What Must be Done?
(Not: What Can I/We Do?)
Go, make disciples of all people groups” Matthew 28:18
Our Bibles often use the word “nations” in place
of “people groups”. In Greek it is the word, “ethne” which carries the
meaning of a group of people with distinct language and culture. Today
there are still thousands people groups who have not been discipled. In
current missiological terminology these groups are called “unreached
people groups”. These are people who have no chance to choose Jesus
from inside their own culture. About 27.9% of the world's people fall
in this category. If current trends continue the percentage of
unreached people will still be 23-28% in 2025, but the actual number
will be much greater. Yet, over 70% of all missionaries are still being
sent to areas that already have a Christian witness! Something needs to
be done differently.
There is a phenomenon taking place in various places all over the
world. God is producing rapidly growing indigenous movements of people
to Himself. These are happening along people group lines.
- Bhojpuri in India: 40,000 congregations with 2 million baptisms in 15 years
- Henan in China: from 1 million to 5 million in the 1990's
- Masai in Africa: 0 – 15% in 10 years
We have just had our Cambodia Field conference
for Mission to Unreached Peoples. Our discussions this year centered on
a major transition that we as an entire mission are making at this
time. As we shared with you in our March 2008 newsletter, we have a new
International Director, Kent Parks. He brings a fresh and exciting
vision with him for MUP. We are asking, “What must be done?” (to reach
the unreached people groups of the world). As a result we, as an
organization are focusing our vision on mobilizing strategic pioneering
teams to be a part of stimulating holistic Gospel movements among
thousands of people groups.
This is a significant change for many of our members who have been
involved in other very valid areas of cross-cultural ministry. Please
join us in prayer for MUP as we move in this new, more strategic
direction.
Prayer Needs
- Pray for discernment for our Cambodia team members as they seek God's will for them concerning our organizational re-direction.
- Pray for wisdom for Tom and other leaders as we discern our direction as a field.
Coming to Michigan!
We will be in Michigan 2 June – 27 July. We would like to connect with those of you in the area. We can be reached at:
Tom and Lynn Newhouse
c/o Lytle and Grace Miller
912 Briarcliff Road
Jackson, MI 49203
Home Phone: 610 788-2101
Tom's Mobile: 610 457-3756
Lynn's Mobile: 610 457-3763
Email: newhouses@newhousesonline.com