UNREACHED

Steve Richardson and Nathan Burns from Pioneers share their organization's extraordinary journey of bringing the gospel to unreached people groups around the world. Through personal stories and strategic insights, they reveal how cross-cultural understanding, team-based approaches, and innovative methods are accelerating global mission work.

• Founded 46 years ago, Pioneers now has 3,000 workers serving in over 100 countries among 441 unreached people groups
• Steve grew up in a tribe of cannibal headhunters in New Guinea, witnessing his father's breakthrough using the "Peace Child" cultural concept
• Teams typically aim for three couples/singles initially but can grow based on the size and needs of the target group
• Pioneers focuses on matching missionaries' unique gifts with strategic needs rather than forcing standard roles
• Mission work increasingly leverages technology, business partnerships, and involves people of all ages and backgrounds
• Former mission fields are becoming mission forces – Mongolia now sends about 40 missionaries through Pioneers
• Pioneers' 10-year vision aims to engage 250 additional unreached people groups beyond their current 441
• Steve is writing a book called "Silver and Bold" challenging those 55+ to invest 5-10 years in missions

A note from our team here at UNREACHED... 

If this podcast adds value for you, and we hope it does, would you please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Also SHARE with your family, your friends, your church, your life group, small group, D group, wherever you do life.
And if you want to connect with us, find us on Instagram @unreachedpodcast or email us at [email protected].

Rodion shares his powerful journey from Ukrainian dentist to missionary serving Ukrainian refugees in Austin, Texas.

• Grew up in a small Ukrainian village where American missionaries introduced him to Christ as a teenager
• Served as worship leader in his Ukrainian church for 15 years before war forced his family to flee
• Describes the traumatic experience of leaving everything behind with just an hour to pack
• Arrived in the U.S. through the "Uniting for Ukraine" program with his wife and children
• Discovered a community of displaced Ukrainians in Austin needing practical help and spiritual guidance
• Now leads Bible studies in Ukrainian and helps refugees navigate American systems and culture
• Transitioning from dental assistant to full-time missionary work with Reliant
• Sees his displacement as God's way of positioning him to reach fellow Ukrainians with the gospel
• Shares stories of Ukrainians coming to faith through simple, authentic Christianity

You can support Rodion's ministry to Ukrainian refugees by visiting www.reliant.org/rodion to donate or learn more about his work.

A note from our team here at UNREACHED... 

If this podcast adds value for you, and we hope it does, would you please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Also SHARE with your family, your friends, your church, your life group, small group, D group, wherever you do life.
And if you want to connect with us, find us on Instagram @unreachedpodcast or email us at [email protected].

Steve Sanford, leader of Ethnos 360, shares his powerful journey of bringing the gospel to the previously uncontacted Joti tribe in South America, and how this isolated people group developed into a mature, evangelistic church community.

• Growing up as a pastor's son, Steve developed a passion for reaching remote tribes
• The Joti were one of the last uncontacted people groups in northern South America
• Despite being feared as "the ha-ha people" who would spear outsiders, the Joti were actually peaceful and likable
• The missionaries had to learn the Joti language without translation aids as they were completely monolingual
• Creating an alphabet and teaching literacy to the entire village became a gateway to Scripture
• The Joti had no word for love in their language, requiring creative translation solutions
• All 150 people in the village embraced the gospel after hearing the complete message
• New believers described Jesus as "like Noah's Ark" and "the stairway man" from their understanding of Old Testament stories
• The Joti developed into evangelists who taught literacy and Scripture to other Joti from surrounding areas
• After six years with the believing community, the missionaries were expelled by the government
• Today's estimate puts Joti believers at approximately 50% of their population
• Ethnos360 works in about 40 countries with strategies for both open and restricted access areas

If you feel called to missions, you don't need to have everything figured out. Start by connecting with your local church, getting Bible training, and reaching out to organizations like Ethnos360 that provide structure, training and experienced mentorship.

A note from our team here at UNREACHED... 

If this podcast adds value for you, and we hope it does, would you please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Also SHARE with your family, your friends, your church, your life group, small group, D group, wherever you do life.
And if you want to connect with us, find us on Instagram @unreachedpodcast or email us at [email protected].

Dr. Todd Ahrend takes us deep into understanding the mission of God from Genesis to Revelation, revealing how we are called to prioritize reaching the 7,000 unreached people groups around the world with the gospel.

