Unreached Peoples

Austin City Life believes that Jesus called his followers to bring the gospel to all nations. (Matthew 28:28) Unfortunately, there are still close to 7,000 unreached people groups in the world. That is approximately 2.80 billion people who have not heard the gospel or have had any access to it! As a church, we have committed to pray and help resource the efforts to reach a people group called the Shan.

The Shan

Most Shan people reside within the Shan State in eastern Burma (Myanmar). With an area of circa 64,000 square miles, or roughly the size of New England, the Shan State occupies about one-fourth of the total area of Burma (which is approximately the size of Texas). The Shan State is divided by the Salween (Thanlwin) River, one of the largest rivers in Asia, resulting in culturally distinctive Eastern and Western Shan peoples. Current estimates report that 5-6 million Shan (approximately ten percent of Burma's population) live in the Shan State, which has a total population of around 8 million. 

The Shan rely on several means of production for their livelihood. A lack of available technology in rural areas necessitates a dependence upon traditional systems of manual labor (such as plows drawn by oxen or water buffalo). Most Shan are farmers who cultivate rice, vegetables, soybeans and fruit.

The Shan are considered an unreached people group. With less than one third of one percent of its population considered to be Christian, the indigenous church is yet unable to evangelize its own people. However, as the result of a growing prayer movement and long-term workers who have responded to God's call, there are pockets of churches among the Shan. Although workers are needed, and fervent prayers must persist, we can be encouraged by God's faithfulness in the fruit that has already been produced in Myanmar and Thailand.

Reaching the Shan

As a church, Austin City Life has committed to two efforts to help reach the Shan people. First, several of our city groups participate in our Adopt-A-Missionary program, which serves to provide emotional, spiritual, and financial support to local missionaries ministering to the Shan. Second, we call our whole church to participate once a year in the Shan Prayer Guide. Typically we do this at the beginning of the year, and encourage our partners to continue praying through out the year. As Austin City Life grows, we seek to eventually send a missionary team to Burma to plant a church. 

Some of the content on this page was provided by Sure Hope, a ministry seeking to reach the Shan for Christ.