On the Move with Nomads
Mission Frontiers January 2025 issue
Mission Frontiers is a bi-monthly magazine of our umbrella organization, Frontier Ventures. Since 1979, Mission Frontiers has provided subscribers with innovative insights on a wide range of topics from field practitioners and thought leaders in missiology. The January 2024 issue focused on key articles our network members wrote.
Editorial: My Final Word to the Church
By Rick Wood, Editor
In his powerful farewell editorial, Rick Wood shares a heartfelt and urgent message with the global Church. Reflecting on decades of service with Mission Frontiers, he calls believers to break free from passivity and rediscover the vibrant, disciple-making faith of the early Church. Rick challenges us to shift from a spectator faith to an active movement that can truly reach all peoples—including nomads—with the transformative Good News of Jesus.
Let Nomads Move You!
By Ron Ahlbrecht
What if nomads hold the key to rediscovering a deeper, more authentic way of following Jesus? In this thought-provoking article, Ron Ahlbrecht shares how living alongside nomads for over two decades reshaped his understanding of faith, community, and mobility. He unpacks the distinct traits that define true nomads and challenges us to see the Good Shepherd through their eyes. If the modern Church is willing to learn, nomads may just move us in ways we never expected.
The Nomadic Peoples Network (NPN): A New Breed
By Ron & Kirsten Ahlbrecht
How do you bring the Good News to people constantly on the move? The Nomadic Peoples Network (NPN) was born from this challenge, recognizing that traditional church models don’t fit nomadic life. Inspired by Malcolm and Jean Hunter’s early work among nomads, NPN exists to walk alongside these communities, learning from them while inviting them to follow Jesus. This article explores the unique calling of those who serve nomads, the vision of a church that moves, and how you can be part of this global effort to reach the world’s most mobile peoples.
Elastic Church: Developing a Different Paradigm of Church for Nomads
By Evelyn Hibbert, Lance & Barbara Williams
What if church was never meant to be tied to a building? This article challenges the sedentary mindset that dominates modern Christianity and introduces the concept of elastic church—a model that flexes and moves with nomadic communities. Drawing from biblical principles and real-world experiences, the authors explore how church can thrive in ever-changing contexts, where discipleship is relational, mobile, and deeply embedded in daily life. Discover how embracing this nomadic paradigm can reshape not only missions but the very way we follow Jesus.
The Testimony of Tambaya Ibrahim
As told to Jon Banke
“The Testimony of Tambaya Ibrahim” shares the remarkable journey of a Fulani man from Niger who grew up entirely in the bush, knowing only cattle herding. A prayer spoken over him at birth would shape his destiny in ways no one expected. Years later, after facing spiritual struggles and personal hardship, he encountered Jesus and was transformed. Now a passionate evangelist, Tambaya travels across Niger, bringing the habaru belɗum (“sweet news”) to his people. Read his inspiring story of faith, resilience, and calling.
The Tale of Two ‘Brothers’
By Yusuf Habu Na’ango and Katharine Norton
“The Tale of Two ‘Brothers’” is a powerful true story of friendship, faith, and perseverance. What happens when a young Muslim herder and a Christian farmer form an unlikely bond? How does the simple act of learning to read change one man’s life forever? And what will he risk when he chooses to follow Jesus? This is not a story of quick conversions or dramatic campaigns, but of years of quiet faithfulness, deep friendship, and the life-changing power of God’s Word. Read on to discover how Abdu and Yohana’s journey unfolds.
Desert Births
By Laura Anne Michaelis
“Desert Births” offers a raw and intimate glimpse into the lives of nomadic women in Chad through the eyes of a Canadian midwife. What is it like to give birth in the open desert, where survival is uncertain and traditions run deep? How does faith intertwine with the realities of life and death in these remote communities? And what happens when a midwife not only delivers babies but also brings the hope of Jesus into places where His name is barely known? Step into this compelling story of resilience, faith, and the call to bring light where it has yet to shine.
Beautiful Feet, Bringing Sweet News
By Jon Banke
“Beautiful Feet, Bringing Sweet News” challenges common perceptions of the Fulani people and calls for a shift in how they are engaged with the Good News. Are the Fulani truly “hard to reach,” or has the approach been all wrong? What if fear and hatred were replaced with love and understanding? Could the very people once known for spreading Islam now become a movement for Jesus across the Sahel? This article explores the barriers, misconceptions, and opportunities for bringing the habaru belɗum to one of the world’s largest unreached nomadic groups.