• God's mission begins in Genesis 12 when He promises to make Abraham into a great nation that will bless all nations
• Israel was meant to be God's "treasured possession," "kingdom of priests," and "holy nation" to show who God is to all nations
• Where Israel failed in their mission, Jesus prevailed perfectly, then established the church to continue reaching all peoples
• The five Great Commission texts together command us to go make disciples in every people group through the power of the Holy Spirit
• From approximately 17,000 people groups worldwide, about 7,000 remain "unreached" with no sustainable gospel witness
• The "1040 Window" contains most unreached peoples, dominated by Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and animistic religions
• Every Christian is called to be a "global Christian" by welcoming internationals, praying strategically, and supporting missions efforts
• We must shift our priorities from polishing our "rocks" (savings, safety, resume, relaxation) to participating in God's global purpose

You can find "The Abrahamic Revolution" by Dr. Todd Ahrend at the link below. 

https://www.amazon.com/Abrahamic-Revolution-Todd-Ahrend/dp/1935651277/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LTdpfJRWcKVmRFHUuMbKwPJmRzBQ5GCM5xLv7TEcZ5c6B1PSducQBWBTZcncztPHru3uU78BhMK6b-UfpJ1W9g.QKZZiHc-dm8adHQOZiWM_bdZZncZwh7FBK3fVGdLkzg&dib_tag=se&qid=1747336175&refinements=p_27%3ATodd+Ahrend&s=books&sr=1-4

A note from our team here at UNREACHED... 

If this podcast adds value for you, and we hope it does, would you please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Also SHARE with your family, your friends, your church, your life group, small group, D group, wherever you do life.
And if you want to connect with us, find us on Instagram @unreachedpodcast or email us at [email protected].

Craig Bradley, founder of AO Lab, introduces the revolutionary Seed Bible platform that enables communities to create customizable, shareable digital Bible experiences with integrated multimedia content and collaborative features.

• Creating digital Bibles that communities can fully own and customize
• Building technology that works globally and offline through web-based solutions
• Enabling "playlists" of scripture with integrated videos, links, and resources
• Giving families tools to create generational Bible legacies with personal reflections
• Supporting Bible translators with free-use frameworks and distribution tools
• Working with non-Christian developers who have opportunities to encounter the gospel
• Addressing copyright barriers that restrict Bible distribution and accessibility
• Partnering with organizations like E10 (Every Tribe, Every Nation) to reach the unreached
• Making all technology free without monetization strategies, ads, or data harvesting

If you want to support this ministry or learn more, visit helloao.org where you can watch demonstrations and see monthly updates about this revolutionary gospel tech platform.

Check out this video from Craig to get even more info!
https://youtu.be/KWDSWSpzplo

A note from our team here at UNREACHED... 

If this podcast adds value for you, and we hope it does, would you please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Also SHARE with your family, your friends, your church, your life group, small group, D group, wherever you do life.
And if you want to connect with us, find us on Instagram @unreachedpodcast or email us at [email protected].

Nick Ripken shares his 30+ year missionary journey into the heart of persecution and suffering, confronting the profound question: Is Jesus worth it? His experiences in Somalia during civil war and the tragic loss of his son transformed his understanding of faith and led him to document the stories of persecuted believers worldwide.

• Defining a true missionary as someone sent to engage those with little or no access to the gospel
• Witnessing unimaginable suffering in Somalia while feeding 50,000 people daily and burying 20 children
• Experiencing personal tragedy with the death of his 16-year-old son on Easter Sunday
• Discovering how persecuted believers maintain vibrant faith despite severe opposition
• Learning that Western Christians often approach Scripture as past tense while persecuted believers live it in present tense
• Understanding that leadership in persecuted churches comes through evangelism, not education
• Realizing that the best way to support the persecuted church isn't through pity or rescue
• Identifying with persecuted believers by fully committing to Jesus and sharing Him with others

The greatest way to identify with believers in persecution is to give your life to Jesus and then share Him with others. If you keep Jesus to yourself, you're identifying with their persecutors—because the worst persecution is having no access to Jesus at all.

www.nikripken.com

Also, to watch "The Insanity of God" documentary (and you definitely should!) check out the link below.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b0ASd2A2YMA&pp=ygUTdGhlIGluc2FuaXR5IG9mIGdvZA%3D%3D

A note from our team here at UNREACHED... 

If this podcast adds value for you, and we hope it does, would you please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Also SHARE with your family, your friends, your church, your life group, small group, D group, wherever you do life.
And if you want to connect with us, find us on Instagram @unreachedpodcast or email us at [email protected].

