The Church has been carrying the message of Jesus across the world for over two thousand years. From the first disciples to modern-day missionaries, countless lives have been devoted to making Him known. That legacy is worth celebrating—and it’s still being written.

But as we look honestly at the state of the world, we see a gap we can’t ignore.

The Great Imbalance

Today, 3.42 billion people—over 42% of the world’s population—live in unreached people groups (Joshua Project, October 4, 2023; Operation World, 2023; Lausanne Movement, 2023). These are communities with little or no access to the gospel—no local church, no Christian witness, and often no Scripture in their language.

Here’s the problem:

• 87% of cross-cultural missionaries serve in areas where the gospel is already accessible.

• Only 3% serve among the unreached.

• Out of every $100 given to global missions, less than $1 goes to work among those who have never heard.

This isn’t because the rest of the world is unimportant—far from it. Every corner of the globe matters to God. But the imbalance means that the people with the least access to the gospel are receiving the smallest share of our effort and resources.

A Shift That Changes Everything

What if we could change that ratio?

At There and Now, we believe the most effective way to close this gap is to empower local, national believers and church planters. These men and women are already in or near unreached areas. They know the language, understand the culture, and can move quickly to share the gospel and make disciples.

When we equip them with training, resources, and encouragement, the mission multiplies. Instead of one missionary learning a new culture over years, dozens of local leaders can begin planting churches and making disciples right now.

Not a Problem—An Opportunity

The imbalance in missions is not the end of the story—it’s an opportunity for the Church to rally together and refocus. We have the people, the funding, and the tools to see every nation, tribe, and language reached in our lifetime. The question is whether we will direct those resources toward the places still waiting.

The Invitation

We can honor the legacy of those who came before us by running faster toward the finish line. The billions still waiting deserve the same opportunity we’ve had—to hear the good news and become disciples of Jesus.

Join us in empowering local, national believers and church planters to reach the unreached—faster, there and now.

Sources:
Joshua Project. (2023, October 4). Has Everyone Heard? https://joshuaproject.net/resources/articles/has_everyone_heard
Operation World. (2023). Status of Global Christianity. https://operationworld.org
Lausanne Movement. (2023). State of the Great Commission Report. https://lausanne.org