Hanna came to a local discipleship-mission training in Malawi eager to learn about making disciples. Her heart burned with a desire to reach people with the Good News of Jesus. She even knew where to start!

Yao Muslims in a nearby village were unreached with the Gospel but not out of reach for Hanna and her fellow trainees. Hanna suggested going to this community for their outreach.

Malawi is home to 2.6 million Yao, the nation’s third-largest people group. The Yao are historically Muslim with a low tolerance of other religions. In fact, only 0.5% of Yao are evangelical Christian.

Hanna and the disciple-makers were up to the challenge. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they went door-to-door, striking up conversations, praying for those in need, and sharing the Good News of Jesus. They met Mercy, a woman who battled a long illness. Hanna and the disciple-makers prayed for her healing, and God answered immediately and completely!  

Mercy’s healing opened the eyes of her community, and soon eight more surrendered their lives to Christ. A tiny fellowship is taking root but facing opposition from their Muslim families and neighbors.

Hanna’s heart for least-reached people—those without knowledge or access to the Good News of Jesus—compelled her in a new direction. She saw the people God had put within her reach, and she acted on it.

Reaching the least-reached is possible! We see it every day. As Global Disciples, we focus on equipping people like Hanna who are “within reach” of unreached people. They have access or connections through language, culture, and experience to reach out with the Good News. Their “reach” may be simply speaking to neighbors or family. Or it can mean facing opposition, even risking their lives.  

Joseph is a pastor in India, training his people to reach tribal groups isolated in remote mountain areas under the control of Maoist guerrillas. The guerrillas are known to kill based on suspicion only. Despite the risk, Joseph and his disciple-makers find ways to win trust and bridge the gaps. They provide medical help with humility and compassion as they share the Good News of Jesus. Three churches have been planted with new followers of Christ from the guerrillas and tribal people.

Reaching the least-reached can also be an answer to prayer. In Brazil, Alves led a team of disciple-makers to a remote village for outreach, but they had no place to stay. A man named Bernado invited them into his home, even though he was not a follower of Christ. For 20 days, he looked after the team. He told Alves, “It’s been ten years since I asked God to send someone to talk to me about Jesus.” Bernardo gave his life to Christ; he is now being discipled, and his home serves the new church in his previously unreached community.

Alves, Joseph, Hanna, and thousands more know the people within their reach. And that sharing the Good News is worth the risk, despite barriers of geography, ideology, religion, culture, or language. They are courageous, creative, prayer-filled, and committed to seeing that every person within reach has an opportunity to choose and follow Jesus.