EMQ

Over the past year or two, there has been a big push by a number of missionary agencies to “engage the unengaged.” Partnerships have been created, lists have been drawn up, and the sense is that momentum must be built for this missiological concept.

Ted Esler’s article is a careful missiological reflection on the unengaged paradigm. His argument for “robust missiological dialogue” is convincing. It is desirable that mission strategists and missiologists have more time for fellowship and dialogue. 

In his final words to his followers, Jesus told them to make disciples of all nations or peoples. The idea that 2,000 years later there should still be unengaged, unreached people groups is a sad and heartbreaking indictment of the Global Church. Despite 12 million vocational workers and 43,000 denominations, we seem unable to make disciples in the few thousand people groups that remain. 

I commend Ted Esler for writing this helpful article. He raises important questions regarding the missiological impact of the concept of the unengaged. His four suggestions on the way forward are excellent and I want to be a part of seeing these realized. Although I affirm what Ted has written, I do want to challenge some of his conclusions.