The unfinished Task Lets look at the world as God see it 1

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Two types of mission 1.Unengaged and Unreached People Groups –3 of the 5 Great Commissions target here –Totally without hope of salvation 2.Unevangelized and Undiscipled Peoples –Nominal Christians needing the gospel –Multiple opportunities to hear but need more 4

1/3 non-Christians living in already reached people groups 1/3 non-Christians living in unreached people groups 1/3 of earth’s people call themselves Christians The WORLD 2,200,000,000

World Religions 6

The unengaged and unreached in the Americas 8

Definition of an Unreached People Group A unique ethnolinguistic people among which no indigenous community of believers adequate to evangelize themselves. Usually this is <2% 9

10 Number of languages without Scriptures Number of languages

North American Continent 11

N. America a mission field Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem _____________ ________ and in all Judea ___________ and Samaria ___________________ ____________ and to the end of the earth” ___________________ ______________ It appears He expects us to do all four simultaneously [home town], [non-church in area ] a different culture], [nearby people from culture and land] [strange language, 12

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North America: Our home, state and Samaria Has most of N.A. heard the gospel repeatedly? –4 million religious programs annually –130,000 Christian radio and TV stations 67% of United States consider themselves “Evangelical” Source of Growth of Conservative Churches: –51% Transfers from other churches –27% Biological: Children of members –22% “Sinners” from marriage and friendship –“If evangelicals are serious about recruiting ‘real live sinners’, the best approach is either to befriend or marry them!” Riginald Bibby ( 16

More Statistics to consider Growth rates of major groups in US –Roman Catholics: 1.6% –Evangelicals (mainline): 1.12% –Pentecostals: 1.3% –Great Commission Christians (those interested in mission and evangelism): 1.06% This group makes up 25% of Christian population Major world religions in US (only 0.8% of pop.) –Buddhists at 2.75% growth is 3x Christianity –Hindus at 3.38% is second fastest growing religion in NA –Muslims are stable growth –Non-religious at 1.1% (mostly through births to non-religious homes) –Atheists at 2% maintained over decades. “Every other religion is gaining converts while Christianity is loosing them. Perhaps one of the central reasons is the notable lack of concern … for evangelism and mission.” (www. Globalchristianity.org/mmrc/mmrc9805.htm) 17

Ethnically Diverse Population US is becoming an ethnically foreign country Churches/Leaders are not equipped to reach a diverse population –Few have any training in cross-cultural ministry –Fewer care to have a cross-cultural ministry! Separate churches for every homogeneous group is huge The “melting-pot” syndrome has become a smorgasbord of cultures. 18

Home Missions are Essential to Foreign Missions Effective outreach demonstrated at Home ministry before sending to Foreign Reaching out cross-culturally at home is key training ground Need for multi-ethnic churches Often now returning missionaries focus on same ethnic group in US 19

Steps to Reach Out - Parvin Awareness of Spiritual needs of all segments Realistic appraisal of effectiveness of existing programs Realistic definition of ministry to any group not reached by in-house programs Recruit gifted team to distinct communities Initiate in-church cross-cultural training programs for members Create internship programs for cross-cultural ministries Foreign missions should assist local churches in ethnic evangelism 20

Ethnic Ministries in the US Native Americans –Of 50+ indian languages in US only 35 have parts of the Bible –40% consider themselves Christian (yet only 3-5% are evangelical) –28 interdenominational mission boards & 300 missionaries, but very few indian pastors! Afro-Americans – about 20% of US pop. –60%+ affiliated with Protestant Churches –Gospel understanding often clouded with baptism and social agendas –Liberalism permeates black pastorates (only 25% of black seminaries are evangelical!) –Little focus on missions to black community – except by Muslims –Major obstacle to integration was White’s attitude, now it is the Blacks! –Three groups: Culturally black North Americans Integrated blacks International Black immigrants: West Indians, Samoans, etc 21

Ethnic Ministries Hispanic Americans – about 24% of US pop. –Illegal immigrants over 30 million! –80% do not attend any church –Spanish radio, publications and music are effective Established ethnic groups (15 million) –Jewish American (8 million) with over 100,000 Hebrew Christians in NA –Chinese-Americans (3 million) with 1,000 churches –Japanese-Americans (4 million) (1 million in Hawaii) –French-speaking Americans- 19 million in Canada, 300,000 immigrants from Haiti, 1 million Cajuns in Louisiana. Quebec is least evangelized area of NA! –European immigrants: 1 million Portuguese speaking Brazilians, 3 million Slavic's. 22

Religious Groups in US Muslims (More Muslims than Jews) – 9 million, 40% of blacks are Muslims! Hindus (esp. NY and NJ), 600,000 with over 400 temples Sikhs: a syncretistic religion of Islam and Hindu number over 2.4 million Buddhists, number over 3 million with over 1,500 temples Koreans are the most evangelized ethnic group in the US – not because of US missions, but Korean missions to their own people Roman Catholicism number over 100 million with few ministries focusing on them Eastern Orthodox Americans are 5% of the population (14 million), but no known ministries to them 368 Cults in the US represent 7% of the population (21 million) –Mormons are over 12 million world-wide, obligating every male in short- term (2 yr) missions, and about 6 million in US –Jehovah Witnesses have about 1 million –Others are Christian Science, Unification Church, 7 th Day Adventism 23

Maybe its time to start thinking about reaching N. America instead of just building a big and famous church of people like us! Do you have the courage to think out of the box? Whatever else you may do in N. America focus on all the people groups that are here, not just the ones that can make you famous! Jesus cares for them too. 24

25 Latin America as both unreached and unevangelized

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Mega Cities in the Americas 27

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140 million in animistic tribal groups Still Unreached

Amazon Headwaters Southern Colombia Western Brazil Eastern Peru Southern Colombia Western Brazil Eastern Peru

Amazon Headwaters Barasano do Norte Kobewa Juriti Miriti Karapana Mandawaka Makuna Arapaso Yabaana Walmiri-Atroari Kaxuyana Isolados do Maspuera Sikiana Tiriyo Akuri Isolado Mura Nukuini Arara do Acre Yawanawa Negarote Yawanawa Papavo Matis Amawaka Isolados do Quizito Korubo Isolados do Sao Jose Isolados do Curuca Tsohom-Djapa Isolados do Parauari Isolados do Jandiatuba Himarima Tora Isolados do Alto Jutai Juma Isolados do Mamoriazinho Katukina-Jutai Isolados do Jacareuba Guato Isolados do Arma e Inauini Isolados do Bararati Isolados do Igarape Zinane Isolados do Rio Candeias Arara do Mato Grosso Yakarawakta Isolados do Igarape Tabocal Uru-Pa-ln Karipuna de Rondonia Arara de Rondonia Isolados do Madeirinha Itogapuk Amundava Apiaka Ajuru Uraparaquara Amundava Makurap Sakiriabar Apiaka Enawene-Nawe Mynky Irantxe Akunsu

60 + groups

Does anybody care? 34

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