Greg Kelley of Unknown Nations, formerly World Mission, explains, “Anti-conversion laws boil down to proselytizing. Blasphemy is where people are thrown in jail over what somebody said they heard.”

For example, in the case of blasphemy laws, “There will be third-party accusations that have no merit, yet [they become] actionable,” Kelley says.

“[Believers are] thrown in jail, or beaten, or mobs show up and burn your house down.”

Vigilante mobs accuse Christians of breaking these laws and then use the supposed violation as an excuse to attack believers. (Photo courtesy of Akaaljotsingh Anandpuria/Pexels)

Authorities often use these laws as tools to persecute Christ-followers around the world. Vigilante mobs accuse Christians of breaking these laws and then use the supposed violation as an excuse to attack believers.

“The biggest issue is that there’s no accountability; the government doesn’t do anything to hold these people accountable,” Kelley says.

In one location where Unknown Nations trains Christian leaders, “They (assailants) were attacking a group of Christians in their home,” Kelley says.

“The mob is outside chanting, ‘Death to Christians’ and dragging people out of this home, beating them.”

A recent United States Commission on International Religious Freedom report found that nearly one in four countries has a national anti-conversion law on the books. Often, these countries are home to unreached people groups, or communities without access to the Gospel.

Partner with Unknown Nations to help change this reality.

Unknown Nations is “distributing Bibles, training leaders, doing strategic humanitarian projects” in strategic locations, Kelley says.

“99 percent of our resources, our dollars, are going into places where the Gospel is already established. We need to begin prioritizing places that have never heard of Jesus.”

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Christine Roy/Unsplash.

The moniker change comes from Jesus’ last words in Acts 1:8 when He told the disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Greg Kelley has been the CEO of World Mission – now Unknown Nations – for 25 years. Kelley says, “We would love to see people really analyze that in their own world, whether it’s as an individual or in their local church, and say, ‘What is our expression of the last thing Jesus said? The ends of the earth?’

“With that in mind, we are changing our name because our laser focus is on that mission to unknown nations. So World Mission is no longer. We’ll now be Unknown Nations. We’re very excited about it, and we believe that it says a lot more specifically about what God has called us to.”

(Photo courtesy of Unknown Nations)

Out of 8 billion people worldwide, roughly 3.4 billion live in unreached people groups — meaning they have no access to the Gospel. A people group is generally considered “reached” with the Gospel when at least 2% of the population begins following Jesus Christ.

The highest concentration of unreached people groups live in a geographic region known as the 10/40 Window. The region stretches from 10 to 40 degrees north, from Morocco to Japan and all the countries in between.

Unfortunately, only 1% of Christian giving in Western churches goes towards sending the Gospel to unreached people groups.

Kelley says, “The most needy spiritual countries that are filled with hundreds and hundreds of people groups don’t live in the places that we primarily do foreign missions. So that’s a problem. We need to start paying attention to the spiritual conditions. If everybody who comes in contact with Unknown Nations does that assessment, then we view that as a win.”

Unknown Nations’ heart and mission have not changed from when they were known as World Mission. But with a new name, the ministry seeks to put a spotlight on peoples who desperately need Jesus — if only they could hear the Gospel!

Check out Unknown Nations’ new website and learn how to get involved!

Header photo courtesy of Unknown Nations.

Israel urged Gaza residents to evacuate this weekend as it assembled tanks and troops on the border. More than a half million Palestinians heeded the warning, but Israeli officials said poor weather conditions delayed a ground offensive.

Experts hold little hope for a diplomatic resolution as the Israel-Hamas war enters week two.

(Wikimedia Commons/Kobi Gideon)

Analysts say a forecasted Israeli ground invasion could last weeks or even months.

“We would love to see peace, but when your neighbors hate you so much and stop at nothing to destroy you, it puts Israel in a tough spot. In their charter, Hamas says, ‘We believe in the annihilation of Israel’ – [that is] very difficult to negotiate with,” World Mission’s Greg Kelley says.

“There’s no negotiating table big enough to solve the issues there. The only thing that will resolve [the issues] and bring lasting peace is knowledge of the Messiah.”

On Friday, Iran warned that continued attacks on Gaza “could open new fronts against Israel.”

“We need to be praying for our brothers and sisters who love Jesus and are living in Gaza among Hamas and Messianic Jews who live in Israel. We need to be on our knees praying for them,” Kelley says.

“This could explode from just a regional conflict into a world war. And, of course, none of us want that. We need to pray that cooler minds prevail.”

Only the Lord knows what lies ahead. Please continue to pray for peace. Help World Mission distribute solar-powered audio Bibles called Treasures through its local partners.

“Help us send more Bibles into these affected areas because people will be searching. It doesn’t matter what religion you are; in this crisis, people are looking for answers,” Kelley says.

Use this special video from our sister ministry, Prayercast, to guide your intercession.

“As we’re praying for all of the horrors of war going on, we need to pray for a softening of the heart,” Kelley says.

