When I’m searching for an unengaged, unreached people group, I ask the Holy Spirit to show me someone open to the gospel. One day, that simple prayer led me to the water’s edge, where an old man fished from strings tied to his hand. He asked why I was there. 

The short answer: Jesus.  

Every missionary explorer must be willing to live out of a backpack for weeks at a time. This doesn’t mean every explorer job consists of trekking through the jungle and unknown areas. Some will move from city to city, staying in hostels, in their effort to find those least reached with the gospel. IMB Photo

The long answer: As a missionary explorer, I find and research people groups for whom there is no strategy to reach them with the gospel. We call them “unengaged and unreached” or UUPGs. It’s part of the IMB’s Project 3000 initiative, a renewed commitment to find the remaining 3,000+ people groups who don’t have access to the gospel. Missionary explorers work with local partners to research these groups, learn their culture and share the good news. 

I told the man we were looking for a specific people. To my surprise, he said, “I am that people!”  

The story only gets better. Take a look at my research notes: 

Entry #1 

This is Lahud. I’ve been searching for someone like him for four weeks. He catches fish to feed his granddaughter and his wife. He picks up plastic trash to sell. He once heard of Jesus in a movie that had “a man on a cross who made all evil enemies run away.” 

After we shared the gospel, Lahud asked what sacrifices he needed to worship Jesus. In his cultural understanding of religion, he needed to do something to receive. We explained God’s son, Jesus, was the final and perfect sacrifice. He left us deep in thought. 

Project 3000 missionary explorers work with national partners to take the gospel to people who have not heard. The strategy to reach every people group ultimately comes back to local ownership of the Great Commission. IMB Photo

Entry #2 

When we returned the next day, Lahud was excited because he didn’t think we’d come back. He said the more he thought, the more he believed what we told him was true. I gave him an audio Bible with videos and Bible studies because he and his family are illiterate. We listened to the first chapters of Matthew and discussed them while we fished. He invited me back to teach more about the Bible. 

Entry #3 

I went fishing with Lahud again! He listened to the audio Bible for two straight days without stopping. The first thing he did when he walked up was point to his rib and tell the story of creation.  

“Because you came and showed that you loved me and kept coming back, I believe in the God you told me about and that what I am hearing in the Bible must be true,” Lahud affirmed. 

He has already been threatened multiple times for talking about Jesus in his community. 

Project 3000 missionary explorers, like June Estes, research cultures of people groups who have no strategy for engaging them with the gospel. IMB Photo

Entry #4 

It’s been two months since the last time we saw Lahud. He listens to the audio Bible twice a day with his family. He also shares the stories with his friends. His eyes filled with tears as he told me, “When we trust in God, He provides for us.” 

Today, we shared the gospel with 20 of Lahud’s people group. Four women and two more men prayed to trust in Jesus. That’s now SEVEN new brothers and sisters!  

Let’s praise God for these new believers. 

Pray for

• Lahud to be bold in his faith, despite persecution. 
• Also, keep asking the Holy Spirit to show missionary explorers where UUPGs live so all peoples hear the gospel. 

Names changed for security 

The work of the IMB is sustained through faithful giving of Southern Baptists through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®.