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10/40 Window Ministries
The 10/40 Window is a section of the world located between latitudes 10 degrees and 40 degrees north of the equator. It covers the Middle East, North Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, and holds two-thirds of the world's population. The window also contains the world's most unreached people groups, and most of the world's governments who oppose Christianity. The 10/40 Window bears the world's greatest physical and spiritual needs.
The Middle East
Think of all the Middle Eastern countries. Most people have difficulty naming more than five, but there are thirteen. The Middle East is a dynamic land where modern history is being written, and a land that was the focus of the origins of the Christian faith.
The Middle East is a diverse area of peoples and geography, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to Pakistan in the east. The region ranges from the Indian Ocean in the south to the cold north and western mountainous regions. The Middle East encompasses the Fertile Crescent, the ancient land of Abraham.
Economic and political differences separate and differentiate these countries and peoples. Some of these countries have become exceedingly rich as the previous generation discovered oil. Others depend on their ability to trade, as they did for centuries before when numerous trade routes crossed this strategic area. Many others are struggling with poverty. Governments range from sultanates to republics and from religious-based governments to more secular, tolerant governments.
Linguistically, the Middle East countries have rich divisions. The majority speaks Arabic, but dialectical differences make the Arabic spoken in the Gulf States of the Southeast almost non-understandable to the more northern Levant countries. Also found in this diversity of indigenous languages are Hebrew, Turkish, Persian, and Farsi. Some countries have majorities who also speak French and English.
This land of origins, history, and conflict needs prayer. In the thirteen countries of the Middle East, the spiritual eyes of 100 million people are blinded to the Lord Jesus Christ. Only minute remnants of the church are in this dark land, as only a small percentage of the world's missionaries are in the entire 10/40 window. Pray that those whom God has called would be willing to plant the seed of the gospel in this land lost in darkness.
Opportunities
Education
Medical Education
Information Technology
Healthcare
Business
Ministries
Evangelism /Discipleship/ Church Planting
Compassion and Aid Ministries
North Africa
Stop for a minute and pray for North Africa. This region is composed of Mauritania, Western Sahara, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt. These countries comprise an area of over 7 million square kilometers (the USA is just over 9 million km 2). North Africa has a vast history as it contains the remnants of ancient civilizations from the earliest nomadic peoples to Egypt, as well as the later Roman era.
The greatest portion of each North African country is part of the Sahara dessert and not usable for agriculture purposes. Even though most of each country is inhabitable, North Africa has a population of over 146 million people. The economy thrives on agriculture, oil, and tourism. The climate is pleasant and tempered by the Mediterranean Sea.
Most North Africans are light-skinned, Arab Berbers. The majority are very friendly and extremely hospitable. In this region, 42% are 14 years old or younger, the average income is $3,490, and roughly 97% are Muslim and 2.4% are Christian. (Conversely, in the USA, 22% are 14 years old or younger, the average annual income is $31,000, and 85% claim to be Christian and 1.5% to be Muslim.) Less than 1000 churches exist in these seven countries. One nation has less than 30 known indigenous believers!
If a new believer in North Africa were to ask an American believer a question about his faith, it might be this: “If what you read in your Bible is true, then why has no one ever come to tell us this ‘Good News'?” Most North Africans will never see a Bible in their language or hear the songs that declare the wonderful truths of Scripture. Pray for the people of North Africa. Ask God to break through the centuries of blockade put up by false religions and penetrate hearts with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Opportunities for entry
Education: Christian School, Secular Universities
Information Technology
Healthcare
Business
Ministries
Evangelism/Discipleship/Church Planting
Partnering with the existing churches to encourage them in evangelism and missions
Children's Ministries
Central Asia
The region of Central Asia is a growing, diverse area comprising former regions of the USSR: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The primary language is Russian although Turkish, Tajik, Uzbek, and Kazakh are also major lingual barriers. The total population of this region is nearing 56 million people.
The climate varies greatly from a land characterized by extremes in the north to relatively mild, temperate weather in the south. The region is gorgeous and diverse in its geography containing parts of the Himalayas, some of the world's tallest and most dangerous summits, black sand deserts, vast steppes and large bodies of landlocked water.
The governments are all young, experimental republics, some with leanings towards democracy, and all with ambitious plans for contributing to the world economy. Great untapped resources are in many places that will be advantageous for foreign relations. All of these countries have seen unprecedented change in recent years as a result of the loosening of Communist ties in 1991.
With this change comes a hunger for spiritual things. Shamanism, Spiritism, and Animism have survived the years and have powerful holds of fear on the region. Islam, sometimes radical in nature, has taken a considerable foothold as newfound religious tolerance has prompted advances from those seeking to start revival. Mosque construction is funded by foreign money, and the Islam religion has been propagated with zeal in recent years. These spiritual changes afford great opportunities for ministry.
What will Christians do about the relative tolerance in Central Asia? Will other religions be the only force of evangelistic zeal in the region? Other religions are currently filling the great spiritual vacuum in Central Asia, and the gospel remains mostly unheard. Some people groups in the region have never seen one person come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This spiritually hungry part of the world desperately needs workers.
Opportunities for entry
University Education
Business
Ministries
Evangelism/Discipleship/Church Planting
Orphans
ESL Bible Studies
Southeast Asia
Many people hardly ever think about South East Asia, a far away land only remembered when violence in the region hits the news. Yet, over 216 million people are in Southeast Asia, and less than 15% of this population is Christian. Their main languages are Indonesian, Malay, Chinese, and English.
These vast numbers of people are spread out over nearly 14,000 islands sprinkled throughout the merging of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Only 1,000 of these islands are actually populated, with most living on a few larger land masses. The region is one of the most highly volcanic areas of the world. The climate is tropical with temperatures rarely escaping the typical 70-90 o F range. Rain forests abound, and beautiful ocean views are everywhere.
Southeast Asia has reasonable stability and prosperity; however, religious intolerance is the norm. Persecution awaits those who convert to Christianity, and evangelistic efforts among the few indigenous believers tend to be rare. Strict laws prohibit evangelistic activity.
Southeast Asia boasts a relatively young population: approximately 70% of the people are less than 30 years old. Education is a great need in this area, especially at the university level. Many also desire to learn English. ABWE has found that these young people have a growing open-mindedness and interest in the claims of Christ, proving to be a great inroad for the gospel.
Pray for the young students and all the people of Southeast Asia. Pray that God will challenge their beliefs and lift the veil of deception from their eyes. Pray that God would enable and encourage those indigenous believers who are living for Christ to bear great fruit for the kingdom, and pray that God would raise up and send out passionate believers for the tough work of evangelism among the Muslims in this region.
Opportunities for entry
Agriculture
University Education
ESL
Ministries
Evangelism /Discipleship/ Church Planting
Youth Ministries