“Whether it’s Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, or Saudi Arabia – they are without access to the Gospel; they need Jesus. At the end of the day, this is a heart matter. These are hearts that don’t know who the Messiah is. And, by the way, that includes Israel,” he continues.

“Our eyes are fixated on what we see. But we need to recognize that even the Jewish people need to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.”

Header image courtesy of…

Greg Kelley, CEO of World Mission says we need to see these headlines through a spiritual lens. “Part of the reason that Africa is being so destabilized is the threat it is to the enemy. Africa is the most populated continent of Christianity in the world.

These disciples of Christ are passionately sharing God’s Word in North Eastern Nigeria.
(Photo, caption courtesy of World Mission)

“The average Christian in the continent of Africa is only 19-years-old. So it is this force that is a huge threat to the enemy, and I believe as a result of that, we’re seeing all these conflicts.”

Between 2010 and 2050, sub-Saharan Africa is projected to have the largest percentage of Christian population growth – 115%.

“The growth of Christianity…is accelerating in Africa far greater, exponentially more so than any other continent in the world,” says Kelley. “For that reason, the devil is threatened. I think Christians need to come alongside that and be aware of what God is doing inside of Africa.”

The Bible reminds us in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV)

Kelley says, “Followers of Jesus have to be vigilant in pursuing and seeking out information that is out there and learning about it so we can be praying.

Treasure audio Bible distribution in DRC. (Photo courtesy of World Mission)

“We have to pray for the development of leaders inside the Church. That is the single most important issue in Africa. If I’m a Christian, I need to be praying that the God of the harvest would send forth laborers into these areas — mature laborers — so that disciples can be raised up and groomed into maturity so they can make an impact into these areas.”

Click here to learn more about World Mission’s ministry in African countries.

Header photo courtesy of World Mission.

This is the second time Mali’s junta – which emerged from two coups in 2020 – postponed the election. A 2024 vote was supposed to signal Mali’s return to democratic rule.

World Mission’s Greg Kelley says, “For generations, what’s been modeled is poor leadership. The military delaying elections is a further example [of poor leadership].”

Child in Mali. (Photo courtesy of Jordan McGee/Unsplash)

The people of Mali have endured three years of bickering between the military leaders who control the government and armed tribal groups looking to unseat them. Last week, one of the armed groups called for an all-out war against the junta.

Kelley says, “Until someone steps up and leads with credibility and integrity, this cycle [is] just going to continue in this part of Africa.”

Pray alongside indigenous church planters who are asking God for peace. Kelley says, “Whether it’s the military running it (the country) or a democratic election, the presence of stability perpetuates the Gospel.”

You can help World Mission reach millions of people who are cut off from the hope of Christ in Mali.

Give towards The Treasure audio Bibles with World Mission here!

“So many of these areas have people who are oral learners, they prefer to learn in a non-literate way, so we distribute solar-powered audio Bibles. Jesus has called us to make disciples. It’s very difficult to make a disciple in the absence of the Word of God,” Kelley says.

“They’ve never had access to the Gospel. No one’s ever gone there. We have indigenous church planters on the ground in both Mali and Niger sharing the Gospel.”

Finally, pray for the people of Mali to place their trust ultimately in the Lord.

Header photo courtesy of David Perterson/Pixabay.

Gathering of ISIS militants on Mali-Niger border in 2021.
(Wikimedia Commons)

The U.S. had relied on the French army to help fight growing extremism in West Africa and the Sahel.

The Sahel region had more deaths from terrorism last year than South Asia and the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) combined.

World Mission’s Greg Kelley says, “I think France’s withdrawal is disappointing. But it doesn’t have a huge impact as far as the Gospel is concerned.”

French troops were in place at Niger’s invitation, helping to control extremism. A military coup in late July followed rising anti-French sentiment.

“If you were to ask the people inside of Niger, they would say the corruption has taken over the country. Even though it’s a democracy, it’s almost like a dictatorship,” Kelley says.

“The degree of corruption and how they rule is so alarming that the people would rather have the military in control.”

As power changes hands at the government level, church planters keep their eyes on Jesus and remember their mission.

“Less than one percent of those living in Niger have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That needs to be the focus,” Kelley says.

Send audio Bibles and empower church planters through World Mission here.

Header image is an orthographic map showing Niger’s location in West Africa. (Wikimedia Commons) 

While instability creates an opportunity for terrorist groups, “the bigger picture stems from the issue of Islam and Christianity because there’s a spiritual battle, a war going on,” World Mission’s Greg Kelley says.

“Remember, our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities.”

The circumstances surrounding believers could disrupt vital work. “The devil thrives in chaos. [Wherever] there’s chaos, the devil will be at work trying to undermine the Gospel,” Kelley says.

Instead of being distracted by their surroundings, World Mission partners in West Africa keep their eyes fixed on Jesus and press on toward their goal.

Believers learn how to use the Treasure, an audio Bible distributed by World Mission.
(Photo courtesy of World Mission)

As coups and jihadist attacks create fear and chaos, believers introduce people to the peace and hope only Christ can offer. Plus, they teach new believers how to follow Jesus and walk in His ways.

