In today’s world, the population has reached 8.2 billion people. Out of this, approximately 2.38 billion are Christians, leaving 5.6 billion non-Christians, many of whom have never heard the Gospel. Despite the valiant efforts of about 400,000 missionaries, this number of workers is insufficient to reach such a vast global audience.

The challenge of reaching the Unreached People Groups (UPGs) is immense. These UPGs make up over 40% of the global population, representing groups where less than 2% of the people are Christian. 

Why Traditional Missionary Work Isn’t Enough

Missionaries have historically played a crucial role in sharing the Gospel, but there are not enough of them to go around. With billions of non-Christians still unreached, the current number of missionaries, both indigenous and traditional, is inadequate to cover the entire world.

Indigenous missionaries are increasingly taking leadership roles – especially in the Global South, where Christianity is rapidly growing. These missionaries are familiar with local languages and cultures, making their work more effective in certain regions. However, the number of indigenous missionaries falls short of the need and faces challenges in mobilizing resources and support.

The Gig Economy as a Model for Evangelism

The rise of the gig economy shows how technology and flexibility can be harnessed to meet global needs quickly. Apps like Uber or Upwork have revolutionized industries by connecting workers with tasks in real-time, empowering individuals to contribute in ways that fit their lives. We can apply this same concept to evangelism.

Imagine if 10% of the 2.38 billion Christians who are not full-time missionaries took on a “gig” in the mission field. This would mobilize 238 million believers to spread the Gospel in their everyday lives. The flexibility of the gig economy model allows believers to contribute in small but significant ways—whether by sharing their faith online, mentoring a new believer in another country, or supporting mission organizations through their professional skills.

The Power of Individual Believers: Matthew 9:35-38

In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus observes that “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few,” and urges His followers to pray for more laborers to enter the field. In today’s context, this passage reminds us that every believer is called to be part of this mission. With the gig economy model, every Christian, not just full-time missionaries, can step into the role of a worker in the harvest field.

Through small acts of sharing the Gospel, mentoring, or providing support to missionaries, individual believers can have a significant impact. Just like in the gig economy, where millions of people contribute to various industries, millions of Christians can come together to supplement the work of traditional missionaries and help reach the unreached.

The Way Forward

The global population is rapidly growing, especially in regions with UPGs. While full-time missionaries will always be crucial, we need more workers in the field. By mobilizing individual Christians through a gig economy model, we can dramatically increase our ability to reach the world for Christ.

Technology, professional skills, and flexible participation can empower believers everywhere to share the Gospel. Imagine the collective power of hundreds of millions of Christians stepping up to make a difference in their communities and across the globe.

With the task so great and the workers still too few, now is the time for individual believers to step forward and be part of the greatest mission on earth.