Praying For Open Doors

Revelations 5:9-10 tells us about this amazing gathering:

And they sang a new song, saying,
   "Worthy are you to take the scroll
   and to open its seals,
foryou were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
   from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
   and they shall reign on the earth."

This month we highlight one of the people groups our God had in mind when He said some from every tribe, tongue and people would gather around his throne to praise Him.

Meet the "F-People"

Nomads for much of their history, and sometimes fiercely so, the F-People* are now splashed across much of the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central and Eastern Asia. They are intensely loyal to their families and tribes and they have been slow to embrace the modern, high-speed world. Among the F people, everything just moves slower, at a pace many westerners simply can't comprehend. In a place where a simple business meeting means a three-hour tea or paying a phone bill can take all day, time just means something far different. Like many of their neighboring people groups, not many of the less than 10 million F-People currently know Jesus or worship Him as their Savior.

They are also very familiar to the turmoil and upheaval common to the people who call the 10/40 window¹ home. They continue to face the struggles of war, famine, and governments that are less than just--all struggles that only add to the challenges of reaching these people with the Good News. Despite a Soviet system that strictly restricted their movement through collectivization and an especially harsh anti-religious campaign aimed at stamping atheism into their hearts and minds, many of the F-People?s rich tribal and oral traditions have survived.

The Access Challenge

At Access Partners, we have been supporting legitimate business projects that reach this people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, many challenges have arisen. Though the F-people are known for their bustling bazaars, and the intricate handicrafts, tools and carpets found inside, they are not known for strong desire to let outsiders in. As the modern, high-speed world encroaches on the F-people's traditional way of life, governments have sought to exclude foreigners. Persecution, especially towards evangelical Christian activities seems to have only increased in most areas, and governments certainly don't hold religious freedom in high regard.

To further complicate the challenge is the fact that there are a very limited number of businesses that are viable and make sense in the predominately rural areas where F-people live. Corruption, and a pay to play mentality further hinders Christians from engaging in successful business enterprises.

Status of the Gospel

Just as time seems to move slower where the F-People live, so seems the spread of the Gospel. With far less than 1% of F-people claiming to be evangelical Christians, there is clearly much work to be done. But the workers on the ground have also seen some fruit - a few churches now exist among them, and the New Testament has been in their language for ten years. Pastors still face intense persecution against them and those that would organize Christian functions.

Please Pray

For existing "kingdom businesses" among F-people, that God would use them for the spread of the gospel.
For the establishment of more churches among the F-People
For more laborers to the field, and for more missionaries to take courage to go to this part of the world.
Please pray that God would allow for more access for church planters to get into these countries.

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¹The 10/40 window is an area between the 10th and 40th parallels on the globe where the majority of unreached people groups (UPGs) live. UPGs often have no access to the gospel at all and fewer than 2% of their populations are evangelical Christians. There are over 5,000 UPGs in the 10/40 window - the area where the need for church planting is the greatest. (Source: Joshua Project)