And this?And this?What about this?What about this?Sometimes we are so close to something we Sometimes we are so close to something we

don’t see “the forest for the trees.” What is this?don’t see “the forest for the trees.” What is this?

What is this?What is this?

The answer is at the end of this presentation.The answer is at the end of this presentation.

1.1. The Big Picture - Jesus’ last words.The Big Picture - Jesus’ last words.

2.2. Status of the Great Commission.Status of the Great Commission.

3.3. The Gospel to the ends of the earth.The Gospel to the ends of the earth.

4.4. Dramatic recent progress.Dramatic recent progress.

5.5. Challenges of the unfinished task.Challenges of the unfinished task.

The Results:The Results:

God’s glory and Kingdom filling the earthGod’s glory and Kingdom filling the earth – – worship from “every nation, tribe, people, worship from “every nation, tribe, people,

and tongue”and tongue” Rev 7:9, Hab 2:14Rev 7:9, Hab 2:14

““Go therefore and make disciples of all the nationsGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations” ” Matt 28:19 - A church for every people groupMatt 28:19 - A church for every people group

The Command:The Command:

Nations = ethne = ethnic people groupsNations = ethne = ethnic people groups

Why is making disciples of all Why is making disciples of all the nations so important?the nations so important?

• Jesus directly links His return to the fulfillment of the Jesus directly links His return to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Great Commission. "This gospel of the kingdom shall "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." the nations, and then the end will come." Matt 24:14Matt 24:14

• There will be worshipers from every people There will be worshipers from every people group before His throne.group before His throne. “and purchased for “and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” and tongue and people and nation” Rev 5:9Rev 5:9

A Church for Every People:A Church for Every People:What is the Status?What is the Status?

How Many People Groups Are There?How Many People Groups Are There?

Total Peoples by CountryTotal Peoples by Country(People Group counted for each country it is in.(People Group counted for each country it is in.This is the list most often referred to as the This is the list most often referred to as the peoples of the world.)peoples of the world.)

16,600

How Many People Groups Are Considered How Many People Groups Are Considered Unreached / Least-Reached?Unreached / Least-Reached?

(Using criteria of less than 2% Evangelical (Using criteria of less than 2% Evangelical and less than 5% Adherent)and less than 5% Adherent)

Best current estimate of Best current estimate of unreached / least-reached unreached / least-reached

ethnic people groups:ethnic people groups: 7,100

Countries with the Most Countries with the Most Unreached Peoples Peoples

CountryCountry

# Unreached # Unreached PeoplesPeoples

IndiaIndia 23252325

PakistanPakistan 453453

ChinaChina 419419

BangladeshBangladesh 331331

NepalNepal 328328

The ‘Joshua Project Progress Scale’ provides an estimate The ‘Joshua Project Progress Scale’ provides an estimate of the progress of church planting among people groups.of the progress of church planting among people groups.

Joshua Project Progress ScaleJoshua Project Progress ScaleStage Level Level Description

Unreached / Least-ReachedLess than 2% Evangelicals and

Less than 5% Christian Adherents

Formative / Nominal ChurchLess than 2% Evangelicals and

Greater than 5% Christian Adherents

Significant / Established ChurchGreater than 2% Evangelicals

Very few, if any, known Evangelicals.Professing Christians less than or equal to 5%.

Evangelicals greater than 0.01%, but less than or equal to 2%.Professing Christians less than or equal to 5%.

Very few, if any, known Evangelicals.Professing Christians greater than 5%.

Evangelicals greater than 0.01%, but less than or equal to 2%.Professing Christians greater than 5%.

Evangelicals greater than 2%, but less than or equal to 5%.

Evangelicals greater than 5%.

1.1

1.2

2.1

2.2

3.1

3.2

Approximate people groups at each progress levelApproximate people groups at each progress level

Progress of the Gospel by people group.Progress of the Gospel by people group.Geopolitical boundaries are ignored.Geopolitical boundaries are ignored.

What strategy can the Church use to What strategy can the Church use to “make disciples of all the nations?”“make disciples of all the nations?”

Is this a realistic goal to present the Is this a realistic goal to present the Gospel to every person on earth?Gospel to every person on earth?

