Reaching the Unreached, One Friend at a Time Kleyton Feitosa Director, Global Mission Centers
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n a world shaped by diverse faiths and beliefs, we’re presented with a unique opportunity to fulfill the gospel mandate of spreading hope globally. Extensive research spanning more than 200 countries revealed that while 85.5 percent of the world’s population embraces religious beliefs, only 31.6 percent identify as Christians.1 This striking disparity underscores the significance of our mission (given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18–20). The question that naturally arises is, how can we effectively reach the vast majority of people across the globe with the message of hope? The answer lies in the simple yet profound act of befriending them. Amid the perceived differences and barriers that diverse faiths and beliefs present, encouraging data offers valuable insights into addressing this challenge. A research study conducted across 24 countries involving 56,000 individuals from various continents and major religions revealed some heartening insights:
