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: Suriname | Population: 32,000 | Language: Saramaccan | Main Religion: Ethnic Religions | Evangelical: 0.80%
The Saramaka descended from slaves brought to Suriname by the English and later the Dutch to work on sugar plantations. These slaves eventually settled in villages along the Suriname River and developed a unique language derived from West African languages, English, and Dutch. Today, Saramaka women farm the land while men spend most of the year away hunting and fishing. Magic and divination often guide marriage choices, and children are raised by individuals rather than parents. The Saramaka practice spirit and ancestor worship. Their holidays feature drums, singing, and dancing. Pray for God to set them free from the spirits of darkness and that they will sing a new song to the Lord. Pray for their elders to follow Christ, opening doors for the Gospel.
Country: India | Population: 835,000 | Language: Kashmiri | Main Religion: Hinduism | Evangelical: Unknown
The Kashmiri Pandits claim to have lived among the mountains of Kashmir for over 5,000 years. Almost all left the region around 1990 when extremists told them to either convert to Islam, flee their homes, or die. Many Pandits still live in refugee camps and refuse to go back since extremists still exist in their homeland, despite government assurances that it is safe. Most Kashmiri Pandits are highly educated, with many speaking three or four languages. As members of the Brahmin caste, they continue their ancient roles as Hindu priests, scholars, and teachers. Others work in high-level professional roles within the government and private sector. Their primary deity is the destroyer, Shiva. Pray for God to tear down the strongholds of Hinduism. Pray that the Kashmiri Pandits would turn to Jesus as their only source of peace, comfort, and healing.
Country: Indonesia | Population: 5,227,000 | Language: Javanese | Main Religion: Islam | Evangelical: 0.16%
The vibrant Cirebon people live in the northwestern coastal regions of Java surrounding the city named for them. They speak a unique form of Javanese and are famous for their salted fish and shrimp dishes, like petis and terasi. Most Cirebon work as fishermen or farmers, and they are an open, spontaneous people who love colorful and artistic clothing. Cirebon craftsmen produce many products, including the world-famous batik cloth. Compared to other Indonesian Muslims, the Cirebon are a devout people, although elements of traditional Javanese beliefs, including the occult, influence their practice. Pray for the God of Light to vividly reveal Himself to them through dreams and visions. Ask God to establish a strong Cirebon church and that they would become fishers of men among their own people.
Country: Kazakhstan | Population: 70,000 | Language: Dungan | Main Religion: Islam | Evangelical: 0.00%
The Dungan first arrived in Central Asia after having been taken from China to serve as slaves. A failed rebellion caused greater numbers of the Dungan to flee China in the late 1870s. The Dungan are proud of their storied heritage and call themselves “Chinese Muslims”. These hospitable people mostly live in farming villages located in river valleys where they raise crops and livestock. They also love flower gardens. There are no known Dungan believers in Kazakhstan. Pray that God would cultivate the soil of their hearts to receive the Gospel. Ask Him to plant seeds of Truth through dreams and visions and the faithful witness of other believers.
See more Weekly Featured Unreached People Groups: Alphabetical List or By Date
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