Since we do not know who is part of Since we do not know who is part of God’s family, the Church ought to God’s family, the Church ought to

strive to give every person the strive to give every person the opportunity to respond to the Gospel.opportunity to respond to the Gospel.

Mark 16:15 says “Go onto all the world Mark 16:15 says “Go onto all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.”and preach the Gospel to all creation.”

Vision of Coca-Cola:Vision of Coca-Cola:

““A can of coke in the handA can of coke in the handof every person on the planet.”of every person on the planet.”

What are some ways being used to reach every person?What are some ways being used to reach every person?

World as Coke World as Coke DrinkersDrinkers

Approximate PercentagesApproximate Percentages

10% Coke Fans (True Followers of Christ)

20% Cola Drinkers (Nominal Adherents of Christianity)

40% Non Cola Drinkers (Heard, but not responded)

30% Cola Unknown (Virtually no exposure to Gospel)

Bible Bible TranslationTranslation

The New Testament has been translated into the mother tongue The New Testament has been translated into the mother tongue of over 87% of the world’s population. However the remaining of over 87% of the world’s population. However the remaining

approximately 13% will require over 2,000 new translations.approximately 13% will require over 2,000 new translations.

YearYear00 500500 10001000 15001500 20002000

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such a dramatic rise?

Bible Translation StatusBible Translation Status

There have been approximately 6.5 billion cumulative viewings There have been approximately 6.5 billion cumulative viewings or hearings to the Jesus Film. It is available online in over 1,200 or hearings to the Jesus Film. It is available online in over 1,200

languages covering over 95% of the world’s population.languages covering over 95% of the world’s population.

What is the most viewed film in history What is the most viewed film in history and what film has been translated into and what film has been translated into

the most languages in history?the most languages in history?

19901990 19951995 20002000 2010201000

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““Jesus”Jesus” Film Viewers Film ViewersJesusJesus Film Film

Christian Radio BroadcastingChristian Radio Broadcasting

It is estimated that Christian radio It is estimated that Christian radio broadcasts cover at least 91% of broadcasts cover at least 91% of

the world’s population. the world’s population.

A Church for every People GroupA Church for every People GroupGlobal TotalGlobal Total 16,600 16,600Unreached / Least ReachedUnreached / Least Reached 7,1007,100

Status SummaryStatus Summary

The Gospel to the Ends of the EarthThe Gospel to the Ends of the EarthTrue BelieversTrue Believers 10% 10%Nominal AdherentsNominal Adherents 20%20%Heard, no responseHeard, no response 40%40%Virtually no exposureVirtually no exposure 30%30%

Is Christianity stagnant, Is Christianity stagnant, declining or growing?declining or growing?

Evangelical Christianity is growing faster than Islam and Evangelical Christianity is growing faster than Islam and two times faster than Buddhism and Hinduism.two times faster than Buddhism and Hinduism.

* Explosion of the non-western Church ** Explosion of the non-western Church *

• True Christianity has grown by more than 300 True Christianity has grown by more than 300 million believers in the past ten years.million believers in the past ten years.

• About 10 million of these new Christians are from About 10 million of these new Christians are from North America and EuropeNorth America and Europe

• The rest – 290 million – are from developing The rest – 290 million – are from developing countries like Nigeria, Brazil, India and China. countries like Nigeria, Brazil, India and China.

The Global South: The new faces of Evangelical ChristianityThe Global South: The new faces of Evangelical Christianity

1975 – 3,000 churches1975 – 3,000 churches

2005 – 55,000 churches2005 – 55,000 churches

2010 – Expect to send out over 10,000 2010 – Expect to send out over 10,000 cross-cultural workers into the cross-cultural workers into the 10/40 Window in the next 15 10/40 Window in the next 15 years as tentmaking years as tentmaking missionaries.missionaries.

* Philippines ** Philippines *

• 1948 less than 1 million believers.1948 less than 1 million believers.

• 2013 over 75 million believers. 2013 over 75 million believers. Most all of the growth has been in Most all of the growth has been in the last 35 years.the last 35 years.

• Over 12,000 new Chinese believers Over 12,000 new Chinese believers every day! The great need is for every day! The great need is for pastoral training.pastoral training.

