This is a great post from Missions Launch. ML is a great blog that is full of information for those involved with reaching the nations. They "support those people by providing information, resources and support as they prepare to embark on an adventure of a lifetime."

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That is a great question. First let me tell you what it is NOT. It is NOT groups of people in your neighborhood who aren’t Christians or who are or who don’t believe. Unreached is much more than that. Unreached not only are not Christians, but they have almost no way at all to EVER hear the gospel because of their language and location and history. Also, unreached people groups are specific ethnic groups with their own languages and culture. For example, Iraq is might be considered an unreached country, but it is not an unreached people group. Instead you would say that the Kurdish people within Iraq are the unreached people group.

Unreached groups don’t have any significant numbers of Christians that can tell the others in the group about Jesus. Unengaged groups don’t even have any outside missionaries working there or planting any churches. Basically, if you are in an unreached people group, you are unreached with even the words of the gospel and almost any Christians. Your odds of ever hearing the gospel or meeting even one Christians in your entire life are slim to none.

I once was talking to a friend about an outreach program to an unreached people group in a closed country (where there are almost zero Christians.) He asked if we were partnering with any local churches. Clearly, his question shows that he hadn’t understood what “unreached” meant. In an unreached area, there are no local churches. Therefore, someone has to be the first to go there to tell them even who Jesus is. In some locations, it might be even necessary to explain who God Himself is.

This is a great video from Pioneers that explains a bit more…

Unreached People Groups from HistoryMaker on Vimeo.

Watch this...

Mission Trip to Sudan from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.

3.4 billion people have little to no access to the gspl. We must go and tell!

Global Statistics of World Evangelism:

• 4,743 people groups are not engaged at all with the Gospel
• 6,426 unreached people groups (those with less than 2 percent of people who profess to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ)
• 1.7 billion with little or no access to the Gospel
• 1.5 billion Muslims – 22 percent of the world’s population
• 950 million Hindus in the world
• Christian witness among China cities less than 1 percent
• 3 percent evangelical believers among Ethiopia’s 82 million people
• 355 million in South America do not know Christ
• Less than 1 percent Christian among more than 270 million living in the Central Asia region
• 650,000 Lezgi in the Caucasus Mountains fear evil spirits
• 97 percent of all Palestinians are Muslim
• 89 percent of North African and Middle Eastern people groups are unreached
• 311 people groups in India have no known evangelical believers
• Only 1,600 believers among 1.6 million Muong of Northern Vietnam

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” - Matthew 9: 36 - 38

We flew out of our country earrrrrrly in the morning. 

And arrived in Istanbul just in time for lunch.

Upon arriving in Istanbul my roommate proclaimed, "There is so much color here!" Arriving in I'bul was definitely a shock to our system.

We hung out for a while at our host home, we decided to get out of the house and explore our neighborhood. After having little independence for five months, it was really cool to be able to go out and about, so we went to a mall! Although technically we were still in Central Asia, it was super weird to be somewhere that was so similar to the west. 

We decided to get something to eat while we were out and grab a movie. By the way, movies in Istanbul are awesome. Half way through they take an intermission! 

The next day we decided to visit the other side of the city and hit up a few of the touristy spots. On the ferry crossing the Bosphorus. 

The Hagia Sophia from Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul.

One of two Lustration urns from Pergamon carved out of solid marble. 

Hello, my name is Hannah and I'm a tourist today. Inside the Hagia Sophia.

The Blue Mosque.

Next stop... America! 

Upon leaving our country we headed to Istanbul, Turkey for a few days. I was excited to hang out in the city for a few days and since we were so close (only a two hour plane ride) away from Ephesus, my roommate and I had to visit. Here are some photos.

On the way to Ephesus we drove along the Aegean Sea. It was so beautiful!

A sign on the way to the city.

Genuine Fake Watches. 

Old school symbol for Christianity.

I don't remember what most of theses things are, but I think this was the market. Maybe.

The goddess Nike. Νίκη, "Victory", is a goddess who personified victory throughout the ages of the ancient Greek culture.

Insert typical tourist shot.

Looking down at the famous library.

It was hot that day!

Look at the awesome mosaic walkway!

This is where the riot in Acts 19:23 - 40 took place. 

This is the walkway that led to the harbor on the Aegean Sea. 

Once we finished the tour of Ephesus, our tour guide took us to one of the restaurants near the ruins for a traditional Turkish meal.

Delicious!

This is the restaurant where we ate.

We then visited St. John's Basilica. This is the grave of the Apostle John.

St. John's Basilica.

Apparently they want to rebuild the basilica.

Standing on the top of the hill at the basilica. What a view!

On the way to the airport we had a few extra minutes, so we stopped in a little town on the Aegan Sea so that my roommate and I could put our feet in the sea. It was so pretty!

While my roommate and I were busy being tourists, our tour guide bought some freshly picked cherries to share. They were great!

On the plane back to Istanbul. Goodness, it was so hot that day!

To say that being able to visit Ephesus is definitely an understatement. What a huge privilege!

Our last week in Central Asia was a great time. It seems like each night we had something to do or somewhere to go. However, each night when we got home Aunt Haddie wanted to drink tea with us and chat. Some of the funniest conversations came out of this time. There were definitely times when I didn't think that she liked my roommate and I, but in the end I think having us there was an enjoyable time for her. She did so much for us. The night before we flew out she pulled out the Samavar to make us the 'best green tea' that we would ever drink. Yarp for Aunt Haddie. She is a character to say the least - trust me. She is in need of the unending, never changing love of the Father. Yarp for the veil of darkness to be lifted from her heart, so that she would come to know slvtn in the Creator.

Preparing the Samavar.

Brewing the chai.

She cooked us pancakes for dinner on the last night.

Okay, so I am a wimp and can't drink boiling hot tea. I always had to pour my tea into my saucer to get the tea to cool off enough that I could drink it. 

This is the overhang where Aunt Haddie's grape vines grow. It provided much needed shade in the hot sun... and it isn't too bad to look at either.

She uses the grapes to make wine and the grape leaves she keeps to make one of the national dishes. Since the grape leaves are only around for so long it is common to pick them, roll them up, and stuff them into a bottle or jar to use during the winter months. 

Welcome to our home for the last five months! Your tour begins here... 

The front gate.

This is the view right inside the gate.

The outside sink. This is where you're supposed to wash your hands after visiting the outhouse.

Self-portrait.

One of Aunt Haddie's flowers outside my front door.

Inside the outside kitchen.

This is the drainage bucket that we have to empty after using the sink. It comes complete with the decorative cock roach. 

Looking into the 'backyard', which is more like Dick's pen. Don't let him fool you, he isn't sweet.

Aunt Haddie's door.

The back patio and our house. Notice the old stove.