Lausanne World Pulse – Urban Articles – A Focus on the Middle East/North Africa: 385 Least-Reached People Groups Remain

November 2006

Half of the countries in the Middle East/North Africa region still have over ninety percent

of their population least-reached.

Overview
 Half of the nineteen countries in the Middle East/North Africa region still have over ninety percent of their population least-reached; this is spread throughout more than 380 people groups. Jesus Christ was born in this region, but he is only honored as a prophet (not as Lord) by the Sunni Muslims who are the majority here. Although Berbers are more prominent as one moves further west in North Africa, Arabs and Bedouins make up the bulk of the population. Israel has the largest number of least-reached peoples per country—forty-one people groups! Israel wavers between Orthodox and secular forms of Judaism, while Messianic Jews try to influence God’s chosen people.

Prayer Points

  • Heart Hunger. Pray for real heart hunger in every individual throughout these least-reached peoples, that they would long to know the truth and be set free; pray they find true freedom in Jesus.
  • Reconciliation. Hundreds of years of offense and strife have gendered bitter hostility between Christians, Jews and Arabs. Pray for God to soften the hearts of these, to heal the hurts and to break down every dividing wall—making of them unified in Jesus Christ.
  • Creative Access. Ask God to make a way where there seems to be no way to share his love and truth with those living in restricted access environments.
  • Models. Just as Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us so that we could know God, pray for believers who are willing to live incarnational lives among these groups, no matter what the challenges may be.
  • Students. Young people are seeking answers for deep questions of life. Pray that God directs them to those who can give them the answers.

Links

  • Resources to pray and to mobilize prayer and outreach
  • Discover Middle East/North Africa’s least-reached peoples
  • Pray for the peoples of Middle East/North Africa region
  • Obtain daily prayer guides for peoples of this region