MISSION TALK: WHAT DEFINES A PEOPLE GROUP?

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (KJVA Matt 28:19-20)

1. What did Jesus mean by “make disciples of all the Nations”?
The Greek word Jesus used for nation was “ethne” which we get the English word “ethnic” from. Jesus was refering to people groups when He gave this command.

When Jesus said “make disciples of all the nations" what did He mean by “nations”?  He was not referring to political countries like the United States, Nigeria or

 Rev Tim Oluwajoba and late Pst. Dan Zoglo
 leading Souls to Christ in Togo. 

Laos. The  political countries of the world looked very
different when Jesus gave this command. Jesus used the Greek word “ethne” from  which we get the English term ethnic group  or people group. For example, in the one  country of Nigeria there are over 540  distinct people groups. Jesus’ command is
to make disciples in all the ethnic people groups in the world.

2. What is a “people group”?

1. A People Group is “a significantly large grouping of individuals who perceive themselves to have a common affinity for one another because of their shared language, religion, ethnicity, residence, occupation, class or caste, situation, etc. or combinations of these.” For evangelistic purposes it is “the largest group within which the Gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance.” 

2. An Unreached People Group is “a people group within which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians able to evangelize this people group.”

3. Understanding and Acceptance. 
These are the two main barriers to the spread of the Gospel:

1. Understanding (language) and 
2. Acceptance (ethnicity / religion / culture).

4. The highest barrier?
When defining a people group the key question is “Which barrier(s) is the highest?

5. Four factors when defining people groups:

• Language
• Culture
• Religion
• Geography

These can be in any combination. Typically only one or two of these factors define a people group.

6. Geography by country. Traditionally mission researchers have classified people groups by country. The current Joshua Project estimate is about 17,015 distinct people groups by country.

7. Broad Generalizations.
While there are exceptions, outside South Asia the highest barrier to the spread of the Gospel is usually language. In South Asia the highest barriers tend to be culture / caste and religion.

8. Ethno-what?

1. People groups defined by language are usually called “Ethno-linguistic” Peoples. 
2. People groups defined by culture / caste / religion are often called “Ethno-cultural” Peoples.
3. For Examples:

• Lodha (Hindu) in India. Defined by Caste / Culture and Religion
• Jat (Muslim) in Pakistan Defined by Caste / Culture and Religion 
• Duna in Papua, New Guinea - Defined by Language
• Hui in China - Defined by Religion
• Hausa in Nigeria - Defined by Language and Religion 
• Akan in Ghana - Defined by Language
• Chhetri in Nepal - Defined by Caste / Culture
• Yazidi in Iraq - Defined by Religion and Language
• Dariganga in Mongolia - Defined by Language 
• Chukchi in Russia - Defined by Language
• Burkaric Jew in Israel - Defined by Ethnicity and Language

9. How people groups are not defined.
People groups are not defined by:

1. Occupation: taxi drivers are not a people group.
2. Social status: a ruling class in a country is not a people group.
3. Economic status: the poor in a country are not considered a people group.

10. What can be done with these information?
How can I involve myself on missions?

Compiled n presented by

Apostle Tim Oluwajoba
LAMSHEM INTERNATIONAL
https://lamshem.blogspot.com


Resources at: www.joshuaproject.net
www.cmalliance.org
www.missionfrontiers.org