* China ** China *

* Developing World Missions Initiatives ** Developing World Missions Initiatives *

The fullness of the Gentiles brought in and the grafting back The fullness of the Gentiles brought in and the grafting back in of the natural branches beginning? (Romans 11)in of the natural branches beginning? (Romans 11)

10/40Window

Filipinos: 10,000 Filipinos: 10,000 missionariesmissionaries

Nigerians: 15,000 Nigerians: 15,000 missionariesmissionaries

Koreans: 30,000 Koreans: 30,000 missionariesmissionaries

Estimated missionaries sent by various Estimated missionaries sent by various countries over the next 15-20 years.countries over the next 15-20 years.

Latin Americans: Latin Americans: 21,000 missionaries21,000 missionaries

Chinese: Chinese: 50,00050,000missionariesmissionaries

Why hasn’t the Great Commission Why hasn’t the Great Commission been completed?been completed?

* Spiritual Challenge ** Spiritual Challenge *

Satan does not give up Satan does not give up ground without a battle.ground without a battle.

More Christians were martyred in the More Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in the previous 19 20th century than in the previous 19

centuries combined.centuries combined.

* Population Challenge ** Population Challenge *

5.5 billion lost people in the world …5.5 billion lost people in the world …Viewing 5 per second it would take 35 years to see everyone.Viewing 5 per second it would take 35 years to see everyone.

Related video from International Mission Board-SBC at: Related video from International Mission Board-SBC at: www.churchmedialink.comwww.churchmedialink.com

Remaining people groups are the Remaining people groups are the most difficult to penetrate.most difficult to penetrate.

• GEOGRAPHIC BARRIERS:GEOGRAPHIC BARRIERS: remote, harsh climate, remote, harsh climate, difficult access, or nomadic.difficult access, or nomadic.

• LINGUISTIC BARRIERS:LINGUISTIC BARRIERS: illiteracy,  no scripture in their illiteracy,  no scripture in their language, unwritten language, terminology confusion.language, unwritten language, terminology confusion.

• CULTURAL BARRIERS:CULTURAL BARRIERS: persecution, closed to change, persecution, closed to change, Christianity viewed as a “foreign” religion.Christianity viewed as a “foreign” religion.

* People Group Challenge ** People Group Challenge *

Countries with the highest % of unreached tend Countries with the highest % of unreached tend to be the most closed to Christianityto be the most closed to Christianity

* Political / National Challenge ** Political / National Challenge *

• Open Doors ranks North Korea #1 in Christian persecution.Open Doors ranks North Korea #1 in Christian persecution.

• Government severely represses all religious activity and there is Government severely represses all religious activity and there is systematic oppression, imprisonment and execution of Christians.systematic oppression, imprisonment and execution of Christians.

• Physical and spiritual starvation of 23 million people.Physical and spiritual starvation of 23 million people.

North KoreaNorth Korea

Imbalance in Missionary DistributionImbalance in Missionary Distribution

AnswerAnswer: Only about : Only about 11 in in 1010 missionaries missionaries work among unreached peoples.work among unreached peoples.

* Resource Challenge ** Resource Challenge *

Imbalance in Missions FinancesImbalance in Missions Finances

Question:Question: For every For every $1$1 of Christian giving to all of Christian giving to all causes how much goes to financing pioneer causes how much goes to financing pioneer church planting among unreached peoples?church planting among unreached peoples?

Answer:Answer: Less than a penny Less than a penny

Question:Question: What % of missionaries work among unreached peoples? What % of missionaries work among unreached peoples?

““After these things I looked, and behold, a great After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before

the throne and before the Lamb” the throne and before the Lamb” Rev 7:9Rev 7:9

1.1. BB2.2. CC3.3. CC4.4. DD5.5. AA6.6. BB7.7. BB8.8. AA9.9. CC10.10. AA11.11. BB12.12. DD

(If accompanying paper (If accompanying paper quiz was used)quiz was used)

Joshua ProjectJoshua ProjectPO Box 62614PO Box 62614

Colorado Springs, CO 80962 USAColorado Springs, CO 80962 USA719-886-4000719-886-4000

www.joshuaproject.netwww.joshuaproject.netinfo@joshuaproject.net