Throughout history, people have been on the move—driven by the search for new opportunities, fleeing conflicts and disasters, or simply seeking a better life. North America has become a key destination for these migrants, presenting unique opportunities for cross-cultural church planting.
At this point in history, more people are migrating than ever before. The UN reports that 281 million people are currently in the diaspora.1 The US Census Bureau estimates that the US is home to more immigrants than any other country—more than 45 million people2—and North America has a larger share of an immigrant population to total population than any other region in the world—more than 53 million people making up 14.5% of the total population in North America.3
With human migration, the church in North America must ask what God is doing and position herself to respond. She must actively understand who is migrating, where they are going, and how that affects the Church’s mission.

What is God doing?

Migration has been woven into the fabric of humanity’s story since the dawn of creation. God’s first command to Adam and Eve—to multiply and fill the earth, set the stage for a dynamic—globe-spanning human race.
Throughout history, displacement has often resulted from sin or disaster but has served to further God’s redemptive plan:
·       Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden
·       Cain’s exile after murdering Abel
·       The scattering of people at Babel
·       Abram’s journey to bless the nations
·       Joseph’s slavery led to Israel’s salvation
·       Ruth’s journey, shaping Jesus’s lineage
·       Early Christian dispersal spreading the gospel
The apostle Paul eloquently summarizes God’s purpose in human movement:

“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.” (Acts 17:26–27)

Diaspora missions alone won’t fulfill the Great Commission, but it is a powerful tool in God’s hands. As people move across borders, the Church must recognize and embrace this divine strategy unfolding in our time.

Who are the people?

Migration to North America is a complex phenomenon driven by diverse factors that can be categorized into two main categories: push and pull factors. Push factors force people to leave their home countries due to adverse conditions such as religious persecution, natural disasters, political instability, or extreme poverty.
In contrast, pull factors attract migrants to North America with promises of improved circumstances. Migrants pulled to North America often seek educational opportunities, professional advancement, increased quality of life, family reunification, or entrepreneurial ventures.
Analyzing North American immigration reveals two groups relevant to missionary work: the harvest field and the harvest force.

Harvest Field

North America has become a vibrant mission field, with the world’s unreached peoples arriving at our doorstep. This demographic transformation presents an unprecedented opportunity for local churches to engage in global missions without leaving their communities.
Today’s harvest field in North America comprises immigrants from regions traditionally engaged by cross-cultural missionaries:
·       Muslim-majority nations
·       Hindu-dominated areas
·       Buddhist societies
·       Sikh communities
·       Jewish populations
These groups have had limited exposure to the gospel in their home countries and continue to have barriers of understanding and acceptance. Their presence in North America offers a unique chance for cross-cultural ministry in our own backyards. Our communities now host diverse immigrant groups from traditionally unreached regions. This shift challenges every believer to become a cross-cultural witness in their neighborhood, workplace, and daily life.
UPG North America, a website tracking least reached communities in North America, has identified 373 UPG communities with populations over 5,000 in North American metro areas.4
Notably, the United States ranks second among non-Muslim–majority countries in receiving Muslim immigrants, just behind Germany. Muslim migration to North America has increased significantly, from 1.07 million (4.6% of migrants) in 1990 to 3.59 million (7.1% of migrants) in 2020.5
Additionally, the harvest field in the United States is predominantly from Central and South Asia, with 4.6 million, representing 10% of the total migrant population. Most of this segment is from India at 2.8 million people as of 2022.6
Beyond regional and religious affinities, a few notable and strategic opportunities exist to engage significant unreached people group (UPG) segments7 in the diaspora.
Approximately 80% of all UPGs in North America are found in these people group segments.8

Harvest Force

God’s providence is bringing unprecedented numbers of vibrant evangelical and historical Christian communities to North America. Remarkably, 67% of immigrants to North America identify as Christian,9 a figure far higher than global migration trends. Globally, 47% of all migrants identify as Christian.10
This presents a crucial missiological opportunity for the North American church. Our role extends beyond directly engaging least reached peoples; we must also partner with and empower ethnic churches that share cultural affinities with these groups.
In Dallas–Fort Worth, a Mexican pastor exemplifies this approach. He’s planting churches among Latinos and serving diverse immigrant communities, including Afghans, Rohingya, Bhutanese, Nepali, and Syrian refugees. Despite language barriers, his shared immigrant experience and cultural similarities in views on time and relationships bridge crucial gaps.
Latino, African, and Asian churches represent an extraordinary, often untapped workforce for missions. While they may need more specific cross-cultural engagement resources or training, their cultural proximity and shared experiences make them invaluable partners. As mission catalysts, the task is to equip and support these churches, recognizing their deep commitment to the mission and unwavering trust in God.
By embracing this collaborative approach, we can more effectively reach diaspora communities, leveraging the unique strengths of diverse Christian communities in North America.

