Why? Why did God call me to go into the nations for a year? Why is He asking me to raise money so I can go to some very incredible countries? Why is missions such a burden on my heart?
I am going to share with you some numbers that helps put in perspective why missions is so needed. There are an estimated 17,000 different people groups in the world, an estimated 7.6 billion people on this earth. Now, how many of these groups have been reached by the Gospel? More than 7,000 (40%) of them are considered to be unreached. An unreached or least-reached people is 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. The rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude. The 10/40 Window is often called “The Resistant Belt” and includes the majority of the world’s Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. An estimated 5.11 billion individuals reside in approximately 8,706 distinct people groups in the 10/40 Window. The 10/40 Window is home to the majority of the world’s unevangelized countries. The “unevangelized” are people who have a minimal knowledge of the gospel, but have no valid opportunity to respond to it. While it constitutes only one-third of earth’s total land area, nearly two-thirds of the world’s people reside in the 10/40 Window.
It is estimated that 95% of the people that live in the 10/40 window are unevangelized and about 97% of the Unreached People Groups live in the 10/40 window. There are about 13,000 workers or missionaries in the 10/40 window for over 3 billion people who are considered unreached. Now, there are over 32,000 workers just in the United States alone. There is 1 Evangelical person living in the USA for every 3 people. There is 1 worker or missionary in the 10/40 window of every 300,000 people.
One of the biggest set backs for missions is finically. Of every $100,000 given to the Church about $100 of the money goes to missions. Of that $100 given to missions about $1 of the money goes to the a worker or missionary who is with the Unreached People Group. Just in the USA, there are 900 churches for every 1 Unreached People Group.
These statistics came from https://joshuaproject.net/. They are focused on seeing the Great Commission fulfilled. These are some of the big reasons that I am going into the Nations. The need is great and the workers are few.
“Missions exist because worship does not” John Piper.
“The measure of success for a church is not by how many seats are filled on a Sunday, but by its sending power.” -Unknown
Mathew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This is a little from my heart and why my heart for the nations has been growing. I am so excited to be sharing with yall about my trip. I am just shy of $13,000, thats about 70% funded! I am beyond grateful for each one you. Almost one month till launch! It is getting real people! Be praying in the last leg of preparation. Everything is getting real with me about to leave.
Joe
