The Unreached People Group Next Door
- Jared Milam
- Mar 23, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 22

According to the Joshua Project, an unreached people group is defined as “a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group without outside assistance.” In numbers, this means any people group that is “less than or equal to 5% professing Christians” is considered unreached.
When we hear that definition, many of us picture distant lands—remote villages, third-world countries, and hard-to-reach places. And while that’s true, what if I told you there’s an unreached people group right here in North America? One that you probably live only a few miles away from.
This people group lives in apartment communities.
Did you know that 95% of people in North America who live in multi-dwelling properties—apartments, high-rises, public housing—do not attend a local church? In the U.S. alone, while only about 16% of the population (roughly 55 million people) live in rented apartment communities, they account for over 20% of the unchurched population in our country.
That means the church in North America is either doing little to reach people in apartment communities with the Gospel—or what we’re doing simply isn’t working.
So how do we effectively reach them?
Understanding the Subculture of Apartments
Apartment communities don’t function like typical neighborhoods. Each one has its own unique subculture. Residents don’t have to leave their community for much—many have pools, playgrounds, gyms, dog parks, laundry facilities, even car wash stations. If you’re hoping to catch apartment dwellers at the local park, gym, or community center, you may be out of luck.
On top of that, apartment communities are often intentionally closed off to outsiders. With gates, codes, or fobs required for entry, traditional outreach methods like door-knocking, leafleting, or hosting big events usually fall flat.
If we want to reach apartment communities, we have to think differently.
Moving in with a Missionary Mindset
At Apartment Underground, we believe the most effective way to reach those in apartment communities is by living amongst them. Instead of approaching these communities with a church planter mindset, we need to embrace a missionary mindset. We must stop looking at those in apartment communities as those people and instead start calling them our people. By becoming part of the neighborhood, we gain natural access to relationships that outsiders never will.
Living in the community allows us to be present in everyday rhythms—sharing meals, meeting neighbors at the dog park, chatting by the mailbox, watching kids play on the same playground. These everyday moments create opportunities for discipleship that can’t be replicated from the outside.
But if you’ve ever talked with anyone who has done apartment ministry for any length of time, you’ll know it can also be incredibly lonely and utterly exhausting. And loneliness partnered with exhaustion, if left unchecked, leads to burnout. Sadly, many apartment missionaries walk away before they ever see fruit from their labor—not because of a lack of calling, but because of a lack of support.
Why Apartment Underground Exists
That’s why Apartment Underground exists—to provide support in the form of discipleship, encouragement, training, and community for those on the front lines of apartment ministry. Apartment missionaries need a network of others who understand the unique challenges of this mission field. They need prayer, resources, and practical support to stay rooted and resilient.
Apartment ministry may be overlooked, but it is not insignificant. In fact, it may be one of the largest unreached people groups hiding in plain sight. And if the church is serious about the Great Commission, we cannot ignore the mission field that exists right next door.
STATS and DATA
*95% unreached in apartments stat- -http://www.bpnews.net/33259/most-of-north-america-lives-in-multihousing-95-of-them-lost-without-christ
*Real Page, Inc reports there are approximately 25 million apartment units in the United States with an average occupancy of 2.2 persons for a total of 55 million.
*Church attendance data- https://www.barna.com/research/church-attendance-trends-around-country/
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