In 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the The Homestead Act which has been called one of the most important pieces of legislation in American history. This federal law declared that anyone over age 21 who built and occupied a house for five years on federal land in the American West gained ownership of 160 acres surrounding the homestead. Within a few years after the passage of this act, millions of acres in the American West were settled by thousands of homesteaders.

In the year 33 A.D., Jesus Christ issued the Great Commission commanding, in effect, that we homestead His church among every people group on earth. Yet thousands of people groups still have little or no access to the gospel.

However, within the last few years, discoveries have been made revealing not only where these people live, but also what it will take to give them access to the gospel. By utilizing what has been learned, any local church can now penetrate all political, cultural, linguistic and learning barriers to homesteading an unreached people group for Jesus Christ. Jesus is the foundation for this homesteading as he becomes incarnate in the local church through oral Bible stories told, sung and dramatized in the local language as well as through acts of service like health care, hygiene, sanitation and nutrition.

All that’s needed now are local churches willing to build the homestead and turn it over to the people groups, who will then rapidly plant their own churches. We can help any local church do just that.