Converge International Ministries has established the U.K and Ireland Initiative to reach this region of the world with the gospel.
Initiatives are significant, cross-cultural endeavors that target a geographic area, a people group, a religious background or a large urban center. Each initiative includes local gospel endeavors called projects that contribute to the larger gospel initiative.
THE PLACE
The Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom are the two least-reached, English-speaking territories in the world. Less than 1% of Ireland’s population of 5 million and little more than 3% of the United Kingdom’s 66 million are evangelical.
In addition, people groups are coming to these Ireland and the U.K. from around the globe, creating a strategic crossroads for the least-reached. There are at least 38 least-reached people groups in the U.K. alone, totaling close to 5 million.
The People
The cultures of Ireland and the United Kingdom are increasingly secular. Millions of people live in communities with no gospel-centered church, have never heard the gospel message and have no relationships with Christ-followers. More and more people here identify as non-religious, atheistic or agnostic, especially among the younger generations. Financial prosperity fuels a predominantly materialistic focus, and immigration has resulted in greater diversity across the religious landscape.
THE IMPACT
Doors are opening for Converge to partner with national leaders to create church planting and revitalization networks. Opportunities are emerging for ministry to least-reached people groups, with the potential for gospel impact far beyond the borders of the U.K. and Ireland.
