International (MNN) — Reaching the world for Jesus is a big task, but that’s precisely the job Christ left us to do before He ascended to heaven. His instructions in Matthew 28, Luke 24, and Mark 16 are commonly known as the Great Commission.

Unfortunately, “So few people understand what the Great Commission is all about,” says Jeff McLinden, Executive Director of the Alliance for the Unreached.

“It’s difficult in our culture because there’s so many distractions.”

A 2018 poll found that less than half of all churchgoers in the United States know about the Great Commission. The Alliance for the Unreached is a coalition of like-minded ministries focused on reversing this trend and serving the world’s unreached people groups.

“We’re focusing on those people who have no access to the Gospel at all,” McLinden says.

“Our purpose is to help reawaken an interest in and a pursuit of the Great Commission.”

This global vision has many applications, and it can be challenging to keep everyone moving in the same direction. So, the Alliance came up with a rallying cry that’s easy to remember and share.

“‘A Third of Us’ is the message we’ve developed to help people engage with Great Commission ministry,” McLinden says. “A third of the world’s population is without Christ. Not only are they without Christ, they also don’t have any access to engage with the Gospel.”

(Graphic courtesy of A Third of Us)

The Alliance observes the International Day for the Unreached on Pentecost Sunday each year. Go here for details, and save the date! The International Day for the Unreached is coming up on May 19, and your participation is critical.

“We want to see unreached peoples of the world have the opportunity to make a decision for Jesus Christ; 7,400 (people) groups around the world have never had that opportunity,” McLinden says.

 

Header and story graphics courtesy of A Third of Us.