by Jon Konnerup
Jesus instructed in the Great Commission to make disciples of every nation, baptize them, and teach them to obey all things He has commanded. After more than 2,000 years, most of the world still has not been reached and they will not be saved without the Gospel.
Mission specialists use the term “unreached” when referring to people groups where less than two percent are saved and with little or no witnesses and churches to teach them. We should do all we can to reach these people. Carl F. H. Henry said the Gospel is only Good News if it gets there in time. Unfortunately, one-third of the world goes unreached every day.
If a people group has more than two percent saved, would it then be considered reached? Are missionaries no longer needed and the work left to national leaders? In many places in Africa, where most of the people would say they are believers, you will still find them going to witchdoctors and practicing traditional religious rituals. Are they able to teach themselves all that Jesus commanded and make disciples?
One person related it this way. The task of the Great Commission cannot be compared to running through a large darkened building, flipping on a few switches and announcing that they now have light even though thousands of other rooms leave most people in darkness. If that is all one understands reaching the unreached to mean, then we must agree that the great tragedy of the world today is not that it is unreached, but that it is undiscipled.
If all we do is turn on light switches and move on to another place, we are not completing the Great Commission as Jesus gave it to us. He said we are to teach them to observe all things that He has commanded. We can’t just leave the nationals to figure things out on their own, as they will struggle to grow and train leaders and pastors. They need to know what to teach and how to teach it. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
This requires career missionaries to be on the mission field so they can train and equip nationals to become disciplers, trainers, and teachers. They will be the ones to complete the process of the Great Commission among their people, but they cannot do it without being properly prepared.
Missionaries faithfully share the truth and expect those they train to do the same. This long process takes committed people being on the ground, living with the people, learning the language and culture, and being an example of Christ — every day before the people.
Whether people are unreached or not, they must hear the Gospel to be saved. They must hear the Gospel and repent, yet the Great Commission doesn’t stop there. It takes career missionaries teaching those saved to observe all that Christ has commanded in His Word.