Understanding the unreached

This section is for Christians, pastors, church leaders and others who are seeking a basic understanding of the thinking and beliefs of the unreached people of the world so they can better relate and minister to them. This is not an exhaustive resource for these groups, but it offers some basic infomation with connections to sources that would lead to greater understanding.

Missionaries, mission leaders, and strategists seeking the USCWM's ideas and strategies for ministering to these different groups should seek such information from the Strategy Division part of this web site

  1. What do we mean unreached. Not unevengelized but unreached. (Definitions)

Unreached People (sometimes called "Hidden Peoples"): a people group which has no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to finish evangelizing their community without further outside/cross-cultural assistance.

2. Research links to finding unreached People groups.

3. Way a church can become involved with the unreached- Adopt-A-People.

Basic information

Basic book: Operation World 21st Century Edition by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk. An 800-page, country-by-country report. Something every Christian should have. Order from William Carey Library

Unreached people chart: A graphic pie chart showing the unreached peoples.

The five basic unreached religious/cultural systems

1. Islam

Recommended books

Building Bridges by Fouad Accad. This book offers readers information, examples, and insight necessary for dialoguing with Muslims.

Answering Islam (Revised and Updated) by Norman Geisler & Abdul Saleeb. An excellent 366-page overview of the beliefs of Islam and the Christian response.

Books available from William Carey Library

Brochures

Islam - What You should Know by Ron Rhodes: A fold-out booklet giving the fundamentals of Islam and Christian response. Haven House Publishers, Eugene, OR 97402

How to Share the Good News with Your Muslim Friend. International Students, Inc., P. O. Box C, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. Phone: 719-576-2700

What Muslims Believe a brief introduction to Islam by Arab World Ministries

Web sites

http://www.answering-islam.org/

Iran Christian web site: http://www.farsinet.com

The Good Way: http://www.the-good-way.com/

Christian resources for Kurds and their friends http://www.genjine.com/

30 Day Muslim Prayer focus: http://www.30-days.net/

Videos

"The Real World: A Christian's Guide to the Arab World." By Middle East Media, P. O. Box 359, Lynnwood, WA 98046. Phone: 908-301-9730. E-mail: ED@mem-usa.org. A six-part video series explaining Islam and the Christian response.

"The Cross or The Crescent, Understanding Islam." By the North American Mission Board, 4200 N. Point Pkwy., Alpharetta, GA 30022. Phone: 800-448-8032. Fax: 615-251-5983. An excellent video and a five-lesson study program assisting Christians to understand Islam and reach out to Muslims.

"Battle for the Hearts." Trans World Radio, P. O. Box 8700, Cary, NC 27512. Phone: 800-456-7897. Fax: 919-460-3702. This is a 12-week video teaching series explaining Islam and how Christians can relate to and reach out to Muslims.

Organizations whose focus is on ministering to Muslims

Arab World Ministries, P. O. Box 96, Upper Darby, PA 19082. Phone: 800-447-3566, Ext. 7327. E-mail: mike@awm.org

Frontiers, 325 N. Staple Dr., Mesa, AZ 85203-8030. Phone: 480-834-1500, 800-GO-2-THEM. E-mail: info@US.Frontiers.com

MECO (Middle East Christian Outreach) (U.S. Office), P. O. Box 531151, Indianapolis, IN 46253-1151. Phone: 317-271-4026, 800-747-6326. For use in the United States e-mail: 75227.633@compuserve.com.

Project Joseph, P. O. Box 16616, Chattanooga, TN 37416. Phone: 423-490-9194. A ministry of Carl Ellis focusing on evangelizing and discipling African-Americans who have been involved in Islam.

2. Hinduism

Hinduism is more of a culture or civilization than a religion. It is much too divergent to be considered one religion. Only in Western thinking is it the common understanding that it is one religion. It is this understanding that we are using here.

Recommended books
A Primer of Hinduism by J. N. Farquhar. Order through Amazon.com
This study by the noted missionary scholar gives a traditional outline that traces the history of Hinduism and its literature. It is in a user-friendly format with selections from the various Hindu scriptures. An excellent place to start and a good book to have for reference.
 

Following Jesus in the Hindu Context: The Intriguing Implications of N. V. Tilak's Life and Thought
by H. L. Richard. 145 pp, 1998, William Carey Library . This is a study of N. V. Tilak (1861-1919), the outstanding figure in Protestant history for contextual Christian witness among Hindus. Tilak developed a paradigm for contextual biblical witness and remains a model of what it means to truly represent Christ in the Hindu world.

Sharing Your Faith with a Hindu by Madasamy Thirumalai. Bethany House Publishers. It explains historical and contemporary Hindu customs, ritual practices, and intellectual obstacles to Christianity, and offers practical tips and tools on how to win Hindus to the Lord. It can be an effective guide for Hindu evangelism both in the United States and abroad.

Living Water and Indian Bowl by Dayanand Bharati - an analysis (based on personal experience) of Christian work among Hindus and the error and inadequacy of Western Christianity in the Hindu world. William Carey Library

Web sites

 
 
General introduction to Hinduism by OMF International
A further understanding of Hinduism by H L Richard in response to this OMF web site's explanation.

General web site about India: Http://www.samachar.com with helpful news and resources.
 
 
 
Organization that assists in understanding Hinduism
South Asia Concerns, P. O. Box 43, Sutton, Surrey SW2 5WL, England. Phone: 0181-770-9717. E-mail: 100126.3641@compuserve.com. Excellent books on understanding and ministering to those in the Hindu culture.

 


3. Buddhism

Recommended books

Buddhism through Christian Eyes by Alex Smith. Order from O M F Books .

Sharing Christ in the Tibetan Buddhist World by Marku Tserine. Order from InterServe.
A practical guide, in 220 pages, explaining Buddhism, particularly the Tibetan form that has come to the West in the Dalai Lama, with ways to communicate with and minister Christ to Buddhists.

Tearing Down Strongholds—Prayer for Buddhists by Elizabeth Wagner. From Christian Literature Crusade. Phone: 800-659-1240.
A 60-page booklet giving an overview of Buddhism, including how to pray for Buddhists.

People of the Buddhist World by Paul Hattaway a Christian prayer guide listing over 400 groups and stories of Buddhist people coming to faith.

Buddhism Resource Pack . Resources for undertanding Buddhism and ministering to them, by OMF International

Web site

General introduction to Buddhism by OMF International

Videos

"Buddhist Teachers Resource Packet." A packet of resources on Buddhism to use in the churchs to understand and minister to those involved. It includes two videos, overheads, Bible studies, brochures, and prayer guides. Order from OMF International.

Organization whose focus is on ministering to Buddhists

O M F International (USA), 10 W. Dry Creek Circle, Littleton, CO 80120-4413. Phone: 303-730-4160, 800-422-5330. E-mail: information@OMF.org

4. Tribals

Recommended books

Bruchko by Bruce Olson. This is the story of Bruce Olson and the Motilone tribe of Colombia—200 pages and great reading.

Lords of the Earth, by Don Richardson, tells the story of the Yali people of Irian Jaya. It needs to be noted that the first few chapter are graphic and may not be appropriate for some readers.

End of the Spear

Spirit of the Rainforest a book graphically describing the condition (thus not recomended for children) of a group in the South American rain forest and the change the Gospel made.

Order from William Carey Library

Web site

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