By Brent Lacy
How Your Small Church Can Pray for the Unreached World
There are approximately 7,000 unreached people groups in the world, communities where there is no indigenous Christian church and no access to the gospel. That represents billions of people who have never heard the name of Jesus.
For a small church, the scale of the need can feel overwhelming. What can a church of 40 people do about 7,000 unreached people groups? More than you think. It starts with prayer.
Why Prayer Comes First
Missions begins on its knees. Before you give a dollar or send a team, you pray. Prayer is not a substitute for action. It is the foundation of action. When you pray for the unreached, you are participating in God’s work whether or not you ever leave your town.
Paul asked the churches he planted to pray for him. He knew that his effectiveness in missions was directly tied to the prayers of God’s people. Your prayers for the unreached are not a small thing. They are a vital part of God’s global mission.
How to Pray for the Unreached
Pick one people group and learn about them. The Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net) provides profiles of every people group in the world: their location, language, culture, and spiritual condition. Pick one group and commit to praying for them regularly.
Pray specifically. Not just “God, save the unreached” but “God, send workers to the Fulani people in West Africa. Raise up a church among them. Protect the missionaries who are working in their region. Open doors for the gospel.”
Pray regularly. Add unreached people groups to your Sunday morning prayers. Include them in your midweek prayer meetings. Make prayer for the nations a normal part of your church’s life.
Use a prayer guide. Operation World, the Joshua Project app, and the International Mission Board’s prayer guides provide daily prayer prompts for unreached people groups. Use them in your personal devotions and in corporate worship.
Beyond Prayer
Prayer is the beginning, not the end. As your church prays for the unreached, God may lead you to give, to go, or to send. Be open to where the Spirit leads.
Support a missionary who works among unreached people. Sponsor a Bible translation project. Send a short-term team. The church that prays for the unreached will eventually be compelled to act for the unreached.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we choose which people group to pray for?
Ask God. He may lead you to a group that has a connection to your church or your region. Or simply pick one from the Joshua Project and start praying.
Is it okay to pray for a people group we know nothing about?
Yes. God knows them even if you do. As you pray, you will learn about them, and your prayers will become more specific and more passionate.
What if we never send anyone to the group we pray for?
Your prayers still matter. God uses the prayers of his people to open doors, protect workers, and draw people to himself. You may never see the results of your prayers this side of heaven, but they are not wasted.
The Power of a Praying Church
A small church that prays faithfully for the unreached is a church that is participating in God’s global mission. You may never travel to the ends of the earth, but your prayers can reach where you cannot. Pray faithfully. God hears. And God answers.
Your small church is not too small for missions.
MinistryPlace.net offers missions resources, cultural training, and outreach guides that help small churches make a global impact.
Sources
- Christianity Today, “Your Small Church Can Do Missions”
- International Mission Board, “The Great Commission”
- Lausanne Movement, “The Cape Town Commitment”
MinistryPlace Resources
Browse all guides, templates, and tools for small and rural churches.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we implement this in a small church?
Start with one or two key ideas from this guide. Implement them consistently before adding more. Small churches succeed through focus and faithfulness, not through doing everything at once.
What if we do not have enough people or resources?
Small churches have always done more with less. Focus on your strengths: close relationships, community knowledge, and the ability to adapt quickly.
Where can we learn more about this topic?
MinistryPlace.net offers free and affordable resources specifically designed for small and rural churches. Browse our resource library for guides, templates, and tools.