Changes in Central Asian Nomadic Life
By James Hartin
“Changes in Central Asian Nomadic Life” explores how traditional nomads in Central Asia are adapting to a rapidly changing world. How has tourism reshaped their seasonal migrations? What challenges do they face in balancing ancient traditions with modern realities? And amid these shifts, why does Christ’s name remain largely unknown in these vast, highland regions? This article offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolving life of nomadic families and the need for the Good News to reach them.
Redeeming the Starving Shepherds
By Rev. Agabe E. Ode
“Redeeming the Starving Shepherds” sheds light on the often-overlooked struggles of the Black Moors of Mali—once enslaved, now semi-nomadic, yet still marginalized and spiritually starving. What happens when shepherds who devote their lives to caring for their flocks are themselves left without care? Can the Good Shepherd reach a people who have been neglected for generations? This article calls for those with compassion to step forward—not just to provide aid but to walk alongside these shepherds and bring lasting hope.
Three Years After COVID-19, What Has Changed?
By James Hartin
“Three Years After COVID-19, What Has Changed?” takes a hard look at the unexpected fallout of prolonged border closures on the Kyrgyz villages of Tajikistan’s Pamir region. Once-thriving communities are now eerily quiet—have half the people really left? What happens when economic survival forces families to choose between opportunity and staying connected to their culture? And in the midst of this upheaval, how can the Good News reach those still waiting to hear? This article uncovers the deep challenges and spiritual needs of a people caught between two worlds.
Who Will Go?
By Julia Woods
“Who Will Go?” is a powerful and stirring poem by Julia Woods, a 2023 Nomad Connect participant, reflecting the deep impact of her journey. She cries out for the forgotten shepherds, those dwelling in harsh and remote lands, who have yet to hear of the Living Water. Who will go to them? Who will learn their language and step into their world? With unwavering resolve, she answers the call—despite the hardships, dangers, and unknowns. This poem is both a challenge and a declaration, echoing the heart of those willing to bring the Good News to the nomads.
Nomad Connect: A Learning Journey
By Samira Offereigns
“Nomad Connect: A Learning Journey” shares the vision behind an immersive training experience designed to equip people for ministry among nomads. Why can’t traditional classrooms prepare someone for nomadic work? How does living, learning, and struggling together reshape perspectives and deepen faith? This article takes you through the Nomad Connect process—its challenges, transformations, and the powerful moments when students stepped into nomadic communities, not just as learners, but as participants in God’s unfolding story. Could this be the next step for you?
Searching for Pastures
By Joy Marlowe
“Searching for Pastures” explores how the Saharawi people, once nomadic camel herders, are adapting their traditional skills to a modern world. How does a people group known for navigating the Sahara now navigate immigration, paperwork, and new cultures in Spain? Can their deep-rooted networks, oral wisdom, and resourcefulness become pathways for the Gospel? This article uncovers the hidden potential of the Saharawi and challenges us to consider how these very skills might shape future church-planting movements.
Herders and Their Amazing Economic Impact
By Daniel Sambo and Katherine Norton
“Herders and Their Amazing Economic Impact” highlights the overlooked contributions of herders to daily life and national economies. What would happen to food supplies, festivals, and even cultural traditions if herders were no longer around? From providing meat, dairy, and leather to sustaining agriculture and local businesses, nomadic herders play an essential role—yet they are often pushed aside and misunderstood. Could greater awareness of their impact lead to respect, collaboration, and even peace? This article challenges readers to see herders not as a problem, but as a vital part of society.
Innovation Among the Unreached: A Journey with Nomads
By Paul Dzubinski
“Innovation Among the Unreached: A Journey with Nomads” explores how cutting-edge approaches are transforming mission work among nomadic peoples. Why do so many nomads remain untouched by the message of Jesus? What innovative solutions are breaking through cultural and geographical barriers? From the Nomad Connect initiative to fresh strategies birthed by dedicated workers, this article highlights how a blend of research, passion, and adaptability is reshaping outreach among the world’s most mobile communities. Could innovation be the key to reaching the forgotten?