During this trip God showed me in new ways how deeply He cares for the Bibleless people who live here. I was praying while drifting through a village market reflecting on the likelihood that no one I was seeing in all that crowded market had ever heard of Jesus. I was troubled that I didn’t feel any intense concern for the people there. “Shouldn’t I feel what Jesus felt for these men and women?” I pondered. Jesus chose to die for them. The thought would not leave me in peace. And yet I felt nothing. As I watched an endless stream of shoppers walk by, I asked God earnestly, “Why don’t I feel Your concern for these people?”

Then I noticed that a group of the most adorable children had begun to follow us shyly as we headed toward an outdoor restaurant for lunch. They were just the age to be curious enough to approach us, yet not old enough to be inhibited and aloof. As soon as I saw them, my heart swelled with love. They were precious. “Where are you from?” they probed. My friend began to explain our group to them in their language. Hearing that we were from the United States, they asked to see examples of our currency. When one of us whipped out a dollar, they all exclaimed their astonishment, “Wa!” When they asked whose picture was on it and heard that it was George Washington, the same sound rushed out of their mouths involuntarily, “Wa!”

Even though I didn’t understand the language, I sensed that my friend was steering the conversation around to The Question. A sharp pang tore at my heart. It felt like watching a wreck in slow motion. I couldn’t look away, but I couldn’t bear to see what happened next. I recognized the words as they came out of my friend’s mouth, “Have you ever heard of Jesus?” Their little expressions were so eager to please as their eyes looked up to him shining with hope. But then they processed the question and a look of uncertainty flashed across their faces. They began shooting querying glances at each other while trying to maintain an air of confidence. They wanted so much to please us by knowing the answer to the question, but gradually every head began to shake back and forth. “No, not at all. What is a Jesus?” The tragedy of their answer crushed me. I staggered over to the table where our team was and sat down. Overwhelmed with a devastating grief, I began to weep. No, my heart cried. Not them, too. Not these children. Jesus had died for them, but they had no idea who He is. I fought to regain my composure and remain discreet, but the pain was too great. I wanted to fall face down on the concrete floor and wail.

A thought came fully formed into my mind: “You love these little ones because they are children. I love all of these people because I was there when they were born. They are all children to me. The way you feel about these little ones is the way I feel about everyone.” God had given me a small window into His sense of grief and loss when millions of people stumble through life with no knowledge of His Word or His purpose for them.

The Bibleless peoples of the earth have no way to access the transforming power of God’s Word. Jesus said, “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:16-18). People who don’t know Jesus aren’t just ill-informed; Jesus says they walk in darkness under the power of Satan. They need to have the opportunity to know the same forgiveness that Jesus has shown us, to have the power that only Jesus can give to live a holy life.

Maybe you didn’t know. Maybe you are like so many others I meet who assume that everyone has already had a chance to hear about Jesus. It’s not that you don’t care, it’s just that you weren’t aware. But now you do know. Now you have seen that your brothers and sisters are out there in need. Two thousand years ago Jesus commissioned you and me to make disciples of all nations, and it’s just not okay that today there are still people who are totally unaware that He exists. That’s my responsibility, and it’s yours too. I’m not going to sit idly by as people live their lives without knowledge of God and His Word. And I think you won’t either.

I believe that now is the time, and that ours is the generation that will finally rise up and make sure that all people everywhere encounter the Word of God in their language. Won’t you disciple the Bibleless peoples of the world with us? Why not come with us on our next trip? Why not give generously on behalf of those who don’t yet know who Jesus is? Maybe God is calling you to move overseas. Perhaps you could be the first to pose that all-important question to people who still wait: “Hey, have you ever heard of Jesus?”