 “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles.” – Luke 6:12-13 When Jesus went up the mountain to pray, He did so knowing He was launching a movement—one that would spread across the nations as His disciples made more disciples. Prayer has always been the foundation of any move of God. It was the foundation of Jesus’ ministry, the early church, and the modern missions movement. If we are to join the Father in His mission to reach the least-reached, we must begin with prayer. It always has been and always will be the starting place. The Moravian Prayer Movement In 1722, Count Nikolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf welcomed a group of Moravian refugees onto his estate near Dresden, Germany, helping them establish a community called Herrnhut. He ministered to their spiritual needs, leading them in Bible study, prayer, and worship. After a season of disunity and conflict, Zinzendorf called for a prayer meeting in August 1727. That night, the Holy Spirit moved powerfully, dissolving their divisions and uniting them around two priorities:
The Haystack Prayer Meeting By 1806, as the Moravian prayer movement was winding down, five young students at Williams College in Massachusetts were discussing William Carey’s famous missions pamphlet. They wondered if God was calling them to take part in the global work of evangelism. When an unexpected storm forced them to seek shelter in a haystack, their discussion turned to fervent prayer. There, in that simple refuge, the Holy Spirit stirred their hearts with a burning passion to take the gospel to the unreached. This prayer meeting birthed the first North American mission agency, which sent Adoniram Judson as its first missionary. Several of the men followed Judson to the mission field, while others worked to mobilize the church. The Haystack Prayer Meeting stands as a powerful example of how God can use even a small group of dedicated believers to spark a global movement. The Student Volunteer Movement Perhaps the most significant wave of missionaries in modern history came through the Student Volunteer Movement of the late 19th century. In 1885-1886, Robert Wilder and his sister Grace prayed nightly for thousands of missionaries to be sent from America to the least-reached places on earth. When Robert, a seminary student at Princeton, was invited to a month-long Bible conference led by D.L. Moody, he was hesitant to attend because it wasn’t missions-focused. But Grace insisted, saying, “Robert, you have to go. I believe our prayers for a missionary awakening will be answered there. God will raise up 100 students who will volunteer for missionary service.” By the end of the conference, 99 students had pledged to go. From there, teams traveled across the country, mobilizing thousands more. As a result, over 10,000 young adults eventually took the gospel to the nations. What About Us? Each of these mission movements began with fervent prayer—prayers for the nations and for God to raise up laborers. These were not driven by famous figures or large institutions. God used a count in a small German village, five college students in a haystack, and a faithful brother and sister to launch thousands into the harvest field. They had no prestige, wealth, or special qualifications—just faith. Hudson Taylor once said, “God is not looking for men of great faith, He is looking for common men to trust His great faithfulness.” Will you trust God enough to pray bold prayers like Robert and Grace Wilder? Prayers for thousands to be sent, for nations to turn to Christ, for revival in America so that we can take up the Great Commission in our generation? Prayers for the vision to see the unreached who have moved to your own city or region? And will you invite others to pray with you? Did you find this helpful? Share it with a friend “The Church has not yet touched the fringe of the possibilities of intercessory prayer. Her largest victories will be witnessed when individual Christians everywhere come to recognize their priesthood unto God and day by day give themselves unto prayer.”
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 Globalization and rapid technological advancements have created a world where people can move across the globe more easily than ever before. The apostle Paul spoke to this reality in Acts 17:26-27: “From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us”(CSB). The least reached people of the world are now our neighbors, and this is no accident. The God of the universe has brought them to this place at this time for His purposes—so that they might seek Him. There are five primary ways people from unreached groups come to North America, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities. Understanding how and why they have arrived helps believers better demonstrate the love of Jesus and engage in meaningful gospel conversations. 1. Immigrants and Professionals Many people arrive through legal immigration channels. Some are professionals—doctors, engineers, and business leaders—filling essential roles. Others come through marriage to a citizen or through family sponsorship. These immigrants often choose to relocate and have the means to do so. They are our co-workers and doctors, frequently highly educated and financially stable. 2. International Students International students come to North America seeking education. Some participate in high school exchange programs, while many more attend universities, often staying for several years to complete degrees. Although many desire to remain in the country after graduation, fewer than half are able to do so. Those who stay typically enter the workforce, particularly in science and technology fields. Most, however, return to their home countries, carrying with them the experiences and relationships they formed while studying. Will they take the gospel with them? 3. Refugee Resettlement The U.S. refugee resettlement program, formally established in 1980, has welcomed over 3 million refugees. To receive refugee status, individuals must have a well-founded fear of persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Refugees do not choose to leave their homes but flee for safety. Many have endured persecution, trauma, and hardship. They often arrive with little and face socio-economic challenges, including language barriers and cultural adjustments. 4. Tourism and Seasonal Work Some people from unreached groups visit North America for a short time as tourists or seasonal workers. Tourists explore national landmarks, theme parks, and major cities. Others, particularly young people, arrive on temporary work visas to staff hotels, restaurants, and amusement parks during peak travel seasons. These individuals present a unique, time-sensitive opportunity for gospel engagement. 