Where are they going?

The geography of immigration in North America has dramatically transformed in recent decades. While traditional gateway cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston continue to play crucial roles, the immigrant landscape has expanded significantly, creating new opportunities and challenges for mission-minded churches nationwide.

Key Trends:

·     Immigrants are now concentrated in more than just a handful of major cities. A broader range of locations now serve as entry points and long-term homes for newcomers.
·       In 2021, 46.6% of the population living in Greater Toronto were immigrants.11
·     Widespread Urban Presence: A staggering 52 urban centers across North America now have at least one UPG community of over 5,000 individuals.12
·     Massive Unreached Population: These 52 cities alone represent an unreached population exceeding 8 million people—a mission field the size of a small nation right in our midst.13
Approximately 75% of all UPGs in North America are found in the following ten cities.14
While major metropolitan areas often dominate discussions about immigrant populations, some of the most intriguing and strategic mission opportunities lie in unexpected places. Mid-sized cities and rural communities across North America have become home to significant, yet often overlooked, concentrations of UPGs.
Consider these remarkable examples:
·     St. Louis, Missouri: Home to approximately 70,000 Bosniak Muslims—the largest Bosniak population in North America.
·       Nashville, Tennessee: Over 20,000 Kurdish residents—the largest Kurdish population in North America.
·     Columbus, Ohio: More than 45,000 Somali inhabitants—second only to Minneapolis in Somali population size in the US.
Beyond city limits, rural America offers unique access points to unreached communities:
·       Meat-Packing Plants: Often staffed by significant immigrant populations.
·       Agricultural Centers: Seasonal and year-round workers from diverse backgrounds.
·       Logistics Centers: Warehouses and distribution facilities drawing international workers. See the map of major meat packing plants in the United States on the previous page.15

How Can the Church respond?

Overcoming Fear and Fragility

Many North American churches are struggling with fewer members and less money. When their neighborhoods change due to new immigrant groups moving in, some churches react with fear. This fear often leads them to see these demographic changes as a problem rather than a chance for growth. By viewing newcomers as a threat, these churches miss out on opportunities to expand their congregation and positively impact their community.

Embracing Direct Engagement

Churches can proactively mobilize and equip their members for cross-cultural ministry. For example, a North Carolina church partnered with an Arab family to develop a strategy for reaching the unreached in their city. This initiative, which included cultural dinners and contextual disciple-making training, has led to professions of faith and discipleship relationships among Arabs, Afghans, and Kurds.

Equipping and Empowering Diverse Leaders

Supporting and empowering leaders from diverse backgrounds can exponentially increase a church’s reach. Under Pastor Tim Ahlen’s leadership, Forest Meadow Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, focused on equipping church planters from various cultures. By 2021, this approach resulted in 10,000 people worshiping in over 165 congregations worldwide, spanning countries like Brazil, Sudan, Ethiopia, Nepal, and many others.16

Leveraging Migration for Global Mobilization

Churches can use local diaspora communities as training grounds for future missionaries. By creating internships and communities of practice that combine training, hands-on experience, and coaching, churches prepare individuals to serve effectively in least reached countries.

From local to global impact

Ministering within immigrant communities in North America is valuable, but it can also serve as a gateway to reaching unreached peoples in their home countries. Jacob, an American missionary, connected with Amani, an Arab woman in the US. Jacob’s ability to speak Arabic impressed Amani, leading her to connect him with her brother Sameer, an Arab refugee in Central Asia. Despite the geographical distance Jacob introduced Sameer to Jesus, and he embraced Christianity. Immediately, he began training in disciple-making, and Jacob continued to mentor Sameer remotely. Sameer became an effective evangelist and church planter, seeing his efforts bear fruit among other Arab refugees in Central Asia and eventually back in his home country.17

Conclusion

The current wave of migration presents a unique opportunity for the Church to engage in cross-cultural ministry and global evangelism. By shifting perspective from fear to opportunity, directly engaging with migrant communities, empowering diverse leaders, and using local ministry as a launchpad for global impact, churches can play a crucial role in spreading the gospel across nations and cultures. This approach serves local communities and contributes to a broader movement that reflects God’s love for all peoples.