I recently came across this excellent infographic on one of China’s major present issues, and it confirmed many of my thoughts in relation to how we approach missions strategies within the context of China’s complex social development.
I used to travel countless hours on long, hard roads to reach unreached people groups in rural China. In fact, I still take teams to visit our outreach centers among the Wa, Dai, Lahu, Bouyei, Bai, Miao, Yi, Yao, Ge, Dong, Kongge, Hani, Aini, and many other ethnic people groups.
But our strategy has shifted.
We are now focused on reaching unreached people groups in urban settings.
Why spend 3 days round trip traveling to a rural village to share the gospel to a few families for 3 hours when you can spend 3 hours to impact multiple ethnic people groups who reside in the city?
There is most certainly a place for long, arduous travels to unreached people groups. I have done it for years, and many of my missionary colleagues are still focused on rural regions. But I find it more strategic for Within Reach Global to reach these same unreached people groups in the urban setting.
It’s a lot less work, a lot less strenuous on a missionary’s body, and—let’s face it—a lot less diarrhea! (I’ve eaten some weird things up in them hills!)
As we continue to reach people who have never heard of Jesus before, please pray that God would give us his strategies to bring the greatest impact to these precious souls.
This graphic was originally published by Sohu Business. It has been translated by Austin Woerner and adapted by China File.
