I was browsing through The Joshua Project earlier this afternoon when I saw some interesting statistical data and facts about missions. 

To those who are not familiar with the Joshua Project, here's a brief description from their About Page:

Joshua Project is a research initiative seeking to highlight the ethnic people groups of the world with the fewest followers of Christ. Accurate, regularly updated ethnic people group information is critical for understanding and completing the Great Commission. 
Here are some challenging mission facts I copy-pasted below:

Challenging Mission Facts
  •  Of the 16,790 people groups by country, 6,955 are still considered unreached.
  •  9,835 people groups by country are not considered unreached, totaling 3,983,293,000 individuals, or about 58% of the world's population.
  • Of the 16,790 total people groups, 6,955 are identified as unreached using Joshua Project criteria, totaling 2,841,516,000 individuals. Of these 6,955 groups, 5,892 are in 10/40 Window countries. That means 85% of all unreached people groups are in the 10/40 Window.
  • 1,063 of the unreached groups are NOT in the 10/40 Window, totaling 84,003,000 individuals. These groups are relatively accessible to the Gospel.
  •  Of the 6,955 Unreached people groups, about 3,553 (51%) are small groups under 10,000 in population (or population unknown) and all these groups total less than 8,000,000 individuals. Of the remaining 3,402 unreached groups, about 1,314 are under 50,000 in population. That leaves 2,088 Unreached groups 50,000 and over in population. A vibrant church in a large group may take the gospel to a number of smaller satellite people groups that have ethnic similarities.

We still have 35% of all people groups in the world not hearing the message of the gospel which transforms lives and give eternal significance to a dying world. 

The Project's Progress Report:

You’ll also notice a world map that shows the location and progress report on this big task of reaching the nations for Christ. 

The map actually signifies the bigger picture of the present need to evangelize and establish a Christ-believing church in these regions.

Below is the screenshot of this report:



If you count the progress stage above, almost 2.7 billion people are mostly located in the 10/40 window and all of them has not heard the message of the gospel. 

Surely, you’ve heard this very verse from Paul, the Apostle:

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?- Romans 10:14-15a
His epistle to the Romans may have been sent more than 2,000 years ago but the challenge it presents still rings true today. Paul's question is actually relevant to the very command of our Lord Jesus Christ before he ascended to heaven:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”


This command is not just given to a fateful few but to every believer and disciple of Jesus Christ. 


Our Challenge


The figures speaks for itself and personally, I think the task is BIG for just one group or denomination or even a Christian nation can accomplish. It takes every believer to make himself available to accomplish our task commanded by our Lord.

We can do better when we work hand in hand, regardless of denomination or location. Our common ground is not just our faith in Christ but also the great commandment and commission.


The church (referring to the local congregations) need to understand this concept. We need to establish this truth seriously. 


I strongly believe that there is only one church established by Christ (His bridegroom), one Lord over all believers and therefore only has one great commission to accomplish. (more on this topic next time)

The task may be big but it doesn't mean it cannot be accomplished when we work hand in hand.

It may sound challenging but we do have a BIG GOD who is Lord of ALL. 

Points to Ponder:
  • What do you think can we do, as Filipinos and believers in this great task?
  • What probably is the reason why this great task is still not completed?
  • Which could possibly be harder - uniting the body of Christ or fulfilling the great commission?
  • Who could probably answer the call of the Lord of the harvest - “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

"Raising generations of Filipino Youth for cross-cultural missions"