Unreached Peoples in the West–Part 1 1

Part of the reason for the extended gaps in time when it comes to my posting is that I am facing two book deadlines in the next couple of months (I do appreciate your prayers).  Because some of this research is fresh on my mind at the moment and my blogging time is limited at the moment as well, I want to briefly share with you some information from my book The Strangers Next Door:  Global Migrations and the Great Commission Opportunity for You and Your Church (Biblica, forthcoming 2012).

Below is a link to a table from the data collected by the Global Research Department of the International Mission Board.  The men and women who comprise this department are outstanding researchers and are among the best in the world at what they do.

What you will see in the pdf linked below is the total number of Unreached People Groups that are living in western countries and their estimated populations.  The United States and Canada are not included in this list.

There are 620 of the world’s Unreached People Groups, comprising over 307 million people (a population about the size of the United States).

Now, we do not know, for example, if the Mongolians living in Germany are 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation migrants, if they know their language, and if they maintain close connections with the Mongolians living in China.  However, the Mongolians in China are one of the world’s largest Unreached People Groups.  Of the 1,538 who are living in Germany, it is very likely that someone could be reached and used of the Lord to take the good news back to their people in China.

Get the table here:  UnreachedPeopleGroups in Western Countries Excluding US and Can

My table consists of public data found HERE.

Why these countries?

First, generally, the challenges of reaching these UPGs in the security of the West are not as great as those challenges of reaching them in their countries of birth.

Second, by reaching them in the West, the Church can partner with them, equip them, model before them simple yet biblical expressions of the local church, and work with them to return to their peoples across the globe to multiply disciples, pastors, and churches.

How does knowing this information about the world’s unreached peoples affect your ministry?

In my next post, I will address why the data on the United States and Canada is not included, and why such an omission leads me to be “madder than a wet hornet” (in a sanctified kinda way)  (please note: my frustration has nothing to do with the Global Research Department).  But, for those of you who cannot sleep until this question is answered, I’ll have to direct you to my paper, “In Through the Back Door: Reaching the Majority World Through North America.”