Every year on Pentecost Sunday, the global Church observes the International Day for the Unreached (IDU). It’s a holy reminder that while the Holy Spirit was poured out for all peoples, many today still live without even knowing His name.

As we celebrate the birth of the Church, we must remember those who are yet to hear, those the Bible calls “the nations,” and who we now describe as unreached people groups (UPGs).

Who Are the Unreached?
The unreached are ethnic groups with less than 2% evangelical Christian presence and no viable, indigenous church movement. This means that without outside help, they are unlikely ever to hear the Gospel. Missiologically, there is the Engaged Unreached People Group and the Unengaged Unreached People Group. They are not simply unbelievers, nor are they just secular people ignoring God. They are communities with no access to the Good News on their own— no indigenous church presence, portions or no Bibles in their indigenous language, and no discipleship movement.

Unreached people groups are not:
– People who have rejected the Gospel
– Backslidden Christians
– People in Christian-majority countries who don’t attend church
– Resistant tribes who once had Gospel access but turned away
– People waiting for revival in already reached places
They are people without access, not just without faith.

The Great Imbalance: A Global Crisis
Today, more than 3.2 billion people in over 7,000 people groups are considered unreached.
Here’s the great tragedy: Only about 3% of the global missionary force and 1% of all Christian giving go to reach these unreached people groups. This is what many now call The Great Imbalance — where the vast majority of Gospel resources are spent in already-reached places, while entire nations remain in darkness.

Where Are the Unreached?
Globally, the unreached are concentrated in what’s called the 10/40 Window — the area stretching from North Africa through the Middle East to Asia. Countries like India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, and Yemen have thousands of UPGs still waiting.

But the unreached are not just “out there.” They are also right here in Nigeria.

The Unreached Among Us: Nigeria’s Remaining Harvest
Research efforts in Nigeria began in the 1980s and revealed more than 72 unreached people groups. Continued field studies and collaborative efforts uncovered even more, with over 90 UPGs identified by the early 2000s.

Today, thanks to courageous missionaries and strategic mission agencies, we celebrate progress , but the task is far from done. We still have 43 unreached and least evangelized people groups in Nigeria. These are real communities — many indigenous, living in hard-to-reach places; still without the Gospel.

Countdown to 30: Our Collective Response
NEMA, through its member agencies, launched the Countdown to 30 Initiative — a focused national call to adopt and engage at least 13 of the remaining identified 43 UPGs and LEPGs by December 2025.

This is more than a campaign, it’s a rallying cry to finish the task together. Churches, mission agencies, student fellowships, families — everyone has a role to play.

👉 Learn more and sign up: www.nemanigeriamissions.com/ct30

How You Can Get Involved
1. PRAY INTENTIONALLY – Dedicate time in your personal devotions, home fellowships, or church services to pray for the remaining UPGs. Resources like the Nigeria Missions Prayer Alert, Joshua’s Project Unreached and more are available to guide you. Lead prayer chains. Pray by name.

2. GIVE SACRIFICIALLY– Fund mission projects, support missionaries, and give towards UPG engagement. Your giving can send labourers into fields you’ll never reach physically. No gift is too small when it comes to eternal impact. You can give here.

3. GO WILLINGLY– Whether short-term or long-term, more labourers are needed. You can be trained and sent to live among and love the unreached. Let us go together. Contact us.

4. MOBILIZE OTHERS– Use your influence to raise awareness. Share stories. Host IDU events in your church. Post graphics. Educate your peers. Advocate with clarity and conviction.

5. ADOPT A PEOPLE GROUP – As an individual, family, church, or ministry network, adopt an unreached people group. Learn about them. Pray for them. Send or support work among them.

This Day is Our Wake-Up Call
The International Day for the Unreached is not just an event. It’s a divine reminder that our mission remains unfinished. It’s a trumpet blast reminding the Nigerian Church: You have a role. The time is now.

May our prayers rise like incense. May our feet go to the ends of the earth. May our hearts burn for those who’ve never heard.

📥 Download Now and Take Action

🔹 Nigeria Unreached People Group Documentaries. Visit NEMA’s Youtube page.

🔹 NEMA Praying Through the Harvest
Your prayer guide for the remaining unreached groups in Nigeria.
Download PDF

🔹 Mobilisation Graphics for the Unreached People Groups by MissionStats
Social media-ready visuals to raise awareness and mobilize others.
Download Toolkit

🔹 For information and resources about the world’s unreached. Visit joshuaproject.net