5. Undocumented Immigrants Some individuals from unreached groups arrive without legal status. Many come with temporary visas and overstay, while others cross borders seeking safety or economic opportunity. Though immigration policies are complex and often controversial, these individuals are now our neighbors. Many are fleeing difficult situations, seeking better lives for their families, or pursuing the American dream. Our Response Each of these groups has distinct cultural, economic, and educational realities. Some may need English classes and financial assistance, while others drive luxury cars and send their children to private schools. As believers, we must be discerning and intentional in learning about the people God has brought into our cities. We are called to serve, love, and share the gospel with them in ways that are relevant to their circumstances. Our Partners While God is bringing the unreached to North America, He is also sending Christian brothers and sisters through these same immigration pathways. Believers from around the world are relocating for work, education, or refuge. They have a unique ability to connect with and influence the unreached in ways that local believers may not. Partnering with these Christians can enhance outreach efforts and provide cultural insights for effective ministry. For Such a Time as This When Esther was taken into the king’s palace, Mordecai recognized that God was working through her situation. He told her: “If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) Immigration, especially undocumented immigration, is a complex and often contentious issue. Yet, the reality remains: people from unreached groups are moving into our cities and neighborhoods. Many come from places with little or no gospel witness. In their home countries, they may have lived hours away from the nearest Christian, but now they are surrounded by churches and believers. The church's lack of awareness of these realities is perhaps the greatest barrier to abundant harvest - a barrier I hope to disrupt with all that I write here at the Everywhere to Everywhere blog. Could it be that God has brought you to this moment to recognize the opportunity before you? Look around. The harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few. Resources Did you find this helpful? Share it with a friend  Last week, I introduced Google Maps as a tool for discovering the unreached people living in your city or region. However, finding the unreached around you is just the first step. We need to find ways to engage these communities with love and gospel witness. Today, I’d like to introduce four principles that will lead to loving engagement as you go out into the harvest—the places you’ve discovered using Google Maps. Four Principles for Gospel Engagement:
Learning As you go out into the community, be intentional about adopting a posture of learning. One of the greatest kindnesses we can show to new Americans—whether refugees, immigrants, or international students—is to take a genuine interest in their lives and cultures. To do this, you’ll need to reflect on your own preconceived stereotypes and be careful not to make assumptions about the people you meet. In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul spent time exploring Athens, learning about its people and beliefs. He discovered an altar to the “unknown god” and used that cultural reference as a bridge to share the gospel in a way the Athenians would understand. In the same way, we should become cultural detectives, searching for the fingerprints of God in different cultures to understand the deep beliefs, desires, and needs of those we encounter. Action Steps for Learning:
Love As you enter the community, approach every interaction with an attitude of love. Everyone you meet is an image bearer, known by God before they were born. Their differences do not change this truth. One of the top reasons former Muslims cite for leaving Islam and following Christ is the tangible love of a Christian in their lives. If you are wondering how to love well in cross-cultural relationships, consider 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." This passage serves as a rubric for love. When unsure how to act or think in a relationship, return to this list and ask the Lord to help you embody these attitudes and actions. Action Steps for Loving:
Listening One of the best ways to both learn and love is to listen to people’s stories. Everyone has a story, and most long to be heard. I remember taking a pastor into a Somali-owned restaurant one day. After a wonderful meal and two cups of Somali tea, I asked the owner how he liked living in America. He lifted his shirt to reveal a scar on his belly—a gunshot wound. He then showed us another scar on his leg. He told us how Al-Shabab soldiers attacked his village, killing the adults and taking the young boys and men. He was shot twice and left for dead. But someone found him, cared for him, and helped him get to the Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya. Years later, he was granted refugee status and brought to the U.S. That had happened over twenty years ago. He went on to tell us about his oldest children, twins, who were in university, and about his businesses—a restaurant and a car dealership. With great emphasis, he told us, “I love America.” His story was far more powerful than I had anticipated when I asked, but it was his story to tell, and I was honored to hear it. Action Steps for Listening:
Discernment I once heard it said that evangelicals are often so eager to share the good news that we rarely take the time to hear a person's bad news first. Yet, when we listen, love well, and learn, we prepare ourselves to partner with the Holy Spirit in discerning how best to plant seeds and share the gospel. When we invest this time, we often find that when a person does come to faith, their discipleship journey has already begun organically. A friend once told me that in cross-cultural relationships, "It's not until the fifth tea that anything significant happens." He didn’t mean the fifth glass of tea but the fifth occasion of sitting down together over tea and conversation—the fifth time of listening, loving, and learning. The more we listen, love, and learn, the more we will see our prayers answered as natural opportunities to share the gospel arise. If we prayerfully persist in being present, God will show up. Action Steps for Discernment:
Crescent Project founder Fouad Masri once said, "90% of Muslim ministry is just showing up." So much of reaching the unreached in our cities is simply a ministry of presence. Step through the door. Say hello. Ask good questions. And then do it again and again and again. Resources Did you find this helpful? Share it with a friend |
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