Central African Republic (CAR) is a country that you won’t hear much about in the news. Appropriately named, it is very centrally located in the continent of Africa and a strategic ministry center for Unknown Nations. This is mainly because it is a gateway into the primarily Muslim countries of West Africa and North Africa. It is a great place to raise up leaders who will impact bordering areas of Islamic dominated Chad and Sudan. But today, we need you to be in prayer for the people of CAR!

They have endured perpetual civil war for the past 10 years. Dozens of various rebel groups keep the country plunged into constant instability. Although they are a wealthy country in their natural resources of gold, uranium, and diamonds, they remain one of the poorest nations in the world. Last year the UN Human Development Index ranked them 188th out of 189 countries. They are close to being considered a failed state, which means that it cannot protect its territory, people and boundaries.

Today, the President of Central African Republic is a Christian brother who won reelection in December. In response, fighting flared and 13 Islamic influenced rebel groups have cut off the capital, Banqui from the rest of the country. The remote surrounding areas rely heavily on Banqui. Supply lines have been choked off and people are literally starving. What supplies still exist are so expensive that the common person is unable to buy food. It’s a survival issue. If we don’t respond right now, people are going to die. 

The goal of the rebel groups is to remove the Christian President and literally Islamize the country.

We are sending emergency relief funds to our partners in Bangui so they can prevent the starvation. We are also sending Arabic Treasures to bring hope to the people. The same people who are suffering are compelled to bless their persecutors! They are asking for more Treasures to reach these rebel groups with the gospel message. Together, we are reaching the ends of the earth!

Together in the Harvest,
Greg Kelley, CEO

It is amazing that we are almost at the end of another year. But it was not just any year. We are coming to the close of 2020 - the year that most of us would rather forget and move on to fresh beginnings and unrestricted living. However, I believe that 2020 was a year to establish transformational principles and truths within our lives. I wanted to share the key truth that God established at Unknown Nations as we worked through the COVID epidemic.

Never compromise your highest priority, especially in the midst of trials.

Our most valued goal at Unknown Nations is to get the gospel into the hands of people who do not have access. No missionary. No bible. No church. No Christians!

As we gathered data for the last 12 months of impact, we celebrated how God used our solar powered audio Bibles to transform lives and penetrate darkened people groups who had NEVER been exposed to the gospel. Because of you 19,886 people received Christ and 8,597 people were water baptized! All in a 12 month window. Thank you!!!!

While we celebrate what the Lord has done, we are even more compelled by our primary goal. We will never stop pressing into these unreached lands and people groups. The enemy has tried to discourage and distract us in the midst of these amazing testimonies. Our partners are relentlessly persecuted. They are chased from their homes and communities. Every month we hear of a leader distributing Treasures who was beaten, imprisoned or even killed. The enemy is active and fighting to protect these untouched lands that he has controlled for generations. That control is being taken back. We will not back down!!!

Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. ~ Joshua 1:9

Together, we will continue to advance into these spiritually void regions of the world. The gospel will be established and the kingdom of God will multiply! Imagine the transformation that can only take place through the power of the gospel in lands that once had ZERO exposure to the gospel! Our goal for the end of 2020 is to send 1,000 Treasures into each of these 3 strategic fields.

• The Horn of Africa – 56 million unreached people. We will send Afar, Somali and Oromo units.
• Bangladesh – 162 million unreached people. We will send Bengali and Rohingya units. 
• Indonesia – 169 million unreached people. We will send Javanese and Indonesian units.

When the gospel goes into these areas it will not return void. That is a promise from the Lord! 

Together in the Harvest, 
Greg Kelley, CEO

Today, the Rohingya of Bangladesh are filling the largest refugee camp in the world in a place called Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Three years ago the Burmese military unleashed a military onslaught, filled with unimaginable acts of terror, upon these defenseless people. The United Nations quickly declared them to be one of the most persecuted peoples in the world and that they were enduring genocide.

Research organizations will tell you there are 948,000 Rohingya in Bangladesh and that 0.00% are Christian. 

They live in tents with bare bones access to basic survival needs – food, shelter and clothing. It is considered a luxury and is rare to have your child receive an education or to live in a permanent structure. The Rohingya continue to suffer, but there is hope!

In a town called Teknaf, the gospel is being shared much more freely than within the restricted refugee camps. The camps are run by the Muslim majority but that is not the case in nearby Teknaf. Local Christian leaders are mentoring and encouraging Rohingya who have become followers of Jesus! Although researchers say they are 100% Muslim – we know otherwise!!!

God is using the Treasure among these precious people. Since they are a primarily oral learning people group they love to listen to music and drama, which makes the audio Bible a wonderful tool. We learned of 2 area churches that were forced to close since leaders had fled. Our area coordinator distributed Treasures that bring dozens of people together, filling these empty structures, to absorb the Word of God. He is also mentoring a young man to lead the youth, which represent the majority of the population. Although many have lost their parents from the horrors of genocide, they are hungry to learn about the love of Jesus! 

Together in the harvest, 
Greg Kelley, CEO