For nearly 25 years, To Every Tribe has been privileged to serve in some of the most complex, isolated, and hard-to-reach places on earth. From the beginning, our unwavering vision and mission have centered on the long, laborious, and deeply rewarding work of seeing vibrant, self-sustaining local churches planted among unreached and underserved people groups. Engaging in this kind of pioneer church planting requires more than simple enthusiasm; it demands long-horizon vision, endurance, and, above all, a missional strategy firmly rooted in Holy Scripture.
When we examine the missionary journeys recorded in the New Testament, we observe that the early church employed intentional strategies to maximize gospel impact. In Acts 19, we learn that the apostle Paul targeted urban centers like Ephesus and Corinth as key strategic hubs. Paul recognized that if such central cities were reached with the gospel, their influence would extend far beyond their urban borders to touch entire surrounding geographic regions. As he traveled through the interior regions of the Roman Province of Asia and arrived in Ephesus, he saw more than just a single local ministry site; he saw a strategic platform community.
A platform community is a vital center established with a strong gospel witness that serves as a springboard for expanding the reach of the gospel into adjacent, more remote, and unreached communities. Because of its regional influence, infrastructure, and natural connections, a platform location allows disciple-makers to gather, train, and send out workers into surrounding networks and remote areas. The historical fruit of this biblical approach is astounding: Acts 19:10 records that because Paul established a strong platform community in Ephesus, “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” This dynamic model has proven time and again to be extraordinarily effective for reaching difficult places. Many other previously unreached locations were impacted from Ephesus and show up later in Scripture. As a platform community, Ephesus impacted a broad area and many peoples. The seven churches of Revelation were founded as a result of the regional strategy and the church in Colossae is also in this region.
At To Every Tribe, targeting and establishing platform communities forms a core pillar of our missionary sending and church planting methodology. Our approach intentionally connects three tiers of ministry: establishing primary Platforms in central locations, building Networks of local believers and churches, and reaching out into neighboring Remote areas. By establishing a foundational gospel witness in these platform locations, we work side-by-side with national followers of Jesus, discipling and equipping them to lead local efforts and carry the light of Christ into surrounding unreached people groups. In this edition of Ekballo, you will be introduced to two of our field ministry leaders actively implementing this platform community model for pioneer church planting. You will read how God is moving through dedicated workers and national partners as they proclaim the gospel, nurture believers through relational discipleship, and trust the Lord to impact entire regions for His glory.
We are profoundly grateful for your ongoing partnership with To Every Tribe through your faithful prayers, generous financial support, and active engagement in gospel proclamation, disciple-making, and church planting. May God continue to encourage your heart as you read these frontline updates.
