Reaching the Unreached is Reachable

Reaching the Unreached is Reachable

By David Yanez


I use to work with a ministry about 15 years ago whose theme was “Reaching the Unreached Millions.” My thought was at that time was “How many are actually unreached?” Back then the figures showed close to 2.5 billion people in China and India had not yet to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This ministry would hold mass crusades attracting millions each night to hear the salvation message of Jesus. Millions is a huge number. After 15 years you would figure it would be done already. Yet I still see the same numbers today as I seen back then floating across my television and computer screen. 2.5 billion lost is still massive to attempt to reach. Why hasn’t it been done yet? I am sure that the 2.5 billion lost number has moved a bit down by now. Maybe even 1.7 billion or something like that. Why not a massive dent? Especially after massive crusades have been held not only by my ministry friends but also the top evangelist of today. Many of these crusades by top ministries had millions in attendance each night.

My answer is simple mass crusades are not being held in the most remote locations. Yes they are being held in India and China among other needed areas. But they are not huge massive crusades in the jungles where most unreached live and work. In fact most crusades are in populous metropolitan areas where all the amenities for video, staging and sound system are readily available. Holding a crusade in the remote areas needed to reach costs more and brings fewer crowds. The cost to get lights, tents and a sound stage in a jungle is triple than in a city.

The contacts for a city crusade are easier to make and are more available then those in remote areas rarely visited by ministries. In fact for the right amount of funds and time a crusade drawing millions of people is feasible for almost any ministry. To hold a conference in the unreached areas requires personal contact with native pastors and native coordinators. These contacts are not easy to find nor are they easy to maintain over great distance.

My other answer to the reaching the unreached is that out of experience millions can be reached. But not by mass crusades alone effectively. Don’t get me wrong the mass crusades have its effect by reaching a massive audience and demonstrating Gods power. The relationships with the individual are missed by mass crusades. Personally putting together a team that will be focusing on developing relationships with native pastors and multiplying their efforts is the key. Holding pastors conferences regularly throughout remote areas will build strong, educated and faithful leaders.

Recently, I did some missions work in India that produced some extraordinary results. God’s power moved in a conference and crusade night designed for just the local pastors and families. Today these pastors are completely dedicated to working with my native leaders. My leaders are reporting a revival of sorts happening in all the villages they visit. Many of the pastors heard of the great movement of God in our Crusade and Conference that they are eager to work with us. I believe a movement is happening in remote areas that have been hurting and hungry from God not only in India but also around the world. My friend Pastor Malcom Burton just came back from China with similar reports of the movement of God and revival everywhere they visited. I quote a portion of his personal email he sent to me “Our advantages are mature insight, mobility and money.”

Now is the time to move in missions. God has built us to take His Word forward. I have worked both sides of the mission’s arena massive crusades and building the pastors. I believe the unreached can be reached by sending the trained native missionary with support and guidance into the remote areas.