Are there 25 of us who would commit to finding, or starting, the team that would go to one of the largest unengaged Muslim groups?
We want to see the Great Commission competed, right? Even though we may disagree about what that looks like. We want to see God’s Kingdom come, right? Again, with diverse understanding of its nature.
There must be steps and stages on the way to God’s vision of consummation. Different benchmarks, waypoints, and goals. What if the start of the problem were defined as simply as this? “We must get one reproduction-oriented team of people on the ground among each unengaged people group.”
Those teams might come from anywhere. And there would be much more to do after they arrived. But could we make that a starting point? Some of us living among all.
Friends of mine who’ve invested many years in global, Great Commission work among Muslims have developed a researched and tested list of over 500 Muslim people groups they call unengaged. That first team has yet to arrive. In many cases, it’s hard to even find believers who are thinking about moving in with them.
If I’m lucky 1500 people will read this email. Are there 25 of us who would commit to finding, or starting, the team that would go to one of the largest unengaged Muslim groups? Just two dozen of us who would receive grace from God to open the flow of his grace to one of the peoples least impacted by the gospel?
I’ve compiled a subset of my friends’ list. Take a quick look at it and a long gaze at your Father. If he directs, put your name and email beside one of the peoples on the list. Together, we might be able to start the very beginning of what will ultimately be the fullness of God’s Kingdom among some precious people.
Plans to complete the Great Commission are nothing new. Some say there have been over 2600 since Jesus gave the challenge. I’m not presumptuous enough to think this idea is the solution to everything. But I’m feeling very committed to doing what I can do to find “engagers” for these 25 groups.
Here’s the massively over-simplified plan:
- Choose a people: Prayerfully go over the list and put your name and email by one of the peoples. If there’s already a name there, that’s good news. Join them.
- Become a champion: Learn, advocate, visit (virtually or IRL when permitted), become a stake holder.
- Find a cheerleader (I volunteer!): Mentoring, encouragement and connecting will be essential.
- Charge ahead. This assumes you’re operating out of the grace of God and not simply your own ambition. But God does want this done, right?
In the words of NASA’s Gene Kranz, flight director for the ill-fated Apollo 13, “let’s work the problem.”
Thank you for considering this challenge. I’m convinced God wants some of us from somewhere living as ambassadors among every people for whom that’s not currently reality. How wonderful if he were to allow you and me to join him in making that happen.
» Please watch this video where I start the cheerleader process, then consult the list.