The Most Important Unreached People Group

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

We hear about unreached people groups all the time in evangelical circles. And for good reason. According to the Joshua Project there are currently 6,913 unreached people groups. Around 2.83 billion people. Unreached means that less than 2% of each of these groups are evangelical (Christians with fairly clearly defined theologies). Bringing the Gospel to these peoples is truly a monumental and an important work for our generation. There is no doubt that our relationship with Christ compels us to GO.

But here's the other side of the coin. Recently, in a seminar, I heard a person make an argument that I had never quite heard in this particular form. He said, "The most important unreached people group today is the children of believers."

I had to let this sink in. And as it did, I realized the truth of this statement. Someone once said that it only takes one generation for a church to drift into heresy and folk Christianity. We can have the fastest growing church in the world, on fire for Jesus, but if we're not grounding our children in a Biblical worldview and teaching them a personal relationship with Christ, it can be all for naught. It really is a task of utmost urgency in the church.

With that being said, it is sad that we have to beg and plead for folks in the church to help in our children's ministry. It should be an honor! A privilege! A most sacred undertaking! Not done out of guilt or duty. These kids are our future--our hope that God will continue to use ABC in the future as a light in a dark place long after our time is gone. We should have to turn away workers because we already have too many! 

“Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children..."
Lamentations 2:19