion: Islam | Evangelical: 0.4%
The Slavic Pomak (“people who have suffered”) converted to Islam between the 14th and 17th centuries when the Ottomans ruled their Bulgarian homeland. In the 1950s, Bulgarian Communists forced most to flee their farmlands for Greece and Macedonia. Most Pomaks eventually settled in Turkey. Today, they are rejected by both Turkish Muslims and Bulgarian Orthodox Christians. Pomaks bear Muslim names, but ethnically and culturally, they are Bulgarian. They celebrate feast days for Christian saints, and most ignore traditional Islamic practices, such as fasting during Ramadan. Pray that the Pomak will place their identity in Christ alone. Ask God to tear down the strongholds preventing them from experiencing His unconditional love and to raise up faithful workers to pursue them.
Country: Iran | Population: 124,000 | Language: Luri, Southern | Main Religion: Islam | Evangelical: 0.00%
The Mamasani people are a subgroup of the Luri people of Iran. They have been nomads in the western area of Iran for hundreds of years. They migrate wherever they can find enough food and water for their livestock. Because of their mobile lifestyle, education is low and illiteracy is high. They are entirely Muslim and have had no Gospel witness. They are considered a frontier unreached people group. Pray that Farsi-speaking believers will take the Gospel to the Mamasani people. Pray for the development of Gospel-related stories and skits in the language of the Mamasani people.
See more Weekly Featured Unreached People Groups: Alphabetical List or By Date
Colorado Springs, CO 80949-9800
800.873.4859