Here are some facts:
1. Only 8% of the global missionary force is working among people living in the 10/40 window.
2. Two-thirds of the world’s population-more than 4.4 billion people- live in the 10/40 window.
3. 90% of all people living in the 10/40 window have never heard the gospel even once.
4. 85% of those living in the 10/40 window are the poorest of the world’s poor.
5. 3,100 people groups in South Asia are least-reached, totaling 1,350,000,000 individuals who don’t know Jesus.
6. South Asia has the most least-reached people groups (3,134), followed by Central Asia (850).
7. South Asia has nearly four times as many unreached people groups (3,100) as any other region of the world.
8.Southeast Asia has 626 languages (18,000,000 speakers) without scripture, Jesus film, Gospel recordings, or God’s Story video.
9.The four largest Least-Reached people groups are the Shaikh of Bangladesh, Japanese of Japan, the Shaikh of India, and the Brahman of India
10. There is on average only 1 missionary for every 278,431 unreached people in the 10/40 window.
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“In the vast plain to the north I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been––villages whose people are without Christ, without God, and without hope in the world.”~Robert Moffat
There has always been a bit of a fire in my soul whenever I think of Asia. I have always loved the people, the culture, and the food… but its a lot more than that. I often feel like Asia gets shoved under the rug when it comes to Missions.
There were plenty of times in Bible college when the pastor would list each continent, and if you felt like God was calling you or you had a burden for that particular continent, you stood up. I’ll never forget the feeling I had, a burning in my soul, when the majority of the students stood up for North america, South america, and Europe. There was such a small handful of people who stood up for Asia. Tears welled up in my eyes. It’s not that I am angry for their decision.. but overwhelmed with grief for the unreached. I just don’t understand. If God places a certain people or country on your heart, who am I to tell you that you’re wrong and you must love the people of Asia? But the need is so great in Asia, and the 10/40 window as a whole, that I just have a hard time believing that God wouldn’t work in more people’s hearts about walking with Him there.
“Why should anyone hear the gospel twice, before everyone has heard it once?”~C.T. studd
Im afraid that so many people choose easier countries to go to, closer countries, or where everyone else is already going. Somewhere safe and most relatable to their comfort zone, or at least where there will be lots of support or pioneers leading the way. I understand everywhere has their particular challenges and everybody needs to hear the gospel, but I can’t help but feel like there is so much more of a need in Asia. Truly, the work is plenty but the laborers are few. It should be more balanced. Why is only 8% of all missionaries going to the people who have yet to hear the news of Jesus and have no significant amount of Christians within their country or people group to find out about Him?? I often find myself asking the Lord, “Why don’t you speak to more people about going to these unreached people groups? Why are they all working elsewhere?” My burden has always been the unreached peoples of Asia. And Im always praying for me to be able to go, and for the Lord to speak to more of His children about these precious people.
My heart literally aches when I see the unreached masses of Asia in my mind’s eye. They are like sheep without a shepherd. I know that Jesus is doing mighty miracles among them and that He is beckoning people to come and labor with Him.
Asia represents so many lost people. Pray for Asia, pray for the unreached, pray for the laborers there, and consider going. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? You must lose your life to find it.
It’s not even just for the unreached, the poor, and the lost of Asia…but for Jesus, that His name will be known and praised among them.
I really can’t wait. I feel like my whole existence is to make Him known in this part of the world.
All Asia Route.
