There are many top 10 or top 20 lists published weekly stating value or priority on topics from sports to cities to food. This top 15 list below beats them all!
Sunset on Lake Victoria at the Source of the Nile River, Uganda
The reality of this list has had an impact on our decision to return to the mission field as missionaries in Asia. In my role as the Director of Open Door Baptist Missions, I was constantly confronted with the mission needs around the world. All one has to do is throw a dart at a world map to find a place with great spiritual needs. But resources are limited, so we're forced to prioritize our efforts to the regions of the world that are the darkest and have the least light.
A Roofline at Dusk in Xi'an, China
"Unreached" is a missions term used to describe language and people groups who do not have a Bible in their language, nor do they have any Gospel preaching churches near them. In short, these are the people around the world that have probably never met a Christian and have never heard the Good News of Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection to redeem them and reconcile them to Himself.
Northern India
Here is the list of the countries with the most unreached people in the world. These countries represent some of the greatest and most urgent needs in our world today.
The Top 15 Unreached Countries (Source: Joshua Project)
| Country | Unreached Population | % of Total Population |
1 | India | 1,352,887,000 | 95% |
2 | Pakistan | 237,017,000 | 99% |
3 | Indonesia | 193,937,000 | 70% |
4 | Bangladesh | 170,392,000 | 99% |
5 | China | 140,553,000 | 10% |
6 | Japan | 120,652,000 | 98% |
7 | Iran | 88,512,000 | 100% |
8 | Turkey | 85,014,000 | 99% |
9 | Nigeria | 68,296,000 | 31% |
10 | Thailand | 61,576,000 | 86% |
11 | Algeria | 45,487,000 | 100% |
12 | Sudan | 45,483,000 | 95% |
13 | Myanmar | 45,303,000 | 83% |
14 | Iraq | 44,399,000 | 95% |
15 | Afghanistan | 42,061,000 | 100% |
* Countries in which Dave & Shawn have ministered or are planning to serve.
Bible College Students in Myanmar
OBSERVATIONS:
India is #1, and it's not even close. India has more than 5 times the number of Unreached than in (#2) Pakistan. The numbers of the lost in India are immense.
All countries but one are located within the 10/40 Window, and the one (Indonesia) is just south of it. This region of the world has the least amount of mission resources and the most resistance to western missionaries.
These countries represent the most intense evil on the planet including human trafficking and the greatest opposition to the Gospel, including persecution of believers.
A Market in China
We need and appreciate your prayers for us as we launch our new ministry to help Asian churches launch and send national missionaries to make disciples in the most unreached regions of the world. The yellow highlighted countries above are those in which we have ministered and are planning to focus our future ministry in Asia. Pray with us for God's wisdom, protection, and provision to serve and assist those on the front lines to reach the Unreached!
Thanks for partnering with us,
Dave & Shawn
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