In this eye-opening episode, Gary Wilkerson and Mark Renfroe discuss the sobering reality that over 7,000 people groups, comprising more than 3 billion individuals, remain unreached with the gospel message. They highlight the various challenges and obstacles that make these groups difficult to reach, such as geographic, linguistic, cultural, and religious barriers, as well as the scarcity of missionaries and resources dedicated to this cause. Gary and Mark emphasize the need for Christians to have a global faith, marked by a willingness to sacrifice, take risks, and die to self, in order to see the gospel proclaimed and embraced among these unreached peoples.
Key Points from the Podcast
• Over 7,000 people groups, comprising more than 3 billion individuals, remain unreached with the gospel message.
• Unreached people groups face various challenges and obstacles, such as geographic, linguistic, cultural, and religious barriers.
• There is a scarcity of missionaries and resources dedicated to reaching these unreached groups.
• Christians need to have a global faith, marked by a willingness to sacrifice, take risks, and die to self.
• Gary and Mark emphasize the importance of proclaiming the gospel and seeing it embraced among unreached peoples.
• They discuss the difference between being unreached and being lost, highlighting the lack of access to the gospel among unreached groups.
• Examples of unreached people groups and their unique challenges are provided, such as the Sentinelese Islands and Qatar.
• Something must change if we are to make a difference in reaching these groups with the gospel.
• Gary and Mark call for a radical faith that focuses on going where the gospel is most needed, even if it's difficult.
• The episode concludes with the idea that for the spiritually dead to experience life, believers must be willing to die to themselves.
Bible Verses Referenced in the Podcast
Matthew 9:36, 2 Peter 3:9, Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 13:31-33, Acts 10, Ephesians 2:12, Matthew 9:37-38, Luke 10:2, Ephesians 2:1-5
Additional Episodes in this Podcast Series
About Mark Renfroe
Mark married his college sweetheart, Amy, with whom he has four adult children—one girl and three boys. The Renfroes have been involved in field missions work for 30 years. They served in the Arab community of San Francisco for four years before becoming foreign missionaries in 1995. Mark was asked to serve as the Area Director for Assemblies of God World Missions in 2007. As part of his role, he led missionaries and interfaced with national church leaders in the 18 countries of the Arab World. In 2017, Mark created Reaching Africa’s Muslims, an initiative to mobilize, equip, and deploy indigenous African missionaries to reach Muslims on the continent. Mark has graduate degrees in Intercultural Studies and Executive Leadership. He currently serves as the Chief Missions Officer for World Challenge in Colorado Springs.
