Thursday, 28th November, 2024
Bible Reading: Romans 10:14-15, Mark 16: 15-18
Memory Verse: And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15 (NKJV)
Advancing Native Mission wrote: Millions of people in the 10/40 Window who have little or no access to the Gospel represent a significant world missions challenge. The “10/40 Window” is a rectangular area on the globe between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator and stretching from westernmost Africa to just east of Japan. Two-thirds of all people on Earth live in this rectangular area.
Many of the world’s 55 least-evangelized countries are in the 10/40 Window. The majority of the world’s Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs live in the 10/40 Window. It is also home to 8 out of 10 of the poorest of the earth’s poor. “We need another surge into the darkness! May God give us the necessary urgency and passion.” – Dale Butler, Nazarene Bible College student quoted.
Most of the people groups unreached by the gospel live within a rectangular area stretching across northern Africa into southern Asia. Christian missions strategist Luis Bush started calling this rectangular area or band “the 10/40 window.” He used that easy-to-remember name because it covers Africa and Asia from 10 degrees latitude north of the equator to 40 degrees latitude north of the equator.
Of the 55 least evangelized countries, 97% of their population lives within the 10/40 Window. Unless something changes, huge numbers of these unreached people groups will go out into eternity never having heard the Gospel. Why? Well, researcher Justin Long has estimated that only about 10% of the global missionary force is working there. One reason is that in many 10/40 Window countries, open evangelism is difficult and even impossible because of governmental restrictions. Such places are also called creative access areas.
Many factors contribute to the spiritual need in the 10/40 Window, including poverty, political instability, and the influence of other religions. Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism are the dominant religions in many of these countries, and Christianity is often viewed with suspicion or outright hostility. Despite these challenges, many denominations, missions boards, and individuals are working to spread the gospel and meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people in the 10/40 Window.
Action Point: 90% of people in the 10/40 Window are unevangelized. Many have never heard the Gospel message even once. There are either little or no Christian movement in many cultures of the 10/40 Window to carry out vibrant near-neighbour evangelism. If those groups are to be evangelized, believers will need to leave their own culture and enter another one where they will seek to plant the gospel, perhaps even learning a new language in order to communicate.
Such cross-cultural evangelism is required. Good news: There’s a difference between unreached and unreachable. In 1989 there were only four known Christians living in Mongolia. That country now has an estimated 10,000 indigenous believers. Also, Christian television programming can now be received in many closed 10/40 Window nations. What will you do daily that will move the Church toward reaching people in the 10/40 window with the gospel? Give to missions. Groan (pray) for missions. Go for missions. You can start from where you are. You can start with that unsaved person in your neighbourhood.
Quote: Your heart is either panting after lost souls or you are not a vibrant Christian. Evangelism is Christ heartbeat.
Prophetic Decree: I plead the Blood of Jesus against all territorial spirits, in Jesus name.
Prayer Focus
1. Lord, we are sorry for paying lip service to your last wish on earth (Mark 16:15-17), in Jesus name.
2. Lord, deliver me from every idol in my heart which I love above evangelism and missions, in Jesus name.
3. We challenge the principal spirits that have held the heart of men bound within the 10/40 Window, in Jesus name.
4. We challenge the territorial powers that have held men bound within the 10/40 Window, in Jesus name.
5. My Father, I am available. Use me to bring salvation into my neighbourhood, in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 18-19
