Now that you know how to identify the world’s most populous frontier unreached people groups and where they live (see part 1), what would be the next step in determining which of these God may want you to reach?
First, talk with your pastor and other godly mentors in your church. Tell them about your burden to reach an unreached people group. Ask them if your church supports any missionaries in difficult, unreached areas. See if they have any suggestions for you. Ask them to pray for you. Ask them as well if they have any ministry opportunities at your church that might prepare you for future service in an unreached people group.
Second, if your pastor brings up a missionary your church supports, consider writing that missionary and getting more information. A missionary you know or who has a connection to your church (or family) is a great place to start in finding out where the Lord might have you serve. God is sovereign over where we live, the people we know, the church we attend, and the relationships we form. He works through all of these to make His will known.
Third, pray that you will meet somebody from one of these frontier people groups. When we pray, God works! The God who guided Paul across the Aegean Sea into modern-day Europe so he could meet Lydia, a woman from Asia, is still providentially guiding His cross-cultural laborers. It may very well be that the Lord will help you zero in on the people group to whom He wants you to go by allowing you to build a relationship with someone from that people group right now. Missions begins where you are, not when you cross an ocean.
Fourth, once you have identified a potential unreached people group you think might be the Lord’s work for you, begin researching it more carefully. This is part of your preparation! If you are going to reach those folks, you need to know something of their history, their cultural pride, their language, and, most significantly, their religious beliefs. For example, if the frontier people group is Islamic, you will need to know what Muslims believe and learn how best to reach them with the Gospel. You will probably even need to read the Quran!
Fifth, think creatively as to how to reach that frontier people group. Many of these frontier people groups live in countries that make missionary access difficult. That is usually the reason why they are unreached. Is there a business platform that works in that country? Is there a skill you have that might be marketable in reaching them? Search online and inquire with mission boards as to what kinds of creative avenues of access are currently being used to reach that people group. Realize too that you might be able to reach your chosen frontier people group in a different country! For example, first on Joshua Project’s list of the 36 largest frontier people groups is Arabic-speaking Algerians. Did you know that almost half a million Arabic-speaking Algerians live in France? Gaining long-term access to Algeria might be almost impossible, but living in France is much more doable. Yemeni Arabs are another hard-to-reach people group. Some missionaries burdened for the Yemeni have taken up residence in the country of Djibouti, across the Persian Gulf from Yemen. Yemenis make up one of the largest refugee groups in Djibouti.
Sixth, begin sharing the Gospel wherever and with whomever you can. We sometimes view missions romantically—a sense of adventure partly behind what is driving us to go to remote places, learn difficult languages, and reach out to unreached peoples. Your love for Christ should compel you to witness for Him now. Out of your present obedience to Him, He may then expand your circle of gospel influence until you have the opportunity to minister to the unreached people group about whom you have sought Him in your prayers.
Reaching the Unreached: Others Have Enlisted... Why Not YOU?