If you’re like me, there are usually multiple Bibles nearby. I could easily get out of my chair and go pick one up. I’ve never had to think about what I would do if accessing God’s word meant more than walking a few feet to find the version I wanted. Even if I couldn’t find a Bible, I could open up my Bible app, turn on the TV or YouTube and hear someone preaching the Gospel. 

What if you couldn’t do any of these things?

What if you had heard the gospel, felt God’s love, had given your life to Him, and wanted to learn more. You wanted to share the love of Christ with others, but all you knew was what you were told when you first came to Jesus. Then … how far would you walk? 

I found the answer to this question a few months ago in a desert valley.

I’m so honored and humbled to have recently joined the Unknown Nations team. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Unknown Nations’ CEO, Greg Kelley, for almost 20 years and have grown to love the ministry as well. However, it wasn’t until a recent trip to Kenya that I truly gained a deeper understanding of what the ministry is all about.

In Kenya, I met some of the amazing indigenous leaders that are the heart and soul of Unknown Nations. I met John, a “third-generation disciple-maker.” He’s a member of the Pokot people, pastors a local church, and is training the next generation of leaders to take the gospel to unreached people in a nearby valley. I will never forget what he shared with us, he got tears in his eyes and said, “Other people [in a neighboring valley] ... they are without Christ. There is no need of us staying here when there are people dying without Christ there. No, we have to reach them. That's what's compelling me to go."

Together we visited a site where Unknown Nations will soon be drilling a well … a life changing event for people who walk for hours every day to get water. It is also a strategic location to bring together local tribes. We prayed and dedicated the site and Greg challenged John, and a few other local believers, to continue sharing not only the water that would come from the well to satisfy an earthly thirst, but also the living water of Jesus that would give eternal life.

That’s when I found the answer to my question.

When we opened our eyes after praying we noticed some young women had joined our group, one carrying a baby. The local leader talked to them and learned that they had walked from the other side of the hills, that were miles away, because they heard that there MIGHT be someone there who could give them God’s Word. Thankfully our team had come prepared to distribute audio Bibles. I can still see the joy that spread across the face of a young mother as she held this new treasure in her hands and started listening to the Bible in her own language.

Now she can grow in her faith. Now she can share the good news with others in her village. Now we are one step closer to seeing the fulfillment of Jesus’ last words to take His word “to the ends of the earth.