Our MISSION: The never reached
Asia Pacific Missions is a division of the Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) which works in Asia and in the Pacific islands, under the direction of Jeff Hartensveld. From 1914 to the present, we have been at the forefront of planting, growing, resourcing and missionizing the local, indigenous church to see communities of Christ-followers established wherever the church is not. Hundreds of people have served with Asia Pacific Missions as missionaries over the years, many have given more than 20 years of service.
In the Asia Pacific region today, over 400 missionary workers are laboring in 40 countries and territories, serving over 31,000 churches and outstations with a total worshiping population of more than six million people.
Still, over 937 million people—95% of the region’s population—is spiritually lost. Countless places still remain in Asia Pacific where the name of Jesus has never been spoken, and the gospel has never reached, and the church has never been planted — in history. Our portion consists of 26 Never Reached people groups spread across the region. We are planting the church of Jesus where Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Animism have been spiritual strongholds for millennia. By faith, we press boldly forward, claiming a new harvest among countless who have still not heard.
They have waited long enough.
OUR ROLE
We are uniquely positioned in Asia and the Pacific to bring the gospel to peoples and places which, since the time of Christ’s command for us to go, have yet to hear the good news that Jesus died on the Cross for their sins. The early trajectory of the gospel was from Jerusalem to the Middle East to what is now Greece and Turkey. It traveled, then, to North Africa, Europe, North and South America, and many other places in the world. Yet centuries have passed, and many in this region are still waiting to hear the gospel for the first time. This should concern all of us. The reason we are on this mission isn’t just to do ministry but to complete the Great Commission. Reaching the never reached is our responsibility together.
We have committed ourselves to the following four objectives:
1. Prayer and Fasting. The first Friday of every month, we fast and pray specifically for the never reached.
2. Portion. Our region has 1132 never reached people groups, and we commit to not trying to reach them all at once and in turn reach none. We commit to a focused, intentional effort to reach a portion.
3. Paradigm. We commit to never go alone but to always have a host (national) person with us as we visit, make apostolic journeys to, or live among the never reached.
4. Placement. We commit to do everything in our power within the next five years to see a community of indigenous believers raised up in each of these groups.
Reaching the never reached is not exclusive to those who are part of that Key Ministry Area. It’s who we are and what we do as a region. Currently, we are working specifically with 26 never reached groups in eight countries:
Japan: Japanese
Vanuatu: Middle Bush tribes
Thailand: southern Thai Muslims, Isaan Thai, ethnic Thai Buddhists, southern Burmese, and ethnic Chinese Thai.
Vietnam: Tay (northern Vietnam) and Khmer (southern Vietnam)
Indonesia: Pasemah, Kangean, Bakumpai, Sula, Dampelas, Banjar, Java Pesisir Lor, and Tugutil
Laos: Lao Phuan and Lao Pong
Philippines: Tausug, Maranao, Magindano, Iranun, Kalagan, Badjao
Myanmar: Bamar
We believe the words of Jesus, when he said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14 ESV) Therefore we can no longer delay in carrying the gift of the gospel to the furthest places of the Earth. We will stop at nothing to plant the church where no believer has ever stepped foot, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, to reach the Never Reached of Asia Pacific.