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: Madagascar | Population: 1,639,000 | Language: Malagasy, Merina | Main Religion: Ethnic | Evangelical: 0.1-2%
The Tanala are a Malagasy people living in a forested inland region of southeastern Madagascar. Translated to “People of the Forest,” the Tanala are skilled woodsmen, food gatherers, and hunters. They trade in beeswax, honey, and other forest products and engage in slash-and-burn agriculture. Their ethnic religion is deeply rooted within their identity, making it even more difficult to accept Christianity. Pray for the small number of believers among the Tanala. Pray that many more will come to faith in Christ.
Country: Uzbekistan | Population: 809,000 | Language: Karakalpak | Main Religion: Islam | Evangelical: 0.1-2.0%
The Karakalpak are literally named for their black hats. They primarily live in an extremely dry region of northwestern Uzbekistan where rainfall is less than 4.5 inches per year. They rely instead on water from rivers to irrigate their cotton fields—Uzbekistan’s primary cash crop—and to grow alfalfa for their livestock. Unemployment is very high among the Karakalpak, and they must be ever resourceful to meet their own most basic needs. Even though the Karakalpak language did not exist in written form until 1930, literacy is quite high. The Karakalpak are Sunni Muslims who highly value conformity with the majority. Getting the Gospel to them is challenging, and few have responded. Pray that God would open their hearts and begin building His Church among them. Pray for the believers who are using digital media and other evangelistic tools to reach this people group.
Country: India | Population: 2.19 million | Language: Odia | Main Religion: Hinduism | Evangelical: Unknown
The Khond Kui are a people with an immense sense of community. Most Khond Kui dwell in thick jungle areas and are not easily accessible. The Khond Kui have few material possessions. Their homes have walls made from a mixture of dung and mud, and are topped with thatched roofs. Their education is brief, and many are illiterate. Those who are educated live in more urban areas. Some Khond Kui have come to faith in Christ, but at great cost, and they have suffered intense persecution. Pray for strength and boldness for these believers, and that they would receive help and resources as they share the Gospel with their people. Pray that unbelieving Khond Kui would soften their hearts toward Christ.
Country: Bangladesh | Population: 1.64 million | Language: Bengali | Main Religion: Hinduism | Evangelical: <0.1%
The Kayasthas are a highly influential and intellectual caste that has long been regarded for their administrative, writing, and record-keeping abilities. Kayasthas have high prestige, which can easily give them the false impression that they do not need a savior from their sins. Bangladesh is a country that allows few opportunities to share the Gospel, even with the Hindu minorities like the Kayasthas. There are very few followers of Christ among the Kayastha in Bangladesh, and few believers who speak Bengali as their first language. Ask God to give believers more opportunities to share their faith. Pray that the Kayastha would recognize that only Jesus Christ is worthy of their attention, and that they would choose to follow Him.
See more Weekly Featured Unreached People Groups: Alphabetical List or By Date
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