“Jesus told us to make disciples, and that requires a long-term perspective where we’re pouring in resources and making the Word of God the priority,” Kelley says.

Find your place in the story!

“Come alongside an organization like World Mission that has [disciple-making] front and center, whether it’s sending in Bibles [or doing] leadership training,” Kelley says.

“Lots of organizations need help, and now’s the time to come alongside them.”

Most importantly, pray. “Jesus said, ‘Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers,’” Kelley says.

“Well, where are we sending those laborers? The harvest field is not a geographic destination. The harvest fields are the hearts of the nations; not the countries, [but] the people groups inside of them.”

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Nothing Ahead/Pexels.

According to a U.S. think tank, there were no coup attempts in Africa between 2007 and 2018. However, 13 revolts across the continent occurred in the past four years.

“The pattern seems to be coming out of the military because they have enough muscle behind them to carry it (the coup) out,” World Mission’s Greg Kelley says.

Power-hungry generals often forget Aristotle’s famous phrase – “Nature abhors a vacuum.” Military rule doesn’t always lead to national security or stability.

Instead, “it creates an absolute prime ground for the al Qaeda’s and the ISIS’s of the world, who have a complete takeover on their mind,” Kelley says.

“They can come into these places that are fractured, unstable, and vulnerable, and capitalize on that [chaos.]”

While instability creates openings for terrorists, uncertainty creates Gospel opportunities. Connect with World Mission here to help empower church planters in the region.

“Ask the Lord of the harvest, ‘What is my role in this?’ Jesus called us to pray for the leaders of nations. But it also goes beyond our prayers,” Kelley says.

“We need to come alongside organizations intentionally involved in [disciple-making] – not just making converts. Converts don’t survive in these environments where radical Islam is at work.”

Header image depicts militants involved in Burkina Faso’s January 2022 coup. (Wikimedia Commons)

No other details have emerged yet, but a West African financial executive tells Reuters that Gabon’s August 30 military takeover was a “good coup.” It was the eighth rebellion in West and Central Africa since 2020.

“This is not an issue of Islam coming in like some of the other situations in Central Africa, where you have ISIS or al Qaeda activities,” World Mission’s Greg Kelley says.

“This is purely internal turmoil.”

After taking office on Monday as Gabon’s interim president, General Brice Oligui Nguema promised “free, transparent, and credible elections.” Oligui led the August 30 coup that ousted long-time president Ali Bongo Ondimba.

Bongo took the helm in 2009 following his father’s death, who had ruled Gabon since 1967 in a kleptocracy. Gabon may have a history of corruption, but it is one of the most stable countries in Central Africa.

Gabon highlighted in green. (Wikimedia Commons)

“We’re talking about a majority Christian country; most statistics will say about two-thirds to three-quarters of the country are born-again Christians,” Kelley says.

Kelley will soon travel to the neighboring Republic of the Congo to meet with World Mission partners. “I’ll understand more on the ground what’s going on. But these kinds of things definitely trickle over,” he says.

“It’s not just the country itself that’s affected. It’s all of its neighbors.”

Pray for continued peace and stability in Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville. Peace allows believers to distribute audio Bibles and start listening groups. Learn more about World Mission’s approach here.

“We’ve had significant activity in neighboring Congo-Brazzaville, which has been terrorized by conflict for the last 25 years,” Kelley says.

“Right now, they’re in a fairly stable position. But something like this [happening] in the next-door neighbor, maybe it will trigger further unrest in Congo.”

Oil wealth has made Gabon one of the richest in Africa but a third of the population lives in poverty. Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Stevy Opong/Unsplash.

Before the coup, Niger had over 3 million people in acute food insecurity. That number will undoubtedly go up as international sanctions hit the country and food aid is trapped at Niger’s borders with no way in.

Market prices in-country are already rising. The cost for one sack of rice has increased by at least one-third since the start of the military takeover.

(Photo courtesy of Alek Burley/Unsplash)

Greg Kelley with World Mission says, “The biggest, I would say, consequence of these things is the average person suffers.”

The United Nations is urging for humanitarian exemptions to border closures and sanctions.

Kelley says, “The US alone has put hundreds of millions of dollars in aid over the last 20 years into this country. So when you’re withdrawing that amount of resources, people will suffer. So we’re just mindful of that as we’re trying to get the Gospel in there.”

World Mission distributes their solar-powered audio Bible called the Treasure in countries and areas that desperately need to hear about Jesus Christ.

Along with Gospel hope, Kelley says in Niger, “We are going to be putting emphasis into getting food and water in to the people that are suffering the most.”

“It’s possible we’ll keep our eyes on any kind of a refugee crisis that might be triggered as people are fleeing. But again, it’s the little guy, the families that are the ones that are going to suffer the most.”

Ask the Lord to provide for the people of Niger, and pray encouragement for ministries like World Mission reaching Nigeriens with aid and Christ’s hope.

Header photo courtesy of Alek Burley/Unsplash.