Joan shares her incredible journey of faith as she serves among unreached people groups in South Asia, highlighting the challenges, triumphs, and the spiritual battles encountered along the way. Her focus on empowering children as catalysts for community transformation underlines the deep compassion and love flowing through her mission work.

• Joan's personal crisis amid health emergencies 
• The call to mission from an early age 
• Life-changing experiences in remote villages 
• The crucial role of children's empowerment 
• Spiritual challenges and the essence of Buddhism 
• Overcoming spiritual warfare through faith 
• Closing prayers and reflections on the mission journey

"Life is life wherever you go."

A note from our team here at UNREACHED... 

If this podcast adds value for you, and we hope it does, would you please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Also SHARE with your family, your friends, your church, your life group, small group, D group, wherever you do life.
And if you want to connect with us, find us on Instagram @unreachedpodcast or email us at [email protected].

This episode ignites a passionate conversation about bridging the gap between the mission force and mission field, highlighting collaborative efforts to reach unreached communities. Our guests share their inspiring journeys and innovative approaches that combine faith, skills, and community engagement for sustainable impact. 
• Discussing the vision of reaching unreached people groups 
• Introduction to Switchboard as a connector for skilled individuals 
• Julie’s journey from consulting to mission work 
• Bob’s architectural focus on faith-based community projects 
• Peter’s mission in Kenya and the concept of a mission hub 
• Exploring sustainability through community engagement and tourism 
• Emphasizing the importance of collaboration in mission efforts 
• Calling listeners to engage their skills in mission work

Check out these websites!
www.globalswitchboard.io/
https://mappsfoundation.org/invest-for-the-unreached-of-africa/

A note from our team here at UNREACHED... 

If this podcast adds value for you, and we hope it does, would you please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Also SHARE with your family, your friends, your church, your life group, small group, D group, wherever you do life.
And if you want to connect with us, find us on Instagram @unreachedpodcast or email us at [email protected].

The Season 4 kickoff episode features Maya, a missionary serving in Southeast Asia, who shares her journey from a comfortable upbringing to embracing a life dedicated to reaching unreached people groups. She discusses her cultural adjustments, the importance of building relationships in her new home, and the challenges of living out her faith in a foreign culture. 

• Maya’s background as a Chinese American raised in a strong Christian household 
• Awakening to the Great Commission and the concept of unreached people groups 
• Insights into navigating cultural differences in Southeast Asia 
• The significance of food and hospitality in building connections 
• The relational emphasis in missionary work over immediate conversions 
• Challenges tied to identity, access, and the legality of missionary work 
• Growing faith and reliance on God amidst uncertainties 
• Encouragement for listeners to consider their roles in mission work

A note from our team here at UNREACHED... 

If this podcast adds value for you, and we hope it does, would you please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Also SHARE with your family, your friends, your church, your life group, small group, D group, wherever you do life.
And if you want to connect with us, find us on Instagram @unreachedpodcast or email us at [email protected].

Join us on an inspiring journey as Amber and Clint Hudson, wrap up season three of the Unreached podcast, where we share remarkable stories of divine interventions among unreached communities. This episode spotlights Operation Christmas Child, whose shoebox gifts have opened doors to the gospel in remote regions. Hear heartwarming accounts of a child in Mongolia who wanted to thank Jesus, and Agnes, a Tanzanian teenager encouraged to spread the gospel, illustrating the incredible ripple effects of selfless giving.

Prepare to be moved by tales of hope and healing that showcase God's providence in unexpected ways. From a young boy's miraculous recovery from kidney failure to a girl's joy upon receiving a gift box filled with her favorite hair accessories, these narratives highlight how being seen and acknowledged by God can transform lives.

Finally, immerse yourself in the poignant story of Sinkalitsa, a girl who found a new identity and hope through faith, leading to her finding a new name. This transformation underscores the power of faith and community in redefining one's worth. As we reflect on our duty to reach the unreached, we invite you to consider your role in this mission, whether as a sender, teller, or prayer. We here at the UNREACHED Podcast express our heartfelt gratitude for your support and encourage you to share this journey of love and transformation within your own communities.

A note from our team here at UNREACHED... 

If this podcast adds value for you, and we hope it does, would you please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen.
Also SHARE with your family, your friends, your church, your life group, small group, D group, wherever you do life.
And if you want to connect with us, find us on Instagram @unreachedpodcast or email us at [email protected].